I got put on seroquel 300 a few weeks back, on nothing else, and it helps to a degree I am not having fits anymore, but in the day I feel I need an add on.
I cant take this in the day or I am USELESS! It makes all my muscles feel so heavy and I get sooooo drowsy worse than any normal med. i have had drowsiness but this is almost feeling the way a date rape drug sounds like (ok not that bad I can sort of help myself) but not really, For the first few hours I just sit there and cant really move
Is that normal or do I have any other option?
Mty doc also wants to only have me on one med not a few, I used to always be on one mood stabilizer and one anti psychotic or similar ... but she is a bit old school, or maybe its England not sure... she wont use any of the newer meds, I had to fight to get this,
and obviously some people take well to it and some dont. so I hadnt tried this before and thought it would be good but the side affect are too much.
thanks in advance ")

Hey,

I am on Seroquel and cannot take it during the day at all. It makes me woozy and nonfunctionable. Therefore, my pdoc has me take it at night. Would that be possible for you? You should talk to you pdoc about it because it might help.

Paige

I do take it at dinnertime, in fact so to try to help me get up before noon! But then when I have been up I get a bit GRRR and need something in the day.

My doc said she does not want to give me another med for some reason, maybe this is an NHS/England thing.
It would be nice to know anyone else from UK if they get to be on more than one, as I used to always be on 2 things the past 7 years .../

so do you take anything in the day, Paige or is that enough for you to last 24 hrs and what dose are you on> I am on 300 and I feel any more would knock me out 22 hours per day! which is not good as I need to concentrate on things like work, etc.

:)

Seroquel should be upgraded to a controlled substance. Alot of my mates that do coke and abuse Rx drugs use it to get chilled out or to deal with the negative effects of other drugs...it is growing on the black market.

Whenever I take it, it seriously screws me up. Originally my psychiatrist gave me a sample pack that started at 50mg, then 100mg, then 200mg, then 300mg, then settled at a dose of 400mg split in two doses per day.

I basically passed all the time in my room alone lying on my bed, doing nothing barely able to get up and walk around, and once, after taking benadryl for allergies, I had an odd period of severe visual allusions that my xanax didn't stop, so that ended up with a trip to the ER and Valium in my veins.

It's too strong for me...it might work for someone who has serious suicidal or homicidal thoughts, but for me benzodiazepenes are still the most acceptable (and cheapest) form of control for my rage and a-go-go.

But I do take 1/2 of a 25 mg tablet up to a 25mg tablet from time to time to help with sleep.

Leomia, I too am on 300mg of Seroquel. Initially I was supposed to be on a max of 200mg but after becoming extremely agitated/too energetic/a bit confused/somewhat violent I asked to increase to 300mg. I take it all at night. It's been several weeks on 300mg now.

Once again I've adjusted and it doesn't put me to sleep. To be honest I think I'm currently hypomanic. My CPN said "Isn't that a good thing? You're feeling well and productive." Uhm yeah, if you call running about town for hours buying something I don't need but at the time I just HAVE to have it a good thing. My friends have noticed too. My conversation is all over the place and I'm constantly interrupting.

OH I forgot to mention this but my different docs here all believe in only giving one medication too. It's discouraging considering the books I have read seem to prefer multiple medications at lower doses compared to one large dose of a medication. Then again those books were published in the U.S.

On another note, my docs STILL won't officially diagnose me. They say I don't want to be 'labeled' for the rest of my life. I do think they are stuck back in time. It seems as though they use psychoanalytical theories - wanting to focus on past events in my life that would have caused my behaviour, how I perceive things. They don't seem to follow a more medical approach- diagnosis, symptoms, illness, and medical treatment. Every time I try to use terms such as 'hypomanic' 'mixed state' 'depressed' 'racing thoughts' etc. they start attacking me "Why must you use a label to describe how you feel?" That just leaves me dumbfounded. I'm trying to explain how I feel so that you flippin can know what the problem is!

Dandy Andy, wow sounds like you had a rough time of it. I dont think I am quite that bad but not too far off, either.

Pieke,
thats very bizarre about the docs over here. Well at least I know I am not alone then. I think the US way sounds better,. also I was on a combo before moving here and that works well for me until I had to change it.

that is very odd how they wont accept a label esp since you do! and yes you need that to explain the problem! I hate having to explain myself to a person who should know this!

