Nightmare and Abnormal Dreams: Rare Side Effects of Metformin?
T. Yanto, I. Huang, Felicia Nathania Kosasih, N. P. Lugito
Case Reports in Endocrinology January 17, 2018 DOI: 10.1155/2018/7809305 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 56-year-old male patient with no known history of recurrent nightmares or sleep disorder |
| Intervention | Metformin |
| Dose | 750 mg extended release |
| Measures | Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) probability scale |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Key findings | The authors report that a 56-year-old man developed a nightmare followed by nightly vivid, indescribable abnormal dreams after taking 750 mg extended-release metformin. The dreams disappeared when the drug was discontinued and recurred on rechallenge, and the Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction probability scale rated the reaction as probable causality. The authors conclude metformin might be the underlying cause and that more studies are needed to confirm the association and causality. |
Abstract
Background: Metformin is widely known as an antidiabetic agent which has significant gastrointestinal side effects, but nightmares and abnormal dreams as its adverse reactions are not well reported. Case Presentation Herein we present a case of 56-year-old male patient with no known history of recurrent nightmares and sleep disorder, experiencing nightmare and abnormal dreams directly after consumption of 750 mg extended release metformin. He reported his dream as an unpleasant experience which awakened him at night with negative feelings. The nightmare only lasted for a night, but his dreams every night thereafter seemed abnormal. The dreams were vivid and indescribable. The disappearance and occurrence of abnormal dreams ensued soon after the drug was discontinued and rechallenged. The case was assessed using Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) probability scale and resulted as probable causality.
Conclusion: Metformin might be the underlying cause of nightmare and abnormal dreams in this patient. More studies are needed to confirm the association and causality of this findings.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucid Dreaming as a Learnable Skill: A Case Study The author | 1980 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Lucid Dreaming as a Treatment for Recurrent Nightmares People with recurrent nightmares | 2010 | Case study | n = 5 |
| Treating Chronic Nightmares of Sexual Assault Survivors with an Intellectual Disability – Two Descriptive Case Studies Adults with learning disabilities suffering from post-traumatic nightmares | 2006 | Case study | n = 2 |
| Lucid dreaming: Correspondence between dreamed and actual events in one subject during rem sleep A lucid dreamer | 1984 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Lucid dreaming treatment for nightmares: A series of cases. Participants with nightmares | 2003 | Case series | n = 8 |