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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 12 to 36 of 58. Go back in thread:
Posted by Sugarpuss on January 18, 2004, at 11:21:47
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by Camille Dumont on January 18, 2004, at 10:45:02
I'm wondering if perhaps the other medication you were on contributed to some of your side effects. I've heard a lot of horror stories about Effexor; I've never been on it myself but I know of more than a few people who have been and who complained of a lot of similar symptoms. Could it be from either the Effexor or the combination of the two instead of just from the Seroquel?
I guess I'll just have to try it and see what it does for me. If it really is linked to weight loss I'll have to ditch it, because over the last half a year or so, due to being on various meds and painkillers particularly, I've dropped to under 105, which at 5'6 1/2" is already pretty skinny, I don't want to go any lower.I suppose seeing things sometimes is better than being the walking dead all the time. I know when I was a teen and on Risperdal I was such a zombie that I can't remember a single minute of the entire time I was on the pills. But I don't have any issues like that mentally (I'm bipolar, borderline, obsessive-compulsive, and have a panic disorder), my doctor resorted to the Seroquel only because we were really starting to run low on options and he says he's had quite a lot of success using it in lower doses to treat insomnia/mania.
As always I guess all anyone can do is hope for the best.
Posted by iso_ananda on January 18, 2004, at 13:23:52
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by Sugarpuss on January 18, 2004, at 11:21:47
I was also prescribed 25mg seroquel for sleep and I LOVED IT! It put me to sleep within 30min. and I woke up without any problem. It did make my legs restless before going to sleep, but once I laid down it went away and I went to sleep. Avoid grapefruit as it may keep the drug in your system longer.
Posted by Laree on January 18, 2004, at 16:28:02
In reply to Seroquel, posted by Sugarpuss on January 17, 2004, at 13:04:54
> So far I've tried Ambien (made me feel trippy and put me to sleep...)
--I, too, am a bad insomniac & have been on Ambien a few times. It made me trippy too & has been the only drug i've ever really had an "addiction-like" prob. with. Had to discontinue. I was staying up for hours on doses of 40 mgs./night and doing whacked out stuff and experiencing what I call "Ambien amnesia" the next day. Scary stuff.>...trazadone (I hate the way it makes me feel)
--Me too. It made my body feel exhausted and nearly paralyzed and my mind race--& I already have hyperactivity of thoughts!! only took this for a few nights before i said SCREW IT, it's def. not for me!
>Restoril (I'm on Klonopin so that stuff did NOTHING to me at all, perhaps if I weren't so benzo-tolerant it would have worked, who knows).
--I have taken many benzos, and recently Serax, which I think I've read works similarly to Restoril...it usually took over an hour to work if it worked at all for me. I took Klonopin last year, but remember having Ambien at the same time or some other sleep med on top of it normally for it to work...
>...diphenhydramine
--I take this every night anymore. It takes a long time and a lot of it to have an effect on me.
> #1 - Side effects. I have a panic disorder, I'm seriously emetophobic, and I'm something of a hypochondriac, so side effects freak me out. Some don't bother me, but I'm particularly bothered by nausea/vomiting, weight gain, and/or sexual dysfunction. Does Seroquel have any of these side effects (or others)?
--I am also part hypodchondriac I think, and have had eating disorders in years past & ulcer/reflux disorder and tend to have a sensitive stomach, so i have intense fear of "weight gain" side effect and also nausea. About a year ago I was given samples of Seroquel for insomnia. I think it makes me retain water, although i'm not sure why, and it makes me hungry. My pdoc claimed it was a "weight neutral" drug but I had read up on it and had little trust. Still, feeling pretty desperate, I took about 25-50 mg./night to start and experienced terrible hangovers the next night. But...it really worked. I couldn't even FIGHT sleep about 20-30 min. after taking it, and to me that was a beautiful thing most nights. Still, I hated the way it made me feel sort of "out of it", unbalanced physically at times, and DEFINITELY fatigued the next day. I was also preoccupied with any prospect of weight gain having gotten over a bad bout with anorexia a year prior. I stopped taking it a month or 2 later and have only used on a completely desperate basis (had many sample packets left over) since.
>I guess I also want to know if this is the kind of med that's going to make me feel like shit, or have me wake up feeling like shit, etc., and if so, do these effects go away eventually? How long?
