I've been on 400mg for about a year and a half. The drug has helped to this point, but through meditation and spiritual work, I am confident that I will be better once I'm off of it.
I tried stopping it cold turkey, and I didn't come close to getting tired the first night, so the next night came and I was even more amped up, so I decided the momentum needed to be stopped because mania is right around the corner. I didn't consider it a failure because I know how powerful seroquel is and there is so much history with it that I learned I should ween off. But get this, just 2 days later I tried taking 300mg, and I was okay, and then the next night, 200mg, and I slept fine. That is where I am at right now.
I have stopped many many habits by weaning. And while smaller challenges come to me, I can handle them through meditation, and by replacing a habit with spirituality, I have found it can truly be overcome and not morph into something else and I am left with the peace I wanted to begin with.
So, I may chronicle my experience in totally getting off of this stuff, and try out the theory of weaning off of it and incorporating the meditational method in order to "mortify" the reactions of the body.
I tried stopping it cold turkey, and I didn't come close to getting tired the first night, so the next night came and I was even more amped up, so I decided the momentum needed to be stopped because mania is right around the corner. I didn't consider it a failure because I know how powerful seroquel is and there is so much history with it that I learned I should ween off. But get this, just 2 days later I tried taking 300mg, and I was okay, and then the next night, 200mg, and I slept fine. That is where I am at right now.
I have stopped many many habits by weaning. And while smaller challenges come to me, I can handle them through meditation, and by replacing a habit with spirituality, I have found it can truly be overcome and not morph into something else and I am left with the peace I wanted to begin with.
So, I may chronicle my experience in totally getting off of this stuff, and try out the theory of weaning off of it and incorporating the meditational method in order to "mortify" the reactions of the body.
I'm going to scrap the idea of chronicling what I'm doing because I have made a definite conclusion.
It is not wise to go down on dosage without doctor knowledge. My grandmother and aunt did it and they immediately ended up in hospitals.
There are too potentially large forces at work that are being contained through the use of this medication (seroquel). It is allowing you to sleep, and preventing mania. Take away the drug and chances are you won't be able to sleep and mania will arise.
I'm going to leave it at that.
It is not wise to go down on dosage without doctor knowledge. My grandmother and aunt did it and they immediately ended up in hospitals.
There are too potentially large forces at work that are being contained through the use of this medication (seroquel). It is allowing you to sleep, and preventing mania. Take away the drug and chances are you won't be able to sleep and mania will arise.
I'm going to leave it at that.
First off... thank you to all who have posted before me on this subject. I'm so glad I found this forum, it's been extremely helpful and informative.
I took my last dose of seroquel and zoloft on 02/05/09.
I itch like crazy and it sucks!!
I still get nausea from stuff that never bothered me before (like my husband's breath)
My head/thoughts feel cloudy
and my eyes have been doing this kind of involuntary movement where they shift to the right.... what the eff is up with that?!?
Anyways, this site has definitely made me aware of the detox my body is up against. I'm no expert but i'm guessing that with all the weight i've gained, i've got plenty of drugs stored in my fat cells :-( Since i found this site two days ago, i have decided to do a 'cleanse' that my dr recommended. Prayers and fingers crossed that it helps. I'll keep you (whoever cares:) posted.... please do the same if you have any suggestions or whatever :-)
**Forgot to mention- Started taking a bunch of vitamins two wks ago. My dr suggested taking EPA/DHA supplements (i like the 'memorall' formula from gnc) to help with brain functions. Definitely worth looking into.
I can't wait until all these weird withdrawal symptoms subside and i feel more 'normal'......
I took my last dose of seroquel and zoloft on 02/05/09.
I itch like crazy and it sucks!!
I still get nausea from stuff that never bothered me before (like my husband's breath)
My head/thoughts feel cloudy
and my eyes have been doing this kind of involuntary movement where they shift to the right.... what the eff is up with that?!?
Anyways, this site has definitely made me aware of the detox my body is up against. I'm no expert but i'm guessing that with all the weight i've gained, i've got plenty of drugs stored in my fat cells :-( Since i found this site two days ago, i have decided to do a 'cleanse' that my dr recommended. Prayers and fingers crossed that it helps. I'll keep you (whoever cares:) posted.... please do the same if you have any suggestions or whatever :-)
**Forgot to mention- Started taking a bunch of vitamins two wks ago. My dr suggested taking EPA/DHA supplements (i like the 'memorall' formula from gnc) to help with brain functions. Definitely worth looking into.
