Quetiapine/seroquel?

[Maggiemay]

I too take them in the eve, but despite taking them 4 hrs ago, I'm still wide awake... boo!

 

[Shellbell]

That's not good Maggiemay :(

 

[Maggiemay]

It's very irritating!

 

[MissMacD]

Understood! Have had my own horrid experience with stuff that is supposed to make me sleep but leaves me feeling wide awake. It's frustrating, hope you are feeling better soon. ;)

 

[Maggiemay]

Thanx :) I managed 5hrs in the end last night - finally drifted off around 1am :'( I now have a full day of work ahead (I'm a prima

 

[Maggiemay]

Oops... I'm a primary school teacher. Then I've got carol concert and meal out tonight with my choir :( Hopefully I'll survive on little sleep or I'm doomed! And another night out = taking meds late = little sleep = the cycle continues...

 

[AS1975]

I... can't believe so many of your (plural) doctors are prescribing seroquel anymore. After the giant lawsuit in '07 where it was stated that the risk for non-psychotic patients far outweigh the benefits, it was suggested that this drug stop being given for off-label use (label use being bipolar and schizophrenia) altogether.

I am actually prescribed seroquel for BPAD, Type II and Fluvoxamine for PTSD, the combination seems alright, although I still have awful nightmares, they aren't the "same" nightmares, plus I'm starting to remember them.

 

[MissMacD]

I... can't believe so many of your (plural) doctors are prescribing seroquel anymore. After the giant lawsuit in '07 where it was stated that the risk for non-psychotic patients far outweigh the benefits, it was suggested that this drug stop being given for off-label use (label use being bipolar and schizophrenia) altogether.

This is really scary! I know that there are a pile of antidepressants and antipsychotics that should be pulled from the market but are still prescribed to people. I was recently on Cipralex which made my psychotic then was given Trazadone which gave me restless leg syndrome and then Seroquel which definitely makes me feel less anxious but isn't worth it if it could permanently damage me.

Thanks for this information. Will discuss it with my doctor at our next appointment. It's true that when they are prescribing drugs they only see the drug manufacturers side and what is suggested to prescribe instead of potentially dangerous side effects. Any psychiatric drugs are scary in my books because they can do permanent damage.

I have permanent damage from taking Effexor - I was on it for about a year and had debilitating vertigo that would suddenly cause my vision to lose balance and it felt like I was falling and several times I did. It happens less often now that I am off of the drug but when it happens it is nasty.

 

[Shellbell]

I agree many of these heavy duty drugs, espcially anti-psychotics are scary, but the alternative for some people is worse. If I weren't taking the 3 I'm on, I may not be here now.

Seroquel XR at a low dose of 50mg at night, helps my sleep and does help maintain my mood swings, and I would rather risk it's possible side effects than be where I was a month ago, on the verge of being admitted to a psych ward for suicidal thoughts. And there's no way I can do the therapy I need for severe, complex and multiple trauma's without medication. We've not got anywhere near the trauma's yet and I'm only just stable enough to function at a low level daily.

I hated the idea of take drugs, but I know I need them and I do hope not to be on these permanently, but for as long as is needed and to get me through therapy.

 

[MissMacD]

I was drugged with Haldol when I was a child against my will so my memory of taking any type of mind altering drug puts me in a really scary place. Since taking Seroquel I do sleep better at night and my mind is quieter. I don't think I will ever be completely comfortable taking any drug.

Years of dealing with side effects of drugs and playing bar tender with my shrink has left me feeling really worn down and hopeless - I just want to live as normally as possible and sometimes that means taking antipsychotics because my brain can't function without it any more.

 

[LC23]

I am late to this thread, but here's what some friends of mine have said abt seroquel:

"I was on seroqual for almost 5 yrs... blew me up, made me numb (not in a good way) and i was just floating thru existence... miserable f*cking psychotropic to dull out any kind of feeling so you're not "psychotic"

it helps in that you sleep much of the time and the rest of the time you are in a fog.

In some cases it may be better than the alternative - but it sounds like bad news IMHO.

 

[Shellbell]

LC23, what dose were they on? Dose can range up to 750+ mg. Lower doses like 50mg are much safer.