--These side effects never went away for me, only lessened a bit on lower doses. in fact, i might venture to say they got worse, namely with sequentially nightly use.
>
> #2 - Drug interactions. The only other medication I take every day is Klonopin (usually 2-2.5mg a day, but sometimes more, although never more than 4-5mg) and I'm assuming the two aren't unsafe to combine as the same doctor prescribed them both and even said that I could take an extra Klonopin at night WITH the Seroquel if necessary, but it would still be nice to hear from others, because "it won't kill you" doesn't mean "it won't suck", unfortunately.
--I think I used the 2 together (rarely), but neither at high doses.>I also use Vicodin and various other painkillers fairly often (for upcoming tooth/jaw surgery). I'm wondering if that's an unsafe combination or if it's okay, or if I should just be sure to put a certain number of hours between taking the two, etc.
--I am on Vicodin and have been on other narcotic painkillers and have never had a problem between the 2, but that doesn't mean you won't/wouldn't...>(Although I've heard that Seroquel is a good "come-down" pill for speed/coke/e.)
--Ha! not for me! sure, it may zap any sleeplessness, but it makes my heart beat faster when my pulse is already at an elevated speed from Adderall...i've found that benzos or even dipenhydramine is better for that kind of thing!>Also, if these are dangerous combinations, I'm curious as to why (I'm just a curious girl...)
--I don't do illicit street drugs, but I'm sure there are. I've taken numerous scheduled rx drugs & have found this one to be VERY HEAVY. I think it has the potential to be really dangerous and don't like taking it. I ALWAYS worry afterwards when I take it...risks of SERIOUS neurological problems such as Tardive Dyskensia, etc., scare the shit out of me...> #3 - Diphenhydramine... at first 50mg a night and now I'm up to 150-200mg a night to sleep (I only take pills that contain ONLY diphenhydramine; I know that taking large/unnecessary doses of medications with acetaminophen or the like in them can cause problems). So far I've never had any ill effects from it...>
--Me neither. I have found it to be a mild and good drug for insomnia but have had to take ever-increasing doses for it to work as well.> #4 - Tolerance. I know with many medications, you grow quickly adjusted to them and need to raise your dosage in order for it to be effective...Does anyone know how tolerance works with Seroquel?
--I'd usually have to bump from 25 mg.-50 mg. within a week or 2, and a week from that, 100 mg., and so on...
>
> #5 - Duration. How long does it generally take to kick in, and how long does it keep you asleep?
--I took 100 mg. of Seroquel out of complete desperation for sleep last night. I am still feeling the ill-effects from it (horrible fatigue, feeling 'out of it', unmotivated, dumbed-down, etc.) I fell asleep around 8:30 p.m. and slept until about 2 p.m. today, only waking up for a few min. in-between, once because my phone rang and once b/c i really had to pee but fell asleep just about instantly afterwards. I STILL woke up feeling physically drained and fatigued, and prob. only because a loud-speaker announcement came on in my bldg.! This shit is potent, I'm telling you!!! And that is NOT always a good thing, trust me. It can be scary and almost disabling. I rarely wake up to my loud alarm clock the morning after taking it (or to my roommate's being up and around) even at doses of 50 mg. or less usually.Good luck & BE VERY CAREFUL!
--L.
Posted by Laree on January 18, 2004, at 17:39:20
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by Camille Dumont on January 18, 2004, at 10:45:02
> It definately takes care of the insomnia ... as in put me to sleep in like 20 minutes but it also gave me "strange" sleep.
--It gave me "strange" sleep as well, with vivid dreams & nightmares. I felt around 20-30 min. after taking it I was basically rendered unconscious! I couldn't fight sleep, my eyes just closed themselves, I swear.
> A couble of time a night I would wake up shivering and sweaty all over...>
--This has happened to me as well; it feels terrible. I've woken up covered in sweat from head-to-toe & my bed has been all sweaty too...but I'm not exactly sure why except I was having nightmares as well...
>In the end ... at about 50mg I got tired of the zombie feeling + I had to take it around 9AM to be able to get up at 6AM and go work which meant I basically had no life aside from work and sleep so I stopped taking it.
--I assume you meant to say 9 P.M. there, but I agree with what you've said! I also felt like a zombie after taking it, even at lower doses.> I'd rather be an awake insomniac with on and off visual hallucinations and depersonalization rather than a zombie with no psychotic side effects.
