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Q: Hypnopompic
Hallucinations
I have had hypnopompic hallucinations
from time to time in my life. They have become a lot more frequent in the past
2-3 years and especially so in the last 3-4 months. Do they have any relation to
bipolar psychosis? Can they be the effect of psych meds? I have taken 400 mg of
Wellbutrin for 2.5 years (other antidepressants in previous years) and just
recently started Lamictal (I am up to 100mg). I was rediagnosed from a lifetime
(40 yrs) of Major Depression to Bipolar NOS a couple of months ago.
Cee,
Hypnopompic hallucinations are usually
associated with a sleep disorder, most often narcolepsy. They can be caused
medications although I couldn't find anything linking Lamictal to them. If
you have had psychotic symptoms as part of your bipolar illness, the
hypnopompic hallucinations could be related to that. I would start a
journal/log to record when you have the hallucinations and see if you can find
any causes such as poor sleep, medication changes, stress/anxiety levels.
Also you mentioned a greater frequency in the hallucinations over the past
3-4 months, so has there been worsening mood symptoms during that time? That
also could lead to sleep problems and therefore the increase in the
hypnopompic hallucinations.
Dr Plyler
Published May, 2011
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