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Glivec reaction? Vivid Dreams

Good Afternoon All

An Australian has asked this question about anyone having experienced vivid dreams since taking glivec.

Please advise of your experience - If you have any suggestions that would be great too!!

When asked on another CML group had also experienced vivid dreams and many people were restless - and felt that by the next day had run a marathon and were exhausted but were on a 800 mg dose.

Thanks Sue (Australia)

The ladies experience below was on a lesser dose.

Her information posted below:

"Just asking the question again if anyone has vivid dreams since taking Glivec. Mine are still happening and I dont get restful sleep. I have tried relaxation, warm baths, music, not eating too soon before bed- you name it- everything. My dreams are nothing like I've ever experienced before. Maybe I had them before but could never remember them. It's like an ongoing LSD trip ( imagine thats what its like) and not very nice. I remember every detail and I can get up in the night and have a cuppa and go back to bed and resume the dream like a movie. Only wish it was tranquil and nice- but not.

I put it down to stress until my original haem asked me if I had vivid dreams as she had other patients it was affecting. Shes now gone on maternity leave and I would love to have followed it up with her.

One theory I havent tried is if I dream if I have an afternoon nap as I havent had an arvo sleep as an active 8 year old keeps me on the go. I was wondering it may be because I take meds at night but I couldnt change to morning as nausea affects me and I wouldnt be able to go to work.

Just something thats bugging me and I wondered if it affected anyone else.

I have been on a variety of doses of Glivec for the past 10 months and I too have had very vivid dreams. Not bad dreams - just much more vivid with some really surprising people in them (both living and dead). I could also remember them in the morning quite clearly and could tell everyone what a busy night I had had. I was taking 400mg Glivec in the morning and with my evening meal at the start then this was cut back to 600mg with my evening meal. I didn't have so many dreams when I was cut back still further to 400mg.

I too blamed stress but did wonder if it was the tablets. I once took some sleeping tablets but they made me get up and sleep walk and do some crazy things. Atleast Glivec lets me stay in bed.

Ken Roberson
I started having very violent dreams during the first few months I was on Gleevec, and violence is not my nature. The nurse advised that this was occurring with several people.

They wrote a Px. for Paxil (10mg), and that solved the problem. Peaceful sleep returned.

Best wishes on your journey.

Hi Sue,
When I started out on Glivec, in 2000, it was’nt long before I had the most vivid dreams, thankfully none of them were nightmarish, but they were in brilliant colour. I used to recount them to the wife in the morning as I could remember every little detail, they were just fantastic. It was at the time we had to keep a patient diary about every little symptom that occurred,as we were on trials at that time, so that was entered as well, I even made a special mention to my consultant at HH, he said ” Perhaps I should take Glivec too”. Unfortunately over time they gradually stopped, like most of the side effects, but until I read these posts I had forgotten all about them. Thanks for reminding me.
Regards Les.