Waking up at the same time each night with nightmares?

Question

I'm taking the antidepressant Cymbalta and have been having quite horrific nightmares. Even if I have a fine night and don't dream (or don't remember them), I always wake up at 3am on the dot.. Has this happened to anyone else? I can't seem to stop it. I will go to sleep soon after I wake. I am getting the same amount of sleep every night, about 12 hours.

Answer 1

well i'm sixteen and i usually have nightmares every night.  for sure it would be a terrible nightmare if the back of my neck was burning.  anyways i always wake up around two to three in the morning everyday even if i don't have night mares but yea other than that my nights usually go well

Answer 2

If your side effects are bothering you, talk to your doctor about it

Answer 3

12 hours every night? What are you - a bear? Anyway, antidepressants can mess with your sleep patterns. You need to talk to your doctor.  

Answer 4

  Well haven't't taken anti-depressants I can't not old enough but after my parents got divorced I started having these really scary nightmares, weird images and people.They went away on their own but it sounds like the same thing. Maybe it's what your depressed about that causes these nightmares. I had 1 good friend that I could trust in and I confided in them and things slowly started getting better they helped me through it. Maybe it's your medicines that cause them?

    I guess that they didn't go away on their own my friend helped??? But i don't know what to say just thought this would say your not alone.

Answer 5

well i agree let your doctor know.... But dreams are just dreams, I have a habbit of waking up in the middle of the night but usually because I am not at rest or at ease with my self....

Answer 6

I would deffinetly talk to a doctor. if that doesnt work, you could try setting your alamr,cell phone,computer,etc. for a earlier time then the time tht you have been waking up! That would stop the dream right in the middle and you could prob. go back to sleep.

GOOD LUCK!!

P.S- if i am the best, give me ten points. I rlly need them.

Answer 7

could it really be depression that is causing ur nightmares???

i mean i have a phobia of whales and ive had nightmares about it several times but its normal

itll pass i believe

or u can talk to a psychologist if ure really worried

Answer 8

That happens to me to.but i think they stopped when i started reading a book before I go to bed.and if that doesn't work,i drink hot chocolate to help me sleep too.

Answer 9

You might be subconsciously programming yourself to wake up at 3 AM without even realizing it.  When you go to bed say silently to yourself: "I will sleep the whole night and wake up at 6 AM" (or what ever AM time you want to wake up).  I have found sending this "subconscious" message to myself has worked well. Hope it works for you. Good luck.

Answer 10

It could be the drug, or it could be something happening at that time. Maybe theres a loud noise that always wakes you at that time or your body for some reason. There is also the chance maybe your sleep cycle has light sleep at that time and you happen to dream there. You could be in such fear you wake yourself up to avoid it.