What safe herbal or pharmaceutical agents are available to reduce dream-inducing
psychoactivity during sleep and during attempts to sleep, and what are
the effects and efficacy of such agents ?

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Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 18 Feb 2005 23:02 PST

Helli imclemster,
I have found around the Net mentions of pharmaceuticals that do make
reductions in REM sleep (the dream-inducing stage of sleep), but they
do not mention the level of efficacy. Nothing on herbs or other
natural substances has been found (marijuana is mentioned, but that is
an unsafe herb). Are you looking for any particular products for
reducing REM sleep?

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Clarification of Question by imclemster-ga on 19 Feb 2005 11:13 PST

Dear Techtor:

Marijuana is quite psychoactive, although such psychoactivity is
attributed to certain active chemicals in the herb.  Some other
powerful pharmaceuticals like Xanax will knock you out, but are
addictive as they bind to neural receptors very tightly.  Because of
occassional festive use of cocaine and marijuana, combined with a very
active work and social life, psychoactivity prevents deep sleep and
causes vivid dreams.  Hence the search for preferably natural ways of
suppressing psychoactivity during sleep for a higher quality sleep.

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Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 20 Feb 2005 09:26 PST

Hello imclester,
So I assume you are prioritizing herbs and other "natural" products,
but I believe those are hard to find. I have only found mention of
antidepressants so far as "safe" pharmaceutical substances, and only
pharmaceutical substances are the safe stuff" I've seen mentioned that
seem to reduce REM sleep. I assume that what you are looking for are
substances that allow you to have dreamless (REMless) sleep? Also,
would you be satisfied if I found only pharmaceutical products?

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Clarification of Question by imclemster-ga on 20 Feb 2005 20:46 PST

Sure, that would be OK.  But don't bother with the standard
anti-depressants such as the various xanax and benzodiazepines,
prozac, valium et al.  I'm aware of those, and unfortunately, they
have significant negative mid-long term impact on cognitive ability
not to mention addictiveness.  You are right however that the
preference is on herbal or natural based products.

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Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 22 Feb 2005 17:33 PST

Hello imclester,
I realized I had missed your mention of marijuana and cocaine use.
These drugs will certainly disturb the normal sleep cycle, and any
remedy you may use, herbal or not, will not be enough. Those drugs
really do something to your brain, perhaps something permanent.
Dancingbear's suggestion to stop even just festive use of these
narcotic drugs makes very good sense to me. If you completely stop
using them, surely all your sleep problems will be solved.

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Clarification of Question by imclemster-ga on 23 Feb 2005 11:01 PST

That was a most obvious answer thanks.

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Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 27 Feb 2005 09:03 PST

Well, with the obvious answer aside, would you still like a list of
medications and/or natural products that are known to be sleeping aids
and might meet the requirements you outlined in your question?

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Clarification of Question by imclemster-ga on 02 Mar 2005 05:51 PST

Guess not, from the comments it's pretty clear the obvious answer is
the best one.  Having access to sleeping aids will just persuade me to
avoid the obvious.  Thanks.

Valerian Root - usually sold in a tincture- is supposed to help with
calming before and  aiding in sleep.  Wether it is potent enough to
stop "dream - inducing psychoactivity" I don't know. You can get it at
any health food store or herbalist.  As for it's safety- you should
check with a physycian, naturopath or herbalist- especially if you are
mixing it with any other medications or herbal remedies.

Tried the mild stuff already, skullcup, valerian root et al.  They
help cause drowsiness, but do not have the capability to "unwind" the
central nervous system or suppress psychoactivity.  Thanks for your
comment.

After reading your last clarification- a couple of other things I
might add- cocaine use- even infrequently - can wreak havoc on sleep
patterns.  Over intensity at work can also create disturbing -
wrestless nights of feeling like no-sleep ever occured.  Since you
don't seem to want to pursue the Xanax /Valium route (I don't think
you should) you may have to address the issue at it's core.  Stop
using cocaine- or live with the consequences- and as for work- get
more balance. When it comes to losing good sleep to work- rather than
drowning out the bad night of sleep with  other drugs- maybe your body
and psyche are trying to let you know that the intensity is unhealthy
- and you need to give yourself a break.  Also- pre bedtime rituals
that are relaxing- ie- warm baths, reading slightly boring but
important books- can help.

I can't believe I forgot to tell you about what my doctor prescribed
for me when i was doing regular trans atalantic travel and livving a a
perpetual state of jetlag.  I had initally taken ambien - but found
that it stayed in my system and made me feel heavy after using it 2-3
days in a row.  also- I could only ususally get 3-4 hours of only semi
good sleep.  After telling him this - he had me try ultra low doses of
amitriptelene.  Apparently this is prescribed in the 100's of
milligrams as an antidepressant.  He gave me a prescription for 10 mg
tablets and had me take 1-4 tabs (10-40 milligrams) 12 hours before I
wanted to wake up. And then go to bed 6-8 hours before you wanted to
get up.  I was amazed!  I usually only needed 20 mgs- and I always got
a decent night sleep- and never felt drugged or heavy from it.   Also-
it is non habit forming and apaarently very safe.  I experienced no
side effects from it.  I believe that this is a non-tradtional use of
this- but I bet your doctor would let you give it a try.  It's also
very inexpensive.  Sorry i didn't think of this before.

Thanks for the note on amitriptelene, that's one I hadn't heard of. 
My sleep recovers generally perfectly about 5 - 7 days after cocaine
use or intense work periods, although I'm sure with age that will
deteriorate.