Quiting Seroquel cold turkey.

If I were you I would go get some good quality fish oil and some b-vitamins. That should help with withdrawals. Melatonin usually makes me sleep all night. Ask God for his help and guidance in your situation. Hope this helps!

You're missing the fact that going through withdrawals from a psychiatric medication means that we are in fact addicted to it. Drug manufacturers have altered the definition of addiction in order to shine a more favorable light on their products. Guarantee you quitting marijuana is a lot easier than quitting seroquel. And since it's now prescribed in several states as medication I suppose we should refer to any difficulties during cessation of marijuana as serotonin discontinuation syndrome as well. I know a person besides myself who has been unable to quit seroquel, I have never yet suggested that she needs to attend AA meetings, but I think I'll give that a go in the morning.

I was on Seroquel XR for almost two years............and I've had more side effects than good results.  The worst problems were the rage attacks, followed by dehydration from sweating BUCKETS every time I exerted myself.  I finally stopped Seroquel XR COLD TURKEY last Sunday.  I read about all the horror stories online, but still thought I'd be better off without this medication in my system.  I've had BRUTAL withdrawal symptoms, but the one thing that has gotten me through all of this is GATORADE!!!!!!!!!!!!  I know, something really simple, but it's worked.  I'm still weak and dizzy, still nauseated, I still have severe diarrhea, but at least my electrolytes aren't in the toilet.  AND I've lost 11 pounds (I gained 45 in two years on the Seroquel).  So, just wanted to let anyone who's about to try to stop taking this medication, make sure you have lots of Gatorade/Powerade (no calories) at home first.

Today I am off Seroquel for good. Trying to go cold turkey, I have a prescription to help me sleep so I am good in that area. Tired of feeling sluggish, gained 30 pounds in two years. Have been on this drug for 4 years, 100 mg. I feel bad enough with being over weight. It messes with your thyroids and thyroid problems runs in my mother's family, your sugar stays high and both my parents are diabetics, made me eat, my body lost its leptin sensitivity, but I am taking my life back, want a better metabolism, want to feel like I have life in me again and if I have trouble I will exercise, I already eat right, and since my kids are grown I may even find me a job. I will lose those 30 pounds and feel better about myself and I know that the LORD will help me with the rest.

Thank those with bipolar problems that post nice to know that there are some out there that are willing to share their experiences, it helps to have a community.

I love reading these posts and agree that withdrawal symptoms are different for everyone. I have been on Seroquel for 3 months now and I too believe it is causing more bad then good. I get home from my sh*t job and take (max) 150mg just before dinner. Right after dinner, my intent is to work on my new business idea but, I have no ambition to do so. I fall asleep at 9pm and "try" to wake up at 5:30 to go to my sh*t job. I sleep in til 6:30 usually because I am so grogged out. I have gained about 20 pounds in 3 months.

Lately, I have weened (not too slowly) myself down to 100mg then 50mg (within the last 2 weeks) and some nights, I do not take it. If I have a couple of drinks, I'll sleep better. Last night I did not take it and had 3 glasses of wine. I hardly slept but, I was "productive" with growing my business idea and stayed up until 11:30!! WOW. I took 10mg of Melatonin and still toss and turned a bit but, woke up "easily"...feeling a sense of accomplishment for being productive the night before. I imagine I will take 50mg a day, off and on until I know I will not have some severe backlash but, am TOO excited to not be weighted down by this drug. It had it's aiding elements but, the weight gain, low ambition keeps me negative. I find TOO that hanging around positive people, keeping busy and productive and even downkloading "positivity apps" on my I-phone and referencing them is IMPERITIVE so one doesn't fall back into "what life throws at you".

Best of luck to everyone wishing the same and I will try to post my progress in, say, a couple of weeks from now. To early to pass judgement.

