Pre-sleep treatment with galantamine stimulates lucid dreaming: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study
PLoS ONE August 8, 2018 Stephen LaBerge, Kristen Lamarca, Benjamin Baird 59 citations
Taking galantamine, a drug that boosts the brain chemical acetylcholine, significantly increases the chance of having a lucid dream—a dream where the dreamer knows they are dreaming. In a study of 121 people interested in lucid dreaming, 14% reported a lucid dream after a placebo, compared to 27% after a 4 mg dose and 42% after an 8 mg dose. The drug also improved dream recall, sensory vividness, and complexity. Lucid dreams themselves were more vivid, clear, controlled, and emotionally positive than non-lucid dreams. Combining galantamine taken in the last third of the night with a brief awakening and a focused mental technique is one of the most effective ways to induce lucid dreams.