My Nightmare With Seroquel

[EverOnly358]

Zaniara,

That's how I feel! It's an industry! It's in their best interest to try to get us to take lots and lots of meds. And if they don't work, great! That's even MORE meds they can try to get us hooked on. Oh, yeah, I know there are lots of people who take meds that do work for them... they can be life-saving at times, too, I know. But it's just so hard to deal with... there's no one to trust with questions, everyone has an agenda, and no one's agenda is making me feel better in the long run! If I'm feeling better... hey, they're outta a job. I dunno. I find the whole medical establishment wacky at best, horrifyingly abusive at worst. But it's the only show in town, right?

Oops... got a little bitter there, sorry. ;)

As for me, I got a big bag of pills from my pdoc last week, and it's still just sitting there unopened. I've never taken a pill related to depression, being bipolar or for sleep that has ever worked, and I've been on close to 20, all with horrible, horrible side-effects. So, like, right now, all I can think is why, why, why would I add another messed up variable to all I'm already dealing with having PTSD?

MissMacD,

Y'know, I'm so so happy that you're feeling a bit better! I was worried. This is good! Keep taking care of yourself, because you deserve it. And advocate for yourself, because you have to.

D

 

[blackemerald1]

I agree that the pharmaceutical companies do a lot to get their drugs into main stream psychiatric medicine and they do lobby doctors etc., even to the point of giving doctors gifts like writing pads and pens and possibly more. But during my illness I have had some bad experiences with drugs and fortunately for me I was taken off them quickly.

Everyone is different and everyone's presentation of their illnesses will be different in many ways. Many people benefit from drugs to control their illnesses and are very grateful that they have these medications to resort to.

I do not believe that any of my doctors have ever given me a medication to get a kick-back from a company. I consider that the medications that they trialed me on that gave me horrific side effects were just bad luck, my body could not cope with them. In fact I react very badly to all of the "new age" drugs, cannot take sleeping tablets because I do really bad things in my twighlight zone" under them..

I think Seroquel is getting a bit of a battering here, I am on a very high dose due to my severe symptoms of my illness. This drug was trialled on me while I was in hospital and very, very unwell. I was beyond responding to cognitive thinking therapy or any other therapies. I was having a complete systemic breakdown, the second one I have endured in my life.

As a last resort the doctor suggested Seroquel and I refused to take it, but somewhere in my mind I knew I had to try something or I was going to die. I remember the nurse sitting with me for over an hour and me picking up the drug cup and putting it over her side of the table and we went on talking and she would put it back on my side. Eventually I took it and that nurse and the doctor literally watched and supported me for over a week and supported me through the side-effects.

I have been on Seroquel for many years now and the dosage is adjusted up or down depending on how much stress I am under and how unwell I am. But, it never gets changed without good cause and without my agreement.

So, for those that have had bad experiences with Seroquel I am genuinely sorry it has not helped.

For those who are currently contemplating Seroquel, give it a decent shot, expect for some side-effects but hopefully they will abate quickly and the benefits will kick in and help you.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Ditto on getting a sleep doc!

Mine said NO MEDS! She gave me a long list of things to do and I was finally able to sleep again.

I think you were the victim of "that is a rare side effect so what you are experiencing CANT be due to the drugs" syndrome. I've been through it, only I experienced the "rare" white blood cell reaction that is caused by trileptal. The doctor told me it was so rare that there was no way I could be experiencing it and wrote off all my symptoms as unconnected due to another cause. The thing is, these side effects are labeled as "rare" when the drug trials are performed even before the drug is put on the market. Once the drug is released, the actual occurrence of a side effect may be much higher and not so "rare". Yeah, and the white blood cell thing can be serious, so it felt really crappy to not be taken seriously by a doctor!

 

[Badger]

I really dont understand how a psychiatrist can see you for only 15 minutes to a half hour and know enough to prescribe effectively. It also frustrates me when thats done with diagnosis. I think generally PTSD sufferers tend to be overmedicated or on the wrong meds.

 

[blackemerald1]

In my particular case I was in hospital, had been withdrawn off my 'usual' medications and I was being assessed. I had terrible withdrawal affects but when I was 'clean' from the other prescribed medications I immediately spiraled down into a terrible state.