I can't wait until all these weird withdrawal symptoms subside and i feel more 'normal'......
Celebrity
286 posts
Good luck and I hope it goes well for you :-D
Hi, im 18 and was prescribed Seroquel like a year ago to help me with sleep (and chemical imbalances in my brain). This past week, still taking Seroquel, I have been getting WAY too much sleep, and my body feels like it needs more than usual. I slept from 11pm till 2:30pm the other day like it was 'just another night of sleep.' I am in college so this whole not sleeping thing is going to be tricky, but I tried to wean myself off in a week (which I now realize is pointless) and am now typing this within the early hours of my first sleepless night. (Trust me, I don't want to have any more!) It really pisses me off that my doctor gave me such a powerful drug for such a simple symptom in the first place, and now it looks like I've got months of recovery ahead. This site has helped me a lot... and please keep posting! For now, Im back on the 200mg, cause it looks like if I don't I wont be getting ANY sleep.
Thanks!
Thanks!
The absolute best thing for withdrawals are, don't laugh, but bananas and gaterade. It helps with the headaches, muscle trimmers and shakes. I am on Seroguel and have to get off it before I go into the Army. After reading some posts, I'm really not looking forward to getting off of it :p
Im only 14 years old and i was put on 300 MG of seroquel and was experiencing trouble with waking up up for school so i was told to taper off the seroquel at 100 MG the told me to stop taking it completely. I am now itching like crazy and having trouble breathing. I have had to stop going to my school and become homeschooled and have not seen any of my friends in around two months. I also have no energy and cant ever sleep at night.
Celebrity
286 posts
I would have loved to have had this info to try before I got off meds and would love to hear from others if Bananas and Gatorade were useful for you?
Can't hurt I guess, so I would have tried it out.
Can't hurt I guess, so I would have tried it out.
I've read all of these posts and I am in the same boat as all of you. I am on 25 mgs of seroquel about to come off and I want to put this out there- there are supplements out there that can help you withdrawl. Go to theroadback.org and read what it has to say. I came off of 200mg of Lamictal, lorazapam and now coming off of 200mg of seroquel. I would never have been able to do it without these supplements. They have information on what to take and how to taper. These supplements help your daytime anxiety and insomnia. I owe them my life. I tried for years to come off of these pills for years until I ran into someone who suggested them to me. I feel for everyone that has wrote in. It makes me sick how doctors load you up with pills- especially giving out antipsychotics for sleeping problems!! It's insane!! Please check out these supplements to help you ease off it. Don't quit cold turkey!!! Good luck everyone!
I took 300 mg seroquel for hallucination and depression and I have to say i was better before, I've gained a lot of weight, close to 30 pounds and now I weigh close to 150 pounds. I can't sleep normally, I hate seroquel, my advice, take less and less through a period of time and then eventually you can quit
I have been a mild insomniac and having bipolar episodes since I was about 14, now 23, and spent years self-medicating with weed and alcohol. Worked ok until my roommate started a fight which I finished. Currently court-ordered to stay off those so went to a shrink who gave me a choice between trazadone, lithium, or seroquel. I have a schizo friend who is 40 and only functions cause of like 400mg of seroquel, so I chose that. Only taking 25mg at night and was off the weed and booze no problem. I made sure to request the smallest dose I could get, but dang you guys have scared the hell out of me with these horror stories about seroquel. Obviously I know not to quit cold turkey but what sort of long-term stuff can I expect? Also, specifically what kind of alternative stuff works for the eventual withdrawls etc? I chug green tea and cranberry juice and take basic vitamins, try to eat real food and such, which helps so far. Managed to quit smoking cigs last year with weed, green tea and lots of exercise but now back to a pack or so a day. Sometimes the seroquel doesnt want to work and I'm afraid to take any more. Please add to the discussion was very helpful
I was taking 900mg of Seroquel at night for sleep disturbances, 150 mg of Sertraline in the mornings for depression, and 1000mg of Lithium - 500mg in the morning and 500mg at night.
I am Bipolar. I had 9 years symptom and medication free before this current episode.
I decided yesterday I was over it and stopped taking any meds.
I didn't sleep and I doubt I will sleep tonight, but so far the only withdrawal has been hot and cold flushes with goosebumps and shiver down the spine. Also the occasional sore throat like at the beginning of a flu (hopefully not swine flu but that hasn't hit our shores yet!).
