Quetiapine/seroquel?

[LC23]

Don't know, it just came up in online convos. I'm sure dosage is a factor. I hear it's the go-to for a lot of military treatment of PTSD for soldiers.

 

[MissMacD]

Still weighing the benefits of taking this stuff. I wake up everyday feeling like I am coming down with a nasty cold then spend most of the day recovering from the hangover it brings. It is worth the sleep I get but not much else. Some days when I wake up my face is really puffy and my sinuses have been dripping like crazy all night.

I am not even 29 yet and my body feels old and washed up from all of the medication that has been put into it. :(

 

[Meza]

I was taking Seroquel for several years. It always stuffed up my nose at night about 1/2 hour after taking it. It did seem to help with sleep and in stopping the night awakenings and nightmares. Unfortunately after time I developed restless legs syndrome from this medication. Did some online research and discovered the link between the two (I didn't know what was going on). I am now on Mirtazapine and Trazadone for sleep and depression. The mix seems to be a good one for me, I feel as though I'm having a "natural" sleep. And no hang-over effect in the morning. I was just started on Olanzapine though, because of ongoing panic attacks. Another atypical antipsychotic but, like Seroquel, given at a very low dose (5mg).

Hugs to you, I hope something will work for you that doesn't cause so many problems.

 

[Lucycat]

I have been taking Quetiapine regularly for the past 3 years. Currently I take 25mg at bedtime, but have been up to 75mg at bedtime and 25mg in the morning in the past.

I am 'allowed' to take an extra 25mg at any time day or night if I feel I need it. But I rarely do.

I have found it incredibly helpful. It certainly helps me sleep and reduces the anxiety. It has also virtually wiped out the nightmares I used to have.

I know others have posted about all the nasty side-effects, but I think it is important to put it into perspective. Not all side effects happen to everybody and some are quite tolerable - such as the dry mouth. For me the benefits far outweighs that.

 

[MissMacD]

I got restless legs with Trazadone and have started to get it with Seroquel. I can't see myself staying on Seroquel long term unless there is something I can take to help with the nasty side effects.

 

[Meza]

I would definitely bring this up with your doctor. In your situation it seems like the bad side-effects are outweighing the benefits. There's other medication you can take for sleep. I know you've been through this route before and it's a b**ch having to go through it again. I went through this for years as well, being so sensitive to side-effects.
Finally, finally! a good mix was found. So I encourage you to keep on searching. Getting a good night's sleep is so important.

 

[MissMacD]

Thanks Meza.

My history with medication hasn't been that good and my home town is a really small place with doctors who use really out of date medication and treatment methods. I've been on up to 7 medications at a time and the only thing it did is black out weeks of my life at a time. At one point I walked into walls and drooled for three weeks when I was hospitalized - that is the only thing I remember from three weeks of being drugged beyond what any human should be.

Years of having weird things happen to my body things like losing my intimate life with my boyfriend because medication makes me lose any need for intimacy, weight gain and a huge list of other things you could say that I am feeling really worn out but not ready to completely give up. It has caused other problems that have caused huge blows to my self esteem and well being.

I really need an incredible shrink who knows the psycho-pharmacology world extremely well. I can't handle having amateurs prescribe me medication anymore.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

My husband has been on seroquel for a very long time. He is also on trazedone and has restless leg syndrome. But the seroquel cuts down on him having hallucinations. He still has them but they are not as bad as they were. I wish you all the best in finding the right medications for yourself.

 

[Meza]

I live in a rural community as well. I found a psychiatrist in our neighbouring city so travel to see her 2 hours, but worth it. Like you I was tired of being prescribed medication that seemed to make things worse not better. Trial and error is no picnic at the best of times. Hopefully there is a way for you to get linked up with a professional that knows what he or she is doing and able to work with you to find the best fit medication wise.

In my own life I was prescribed a drug called "flexeryl" for fibromyalgia. When I was experiencing severe cognitive problems I was informed I had "fibrofog". But it wasn't fibrofog it was a reaction to the drug which cost me my ability to work. I felt very much drugged. I stopped the medication myself after a year of being like this. And I became very angry at my family physician for not recognizing what the problem was, for this drug was in its make-up a tricyclic antidepressant, not a muscle relaxant acting on peripheral nerves which I was lead to believe. My medical history showed I had had a severe reaction to a tricyclic antidepressant in the past. So how could they do this to me again without proper advisement! I then discovered my family doctor knew nothing about the make-up of flexeryl hence the problem. There are other treatment problems I've experienced as well so I know a bit about how you're feeling with respect to self-esteem and intimacy difficulties. All these things take a toll on us.

I hope it is helpful to hear some of my story. You are certainly not alone.

I agree with you wholeheartedly that finding a good shrink or even a good, intelligent, sensitive family doctor will be of great benefit.

 

[MissMacD]

I had one great psychiatrist in my life who listened when I told him that I didn't want to have to take a cereal bowl full of pills every morning. He put me on Remeron which saved my life for three years and promptly stopped working. I no longer live anywhere remotely close to there so seeing him again is not an option but I do live in a massive city with covered health care and have a referral to see a psychiatrist.

My trust in doctors has sadly been depleted over the years as I have been prescribed medication and dropped with no follow up -- and those times my medication experience has turned nasty. In September I started Cipralex and it made me psychotic. A few months before that I was taken off of Effexor and spent several months in a nasty fog and couldn't stand straight because I had such bad vertigo. Being awake or asleep was a living nightmare. This year has been one of the scariest of my life. I lost my job over issues with medication and haven't been able to work since. It messed me up really bad and most days I feel beyond repair.

It's hard to swallow when all I want is a reasonably normal life and to be able to have children and do things that people my age are doing. I take Seroquel because I am desperate and I have to wait at least another month to see a doctor again to do anything about it. I am turning 29 this week and many days I feel that my body is far older that my age. Sigh.

 

[Meza]

(((((MissMacD)))) You've gone through so much for your young age. I'm so sorry that you had such terrible experiences with your medication and with your doctors as well. It's difficult to wait for new medication to take effect and then one has to have faith that what you're feeling right now won't be with you forever. That this too shall pass. Seems to me you're doing everything in your power to make things better. I hope your birthday can be happy for you. I wish you a Merry Christmas too. Given your situation this might be challenging this year. But don't give up!

Remember this forum and the people here are here to be supportive.

Blessings to you, Meza

 

[Deleted member 12723]

My husband is having delusions so his doc upped up his seroqel. I hope it works.