Horrible Seroquel Withdrawals - Desperately need advice.

[[Da...]]

I am wondering if the seroquel helps with x withdraw.

 

I have been trying to taper it for about 2 months, having problems. I went from 550 to 400 initially, and my xanax doses did nothing. Reinstated the sero to 550 , the xanax, had an impact.

 

I missed a full dose 2 nights ago, and my morning xanax did nothing. the next morning. took my seroquel dose to get up to 550, the am one was a bit late, and the xanax was affective.

 

Can't find anything on the web to see if seroquel enhances the benzo, or mitigates withdraw.

 

I am scared.

 

Is the seroquel mitigating xanax withdraw?

 

When I miss a seroquel dose, the first dose of xanax does nothing.

 

Is this sero withdraw, or xanax withdraw x 100 because I miss a seroquel dose?

 

Don't know if anyone knows, but throwing this out there.

 

I am really scared that the seroquel is calming the xanax withdraw, I really don't want this to be true. If it is, I am stuck on it to get through my benzo withdraw.

 

Afternoons are horrible for me. Tried taking a sero a few times, it left me a mess, thinking it might minimize the afternoon xanax withdraw. It felt nasty, and I was stuck in bed the rest of the day.

 

Really freaking out over this.

 

Hi baddove,

 

Your afternoon nightmare was likely from Seroquel. One of the most common side effects is difficulty moving. See here: https://www.fda.gov/media/72986/download

 

I would try to taper off it as you would a benzo, about 10% cuts every two weeks if you can handle those, less if it is too difficult. I would get rid of it before the benzo. I'd say APs are a bit more problematic.

 

I'm sure you have been given this advice on the Xanax before, but I would try and switch it to something like Klonopin, since it has a longer half-life. Withdrawing from Xanax straight up can be very difficult due to the interdose withdrawal. The fluctuating blood levels of the drug can have a destabilizing effect.

 

There is some support for switching to Klonopin. I posted about it here:

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=224488.msg2888039#msg2888039

 

And here is the original article on Xanax withdrawal:

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5846112/pdf/nihms947341.pdf

 

You would want to crossover to Klonopin very slowly, since Xanax affects a few receptors that K does not. The crossover will be a bit of a withdrawal itself, but the K should make the withdrawal a bit easier. Just keep things slow and steady.

 

 

[[Fo...]]

Baddove

Data guy has seen me through this part of the nightmare.so advise trust him.

 

Why were you put on such a high dose of Seroquel?  You’ve not have a manic or schizophrenic episode as far as I know.  It seems hard to now get off it, but ten percent is doable.

 

Post often or P M me as required. I am in bed with food poisoning which is causing severe muscle pain so bear with me if I don’t respond immediately

Forty.

[[Da...]]

Dick,

 

Sorry to hear about the food poisoning. You have had rotten luck lately.

 

Feel better soon!

[[ba...]]

Baddove

Data guy has seen me through this part of the nightmare.so advise trust him.

 

Why were you put on such a high dose of Seroquel?  You’ve not have a manic or schizophrenic episode as far as I know.  It seems hard to now get off it, but ten percent is doable.

 

Post often or P M me as required. I am in bed with food poisoning which is causing severe muscle pain so bear with me if I don’t respond immediately

Forty.

 

Sorry about the food poisoning. That's a nasty thing, take care of yourself and ge tbetter.

 

I have been asked about the high sero before.  I was put on it when I was in cold turkey (due to illness and contradictory medications), and a dose of 100 only gave me 2 hours sleep. Hence, I dosed through the night. Was also told to use it in the afternoon. This was a "medication specialist" my pdoc and I consulted with. Stupid. Was never told it was addictive, or even told to take it on a regular schedule. And, I should of been tapered off once I was able to reinstate the x drug.

[[ba...]]

I am wondering if the seroquel helps with x withdraw.

 

I have been trying to taper it for about 2 months, having problems. I went from 550 to 400 initially, and my xanax doses did nothing. Reinstated the sero to 550 , the xanax, had an impact.

 

I missed a full dose 2 nights ago, and my morning xanax did nothing. the next morning. took my seroquel dose to get up to 550, the am one was a bit late, and the xanax was affective.

