Does seroquel help get rid of flashbacks?

[Angelwings]

Hello,

I'm at the point where I'm desperate to get help with flashbacks. My psychiatrist's specialty is PTSD and she put me on Seroquel. It's supposed to help the psychotic aspects of flashbacks but I'm taking 200 mg a night and still having flashbacks, they've been mostly during the day, though. It does help me sleep. Is there anyone who has experience with this or any medication that can alleviate flashbacks?

 

[Friday]

I don’t personally know of anything that nixes flashbacks, although I know of a great number of things which reduces how much I care about the flashbacks.

 

[Angelwings]

Thank you!

 

[Sideways]

Seroquel definitely helps me manage (and to a degree, reduce) my dissociative symptoms, and yes, with my flashbacks. I still get them, but I get them less often and less intensely.

But I take the extrended release version, partly so it lasts longer, partly so I can take a higher dose with less side effects. I take 100mg as a prn dose when my dissociative symptoms are out of control, and that can include if my flashbacks are out of control. But it only gives me a few hours break, and I need to work on the underlying stressors to get more extended relief.

Different strokes for different folks with medication.

 

[Angelwings]

Hmmm, maybe I'll ask my psychiatrist for extended release.

 

[EveHarrington]

I don’t think anything really takes away flashbacks directly.

As an aside, do you know how seroquel is known for causing great weight gain and metabolic changes? I ask as docs push these meds while not telling us about the side effects. There are other antipsychotics which don’t have such dangerous side effects.

 

[shatter eyes]

I tried 200mg then 150mg then stopped daytime seroQ.

It made things worst for me because of the drowsiness the flashbacks seem to appear like day dreams. I was in a state in and out of awareness. The flashbacks bothered me more.

Damn these meds.... it is a hit n miss as everyone is different.

It is so tiring trying to appear normal when flashback happens.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

There is a HUGE difference in Seriquel immediate release and Seriquel XR (extended release). I am on 200mg Seriquel XR (which is no where near the dose for psychosis) and it dumbs down emotions but it doesn't stop flashbacks, for me. It does sort of lessen the intensity of them I suppose but doesn't stop them.

 

[lovak]

I've had seroquel a couple of years ago, still had flashbacks. Did manage to randomly fall asleep and once hallucinated in group therapy that the therapist was standing at the gates of hell. I also gained a lot of weight.
Still, that almost numb feeling was great at that time, when I was at my worst. I'm thinking about asking for it again just to get myself able to get out of the house, but I'm afraid to step in my car when I'm on it.

 

[lovak]

Well, I'm back on it.
Had a terrible flashback last night so my doctor thought it was good to start medications again. We're starting at a low dosage, 50 XR just before dinner and a regular 25 mg before I go to sleep.
I usually wake up before 7 in the morning, I don't think that will be the case tomorrow....

 

[blackemerald1]

Seroquel didn't stop my flashbacks... It may sedate so take care.

Don't drink alcohol whilst on it and it magnify the effects of some other drugs too.

Weight gain ++

Ask the doctor about all of it's side effects.

 

[PiggyBack]

Hello,

I'm at the point where I'm desperate to get help with flashbacks. My psychiatrist's special...

I've been taking 200mg of Seroquel for 14 years (?, can it be that long). For me, it really has no effect on PTSD or even makes it a little worse. The hypnotic effect makes it harder for me to wake out of a PTSD dream.

The original reason for taking it was because I was severely agitated and having migraines. It worked beautifully for that, but I don't think it addressed the root cause of my problems. It did, however, allow me to function well enough to work and live.