How to stop Prozac-induced dreams?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
How to stop Prozac-induced dreams?
There’s no easy way to stop vivid and emotionally disturbing dreams while taking Prozac. It’s best to talk to your healthcare provider about them. Unusual dreams are quite common on SSRIs, including Prozac (Fluoxetine) and there is no physical way to stop them.
You can try taking your Prozac in the morning if it doesn’t make you tired. This might help reduce the incidence of these unusual dreams as they are more common for people who take Prozac at night. However, nightmares on Prozac could still disturb you to some extent.
What does research suggest?
Research on Prozac-induced dreams is limited, and there is no definitive conclusion regarding the exact mechanism behind these reported changes.
One possible explanation is that Prozac affects certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin, which can influence the sleep-wake cycle and dream patterns (1).
Serotonin is known to play a role in regulating mood and sleep, so alterations in its levels due to Prozac could potentially impact dream experiences (2).
It is worth noting that changes in dreams are not unique to Prozac and can occur with other antidepressant medications as well, like Paxil, Effexor, Lexapro, etc. Antidepressants are generally associated with unusual dreams, as they can alter sleep architecture (3,4).
Some studies have suggested that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac may increase dream vividness and intensity, while others have found no significant effects.
It is always important to consult with a healthcare professional if you have concerns about your medication or experience any unusual side effects, including changes in dreams while taking Prozac. Your doctor will determine the best way to mitigate the side effects while maximising the benefits of the antidepressant.
Do Prozac-induced unusual dreams go away on their own?
Some people may find their dreams getting less and less disturbing with time as their body adjusts to Prozac. However, some people may continue to have such dreams throughout the course of their treatment.
So, it’s difficult to say whether or not your nightmares on Prozac will go away. Make sure you talk to your healthcare provider about this.
If you continue to feel this way and it starts affecting you mentally, your doctor may put you on another antidepressant. Prozac is generally well tolerated, but it might not be the best choice of antidepressant for you.
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References
1.-
Lepkifker E, Dannon PN, Iancu I, Ziv R, Kotler M. Nightmares related to fluoxetine treatment. Clin Neuropharmacol. 1995 Feb;18(1):90-4. doi: 10.1097/00002826-199502000-00013. PMID: 8665541. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8665541/
2.-
Dugovic C. Role of serotonin in sleep mechanisms. Rev Neurol (Paris). 2001 Nov;157(11 Pt 2):S16-9. PMID: 11924032. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11924032/
3.-
Tribl GG, Wetter TC, Schredl M. Dreaming under antidepressants: a systematic review on evidence in depressive patients and healthy volunteers. Sleep Med Rev. 2013 Apr;17(2):133-42. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2012.05.001. Epub 2012 Jul 15. PMID: 22800769. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22800769/
4.-
Nicolas A, Ruby PM. Dreams, Sleep, and Psychotropic Drugs. Front Neurol. 2020 Nov 5;11:507495. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.507495. PMID: 33224081; PMCID: PMC7674595. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7674595/
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