Off Seroquel For Almost Two Weeks....The Aftermath

I was on a tiny dose 25 mg of that stuff years ago...I was also on Wellbutrin until recently I had a series of nasty seizures one of which made me stop breathing (possibly had a slight stroke as well). Wellbutrin did wonders at first, I gained self esteem and since it works as an appetite suppressant, I lost about 70 lbs and shed my carb addiction.
It has been months since the incidents and I still have no memory of about a month of my life. I'm on valium now. A couple times a day to keep away the edginess...no side effects at all. It is hyper concentrated valerian root extract. I have also heard some good things about melatonin...

Wow for one I'm glad you are off of it and two why would your doctor give you this for sleep?! It really makes you wonder what kind of kick back these docs get when they prescribe it for something it's not for. I was on seroquel for about 9mths or so. I was diagnosed bi-polar manic depressive though. I knew it was an antipsychotic. I can't believe your doctor didn't explain this medicine to you. I'm sorry you had to deal with this for two years. Omg I can only imagine. The 9mths I was on it were hard. I gained 50lbs in a month but my food choices didn't change. I didnt crave anything extra like sweets. I just at the same and still gained the weight.

I had horrid side effects. I remember it really messing with my motor skills. I couldn't walk right and I'd go to talk and nothing came out. It was like my brain and body functions weren't communicating fully. It was horrible but with the condition I was in I stayed on it. After a month my body started getting use to it. I was on 800mg a day too! I remember the first day I took it. My bf at the time said that I was out cold mid sentence in less than 5mins!! It did help me sleep but I always felt heavy after I woke up. After about 6 mths of this I started to notice it was working and asked to be taken off of it. My doctor slowly weened me off of it over the course of about 2-3mths.

Personally I don't think seroquel is something that should be given long term, it is some serious stuff! I have had no real problems like I did before seroquel. I had little bits and pieces creep back in during my pregnancy but that is it. Prior to my pregnancy I felt great. I know my friends ELEVEN YR OLD step son was put on seroquel!! When I saw the meds in her kitchen I told her to take him off that immediately. I then went and talked to her step son because he had been complaining about certain side effects and NOBODY listened to him! I felt so bad for this kid, everyone thought he was doing it for attention. When I told my friend he was on the same meds as me she looked shocked and when I spoke to the boy he cried because finally someone believed him. I told him I believed everything he was saying because I too was on that medicine and it made me feel the same way. I was so mad that he had to go thru that and that the doctor had the nerve to put an 11y r old on drugs he shouldn't have been on!! My friend took him off and switched doctors after that.

The only other medicine I've been on that was pretty potent was Accutane and that is another medicine that doctors seem to prescribe for basic acne when it's meant for nodular or cystic acne. I have known a few people on it who didn't need it in any way shape or form. Accutane is serious stuff and had major side effects many of which I still have today. It destroyed my night vision and my hair has never been the same. I knew what i was getting into with Accutane and still wanted it. I had really bad skin and never wanted to leave the house so to me the side effects were minimal compared to what I had to deal with. It worked but two yrs later my skin problem came back but not as bad and I was able to control it here previously I couldn't.

Sorry for going on lol I'm glad you are off of it and I'm sorry your doctor never informed you of the dangers of this medicine. If you need something for sleep they should give you something for sleep not an anti psychotic!!

Good luck!

I too gained weight on seroquel, what a terrible drug.

now I take an injectable that I want to quit, invega if you're curious.

I feel like I sleep too much, am too lazy, no creativity bursts like I used to have. I think being labeled bi-polar is a cop out, people just need more time to understand their feelings and gain control of their emotions. I used to be court ordered to take injectable invega sustenna now I am free of the court system it is up to me to take it or not. and all of this for throwing two punches when a cop punched me in the first place(over 10 years ago).

Good for you !!! I'm also off my seroquel. as you I was taking 400mgs and was weened off slowly. I'm now weening off Effexor as well, from 600mgs now down to 150mgs. It's a long process but well worth it.
I've noticed my train of thoughts being more clear, my energy level being better and of course....I excersise too....That's the true key right there !!!

