4 ms·

1. Modafinil is the opposite of a sleep aid, so the first paragraph doesn't really apply. 2. Using GHB/Alcohol/Marijuana to help you feel more rested really de

1. Modafinil is the opposite of a sleep aid, so the first paragraph doesn't really apply. 2. Using GHB/Alcohol/Marijuana to help you feel more rested really depends on if the person has a medical condition or not. All of these drugs will suppress REM sleep (so will your typical SSRI), which for the average person may not be a good thing. However, those with narcolepsy have a much higher rate of REM sleep, preventing their body from going into deep sleep and thus (says the hypothesis) they don't get the awakeness/alerting benefits from sleep. Interestingly, those with depression and PTSD also have increased rates of REM sleep, so there is an interesting question of causality there.

travisjungroth 6y ago
The first paragraph was about diphenhydramine (DPH) as a sleep aid. And I agree with the point. Any time I’ve tried to use it to help me sleep it sets me off on a downward spiral of bad sleep habits.
- doggodaddo78 6y ago
  I can confirm DPH is awful. In general, I would only take it if were life-and-death.
layoutIfNeeded 6y ago
>All of these drugs will suppress REM sleep (so will your typical SSRI) Citation needed about the SSRI part, because one typical side effect of SSRIs is unusually vivid dreams.
- supersour 6y ago
  "Reductions in the amount of REM sleep and increases in REM sleep onset latency are seen after taking antidepressants, both in healthy volunteers and in depressed patients. Antidepressants that increase serotonin function by blocking reuptake or by inhibiting metabolism have the greatest effect on REM sleep. The decrease in amount of REM sleep appears to be greatest early in treatment, and gradually diminishes during long-term treatment, except after monoamine oxidase inhibitors when REM sleep is often absent for many months."[1] I agree that the two data points are paradoxical, and I'm not sure what to make of it. Personally I have a much larger than average amount of REM sleep (confirmed by professionals when I was tested for narcolepsy/daytime sleepiness), but I do not have vivid dreams and seldom recall dreaming at all, despite talking and moving in my sleep. Nevertheless it's quite interesting. One hypothesis could be that less time in REM sleep leads to more intense bursts of REM, thus more vivid dreams? Or perhaps I am lacking knowledge and there is more to dreams than REM sleep. [1]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15892588/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15892588/

travisjungroth 6y ago

The first paragraph was about diphenhydramine (DPH) as a sleep aid. And I agree with the point. Any time I’ve tried to use it to help me sleep it sets me off on a downward spiral of bad sleep habits.

doggodaddo78 6y ago
I can confirm DPH is awful. In general, I would only take it if were life-and-death.

layoutIfNeeded 6y ago

>All of these drugs will suppress REM sleep (so will your typical SSRI) Citation needed about the SSRI part, because one typical side effect of SSRIs is unusually vivid dreams.

supersour 6y ago
"Reductions in the amount of REM sleep and increases in REM sleep onset latency are seen after taking antidepressants, both in healthy volunteers and in depressed patients. Antidepressants that increase serotonin function by blocking reuptake or by inhibiting metabolism have the greatest effect on REM sleep. The decrease in amount of REM sleep appears to be greatest early in treatment, and gradually diminishes during long-term treatment, except after monoamine oxidase inhibitors when REM sleep is often absent for many months."[1] I agree that the two data points are paradoxical, and I'm not sure what to make of it. Personally I have a much larger than average amount of REM sleep (confirmed by professionals when I was tested for narcolepsy/daytime sleepiness), but I do not have vivid dreams and seldom recall dreaming at all, despite talking and moving in my sleep. Nevertheless it's quite interesting. One hypothesis could be that less time in REM sleep leads to more intense bursts of REM, thus more vivid dreams? Or perhaps I am lacking knowledge and there is more to dreams than REM sleep. [1]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15892588/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15892588/