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Nicotine Patch Dreams
Along with the many other nicotine patch side effects, many users report vivid dreams with using this form of nicotine replacement treatment (NRT). The description of these dreams varies and the direct cause of these dreams is still to some extent unknown.
These so called “nicotine patch dreams” can be very life like. The content ranges from childlike scenes to horrible nightmares. Some report Armageddon like dreams as well as scenes from a children’s movie. Others report killing sprees, giant lizards and war scenes.
Nicotine is psychotropic
The direct cause of these vivid dreams may be the constant flow of nicotine during sleep. Nicotine is a stimulant and as such it activates certain parts of the brain. This Nicotine is considered a psychotropic drug, meaning it affects the brain.
Other drugs in this category are LSD, acid, marijuana and even caffeine. When nicotine, which is also considered a toxin, is delivered to your system while the body is attempting to rest it may disturb the natural sleep cycle. In fact, many nicotine patch users report a very poor night of sleep if they wear a nicotine patch to bed.
It is also important to note that some nicotine is still absorbed after the patch is removed, however minimal. To minimize the disruption of sleep and the patch related dreams, some users recommend removing the patch an hour or two before going to bed and setting an alarm an hour before normal waking to apply the patch. This may minimize morning cravings while maximizing restful sleep.
Always report side effects
As with any drug you should report any side effects to your doctor immediately. You also may consider reporting your experience to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).
Resources:
- http://psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/50/10/1346
- http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-psychotropic-drugs.htm
http://answerpool.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/788608791/m/2526029534 - http://www.drugsandbooze.com/showthread.php?t=16584
- http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/insomnia-nightmares/157273-nicotine-...
- http://www.drugs.com/sfx/nicotine-side-effects.html
- http://kswana.org/tobacco/nicotine-patch/has-anyone-ever-used-the-nicoti...
Related Article
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