Quetiapine for sleeping ....

[[Se...]]

Hello everybody, I just want to say hello and ask for someone on seroquel (quetiapine).

 

I am now 11 mon free of benzo (Rivotril) and 8 mon free of Z drug (Zolpidem). Two mon ago I was sleeping quite good ( 4 or 5 hrs) but I am having again troubles with it. One day I do sleep and two I don`t, so I would like to know if some had seroquel and then taper off. I am having only 12.5 mgs per day which is very small dosage, but I am afraid that is time to quit any kind of pill........

 

I bet this is going to be better later as my brain gets better but I hope some can say something about this.....tks for your opinions

[[el...]]

I'd rather be on benzos than that stuff.  If you're not psychotic, don't take it.  There are many threads on seroquel.  It works for some people to take it as needed, but I think it's risky.  Try some safer things first and exercise.  Research. 

[[Se...]]

Thanks a lot elliptical22, I am on that......

[[Me...]]

Hi Sergio

 

When I first confessed to my psych doctor how much Zolpidem I was taking she immediately discontinued my script and put me on Seroquel 50mg and retained my Benzo (Dormonoct).  Within 2 weeks of taking the 50mg Seroquel it had to be updosed to 125mg (still with the Benzo) because I had built a tolerance to it.  No I am not psychotic - she was prescribing it for sleep.

[[Ch...]]

I've taken 25 mg Seroquel for sleep for since ~Oct of 2011 or so. 50 mg was too sedating. I have not had to increase the dose. At that dose, it seems to act more as an anti-histamine. I don't really care if it's called an "anti-psychotic." I am not psychotic. I have chronic insomnia and I need to sleep. The Seroquel has worked just fine and I've had no sxs from it. When the time comes to taper from it, I will.

 

People on here will have a bunch of horror stories about every kind of medication, I've discovered. Only you and your doctor know YOUR medical history and what kind of medication is going to be of the best benefit for you.

 

If you are concerned about Seroquel, other people seem to like Remeron as an alternative. I can't take that because it's contra-indicated with another med I take right now.

 

Best of luck,

CB

[[...]]

I've been on seroquel for a week. Made me have very vivid nightmares and a feeling I exercised whole night after waking up. The whole day I was like a zombie and at 4pm I had to puke and the horror was over. Until nighttime when I had to take 25mg as a sleep aid again.

 

I almost knocked my psych out because of the crap she gave me. Personally I will never go to antipsychotics again if I don't have a psychosis (had one)

 

But now here I am, .5 lorazepam for the night. Next week I will cut the crap and jump.

[[el...]]

Sorry, I responded quick without reading your sig.  I wouldn't stop taking that stuff abruptly. 

[[AN...]]

Sergio,

 

Getting off Seroquel is hell on earth.  I was taking it as a mood stabilizer until I started to taper it last March, and I'm still not really done with withdrawal.  There are much safer things to take for insomnia.  I've had good luck with 5 mg melatonin except just after a drop in lorazepam.

 

Best to you, ANewOne

[[Bi...]]

I took Seroquel only one time! I never took it again. It was strong stuff. I was put on 200mg at one pop, and after that, total blackout, followed by a Partial Seizure. This is just my experience with it. I was lucky I didn't drown. I remember just stepping out of the tub, and laying down after that.

 

Here is some Info. on Seroquel:-

 

Important Safety Information and Indications for SEROQUEL XR and SEROQUEL

 

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis (having lost touch with reality due to confusion and memory loss) treated with this type of medicine are at an increased risk of death, compared to placebo (sugar pill). SEROQUEL XR and SEROQUEL are not approved for treating these patients.

 

Antidepressants have increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults. Patients of all ages starting treatment should be watched closely for worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, unusual changes in behavior, agitation, and irritability. Patients, families, and caregivers should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when an antidepressant medicine is started or when the dose is changed. Report any change in these symptoms immediately to the doctor. SEROQUEL XR is not approved for patients under the age of 18 years. SEROQUEL is not approved for patients under the age of 10 years.

 

Stop SEROQUEL XR or SEROQUEL and call your doctor right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms: high fever; stiff muscles; confusion; sweating; changes in pulse, heart rate, and blood pressure. These may be symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a rare and serious condition that can lead to death

High blood sugar and diabetes have been reported with SEROQUEL XR, SEROQUEL, and medicines like them. If you have diabetes or risk factors such as obesity or a family history of diabetes, your doctor should check your blood sugar before you start taking SEROQUEL XR or SEROQUEL and also during therapy. If you develop symptoms of high blood sugar or diabetes, such as excessive thirst or hunger, increased urination, or weakness, contact your doctor. Complications from diabetes can be serious and even life threatening

Increases in triglycerides and in LDL (bad) cholesterol and decreases in HDL (good) cholesterol have been reported with SEROQUEL XR and SEROQUEL. Your doctor should check your cholesterol levels before you start SEROQUEL XR or SEROQUEL and during therapy

Weight gain has been reported with SEROQUEL XR and SEROQUEL. Your doctor should check your weight regularly

Tell your doctor about any movements you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other body parts, as they may be signs of a serious condition called tardive dyskinesia (TD). TD may not go away, even if you stop taking SEROQUEL XR or SEROQUEL. TD may also start after you stop taking SEROQUEL XR or SEROQUEL

Other risks include feeling dizzy or lightheaded upon standing, decreases in white blood cells (which can be fatal), or trouble swallowing. Tell your doctor if you experience any of these

Increases in blood pressure have been reported with SEROQUEL in children and teenagers. Your doctor should check blood pressure in children and adolescents before starting SEROQUEL and during therapy

Before starting treatment, tell your doctor about all prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking. Also tell your doctor if you have or have had low white blood cell count, seizures, abnormal thyroid tests, high prolactin levels, heart or liver problems, or cataracts. An eye exam for cataracts is recommended at the beginning of treatment and every 6 months thereafter

Since drowsiness has been reported with SEROQUEL XR and SEROQUEL, you should not participate in activities such as driving or operating machinery until you know that you can do so safely. Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated while taking SEROQUEL XR or SEROQUEL. Do not drink alcohol while taking SEROQUEL XR or SEROQUEL

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Avoid breast-feeding while taking SEROQUEL XR or SEROQUEL

For SEROQUEL XR, the most common side effects in adults are drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, increased appetite, upset stomach, weight gain, fatigue, disturbance in speech and language, and stuffy nose. For SEROQUEL, the most common side effects in adults are drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, constipation, weakness, abdominal pain, a sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing, sore throat, weight gain, sluggishness, abnormal liver tests, and upset stomach. The most common side effects in children and adolescents are drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, increased appetite, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, and weight gain

 

http://www.seroquelxr.com/?

 

I'd rather be on benzos than that stuff.  If you're not psychotic, don't take it.  There are many threads on seroquel.  It works for some people to take it as needed, but I think it's risky.  Try some safer things first and exercise.  Research.

 

I agree with this statement, BTW. Not to mention, Seroquel is a Major Tranquilizer, and it does have sedative effects.

 

Billy.

 

 

[[ju...]]

I was given the smallest dose of Seroquel prescribable in the US, for sleep, and in 3 weeks, had gained 25 lbs. The stuff also makes you stone-cold stupid, and if you value your creativity, run like hell.

 

It slows thyroid function, which accounts for the zero metabolic activity, and wipes out your dopamine in the places where dopamine functions in wakefulness, attention, the experience of pleasure, and creativity. Oh, it'll knock you out--crackheads like it to come down after a run, as, I imagine, other dopesters and bad-trippers and such, and i guess it'll do in a pinch if one feels the DTs coming on and has a couple of days to kill. (NOT a recommendation; have just heard this done, is all. Alcohol withdrawal is a life-threatening condition, as, of course, is benzo withdrawal, and if a person has the luxury of sleeping through benzo withdrawal, go for it. Could be worse.)

 

Note to moderator: if you must flag this, pls leave the part about massive and rapid weight gain. there are class action suits in progress by ppl who have developed diabetes as a result of using Seroquel.

[[Sp...]]

I got tardive dyskinesia from taking Seroquel for only a few weeks in 2009 (as an "adjunct therapy" with my SSRI). My tongue moves around inside my mouth constantly, all day long. I can only stop it if I focus my entire attention on not moving my tongue; as soon as my focus drifts the least bit, it's twitching around again. It only ceases when I'm asleep. There is no cure for tardive diskinesia, and I count myself lucky that at least mine is not visible to others.

 

It is my opinion that antipsychotic drugs like Seroquel are being prescribed indiscriminately for way too many off-label uses. Read up on it and proceed with great caution.

 

Sparrow

[[Se...]]

Thanks to all of you for your comments

 

Well I am trying to taper off this Quetiapine and I still keep without sleep. I am sleeping maybe 1 or 2 hours but definitely for all I have read in different forums Its better to going through this hard process at once than put off it everytime with a different med each time.

 

The most successful stories here are with people who just held tight and determined and just wait for heal....

[[li...]]

While quatiapine can be quite bad, there are some misconceptions.

 

At low doses, it's mostly a powerful antihistamine. Some alpha blocking as well.

 

At higher doses it starts acting as an antipsychotic, blocking dopamine receptors.

The drug behaves quite different at high doses than at low doses.

 

I'm not sure why many people seem to have problems with low doses of this drug.

 

Perhaps the whole benzo withdrawal plays a role ?

A regular sedating antihistamine like promethazine can cause anticholinergic effects and raise the seizure threshold.

 

As a rule I think that that when sedating antihistamines are indicated, sedating antihistamines should be prescribed rather than Seroquel/quatiapine.

 

Sometimes worrying about these drugs is worse than the drugs themselves.

 

[[we...]]

My neurologist told me that both Zyprexa and Seroquel can still be found in the brain six months after discontinuation. He said it was some research that they did while he was at the Harvard school of medicine.

 

There is also some literature that shows that it down regulates dopamine receptors, just like benzodiazepine down regulates GABA receptors. The withdrawal is thought to be similar, in that the dopamine receptors have to up regulate again.

 

Seroquel doesn't have my vote, because it builds tolerance, causes diabetes, hypertension, tardive dyskinesia, and sticks around in the brain for months.  It is even being questioned for people who are schizophrenic, other than for short duration.

[[ma...]]

I have used low dose seroquel and not had many problems, but I can say I can't wait to get off it. My pdoc says it is nothing like benzos in terms of tapering, you won't get seizures for example.

 

At low doses it functions like benadryl which now that we know that, it's a really expensive antihistamine with a much more serious side effect profile.

 

I don't like the idea of it hanging out in my brain for six months though. Is that published research?

 

M

[[we...]]

I don't know if he published

 

[[li...]]

Out of curiousity I checked the 'volume of distribution' (technical term) of both Zyprexa and Seroquel.

 

Basically, drugs with a high volume of distribution tend to stick around longer.

While Seroquel doesn't seem that bad, most sources suggest a volume of distribution of about 1000 (!) for Zyprexa, which is extremely high.

[[Ch...]]

Liberty,

I have been taking 10 mg of Zyprexa every night for about two years now, because it terribly disturbed me that my head was always so busy, so full of thoughts, and seemingly full of many different thoughts at the same time, especially at night, when I was suffering from insomnia even though I took a lot of benzos. My thoughts are no longer going around at a great speed, if you know what I mean, since I am taking the Zyprexa. It hasn't cured my insomnia, but the insomnia is now more bearable because at least I can feel more restful.

I am quite alarmed by your last message though. What does this 'volume of distribution' mean?

And do you have any idea if 10 mg of Zyprexa is a high dose? How much would be the Seroquel equivalent? Do you have any idea?

I don't want to go back to that busy head full of thoughts, but I don't want to poison myself either. My doctor does have a problem with the benzos, by the way, and she's put me on a tapering schedule, but she never mentioned the Zyprexa as being something bad. I don't think I have built up any tolerance for it in those two years; that may make a difference to her too, because with the benzos I had an incredible tolerance, and still have. I take 37 mg of diazepam every night now, in combination with 10 mg of Zyprexa and 75 mg of amitryptiline, and I am still lying wide awake every night. I don't even feel a bit drowsy from that.

[[sn...]]

Hello Sergio05. My doc put me on quetiapine when I started klonopin. I took it for about two weeks and could not take any more. It made me feel detached from the world and aggrevated my depression, so I quit. However, everyones body chemistry is different. My sister takes it and she feels fine. Only you know if it agrees with you. Oh, and by the way, I'm not phsycotic, just have anxiety.

 

Take care, snoball

[[Se...]]

Thanks a lot snoball for your comment

 

Sergio05

[[Ca...]]

A physchiatrist gave me a prescription for sleep. This was before I knew my problems were zopiclone addicition.

I was assured that 2 pills would put me to sleep for the night.

 

I took it one night, and it was horrible.What really happened was, I felt like I couldn't move a muscle.

I was groggy but not asleep. I had to get up to go to the bathroom and it took me about an hour to actually get myself up. It was a horrible experience.

Carol (geddeca)

[[Se...]]

thanks a lot Carol for your comment...........

 

Sergio

[[...]]

Sergio,

 

When I used to abuse other substances (mainly Psychedelics and Stimulants) I would use Seroquel to come down if I didn't have Benzos or Thorazine (Chlorpromazine).

 

I actually got kind of addicted to Seroquel for a month or two, but it is a nasty drug - gave me depersonalization, derealization and dissociation. It's very mentally addictive, and I really don't see why Doctor's recommend it for Sleep when it's primary use is an Anti-Psychotic (which if you AREN'T psychotic, can make you psychotic after regular use). It's being heavily marketed in the US even for off-label uses, so that's probably why you got prescribed it.

 

I would recommend Promethazine or Diphenhydramine (which are both first gen Anti-Histamines - which aren't addictive at all), which are both sedative and help with sleep.

 

Some people have positive results with Melatonin, 5-HTP, Tart Cherry Extract & Valerian Root which are all herbal and non addictive too

 

KD

[[Se...]]

Thanks KD90 for your comment

 

Well I cut this Quetiapine now, like 20 days ago and I have been really bad in my sleep. Its a mess but I have to wait until my sleep returns to its normal function.....

 

Thanks again

[[Ca...]]

Wishing you sleep Sergio

Carol