NIGHTMARES AS AN ADVERSE DRUG REACTION

Nightmares also categorized as fighting dreams suddenly awake the sleeper from Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. Nightmares can be caused by improper food intake, alcohol withdrawal, digestive or nervous disorders and drug induced (mainly due to the drugs which affect the neurotransmitters). Some of the drugs that can induce nightmares are Beta blockers, Statins, Anti depressants, Anti epileptics, Sedative hypnotics, General anesthetic agents, anti histamines, endocrinal agents etc., The exact mechanisms involved for these drug induced nightmares is not clear. The occurrence of these nightmares due to the intake of various drugs is rare and in all these cases drug withdrawal is beneficial.