 

Can't find anything on the web to see if seroquel enhances the benzo, or mitigates withdraw.

 

I am scared.

 

Is the seroquel mitigating xanax withdraw?

 

When I miss a seroquel dose, the first dose of xanax does nothing.

 

Is this sero withdraw, or xanax withdraw x 100 because I miss a seroquel dose?

 

Don't know if anyone knows, but throwing this out there.

 

I am really scared that the seroquel is calming the xanax withdraw, I really don't want this to be true. If it is, I am stuck on it to get through my benzo withdraw.

 

Afternoons are horrible for me. Tried taking a sero a few times, it left me a mess, thinking it might minimize the afternoon xanax withdraw. It felt nasty, and I was stuck in bed the rest of the day.

 

Really freaking out over this.

 

Hi baddove,

 

Your afternoon nightmare was likely from Seroquel. One of the most common side effects is difficulty moving. See here: https://www.fda.gov/media/72986/download

 

I would try to taper off it as you would a benzo, about 10% cuts every two weeks if you can handle those, less if it is too difficult. I would get rid of it before the benzo. I'd say APs are a bit more problematic.

 

I'm sure you have been given this advice on the Xanax before, but I would try and switch it to something like Klonopin, since it has a longer half-life. Withdrawing from Xanax straight up can be very difficult due to the interdose withdrawal. The fluctuating blood levels of the drug can have a destabilizing effect.

 

There is some support for switching to Klonopin. I posted about it here:

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=224488.msg2888039#msg2888039

 

And here is the original article on Xanax withdrawal:

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5846112/pdf/nihms947341.pdf

 

You would want to crossover to Klonopin very slowly, since Xanax affects a few receptors that K does not. The crossover will be a bit of a withdrawal itself, but the K should make the withdrawal a bit easier. Just keep things slow and steady.

 

I have some questions about crossing to another med, you seem to be the "guy."

 

I have never used Klonapin. How does one transit from xanax to K?

 

How about going to xanax xr? The interdose is what is killing me. It sees sensible to transit to another x drug as similar to xanax as possible. Did try valium some time ago, I'm one of those people who found it horrible, it freaked me out.

 

Xanax XR would leave a steady amount of the med in my system, thinking would calm and stabilize my cns. Tried it once before, it felt weird. Also, I was anxious all the time. Have done some reading on it. It does not act exactly like oral xanax, and is not as strong. If my pdoc would approve, would approve this, but at a higher dose, and a longer period to see if I can acclimate, i would try this.  I gave upon it  last time before a month of using it.

 

[[Fo...]]

Sorry you had a medical cock up to put you in this place.

I would switch to Diaz or Klon if you can. Interdose drops on Xanax are foul and Diaz and Seroquel do give you a longer nights rest.

Take care now.

Dickie

[[Da...]]

Baddove,

 

Xanax XR should be fine if you can get similar blood levels to what the regular Xanax gets you. You do probably want to get rid of the Seroquel after that though, then the Xanax. Drugs like Seroquel decrease the threshold for seizures, so you don't want to be on them during the acute phase of benzo withdrawal.

 

Crossing over to Clonazepam would probably take a couple months and would probably involve some withdrawal effects, since Xanax hits some receptors that Clonazepam does not. But on the plus side, you would get that withdrawal out of the way and would not experience it all at once trying to taper the Xanax on its own. They both have roughly the same equivalency to Diazepam, so you would slowly exchange the dose of 6mg of Xanax for 6mg of Clonazepam at whatever pace you can manage.

[[ba...]]

Thank you Data Guy. Called my pdoc and left a message stating how destabilized I am. Asked if they would consider crossing me to XR to get under control so I can move forward. Mentioned clonazapem as a second choice, but stated that my research shows it be a difficult crossover. Will wait and see what they say. I'm so whack right now, I am shaking. Have not been well at all since I started the sero cut. Going to hold on it for now.

[[Sa...]]

Dickie,

 

How is the food poisoning?  Hope you are better!

 

SaraSue

[[Be...]]

I seem to be of no use here after seeing other people, such as baddove, DataGuy and SaraSue all seem to care and tackle the ball perfectly like a team.

 

I can only say I'm on 200-400 mg of Seroquel for sleep now, but that's the only way I can sleep on such high dosage of benzos sometimes. My doctor said that we would gradually taper all of the meds, so he knows best. I have the absolute trust in him.

 

Sorry for having insomnia, it's the worst.  Have you tried valerian, mint and hawthorn. It comes in tea or in drops. It's a natural remedy that works (or worked before I got addicted to benzos) like charm by calming you down and inducing sleep. Maybe you can supplement it to your Seroquel while you taper

 

Good luck!

[[Fo...]]

Benzomutant

You make very good point. Seroquel is great for sleep.

Now 3/12 since stopping it the depression is creeping up because of sleep issues.

Mirtazipine sure knocks  me out but I wake up anxious.

The down side of Seroquel apart from the metabolic stuff is it stopped me doing anything much at all.

 

Perhaps on Seroquel I wouldn’t have gone the the food poisoning party though.!,

Dick

[[Be...]]

If it stopped doing you from doing anything much at all you probably reached tolerance and with that med, I expect apathy would settle in. Taper smoothly, neither too fast, nor too slow. Expect an adjustment period during and after the taper. But I promise you it won't be as long as a benzo. Maybe a week or two. 

 

Keep us posted on your progress! 

[[ba...]]

Thank you every one who added to this thread. I love you all. The information and support is what gets me through this, guides me in how to make a change, and even those who don't have info, just chiming in gives me good "feels."

 

I need the support. I need the knowledge. I need you guys.

 

Had a conference appointment today with my therapist, my p doc, and my nurse. (I am blessed with an amazing medical time, guys, I know that is rare.)

 

The solution is I will transit from xanax IR to XR. The pharmacy has to order in the XR, it will be here tomorrow.

 

I will dose 3 Mg's of XR twice a day, and am given a regular 1mg IR to use if I need it between doses.

 

They told me I can do it. I have the strength and determination to get through the transition. I was encouraged as I make the adjustment to keep up my intensive cycling, yoga, and other coping mechanisms. I am also to report in weekly to see how it's going.

 

I am optimistic. I anticipate some rough weeks as I transfer, but in the long run, my CNS will have a stable dose of the medication, possibly making me stable in a way the IR never has. My objective and concern I shared with my medical team is the lack of stability makes it excruciating to taper seroquel, and pretty intense interdose between my xanax IR doses. I am looking at this a scientifically as I can: stabilize the CNS, then move forward.

 

Knowing this is much better for the long run, not only in day to day coping, but long term stability, and hence, easier tapering, I will hang on to that to get through tapering when it is time.

 

Once I acclimate, I would like to chip away at the devil seroquel. Will go slow. I may end up keeping a small dose and not going completely off, but that's quite a ways ahead.

 

As you are all in this thread with me, I would like to park myself here, and report on  my progress and fears, and joys, etc. You folks, if you so choose, make an excellent support BB team for me as I do this.

 

I would prefer you guys to hang around with me, since you were with me from the stat, as you desire, and use this thread.

 

Dickie, I hope your feeling better!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[Be...]]

baddove,

 

That's wonderful news! I wish you all the success with Xanax XR because regular Xanax is impossible to taper from, IMO. Keep us posted 

[[ba...]]

Dickie,

 

I have an idea what your going through. I have never had such intense reaction to med reduction until I started to cut seroquel.

 

I wish we knew more about tapering it, have searched extensively, there is a shortage of info. Found one site which said it's not even know what all its doing in our brains (that's scary) I don't think enough folks are on it, and then tapering, for it to get the attention opiods and benzos do.

 

The best info I found is that it's a,neuro modulator, it keeps serotonin, dopamine, glutamine, even gaba, and other neurons in balance. It calms anxiety, it can aid sleep.

 

I'm hoping it's a,matter of time for you to adjust, not months, but weeks.

 

Any medicinal change (except benzos)  usually takes about 8 weeks for the brain to adapt, hopefully that's your time frame.  I don't think it altered our brains like benzos do, where the CNS has to repair itself.

 

Anyway, keep posting. Know we are in this fight with you.

 

Also, I, too, am tapering the evil seroquel, so your not alone. I am in the early days, and have a ways to go before I jump.

 

As you know, cutting made me so miserable that I'm  crossing from xanax IR to xanax XR.

 

I'm scared , like always, but need to make a change, I can't function,,much less taper either the benzo or the seroquel in the state I am in now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[Be...]]

To baddove and all the other users in this tread,

 

Regarding Seroquel: Things may not be as grim as you think so. First of all, I have absolute belief in my psychiatrist (that being said, I know your experiences are probably different than mine), but Seroquel is absolutely indispensary in the early stages of benzo taper according to my psychiatrist and here's a study to back it up: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3772279/

 

First of all, it has neuroprotective effects on neuronal apoptosis, so it prevents neurons from dying out quicker than they're supposed to. Second of all, I'm sure it all boils down to being able to taper successfully from both benzos and Seroquel in the end.

 

I used to take Zyprexa (which is far more potent and to use the word "inelegant") before I became addicted to benzos. It stabilzed my pre-existing Borderline Personality Disorder. I had found the right dosage (20 mgs) and it worked great for sleep, while balancing my mood during the day - neither too depressive, nor too maniac.

 

Seroquel is even better than that. I really hope I won't get banned or anything for sharing my experience, I just want to share my thoughts on the subject. For instance, I cannot manage the high doses of lorazepam (Ativan) without an additional dosage of Seroquel. My psychiatrist knew that, just as I suspect he knows I will eventually taper off both. But Seroquel is not neurotoxic (unless, of course you overdose on it, but quite the opposite - it's neuroregenerative)

 

I don't know how seriously people take me on this board when they see my signature. I know I'm on extremely high doses, but I haven't given up and if I can function relatively unimpaired cognitivey, I just want to give hope to others who are anxious or apprehensive about Seroquel. Apparently, some of you are going through withddrawal. Maybe you're tapering too fast?

 

baddove, how do you know it's the Seroquel and not the Xanax (which is the most short-acting benzo) before you make the switch to the extended-release one?

 

Quetiapine (Seroquel) aids sleep, and its metabolite norquetiapine acts as a mood stabilizer during the day. Period. Obviously, once you achieve tolerance (and that happens very fast), soon you might need to taper. But it's better to consult with the right doctor about this.

 

Please, I hope you all take this the way it was meant to be - to support you, and not to sound like a know-it-all.

 

Good luck! And just like baddove said, its effects on CNS are far less permanent than benzos, and 2-4 weeks or proper tapering should do the trick.

 

Cheers,

Georgi 

 

 

[[ba...]]

Georgi,

 

First of all , I know your a bit new. As to what your allowed to post, you can share your experiences (which you did,) and you can suggest ideas and options. By all means, anyone with information about the mechanism of a medication, their own experience with it, and ideas for coping are always appreciated.

 

I have monitored your posts (part of being a moderator,) you have never violated any rules. If you did, you would get a thoughtful message, not critical, referring you to the parameters of what is allowed, and what is not.

 

When I first joined, I inadvertently violated one of the rules, and was informed of it, and referred to the guidelines. No shame. It happens sometimes.

 

You may not tell people to stop/start/change, or add medications. You have not done this. For example, you can share that seroquel was beneficial to you. You may state factual information about it, which you have done. I especially appreciate the link you provided, that validates your information, and gives us a source. You can share your experiences working through a medication, and how it helped, hindered or was neutral. That is appropriate.

 

Additionally, you state your own mental health diagnosis with your information, that is crucial to help us understand how we may all react differently to any given medication.

 

This type of input is very helpful for those of us in the midst of being on a medication as we navigate our use of it. In this case, 3 of us are tapering seroquel.

 

You may not tell someone they need to get off of it, that is for a medical care provider to determine. You may suggest using it as an option in appropriate threads, but without advocating that any individual take it unless their medical providers propose it.

 

Additionally, some folks will be given a new medication (seroquel for example) by their doctor, and have questions, you can share both your experience and any information you have.