I have been cold turkey with Serouquil for 2 months now, my only hang up is anxiety. I am on anxiety meds 3x a day but I do not take them if I dont need them. Most times, I don't know why; I need my anxiety at night. My life is peaceful, my husband is GREAT, my family relations are good. I don't suffer with depression must the anxiety. Now if something comes up that is hurtful or dreadful then yes anxiety can show its ugly head. Most days I am ok. I will start working on eating more healthy now that the holidays are over. I lost 9 1/2 lbs in 2 weeks not even trying after getting off of Serouquil. I have gained back a lb or two since the holidays but I know it will come off. I will start my exercise routines and eating better and then I will get from a sizie 14 back to a size 8-10 in a few months at lease I hope so. I know now that it was the meds that caused the weight gain.I can't go to work right now because I need to help the family with an Alshimer mother in law. I have her a week out of the month because that is all I can handle with the leaving of Serouquil. I plan to start working in my yard, reading my Bible more when I need comfort and call my two best friends for comfort instead of eating. My husband is my closest friend and a great means of comfort for me. I also count my blessings when I get depressed and I am then cheered right back up again. I plan to find things I can do so I won't feel anxious. And Love my mother in law dispite the problems I have with her care because she is feeling anxious herself, I know if it would not be for the Grace of God that could be Me.

Amen about asking God for His help. I will start my all veggie vitamin (all organic) called Alive. It helps give me energy and I am already taking fish oil.Melatoin does not help me only prescription meds help me sleep but at least I am off of Serouquil. The rest will come later.God is good to me and He will help me get off sleep and anxiety meds too all I have to do is take it one day at a time. Because What God says He means and He said I am Healed in the NOW and I Am!

I agree that positive people help people like us, I have also realized that we must think positive things about our jobs because what you do must be of the most importance to the ones we work for or we would not have the job. You must think of yourself as an important person being a unique as you are you are so special to those you work for and those of your family. Each step you make to get off the Serouquil is a step forward and no matter how small the step seems to you it is a Big One in reality. Give yourself a pat on the back, take some time for uplifting yourself, you must make yourself feel as special as God sees you. I agree with you that it is hard to get off the meds but God promised you that He will help you and if you pray He will be there with you and if you have a good community of loving people that is a blessing to you too. I don't know if you believe in God or not but I have found solace in Him. Just know that you bring diginity to the job, you, because you are that SPECIAL! Try to stay positive it really does help you in the hard times.

I am now one week into my withdrawal from seroquel and am hoping the withdrawal symptoms end soon. I've been on the drug for 9 years now. For most of that time I was on 700mg, and then 2 years ago my doctor dropped me to 300. From there it went to 150 and the drug seemed to wear off halfway thru the day so he switched me to 150mg of the XR which fixed the problem. Last month I finally decided I have had enough of the meds and began cutting the dose to 75mg and then 50. Last Thursday was the final night I took it, so it's been a week now and it has been hell. I am hoping relief will come soon. I just wanted to share for anyone going thru the same thing, Benadryl has provided a huge relief for the withdrawal symptoms and has helped me finally sleep. I take half of the prescribed dose and it has done wonders! I am just wondering if anyone who has successfully come off of seroquel can tell me how long the withdrawals lasted before it was finally over? I know it's a long road but I am trying to look for the light at the end of the tunnel as I know it will be worth it.

I have been taking Seroquel for 6 years. I started at 50mg and went up to 400mg. I am now on my way off of Seroquel. I was diagnosed Bipolar, Borderline Personality, OCD, and Anxiety, though the Seroquel was administered for Bipolar disorder as well as hearing voices. I was also on Lamictal (400mg), Celexa (40mg), and AM on 40mg of Vyvanse. I stopped taking my Lamictal cold turkey, although before I stopped I had a lack of taking it as I should. As for Seroquel, I was on 400mg and cut down to 300mg with my psychiatrist. He then told me that I could break that in half (so I would be taking 150mg). I now take 100mg and plan on staying at that dose for a couple of weeks to see how I do psychologically and I will keep reducing it by 50mg until I am hopefully off of it. The trouble is, I literally CANNOT sleep without taking Seroquel. I wouldn't recommend anyone to cut it cold turkey unless you are on a low dose (like 50mg)  because, at least personally, the withdrawal symptoms for me are horrible. Sick to my stomach, diarrhea, anxiety, no sleep, chills. Seroquel tends to make my body feel rather uncomfortable after taking it sometimes and it gives me anxiety right before I fall asleep. My reasoning for weaning off of it is for that reason, and because I feel like I can be stable without Seroquel and Lamictal. I also use drugs and a combination of antipsychotics and psych meds with certain drugs is dangerous and I want to eliminate that. 

