A recent study has found that antidepressant drugs may be linked to REM-sleep behavior disorder, also called RBD, that causes people to act out violent dreams. Experts say more tests are needed before the drugs should be stopped.
In a study led by Dr. R. Robert Auger from the Mayo Clinic, it was found that 80% of young people who have RBD took antidepressants, a higher percentage than people over 50, the typical age when RBD sets in.
Antidepressants have been found to affect the dream stage of sleep. Auger said it was possible that RBD is caused by the drugs or by the illness causing a person to take antidepressants. He said that he would not recommend ending antidepressants but possibly switching to a different kind. He also recommends that anyone with RBD symptoms see a sleep specialist and take safety precautions to make sure they don`t get hurt in bed.
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