I feel like I cant get up and function in the day and otherwise act like some sort of zombie. I cant talk and my husband cant understand me, as if I was drunk and slurring words. Do you get that~??

it worries me that my doc calls and keeps calling this a mood stabilzer when its not, there is a difference!! she should know I know this because I do all this research and bring in all these pages of things!!! and still refuses, well I have an appt on thurs we will see what happens.

:)

I thought Seroquel was used to treat schizophrenia? I take it for sleep like Andy - 1/3 to 1/2 of a 25mg pill and it knocks me out in no time flat! I am always telling my husband that I simply cannot fathom how the people prescribed this drug for other disorders function! I also understand that sluggish, zombie-like feeling when I take it very well - and that's after I wake up from 8 hours sleep induced from the CRUMBS of a 25mg pill! :eek:

good point gav. I thought it was for just BP. then if it does this why do they prescribe it I wonder>

Well I had researched it on the boards and I know no one has the same symptoms but man do I have opposite ones of the people who were happy with it! I cant believe a 25 mg makes you feel like that as well. I definitely need to go down a lot. and use it just for sleep maybe.

What are you on in the day, anything? so if you feel like that on like 10 mg wow thats crazy. The people I had asked maybe none of you so far on this post had a problem so I was asking the wrong people.
Also my brother is on this and he said it was good but with him I get a one liner answer, he didnt tell me any affects just that he gained wait. or maybe he is so hard to sleep that this finally worked at whatever.
I just assumed this would work for me to, like him.
Silly me!

Hi Leomia,

I am on 200mg of Lamictal for my bipolar and take Seroquel specifically for sleep. I told my pdoc that I MUST have something to help me sleep, as I was getting maybe 3 hours per night and felt like I was about to go over the edge. However, I was worried about taking prescription sleep aids, afraid of addiction and their ultimate loss of its medicinal effect. That's when she told me that Seroquel has had good results for treating insomnia in bipolars. At the same time, I remember her telling me that Seroquel was a treatment for schizophrenia, not bipolar, although it was commonly prescribed to bipolars in small doses for insomnia, not for their moods. And I see why! The first night I went home and took a whole 25mg pill I almost had a panic attack. It hit me so hard that I thought if I fell asleep that I might never wake up! :eek: I even remember making my husband talk to me to keep me awake because it scared me half to death. On the other hand, it was the best night's sleep I'd had in YEARS! So, I kept using it but in VERY small doses; seriously, crumbs put me to sleep, and a one-month's supply of 25mg lasts me nearly 3 1/2 months! Not bad for the price compared to other sleep aids.

All in all, unless you have schizophrenia, I would not recommend Seroquel by itself for stabilizing your moods. The drug information I've received from my doctor does not fit an effective treatment alternative for bipolar disorder. It may be used as a supplement, but not as the sole treatment. At least, that is my understanding. If nothing else, I would seriously seek a second opinion from someone who specializes in the treatment of mood disorders.

Hello all...while Gav brings up some wonderful points I am amazed at how well my 16 yr old daughter is doing on Seroquel and also how much she is on that doesn't seem to give her any side effects at all. Erin is on 250mgs in the morning and 325mgs at bedtime!!! You would think that would put a horse out but it works well for her. You would never even know that she was on a med looking at her. Recently studies found that Seroquel was found to have the ability to address both the manic and depressive aspects of bipolar and many doctors found it to have the ability to stabilize moods all on it's own. We are also on Lamictal 200mgs/day

In addition to that it was found that " Relapse rates into some kind of bipolar symptom, including depression, were three times lower with Seroquel compared to before it was added." A doctor who specialized in treatment of Bipolar stated, ""This is the first time that an antipsychotic has been shown to have clear antidepressant activity.....it clearly topped all other antipsychotics when assessed as a treatment for bipolar depression."

When our pdoc put Erin on the Seroquel she warned us about how many patients had problems tolerating it due to it's sedation. But she told us that the faster we increased the dose the less likely we would experience that effect and the more likely it would help and be tolerated. And for us, she was right.

As with any med, not everybody will experience the same response. For us, amazingly, Seroquel has worked out well with very little weight gain and no side effects to speak of.

As we increased we experienced some dizziness but that only lasted a day or so. Erin has been on it for a little over 8 months now and is doing quite well on it.

Just thought I would share our success with this med.

~ Goody:angel: :wave:

thanks goody. I think I took your story when I did my research and decided to go for it. Other than feeling really wierd and zombie like the firs few hours I take and being stuck in bed for 15 hours, I love it, so If I have nothing to do then its fine.
I think I am no longer gonna take it at dinner (at least today I got up 2 hrs earlier) but because of how early I had to take it to get up before noon for once, I could not function last night. I was on the couch and my husband had to help me move my legs on the couch, they would not move!

did your kids have any of this? I thought I had adjusted and it all took about 4 days since that is how long it took to go from 25 to 300. I have been on this around a month maybe a tiny bit less. If its normal to still have symptoms fine. But I am not a happy bunny with the sleeping my life away and cant move my own legs on the couch!!!
I do like how I am seeming completely sane and rational, we have not had a fight this whole time.
But I dont like not being able to move talk or walk! Or wake up for that matter.

2 more days, leomia and you see the doctor!!!

are you going to take it at night again?

All in all, unless you have schizophrenia, I would not recommend Seroquel by itself for stabilizing your moods. The drug information I've received from my doctor does not fit an effective treatment alternative for bipolar disorder. It may be used as a supplement, but not as the sole treatment. At least, that is my understanding. If nothing else, I would seriously seek a second opinion from someone who specializes in the treatment of mood disorders.

Gav I did not even see your second post, sorry! I guess the email takes you to somewhere else, it always used to be where you left off. anyways, I guess me and you have completely different thinking doctors. And my husband and I had discussed finding another one if on thursday she wont sort it out. He has the day off and goes with me to fight the good fight!!
I never needed that back home in the states!

it is great to help you sleep and not have the insomnia! I had it pretty bad I would stay up till 5 am, so at that time it was ok that I was sleeping in but now I get 14 hrs of sleep easy!
I keep setting alarms and do not hear when they go off! Today I did but my cat was sitting on me so I could not move and I feel asleep a bit longer so thats my fault! But I did wake up a few hours earlier.
:D
but what I had to deal with last night to just wake up 2 hrs earlier, man! I could not even move, but this time I didnt stutter.

Does that happen to anyone else who takes this? Sounding like your drunk slurring your words after the med?
Its insane!
Good thing I work from home and dont have to deal with anyone but it wont always be that way!
So when I go I am gonna just tell her I just got a new job or somehting and I need to function. Is that bad?

Hey Deenah
thanks for asking
and yes it is thurs .... I hope that works. Maybe Dan can defend me but he has his own doctors appt half way thru (the mental health office is next door to the regular doctors) which is convenient but you usually cant get them all on the same day!
Do you know what? I have to go back to a GP to renew my allergy med which I never had to do they just gave me refills.
Oh well.
and tomorrow I have an appt with someone who helps people like us get some financial help. thats cool I hope it works :)

I have a friend that is BP who lives in the UK as well and when we talk, we talk a mile a minute... We stutter over our words, it's amazing that we can even understand each other.

I'm sure your husband is a good guy and would be the perfect person to back you up!

Its funny I never used to need anyone to back me up. My doctor back home is great, but over here I feel like I barely get them to accept I am BP. But I dont WANT to be BP they think I want it!!

Ya you were saying earlier that you stuttered over stuff sometimes. Maybe its a BP thing. Well I did NOT do it yesterday for some reason, maybe that part is getting better. I just have to wait till I get to move by myself he he!

although for what you get. I do like the med, I am not a raging lunatic any more! and if we get in fights I now know they are his fault. He he jsut kidding. No seriously we never fight now. Ok it also helps that he stopped drinking, maybe I am easier to live with so I no longer drive him to it. LOL

So if I could move properly I would not be worried that and not sleeping so much. I guess I will see how long things take. I can always take the med after dinner after we take a walk then I dont chicken in half way around ya know! But I wonder if there is any mood stabliser as well that doesnt come with its own problem. Right now I have enough side affects.

That's so funny about the talking fast - I am the exact same way. I talk 90-miles-a-minute and some people have trouble understanding what I'm saying. I'm always on the go, go, go!

And I'm sorry if I gave the wrong impression about Seroquel. After reading Goody's story with Erin, maybe it does work better than I thought, or at least better than my doctor thought, for bipolars. My doctor has been great and I love her, and I guess I've been conditioned to take everything she has to say as if it comes from the highest authority. However, my experience has been the same as yours, leomia. There is no way I could function on it in larger doses. NO WAY! But it has worked wonders for treating my insomnia. And also like you, it is very difficult for me to wake up from my Seroquel-induced slumber. WHEW! I feel like I have a gazzillion pounds on me. On the other hand, it's not too difficult to get going once I've gotten out of bed and moving around.

gav, ya today I am ok thats because I took this at 6 pm last night and dealt with the cant move talk or whatever. but at least I am up earlier. Normally I am still asleep by now!
so I am playing around with the times to see what works. Tonight I will have dinner and take a walk after (maybe I should start walking around in the day but its really hot! at least here!)

I guess some people can handle it and some cant. I needed help with insomnia but not put in a coma!! It does do miracles for my BP though! I was horrible to anyone close to me before and now I am not having any episodes at all!
and I used to cry about everything and now I don't. I guess it just puts the BP affects at bay so to speak.
I just wish I could wake up. Maybe I am on too much. 300 mg?
anyways its nice to know I am not alone on this!
My brother and my moms neighbor both have BP and tried this. My bro is still on it. and he gained a lot of weight. He is also on Topomax and Geodon. I tend to do what my bro does, not to copy him but he is related and if it works on him it might work on me. And that has been true so far with other meds, too. At least he can be my guinea pig he he! J.k not that bad. Well he doenst have the coma issue with Seroquel that I seem to, and you too! Hopefully we will figure this out.

Im on seroquel and it was like that for about a month. Now, I take it at 9pm and am asleep by 10. I still feel strange but I am able to hold a conversation now! I still sometimes forget what happened the night before. Like I cant remember if its a dream or real! but I swear not as bad as before. It will get better I am also on 300mg. Best of wishes

Pamela:wave: :wave:

thanks, Pam. by your story maybe I am a few weeks away then! It is good, just the drowsiness and muscle thing is so hard to take right now.
Its good to hear someone who went through this and is now better.

Are you on anything else? Or do you feel like Seroquel is enough for you?

I am only on seroquel. I feel that is enough. I remember my right leg. Oh my did it ever bother me!! My husband couldnt even tough it. I was so weird. I remember kicking it up and down. My advice is take it around 8 so you can sleep by 9 and dont eat when on it at night. I feel like im kinda high and I get munchies at night! fight it with all you can. YOu will get the lovely weight gain. Best of luck
Pamela

I have a brother who gained 20 lbs on this and my moms neighbor had a lot of problems
I haven't had the munchies so far, the weight I gained when I was on Depakote (that is one reason I switched!) is enough, ya know!
I still have to get rid of that first.
So only one leg felt weird? hm thats very odd!!
I am trying different times to take it. I think not at 6 pm, have to do it later so I still have my evening.
But too late and it makes me comatose till noon! well in 2 days I see the doc maybe they will try something that works or another way of taking it or smaller dose, or split dose, I dont know.
and I do feel it is enough, too. which is good!
but I need to get used to it maybe this is too much for me, I dont know. At first 2 weeks I thought I was still irritable in the day, maybe its being groggy and not knowing what is going on, I dont know.
Its also hard to fight the munchies as I am home all day, and not having anything to do, and sometimes I get freelance jobs which are from home as well. :) thanks for your input .

I just wondered how you where feeling?? Are you getting any better on the seroquel???

Pamela

thanks Pam! that is very sweet of you!
as a matter of fact I am feeling better, the good definately outweighs the bad, and the wierd muscle thing is on and off. so its not all the time. I have been trying to make myself wake up an extra hour early each day and so far so good. A few days ago I was getting up at 1 (I dont have a job yet, ya see!)
and today I got up at 9.30

also if I take it at 8 I can sleep at 11 and get a good night, I used to stay up with insomnia till 5 am!!

How are you doing? Hope your feeling better to!!
take care

I am so glad you are figuring this whole thing out. I told my doc the same thing. I for sure love the goods. I told him I would deal with the bads at night.

I am still doing good although taking it later due to kids b-ball games lasting very late.

the whole muscle thing will end in about 2-3 months from start date at least it did with me.

best of luck

Pamela

well its good to know a timeframe of when I can HOPE to not have issues!

I think even if you take it late most times you should be ok. I just think for me it helps me wake up earlier instead of putting me in a coma the earlier I take it

:)