Seroquel

[TLight]

Hello all;

I just started this drug about 5 days ago. I take 50mg in the evening. I'm noticing a difference. The left side of my brain doesn't hurt so much and I'm feeling more positive.

I've read about all the side effects and possible downs. I hated having to take another med, but I must say...........I'm getting some relief.

Anyone else take this? Curious?

 

[fin]

I was prescribed Seroquel last year, I was at a point where I was no longer able to sleep at all. I had been taking diazepan and then lorazp for pain and anxiety, and had gotten to the point where they were no longer working either. Then I was taken off them abrupty, it was so not good. They had made a mistake taking me off these the way they did. I went through hell and withdrawal was really bad, and I had to go through it alone, with no help or support. That type of med is highly addictive and will actually increase anxiety eventually, which was why they no longer worked for me. I should not have been prescribed them in the way that I was.

I was presecribed Seroquel and something else about 4-5 days into my withdrawal, and I was loathe to take either of these. I wanted my body to calm down and be 'clean' before I even thought about taking anything else. But about day 6 I was having such bad chest pains and was physically very ill, my blood tests had come back very bad. So I gave in and took the Seroquel, at a reduced dose to the one that was suggested. I did not do this without my doctors consent though. I didn't want to get frivolous with my med taking, but at the same time I didn't feel I should have been just slapped on them as I have been slapped on so many different meds over the years.

I did find sleep to be such a blessed relief though, and I knew I was at a point that my body physically could no longer function at all without sleep. I found that the longer I went on being sleep deprived the more that in myself I no longer needed to sleep and couldn't, but physically I could see I was in really bad shape, I think at that moment, any risk of taking any med was outweighed by my physical integrity being saved. And I really had to have it spelt out to me as well, physically I was dying. Something had to give.

I have been told I can come off them now if I choose and am working towards this. I know I have to have some better coping strategies in place for me to be able to function better in aiding my own sleep. So just for a few more weeks until I am able to do this, I am choosing to remain on them.

And I really hate meds...so I do understand. I have found it hard to be able to present myself as having some understanding of myself, and my own body. But in this area I am getting better in being able to ask questions and express concerns, and also better at being able to assert myself occassionally in this area if I have to. I am pretty bad at, but after so many screw ups on their side, I am finding I have some cause to accept myself and be able to assert myself more into this equation of my healing.

Be as much a part of your wellness as you can be. It is good to ask questions, it is good not to just blindly follow. But at the same time; it is also good to understand yourself better, your needs and to know that sometimes we do need help.

I could not be damped down again, I do not find it helpful to me to be this way if I am trying to heal myself. I am unable to connect to my emotions or my voice to express these emotions when I am in this dampened state. But at the same time, sleep deprivation will finish me off, my body was shutting down very badly, due to the extreme physical pressure that sleep depivation can have. I was having heart problems and trouble with other organs, let alone what it was doing to my mind.

I believe I have a better understanding with the med doctor on this, than I have ever had at any other time. And it is because I was able to get him to see that I could play a part in my recovery and that meds while useful do not always have to be all or nothing either. Of course he could be humouring me but I don't think so this time. I believe I have been able to convey that I have a pretty good understanding of myself and my own body, but I have had to work at that, and it is hard, especialy when I doubt myself so much.


I am glad to read the Seroquel is helping you some, and hope you find they do work for you, I did, but everybody is different. try to be aware if your body is telling you something. This self awareness is good in many aspects of PTSD, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Or to say if something is not how you think it should be. If there is a problem they need to be alerted to that fact, and they can't know unless we tell them. so never worry about asking, it will help them as much as clarify things for you.

I hope this helps to reassure you some. Know you are not alone, and it is not shaming or failing to have to take prescribed meds. I am just very opposed to it some because I know that I can struggle with addiction also. And because of that I am wary

~fin

 

[TLight]

Thanks Fin;
I'm just starting to realize that the severe abuse and repeated trauma have screwed up my brain chemistry majorly. I too have been put on tons of stuff..........I couldn't even tell what was happening because I was so sleep deprived. I swear, I didn't have a decent nights sleep in over 5 years..........I was dying too.

Anyway, I have been sleeping and coping better and I'm in my body now....so I feel like I can actually tell what these drugs are doing! Before I was not even in my body............there was no way I could tell. I was a walking mess for years...........I don't know how I even survived. It was horrible for years and years...........boy, we are strong cookies.

But I'm feeling like this drug is helping. I know they are dangerous and it is new and there are no long term studies...........but if it helps me have some quality of life while I'm living..........I've decided to go for it.

Anybody else's experience would be helpful.
So fin.........I'm getting fromt he post that the Seroquel helped with your sleep? I'm not sure I am following you.

