Anyone Have Any Experience With Quetiapine (seroquel) For Anxiety?

[Ellie]

I've just been put on quetiapine (seroquel) 25mg per night for severe anxiety. Does anyone have any experience with using this medication for anxiety and did it help?

Thanks

 

[Keming]

Hey. On it, higher dose. It helps me a lot. I can go outside now.

Good Things: dramatically lower anxiety. Much less emotional flooding. Easier to control my sleep, because it knocks me out at night.

Bad Thing: slightly lowered problem solving and mental engagement. Not "dumb" or "fuzzy". Just.. kinda like being bored in class. You can do the work, but sorta don't want to. Still learning how to push past it.

Note: Quetiapine has to reach a certain level before it functions properly. Keep a mood log. my first time round, it was an UPPER: all hyper, no down, and the doctor had to increase the dosage.

Note: I had hot flashes. It's a known side effect (it interacts w/ liver, which starts burning fat for bodyheat). Also, peeing. Went away after a few days.

Note: read the info sheet double-close. Your reactions may be different.

 

[Deleted member 541]

Dr put me on it for sleep once. OMG talk about sedation. Only 25mgs and I could not wake up!!!!! Ended up not being able to take it, because it just kicked my ass, and I could not wake up...

Hope it helps you!!!!

 

[-lemurlibs91-]

I'm on it for psychosis at what was 700mg, but I'm now on 200mg a day because the side effects were too much. But I've been told I can use it at 25mg intervals on top for anxiety. I can't say how good it is as such because it is SO different for different people, especially with antipsychotics like quetiapine....

But I do find it can have some difficulties - I also get a sluggish feeling, where my motivation to do anything kind of goes...and I sleep very very deeply which is a bit disorienting. Just log any effects you get...they can pass but some stick around, and it's worth checking that it's the right drug for you if they are disabling....

Also read the packet of anything else you take (including painkillers, vitamins etc.) because it can interact.

 

[joeylittle]

Echoing the sleep thing - when I was on it (low night dose for sleep/anxiety) I needed to budget about 14 hours from when I took it to when I needed to be functional. I regularly slept 11 hours and was a little groggy for a good few more. You may find (if it wasn't prescribed like this) that you want to take it 2-3 hours before bed.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I am on Quetiapine XR (extended release) 200 mg for daytime anxiety. Huge difference in immidate release and extended release. The immidate release only made me sleep and did nothing for me in the day. Not saying it can't, just saying it didn't for me.

XR, or extended release, stays in your body and builds up. It has been AMAZING at stablizing me. In every area. It has helped me cut Xanax out almost fully and only take it at night and here and there when anxiety peaks fast. It has stablized my moods in general. I have BPD so my emotions were like the biggest roller coaster ever. The most extreme of each emotion possible. It leveled me. I am not as someone without BPD but much closer to it. I still have deregulation times but no where near as severe.

Seriquel XR was a godsend for me.

 

[-lemurlibs91-]

Huge difference in immidate release and extended release. The immidate release only made me sleep and did nothing for me in the day. Not saying it can't, just saying it didn't for me.

I found a massive change as well. I was changed from extended release onto immediate release because it is cheaper for the pharmaceutical companies to provide (I am exempt from paying for my prescription meds - thank god or I'd be bankrupt). I didn't notice a difference in how well it tackled my actual symptoms, but it REALLY made a difference to how deeply I sleep (much deeper on immediate release) and increased my drowsiness/fogginess. So I took it upon myself to reduce my dose in order to function (I'm not recommending doing that sort of thing, just saying that I did it).
But OP just bear it in mind - it might be that if you have a bad reaction to the immediate release that you could do with switching to extended release (with the help of a doctor/consultant).

 

[CalmCarly2017]

I've just been put on quetiapine (seroquel) 25mg per night for severe anxiety. Does anyone have any exper...

It definitely helped after I got use to how it made me sleep. The medication has to get into your system. You should start on a weekend. Seroquel tends to make you sleep hard and if you are not used to it, you will sleep a long time.

After a month or so you can increase it. At first I could not take Seroquel and work. I was too tired to get out of bed. But now, my moods a stabilized and I very relaxed. No panic attacks and can talk myself out of a situation of doom. Just practice breathing and positivity.

 

[EmmaOwl]

Dr put me on it for sleep once. OMG talk about sedation. Only 25mgs and I could not wake up!!!!! Ended...

A friend of mine ended up splitting it, 12.5 mgs was plenty for his sleep, and it didn't leave him groggy the next day. BUT, it's a very small pill to begin with, so if anyone decides to give this a try, be careful cutting it.

 

[highwaybeauty]

I am currently on 100mg of Seroquel a day, and was put on it due to depression, anxiety and BPD. It definitely helps me with getting a good night's sleep! The tricky thing with medication is that it works differently for everyone. You need to find what works for you and at the right dosage. All the best!

HB x

 

[EmmaOwl]

I'm on it for psychosis at what was 700mg, but I'm now on 200mg a day because the side effects were too much. But I've been told I can use it at 25mg intervals on top for anxiety.

I take a somewhat large dose of Seroquel but only at night. I can't deal with the logey, groggy feeling during the day. Bonus, though: it helps for Bipolar and it also helps me sleep.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

can't deal with the logey, groggy feeling during the day. Bonus, though: it helps for Bipolar and it also helps me sleep.

XR (extended release), for me, the tiredness starting to go away within 2 weeks. It built up in my body over a month or so and today doesn't make me tired at all and really helps stabilize my emotions and anxiety. It leveled it a bit more. Rages reduced a ton and very low lows came up some. Not for bipolar for me but mostly BPD but my PDoc says it is used for many reasons today.

So it depends if it's immediate release or extended release and, of course, the person and the amount/mg.