Question: I recently spoke to a doctor about cutting back on some of my medications because I was too sedated during the day. I gradually cut back on paxam until I stopped taking it all together. At first I did not notice much of a change except the positive benefit of not feeling so tired. While I was getting off this medication I was on a three week holiday so my normal routine was also mucked up a bit. I was prescribed paxam for night terrors and unfortunately now not only have they come back (the nightmares) even though I went back on this medication I only have to look at something that disturbs me and very soon I am having a horrendous nightmare about it. You may say this is not a very problematic disorder but I am starting to not want to go to sleep and I don't know if I should double the dose or just what to do. Do you know of any other methods apart from drugs that can cure night terrors. I have PTSD and sychioaffective disorder (and can't spell).

Not sure about Imagery Rehearsal Treatment. I think it would be better if I didn't have them in the first place. I am not sure dissecting my dreams would be helpful as it is traumatic just recalling them. Although the fact that I can recall them must mean they are nightmares rather than night terrors although I am so disturbed that I have to get out of bed and totally distract myself for awhile before retuning to bed. I find it weird that I can have up to five different nightmare episodes before midnight on some occasions. One of the greatest problems is that I take a lot of serequel before I go to bed and if I get out of bed I am quite uncoordinated, drunk-like. I have on one occasion fallen down stairs trying to reorientate myself from these dreams. I noticed a definite increase in these dreams after I was first put on serequel. I have no doubt that I have hullucinations on this drug as my son has said that I laugh and talk a lot in my sleep. Sometimes I am aware that I am calling out in my sleep but can't do anything about it. I have thought that someone was knocking on my front door and I got up to answer and could actually see myself still in bed . I have had a very strange sense a few times where I was out of bed but could really see my self in bed. I have got out of bed to get something only to realise when I have got back that I have not left the bed. I have talked to my mother about this, she is a RN and she thinks it is an out of body experience but this happens to me a lot so I think I am hallucinating. I have taken up drawing and try to do a bit before I go to bed thinking that flowers and butterflies in my brain may be beneficial. What is your opinion on St John's wart as an alternative therapy to paxam? Would it interfere with my other medications?