 

[midi]

I've been on it since some time in November. It helps me with sleep. My nightmares have gotten worse since I've been on it though. I hope I don't have to be on these drugs the rest of my life, but who knows, I've had PTSD since I was a little one. Don't know your situation, but at least you're not alone in taking the drug and wondering. It's scary experimentation.

 

[TLight]

Yes, I've also had PTSD my whole life. Thought everyone lived this way, I guess..........until I just couldn't take it anymore.........suicide attempts almost got me completely. I was done.

Now I accept that I have a mental illness and may need to be on meds for the rest of my life. It is scary..........but 50 years ago I'd of been confined to an institution. So better living through chemistry I guess.

 

[freya]

I've taken Seroquel for several years, it was prescribed to me as a medication for bipolar disorder. It works very well for me with regard to sleep and to preventing mania.
I've been on other medications like it (Zyprexa, among others) and I find the side-effects of Seroquel are not nearly as bad.
I now take only 12,5 mg per day. My doctor says this is a 'homeopathic' dosage (meaning it's ridiculously low).

50 mg is not a very high dosage, either. I hear that for people in full-blown mania/psychosis it's prescribed in dosages of 300 up to 700 mg per day.

Side effects I have on a higher dosage (higher than 50 mg) are some difficulty to breathe for about an hour after taking it, and an urge to eat more.

I think if it does you that much good, why not take it for a longer period of time. Maybe at some point you begin to pick up a better structure of sleep and become more able to regulate yourself and then you could consider lowering the dosage or try to do without. For now I'd just be happy, if I were you, that it helps you like this...
Just my thought.

Freya

 

[fin]

I think if it does you that much good, why not take it for a longer period of time. Maybe at some point you begin to pick up a better structure of sleep and become more able to regulate yourself and then you could consider lowering the dosage or try to do without.

Freya I think Tlight is saying here that she has been prescribed and despite not being keen on meds she is finding it helps. I would not suggest ever changing doses with a doctor being involved, as it can and is a dangerous thing to do.

I am glad to read the Seroquel is helping you some, and hope you find they do work for you, I did, but everybody is different. try to be aware if your body is telling you something. This self awareness is good in many aspects of PTSD, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Or to say if something is not how you think it should be. If there is a problem they need to be alerted to that fact, and they can't know unless we tell them. so never worry about asking, it will help them as much as clarify things for you.

T-Light I am glad you are finding them helpful, I found them helpful at a point when was no longer able to sleep and it was dangerous.
I am sorry if that my experience did not sound clear. I did find them helpful yes.


hope this helps more
~fin

 

[fin]

I would not suggest ever changing doses without a doctor being involved, as it can and is a dangerous thing to do.

I am sorry that was meant to read; *without* a doctor being involved. I would like to make it clear that I am not advocating doing anything without your med doc knowing.

Rats!! This mistake so takes away from what I was trying to say in both of my earlier posts.

~fin





oops!!! sorry editor....if you could please rectify this in post #7 of mine above I would be grateful. Thankyou and sorry again. Rats!!! I am now going to lay down in a dark room...what a wally! good grief!!!

 

[TLight]

Any comments on weight gain?

Yesterday and today my appetite seems enormous? Aargh! I'm on the thin side now and always have been, but I've always been able to eat what I want when I want it. I conquered anorexia and bulimia in my earlier years by just letting myself eat till full on any damn thing I wanted. I've been very successful and have absolutely no food issues...........proud of myself for this.

But wow! is this stuff going to make me fat! I've read other stuff on the net about how it decreases metabolism and people get fat!
Anyone have experience?
I feel pretty great today! Not the usual irritability and feeling like my head is going to explode. I feel more balanced and positive. I'm really liking it! Like the trauma is not 'right there' all the time bringing me down. Like I feel like I have a new lease on life............but I don't want to get fat!

 

[becvan]

A very common side effect of this medication is high cholesterol. You need blood work done every 3 months for as long as you take this to ensure it does not create major heart issues (this is with or without the increased weight issues.)

bec

 

[Deleted member 541]

I will take it one step further than Bec....Anyone that takes Seroquel is also at a higher risk of developing Diabetes too. There have been tons of lawsuits with Seroquel putting people at higher risks, that have developed Diabetes.

Everyone of AD's do come with side effects, some worse than others. Yes, they do work for many that take them, but for many the side effects don't out weigh the benefits.

Be informed before taking anything, and be sure to ask your P doc, or person perscribing them lots of questions.......

 

[TLight]

Thanks all........yes, I read about the diabetes, also pancreatis and cataracts.

I am going to definately enlist my GP to do bloodwork every 3 months. I consider myself sort of a health nut and getting diabetes because of a drug is out of the question.