I suffered so much during that period and then they asked me if I would try Seroquel and initially I said no! But I just got too sick so after a lot of conversations and reluctance I did. It took another two to three weeks and some supplementary medications and I climbed out of that hole.

I am not saying seroquel is the be all and end all. For sure some people are going to find it intolerable but other's are going to find it helps to moderate moods and other stuff..

As for doctors making hasty diagnosis yes it does happen but I think if you have a problem with this then you should go to another doctor and ask for a double appointment to give him or he,r time to take a more holistic approach to the diagnosis.

I have been lucky in respect that when I have had to change doctors they have always provided me with a letter of referral explaining my mental health issues, medications and general health. So, that always makes for a good start.

I have a weekly appointment with my psychiatrist who has been treating me for over 10 years now as well as support from other health care professionals.

My appointments with my GP and Psychiatrist are 'double' appointments, they have to be so they can keep an eye on how I am going as I have no friends living near me and no family either.

So as in any thing in life, remember you are the client here and you can look around for someone more suitable. I agree 15 mins to 30 minutes is definitely not long enough to make a complete diagnosis. Possibly over a few months with these time slots a doctor may be able to make a diagnosis but of course you are ill now! So good luck with finding a good doctor they are rare on the ground.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I've always thought it was the benzo.

It's a antipsychotic. They generally have a tranquilizing effect on the people who take them. The fogginess will usually clear up in a week or two and you get used to it. But it was hell for me when I started my antipsychotic, I felt like all my thoughts were caged down. That improved also.

But medication isn't for everybody. Personally, medication turned my life around but it took awhile to find the correct dosages and they recently started me on Lithium as well.

@MissMacD I agree that you should have been taken off of it then and there. It clearly wasn't working for you.

 

[MissMacD]

Medication and PTSD can be a disaster cocktail, and this has always been the case for me. Part of my trauma is that I was drugged as a child with anti-psychotics and my family doctors keep writing this off (I've had a few different doctors) as insignificant when the push pills on me. It is hugely significant! I was drugged with haldol and other things (don't know the names of the others) by my fathers girlfriend when I was between eight and twelve. It messed me up bad enough that I can't put the medication into a timeline.

I've been off of seroquel for about two weeks now. My skin has been crawling a bit this week but thankfully that withdrawal effect is mostly over. I've slept two nights in a row without any medication. Have been keeping myself busy going to yoga and hanging out with my dogs. I feel more normal than I have in a while. So nice that the seroquel fog has lifted.

I have begun seeing a psychologist who specializes in trauma therapy. She is wonderful and patient and loves her job and validates what I am saying.

I feel that in psychiatric medicine our ability to have a voice is often written off because we are not considered capable of knowing what is best for us.

D123 I feel like I need to be an advocate for other people going through the same thing who don't know how to speak up for themselves. I have been pushed around so much over the years and I feel that we all have the right to choices when it comes to our health and our health care professionals should be advocating exercise and positive lifestyle choices along with medication.

Blackemerald1 medication can be a game changer for many of us, it can transform peoples lives but not everyone responds well to medication. I never have. If medication works for you then I completely embrace having that option. Our healing journeys are all different.

I am embracing the things that work for me like trauma therapy, hot yoga and spending time with my dogs.

Auto correct keeps telling me that Seroquel should be sequel :roflmao:.

Thank you again for your love and support.

 

[LongStoryShort]

Seroquel has really been good for me until now. I have swelling of sinuses too and a little wheezing sometimes, but I am at least here in my own body and mind. But I notice if I drink any alcohol the next few days I feel just not right. It's uncomfortable. But I have only missed one pill in two and a half years.

 

[MissMacD]

The sinus swelling and wheezing became too much for me. I am fortunate to have access to a sleep specialist and a CBT therapy clinic. Medication has always stopped working for me after a few months, after trying practically every medication on the market I've been left with not much choice.

It isn't easy all of the time but it is manageable.

 

[LongStoryShort]

Hmm, I wonder what the reason for this sinus/gland problem with seroquel comes from ...

One thing taking seroquel has taken away from me is parts of my imagination and my comforting fantasies, which I actually miss sometimes :-/

 

[blackemerald1]

MissMacD I agree with ever thing you have said. I am now reducing seroquel very slowly but surely. I want to have a drug free life one day too.

Cheers
blackemerald1

 

[MissMacD]

Do what ever works for you blackemerald1 :)