 

Here is the list of rules:

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=88031.0

 

In general, I will tell you your posting like a pro, and what you contribute is very helpful. It doesn't matter that your at a high dosage, or where you are in your taper, or even if you haven't started yet. All of us have insight, knowledge and compassion to share. Our benzo dependence and tapering don't take away from that. It makes BB better to have both people working through their benzo dependence, and those who are healed. Many of us are struggling through withdraw and dependence, but that does not detract from what we have to offer.

 

Look at my signature. I am still on high doses of medication, yet, I was invited to be a moderator. Where we are in our journey to healing is usually irrelevant in gauging the value of our contributions. Many of us are dealing with tapering and medicinal issues, but that in no way diminishes what we know and experience and can relate to.

 

To answer your question, I know my horrid symptom uptick was from seroquel, it started 3 days after I cut from 650 Mg's to 400 Mg's. Reinstated at 550 Mg's, am still there now. Going forward, will make much smaller cuts .

 

Appreciate what you said about Seroquel being helpful, and not a monster. For me, my dosage far exceeds my bodies need, and I am fed up with the side affects. The goal at this point is to get to 400Mg's.

[[Be...]]

baddove,

 

Thank you immensely for the supporting words 

 

I think I understand how this (the guideline rules) works  - share experiences, never advocate extreme ideas without actually referring people to a doctor's expertise. I will try to be careful with that one.

 

I'm actually very determined to the my taper right, it's just that extermal circumstances in my life contribute to my sporadic UPdosings, which leave me temporarily helpless at times, but I recover. This time I'm determined to do it right. I mean, it was so easier back in 2012, I don't understand what went wrong and how I got stuck in this loop of constantly upping my dosage. At first, it was the high (I have to admit the junkie high was a motivational factor), but since that high never works any longer, I'm ashamed of myself and all the mistakes I have made. I used to be a teacher, and now look at me - unemployed, a burden to my mother (because this time she found out), and not living independently. I used to counsel people on benzo usage from time to time.

 

You are absolutely right that it's a medical care provider to to determine what one should do with Seroquel. I will no longer stick my ideas that vehemently without being sensitive about the rules.

 

I thank you immensely for the compliment that I'm posting like a pro. What else do I have to do, but research meds online carefully to pass the time (apart from watching multiple TV shows, and praying someone will ask for English lessons)

 

Also, recently I've learnt that I must respect other people's speed of tapering. Who am I to judge? If what the majority is saying and they need titration, then it must be true. I'm aware of the individual characteristics that everyone's CNS responds to benzos now (or anti-depressants, or anti-psychotics).

 

But, please, believe me when I say I wish all the success to every member on this board because I know the dark place of depression and benzodiazepine withdrawal.

 

P.S. I also noticed anything above 400 mgs of Seroquel makes me groggy in the morning. I think it's not advisable to exceed that dosage. I wish you success with tapering from 550 mg to 400 mg, at the very least.

 

Regards,

BenzoMutant 

[[ba...]]

Georgi:

 

P.S. I also noticed anything above 400 mgs of Seroquel makes me groggy in the morning. I think it's not advisable to exceed that dosage. I wish you success with tapering from 550 mg to 400 mg, at the very least.

 

:sick: That's the situation. I am a damn zombie, and I hate it. Went from 130 pounds to 170. And, I still exercise avidly, always have. I'm a serious cyclist, and do yoga, and weight work at my gym. That 40 pounds has me up to what I weighed at the end of my pregnancies. I am 56, and have never had a weight problem. Until seroquel.

 

Headache, lethargy, etc. Hence, my pdoc set 400 as a much better dose. So, I agree with that 400 mg max number per my doctor. We learned together I couldn't just go from 650 to 400. I cut to 550 after a brief reinstatement. That's a big cut, but I want to get out of this, knew it would be a problem. I don't care. Sometimes I start big, then slow down.

 

From here, will cut by .25 every 4 weeks after I get through the xanax transition as a starting plan. I will have to learn what my body can handle-perhaps faster, perhaps slower.

 

For now, though, I am going to be going through the xanax crossover. Hope it works, I will give it time.

 

[[Be...]]

Wish you good luck with both of your tapers! And hope your weight stabilizes as a result 

 

You must be so excited about the Xanax XR. Hope it works well. There's no reason why it shouldn't 

 

I read the rules and guidelines. It appears there are several of those 

 

Regards,

Georgi