I have sometimes gone from 50 mg to 100 mg when I'm very tired. But in reverse I think it would be better to go from 100mg to 75mg than down to 50mg in the 2nd week. For your disorder I would maybe try 25mg and then 10mg but if you can't sleep on 10mg cause it's too low and you get all your symptoms back maybe stay at 25mg to 50mg.

But to answer your question I don't think it would be that big a deal going from 100mg to 50mg. Just monitor your sleeping and make sure you get enough sleep so you stay well. Hope this post of my experience helps you.

My diagnosis is Bipolar. I have been on Seroquel two years now. Psychiatrists started me on about 600mg than down eventually to 300mg to 200mg. Then without seeing my shrink I took 100mg now I'm on 50mg. I just buy 200mg tabs and have quarter to save money. I would like to stop taking it but have found it very hard to sleep. I am thinking of natural remedies to help. I am scared that I will have a relapse and nearly kill myself again if I stop altogether. Because I have been EPISODE free since 2010. I was just wondering if the last two years taking it wouldve somehow made my chemical levels more balanced. Because I'm sure though that the doctors said after five years I may not have to take it after that. But I hate being overweight. I went from 105kg to 132kgs. When I stopped the lithium at start of last year I am 124kgs roughly now. I am scared of the side effects of Seroquel like diabetes especially and high sugar levels. But having said that I'm scared of having an episode again. Maybe I will try natural remedies like

MoodCalm™ Homeopathic remedy to relieve symptoms of mood swings to calm emotional outburstsLearn More      *  Melancholy Lift™ Homeopathic remedy to relieve symptoms of melancholy such as sadness, grief and weepiness.

They are both very expensive though.

I think that when I do take the plunge I will wean myself off as suggested in former posts. Do my natural remedies thing, exercise and if I get too tired and feel too alarmed i will just take 10mg of seroquel or bit more. But only sparodically and when I have not slept in two days. If I get to day 3 without sleep I will definetely take seroquel again. In the time I have taken this drug I have felt very healthy and my thoughts have been stable. (No demon thoughts). but unfortunately my side effects of weight gain, leg spasms, eye twitching and other stated long term side effects have made me reconsider taking it. Having said that I'm still unsure.

I'd like to relay a different story. A little more than a week ago my MD suggested I wean off of Seroquel XR. I was taking 150mg at night for approx. 14 months for major depressive disorder. As an FYI, I also take 10mg prozac and wellbutrin. My MD prescribed me the non XR formula in 25mg increments and had me taper by one pill per day so I was weaned off in five days. I have not taken any Seroquel in over five days. I am waking in the middle of the night, but still getting about 6hrs of sleep - I figure it will take some time for my body to get used to not having such a heavy sedative. For the first two day I did notice a bit of what I call physical anxiety - an overall tenseness, fidgety and that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach. However, I did not experience the mental rumination or fear of anxiety, nor did I experience anxiety attacks - I think some of that was because I had read the horror stories others posted on many sites. All of my symptoms were easily tolerable. I am grateful I have not had the experience others have when they withdrew from Seroquel and want to reassure others that not all people have such terrible withdraw symptoms...

Hi guys! Im getting off the seroquel now. I have taken 200mg for 2 years now. I've been taking 150mg for 2 weeks and now im taking 100, and now im starting to have problems with it... I sweat and get cold and have pain in my muscles. It is very difficult. Does any of you have some advice for me to get it easyer?? I really need help from you people! Love and Light!

BTW!!! I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR!