Taken Off Seroquel 200mg Suddenly

[Scott Van Leeuwen]

Hello People,

For my Panic Attacks which are severe, I was on Seroquel 200mg at night for 9 years and Valium 10mg - 3 times a day for the past year. I was monitored in a Trauma Hospital while the Psychiatrist took me off both of these medications in 10 days. The suddenness of coming off of these meds has now left me with the inability to sleep (insomnia) and in a constant anxiety spiral which eventually leads to Panic Attacks.

I came off both of these meds 5 weeks ago and I am wondering if anyone knows how long the withdrawal effects of coming off of these meds will last. Valium I was on 30mg a day for 12 months and, but my brain was used to Seroquel 200mg for 9 years.

I hope someone has an answer for me.

 

[macbeth]

I am sorry I don't have an answer for you @Scott Van Leeuwen but I will say that I am on 200mg of Seroquel per day for anxiety and sleep disorders and I have been on many benzodiazepines over the years. I have never come of a drug so suddenly though. May I ask why the doctors thought it appropriate to take you off these two powerful substances so quickly?

 

[Seasounds]

I, too, am sorry for the sudden shift in your meds. It is difficult!

So that you can be your own advocate, and not knowing all the circumstances, I can offer you this information:

• You may want to contact another Provider and explain your circumstances.
• Providers will immediately take patients off meds if they suspect a person is using other non-prescription mind alerting substances. (alcohol, marijuana, etc.), or if their patients are using more than prescribed. Providers need to ensure your safety and their license.
• Providers definitely, by nature of their personalities, training, and experience, will make different decisions regarding the same situation.
• Being respectful, honest, showing up for regular appointments, helps build a trusting relationship with your providers.

 

[joeylittle]

My best guess is that you need to make sure you are replacing the meds with therapy, and addressing your anxiety in other (non-medical) ways. I would think, after 5 weeks, you're not in withdrawal so much as you're in your non-medicated baseline, and you are finding it really hard to negotiate, which is normal if you're not implementing other skills. We do take meds for a reason, after all. Sounds like they were working. But it doesn't mean you need them and only them, other things can work. Are you in therapy?

 

[franciemarnie]

The Valium, I believe and from experience, can take a while I am afraid. But always keep in mind it's different for everyone. I hope when they took you off, it wasn't cold turkey. For me, post-Valium I had great anxiety, insomnia and depression. I stopped mid summer and sort of felt like myself again in the spring. I took up running back then and it helped. The Valium messed with my brain.

I was never on Seroquel, but I was on Zyprexa, which is often compared. For me, that was a walk in the park compared to Valium. A few weeks maybe. I will never take tranquilizers again. They are awful in the long run.

I am sorry they took you off both so quickly!! That's kind of crazy to me.

 

[Justmehere]

For the the valium - the acute phase of withdrawal from benzodiapines usually takes 2 months. For some people, it takes even longer - around 6-9 months, especially when it had been used daily for a long period of time. It tends to take even longer to get through withdrawal symptoms when medications are stopped suddenly.

For seroquel - you are likely still in the withdrawl phase for that as well - again, worsened by the sudden stopping of it. (you can read more at: http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2014/0...ne-withdrawal-symptoms-how-long-do-they-last/)
It really is not a medication that should be stopped suddenly. If possible, I would highly suggest getting another opinion and working out a taper that tapers you down off it over a period of months.

Regardless if you are still in the acute withdrawal phase or not, it is important to get all the support you can through this. It's tough.

 

[joeylittle]

Thanks for that info @Justmehere. The internet. Learning new things. Who knew?:)
I'm on seroquel 200mg PRN, and have never noticed a change when I've gone off it or back on. I'm only taking it at night for sleep. It is a very, very powerful med though, that's for sure.

 

[Caterpillar]

The Seroquel is probably out of your system by now, but all benzos should be discontinued very slowly because they can create horrible rebound anxiety, much worse than the anxiety they were originally treating, and that can last for months. 30mgs a day is a high dose of Valium and should've been stepped down slowly over a period of several months. I'm not surprised you're feeling awful now.

I'm sorry that I don't have much advice for you. Benzo withdrawal when handled incorrectly can be a special level of hell, though you should eventually start to feel better.