Again..Congrats and keep working on it...You are a brave person !!!

reply to post by smyleegrl


Way to go Smylee !!

I believe that prescriptions are sometimes necessary, it's either that or death sometimes but there comes a time where someone must know when and why to quit, before it becomes a negative addiction. Was on Effexor and Seroquel for almost a year. Couldn't live without them. The withdrawal was slow and difficult. Medication free now and very happy. Each thing in its own time.

Be proud ! You're a winner and a truly beautiful individual !!!

reply to post by smyleegrl


When I went through my divorce they put me on Seroquel.
Small doses, I couldn't handle more than 25 mg, I can't imagine 400 mg, although I knew a guy with PTSD who was a nam vet who was on 1500 mg,
but it worked. It is a very effective drug for it's purpose. It shuts out all of the overriding emotions and the clutter of noise that can over run your senses.

Long term though, it gives you the munchies, and you gain weight. Cutting out all of the brain noise is a great thing when it is needed, however, in our day to day lives, cutting out that noise can be a bad thing too. Long term it turns you zombie-ish, and can damage your liver and eyes.

I'm glad you got off of it. I was only on it until I got away from my x...
After that, I didn't need it anymore.

It is one of the drugs they do give to help treat PTSD,
so it has it's purpose if things get way to bad.

But normally, it is not something anyone should take without careful consideration, and people need to keep themselves informed on the medication they are prescribed, especially brain meds.

Click here for more information.

Originally posted by Darkblade71
reply to post by smyleegrl

 

When I went through my divorce they put me on Seroquel.
Small doses, I couldn't handle more than 25 mg, I can't imagine 400 mg, although I knew a guy with PTSD who was a nam vet who was on 1500 mg,
but it worked. It is a very effective drug for it's purpose. It shuts out all of the overriding emotions and the clutter of noise that can over run your senses.

Long term though, it gives you the munchies, and you gain weight. Cutting out all of the brain noise is a great thing when it is needed, however, in our day to day lives, cutting out that noise can be a bad thing too. Long term it turns you zombie-ish, and can damage your liver and eyes.

I'm glad you got off of it. I was only on it until I got away from my x...

After that, I didn't need it anymore.

It is one of the drugs they do give to help treat PTSD,
so it has it's purpose if things get way to bad.

But normally, it is not something anyone should take without careful consideration, and people need to keep themselves informed on the medication they are prescribed, especially brain meds.

Huh? Usually the doctors around here are pushing Cymbalta. I know after my seizures/stroke nde with wellbutrin, my doc tried putting me on that. Of course, I'd been a closet anxiety-to-depression episode guy for years...wife left me in September. I have two friends also going through divorces and suffer from CLINICAL anxiety and depression like myself, and Cymbalta was what they were pushed. It really didnt work...now im on (besides the 20-40 mgs of valium a day...yeah, im that jittery) I started lamictal two weeks ago, I was supposed to double my dosage after that, I tried, and got violently ill. Even on the lowest dose I am experiencing EVERY one of the non life threatening side effects...basically it knocks you out cold at night, you have dreams that are far more bizarre than anything serequel even gave me, then you wake up tired and feel like you have a hangover, headache, nausea...but the symptoms were better this morning and I know most of these psychotropic drugs take your body about a month to get used to so I am going to give if another week or two. Good luck to everyone else who has posted so far...it isnt an easy thing to live with much less discuss mental illness.

Cheers all

reply to post by the owlbear


Regular doctor or a psychiatrist?
(you don't have to answer that, in fact don't, just think about it if it is a regular doctor)
Another thing that I have noticed with my own experience through medication for the mind is that a regular doctor really does not know what they are doing as much as a psychiatrist does. I would recommend anyone using brain meds, sees a specialist in that area, as med jumps and trying one after another after another, can be simply avoided or a lot less trial and error with a psychiatrist. But there is a stigma that goes with seeing one.

People need to ditch the stigma.

What worked for me was a combination of seroquel and lexapro.

It is different for everyone though,and all these pills do is make the depression and anxiety easier to work with. If one does not get therapy of some kind, the pills never address the real issue.