I believe that these were actually quite high dosages(?) compared to other patients. I have also done an introductory course of Dialectic Behaviour Therapy that is more effective than CBT for intrusive thoughts such as self harm.
I am Bipolar. I had 9 years symptom and medication free before this current episode.
I decided yesterday I was over it and stopped taking any meds.
I didn't sleep and I doubt I will sleep tonight, but so far the only withdrawal has been hot and cold flushes with goosebumps and shiver down the spine. Also the occasional sore throat like at the beginning of a flu (hopefully not swine flu but that hasn't hit our shores yet!).
I believe that these were actually quite high dosages(?) compared to other patients. I have also done an introductory course of Dialectic Behaviour Therapy that is more effective than CBT for intrusive thoughts such as self harm.
I was taking Seroquel for almost a year now & have gained tons of weight. I think around 40 pounds if not more. I have panic attacks & anxiety & am not bi-polar. I didn't need the medication to sleep. When I started taking the medication the sleepiness was horrible. I am a full time student, a mother of 3, a wife & I work part time. I got up every morning with what they call a "sleep hangover". I was so tired even after sleeping like 10 + hours a night. I have a life to live, I have people that depend on me, I am super busy & I can't be tired 24/7. I have tried lots of other drugs, paxil, cymbalta, etc. And have never had any sleepiness with those. The tiredness on the Seroquel bothered me so much I told the dr something needed to happen so, she uped the dosage saying that at 400mg a day I shouldn't be as tired. Bull sh*t! I started cutting the 400mg pill in half and took that for about a week. Today is my first full day with no seroquel at all. So far I have had a few cold chills, diahreah & a slight headache. I woke up this morning at 8:30 am with no problem. I was not tired and foggy feeling like I usually am. I have accomplished so much this morning. It seems like without the medicine I am so much better than I was with the medicine. This is the first day but I will definitely try to keep posting how my journey is going so maybe it will help someone else. Good luck to everyone! :-D
I had been taking seroquel for over a year at 600 mgs. and it was working great n all till i found i was pregnant.
my doctor made me quit the medication cold turkey, and two days after i started getting servere flu like symptoms, and i ended up in the ER.
I don't really think hospitals and such are aware of the side affects with being on and coming off of seroquel, which makes me think the ones who are on this medication need to prepare themselves for the worst because it seems like nothing can help or treat your symptoms.
its been a week and a half since i've been off of seroquel, and lastnight i started to experience severe chest and back pain along with hot flashes and lightheadedness and weird shocks going through the left side of my chest.
My mom called the ambulance and they did an ekg but everything was normal.
I also learned that an ekg wont show a heart attack unless you are having one that very moment.
so I'm a little scared of what might/could happen to me and my baby.
if anyone has experienced something like that please let me know.
my doctor made me quit the medication cold turkey, and two days after i started getting servere flu like symptoms, and i ended up in the ER.
I don't really think hospitals and such are aware of the side affects with being on and coming off of seroquel, which makes me think the ones who are on this medication need to prepare themselves for the worst because it seems like nothing can help or treat your symptoms.
its been a week and a half since i've been off of seroquel, and lastnight i started to experience severe chest and back pain along with hot flashes and lightheadedness and weird shocks going through the left side of my chest.
My mom called the ambulance and they did an ekg but everything was normal.
I also learned that an ekg wont show a heart attack unless you are having one that very moment.
so I'm a little scared of what might/could happen to me and my baby.
if anyone has experienced something like that please let me know.
Seroquel was a great drug for me I was on it for over 6 yrs. but they had to take me off of it because it was causing my heart to beat out of rhythum and cause it to beat so hard i was having lung problems and it made it worse. I wish there was something else i could take for sleep and it also helped my depression. I did experience twitching in my legs at night before i fell alseep i hated it but i knew it was helping my brain. I never had no withdraws after i stopped it. I always took a 100mg at night and i just cut it in half for 3 days and then just stopped now im on trazodone and it sucks but it helps me get a few hrs of sleep. i use to be a lab rat for psych i refuse to be that isolated lab rat and im always looking into new age, herbal therapy and im just on 2 meds one for sleep the trazodone and one for my ADD now im just trying to find a balance of something to replace the trazodone to help sleep and depression and prozac sucks too. research before you become a lab rat and paycheck for the psych. try other alternatives and stay in therapy. get a job, make positive friends, stay busy, stay close to your family, talk about your problems and go to the health food store make sure you talk to a prof. and try something new with less side effects..