Long term I chose meditation and spiritualism in my own way to cope with these things, and it has worked for me, but that does not mean it works for everyone.

reply to post by smyleegrl


This is wonderful news smylee!

It's also important to realize the role food plays in the chemical balance in our bodies/brains. Eliminating as much processed food as possible and eating more organically grown fruits and veggies and if your a meat eater making sure your meat is grass fed and hormone/antibiotic free will also do wonders for your road to wellness.

I wish you well on your journey

reply to post by smyleegrl

My point is, sometimes the "cure" can be worse than the illness. I still have insomnia, but now I use meditation during that time and that helps me fall asleep.

Most of the time the "cure" is just a half assed treatment designed to treat the symptoms and not the problem. I don't take new drugs, in fact i try to stay away from anything that comes out of a pharmeceutical company's laboratory. I've been seeing alot of lawsuits over drugs designed to treat arthritis, psoriosis etc. and been hearing "may increase risk of certain cancers, cause heart failure or death". I even try to stay away from stuff like Aleve because NSAIDs can cause neurological problems like Parkinsons Disease.

The best treatment for insomnia is sex. Oragasm causes release of endorphins that act as a natural sleep aid, which is a major complaint in women when their men fall asleep quickly after achieving orgasm.

The best treatment for insomnia is sex. Oragasm causes release of endorphins that act as a natural sleep aid, which is a major complaint in women when their men fall asleep quickly after achieving orgasm.

reply to post by lonewolf19792000


Noted...and passed along.

Seroquel is a powerful anti-psychotic that has no business being prescribed for depression. It is only recently that it was approved for such use and there are many contraindications. Read the handout.

The worst days of my life have been the ones spent weaning from brain drugs and one synth opiate. Had I known the damage and utter chaos they were going to cause me I never would have taken them.

We as medical consumers must be educated about the drugs that DRs tell us to take. Ask them what the drug is for, how it works, side effects, etc. Then go home, get on the intertubes and research for yourself. Be informed.

reply to post by smyleegrl


Congratulations!!

Never been prescribed that one, but I know pretty well how you felt with the pre-diabetic stuff. When I was in high school they were worried about how thin I was. In fact, I flunked the draft because I was 6' 1" and only weighed 103lbs. Our family doctor put me on three cans of some dietary drink supplement (Metrical??) along with my regular diet. I became a sugar zombie, I think... There were days where I didn't remember even half of what had happened and I came home from school and went straight to bed. In no time at all I bloated up like the Michelin(sp?) Man. That stuff really messed me up.

I also am a fan of melatonin. I take 3mg each night 1/2 hour before bed.

This is a great thread. I have followed another thread of yours about depression and I feel just terrible about what you must be going through. A lot of people suffer from it. It seems that everyone I know suffers, and one dear friend of mine is on Seroquel along with another popular antidepressant. I have seen her pull out her hair, smack herself in the face, cry, sleep for days, suicidal talk, gained a lot of weight, but the strangest part is how her moods just switch on and off.

Just like you, she is a wonderful person with a kind heart, holds a good job, and manages a household. You would never know about her depression and anxiety. She was the victim of a violent crime and ever since then, she went on these medications and I have watched her gradually change. I know plenty of people on antidepressants that do not behave this way. So I always attributed her fits to the Seroquel. Unless you think she has these episodes because of being a victim? The crime committed on her was a long time ago and she sees a therapist. Oh I also want to point out, she breaks her Seroquel pills in half and takes them throughout the day.

Have you flown off the handle like this? If so, did you behave like that before the Seroquel? or just after?

Originally posted by Hollie
This is a great thread. I have followed another thread of yours about depression and I feel just terrible about what you must be going through. A lot of people suffer from it. It seems that everyone I know suffers, and one dear friend of mine is on Seroquel along with another popular antidepressant.

I have seen her pull out her hair, smack herself in the face, cry, sleep for days, suicidal talk, gained a lot of weight, but the strangest part is how her moods just switch on and off.

Just like you, she is a wonderful person with a kind heart, holds a good job, and manages a household. You would never know about her depression and anxiety. She was the victim of a violent crime and ever since then, she went on these medications and I have watched her gradually change. I know plenty of people on antidepressants that do not behave this way. So I always attributed her fits to the Seroquel. Unless you think she has these episodes because of being a victim? The crime committed on her was a long time ago and she sees a therapist. Oh I also want to point out, she breaks her Seroquel pills in half and takes them throughout the day.

Have you flown off the handle like this? If so, did you behave like that before the Seroquel? or just after?

I don't want to give advice about taking medication, as I am no doctor. I will, however, share my experience and you can take from it what you will.

Since starting the Seroquel, I experienced increased anxiety, very volatile mood swings, memory loss, increased fatigue, and weight gain. How much of this can be attributed to the Seroquel, and how much to my life experiences? I do not know. Teaching is extremely stressful and the situation at my school is a bad one. I'm sure this contributed to my problems.

Since stopping the Seroquel my mood has definently stabilized. Of course,I'm on summer break, too. So that has a lot to do with it as well.

I don't want to give the impression that all my problems have disappeared since stopping the Seroquel. That is not the case. I'm sure I'll have setbacks, I always do. My battle with this depression is ongoing and I will likely deal with it for the rest of my life. However, I FEEL BETTER now than I have in over 2 years.....and I don't think that's a coincidence.

Hope this answered your questions!

Good for you! I used to be on 3 different pain pills for years but I finally switched to another drug which gave me relief without tearing up my stomach. .........

after helping care give for several elderly and my grand parents I have zero faith in the medical establishment. The corporate medical model is a failure.... when you combine the systemic problems within the medical community; then there is the human component where we as humans and not always 100 percent accurate or even nice after we have become desensitized to our environment........

Originally posted by fnpmitchreturns
Good for you! I used to be on 3 different pain pills for years but I finally switched to another drug which gave me relief without tearing up my stomach. .........

after helping care give for several elderly and my grand parents I have zero faith in the medical establishment. The corporate medical model is a failure.... when you combine the systemic problems within the medical community; then there is the human component where we as humans and not always 100 percent accurate or even nice after we have become desensitized to our environment........

Good call, there. I have advance arthritis in my left hip & knee with degenerative disk disease throughout my entire lumbar. Our doctor had me on meloxicam(sp?) for years and I'd always made sure to eat before taking a dose. The drawback of having depression on your medical record is when they are doing triage at the ER on a busy night. My wife tried like H*ll to get through to them that I'd grown up on a farm and that my pain threshold is much, much higher than average. If it was bad enough to be THAT apparent, it had to be serious. When my BP dropped to 65/0 the pace picked up considerably. Thankfully, the perforated ulcer was dumping stomach acid between layers of muscle instead of my abdomen. That would have been a "stem to stern" procedure & a guaranteed 6 to 8 weeks in the hospital.

I'm not even allowed enteric aspirin now. When it gets too bad I take Lortab, but judiciously. Unlike a lot of my friends, my only interest is pain relief. Too often and they don't work...

reply to post by smyleegrl


www.rxisk.org...

You might find others to learn from and share with here. Crowd-sourced drug side effect and interaction site.
IMO this is the future of pharmaceutical monitoring.

Originally posted by Darkblade71
reply to post by the owlbear

 

Regular doctor or a psychiatrist?
(you don't have to answer that, in fact don't, just think about it if it is a regular doctor)
Another thing that I have noticed with my own experience through medication for the mind is that a regular doctor really does not know what they are doing as much as a psychiatrist does. I would recommend anyone using brain meds, sees a specialist in that area, as med jumps and trying one after another after another, can be simply avoided or a lot less trial and error with a psychiatrist. But there is a stigma that goes with seeing one.

People need to ditch the stigma.

What worked for me was a combination of seroquel and lexapro.

It is different for everyone though,and all these pills do is make the depression and anxiety easier to work with. If one does not get therapy of some kind, the pills never address the real issue.

Long term I chose meditation and spiritualism in my own way to cope with these things, and it has worked for me, but that does not mean it works for everyone.

edit on 4-6-2013 by Darkblade71 because: (no reason given)

Always been a psychiatrist. Just as every fingerprint is unique...so are our brain chemistries...