--ME, TOO. I decided I'd rather not sleep than deal with the side effects of Seroquel, but I have never had problems w/psychosis...except minor hallucinations when i haven't obtained sufficient sleep in days...and i'd rather deal with THOSE than the side effects! I think I feel more tired after a long night's sleep w/Seroquel than going a few days without much/any sleep, for that matter!!
Best,
L.
Posted by Sugarpuss on January 18, 2004, at 23:02:43
In reply to Re: Seroquel » Camille Dumont, posted by Laree on January 18, 2004, at 17:39:20
I took 25mg before bed (my boyfriend works overnights, so we sleep days and "before bed" was wround one in the afternoon). About half an hour or so later I could definitely feel the effects of the pill or should I say I didn't really FEEL anymore. I said to my boyfriend that I could see why it's an anti-psychotic because I felt *nothing* emotionally, but it felt to me a lot like a heavy dose of Klonopin. I was able to stay awake although it did put me to sleep once I "let" it, and it kept me asleep until our alarm went off six or so hours later. Now I feel a TINY bit groggy even through my 1mg Klonopin that I took a while ago.
Maybe the reason I didn't experience the excessive sleepiness or other negative effects you guys describe is because I'm so used to going through my days on anywhere from 2-4mg of clonazepam that my body has just learned to be awake on tranquilizers, or maybe I just got lucky.
Posted by Sugarpuss on January 18, 2004, at 23:03:24
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by iso_ananda on January 18, 2004, at 13:23:52
Yeah, I heard about the grapefruit thing. Lucky for me, I HATE grapefruit! :)
Posted by Sugarpuss on January 18, 2004, at 23:14:37
In reply to Re: Seroquel » Sugarpuss, posted by Laree on January 18, 2004, at 16:28:02
> --I, too, am a bad insomniac & have been on Ambien a few times. It made me trippy too & has been the only drug i've ever really had an "addiction-like" prob. with. Had to discontinue. I was staying up for hours on doses of 40 mgs./night and doing whacked out stuff and experiencing what I call "Ambien amnesia" the next day. Scary stuff.All I know is that one time my ex and I (foolishly) got really fucked up and then took Ambien, and though nothing "bad" happened, the next day we found signs of doing really odd things that neither of us have any recollection of (I have no idea, for example, why there was a SANDWICH in my DRESSER DRAWER). It was amusing at the time but I never took Ambien again.
> --Me too. It made my body feel exhausted and nearly paralyzed and my mind race--& I already have hyperactivity of thoughts!! only took this for a few nights before i said SCREW IT, it's def. not for me!I''ve used it a few times at relatively high doses and all of my experiences were utterly miserable; I couldn't even *stand* for more than two or three seconds. Years ago I found that 50mg was a great coke comedown but that is the only positive thing I can say about traz, and since it's related to coke even that's not really "positive".
> --I take this every night anymore. It takes a long time and a lot of it to have an effect on me.
Same. 200mg will make me able to sleep about an hour and a half or two hours later. I think what I'm going to do is alternate between that and Seroquel, hopefully that way I'll get enough sleep and both drugs will continue to be effective for longer periods of time without me having to raise my dosage.
> --I am also part hypodchondriac I think, and have had eating disorders in years past & ulcer/reflux disorder and tend to have a sensitive stomach, so i have intense fear of "weight gain" side effect and also nausea. About a year ago I was given samples of Seroquel for insomnia. I think it makes me retain water, although i'm not sure why, and it makes me hungry. My pdoc claimed it was a "weight neutral" drug but I had read up on it and had little trust. Still, feeling pretty desperate, I took about 25-50 mg./night to start and experienced terrible hangovers the next night. But...it really worked. I couldn't even FIGHT sleep about 20-30 min. after taking it, and to me that was a beautiful thing most nights. Still, I hated the way it made me feel sort of "out of it", unbalanced physically at times, and DEFINITELY fatigued the next day. I was also preoccupied with any prospect of weight gain having gotten over a bad bout with anorexia a year prior. I stopped taking it a month or 2 later and have only used on a completely desperate basis (had many sample packets left over) since.
I've never really had any issues with my weight, but a year or two ago I was up to 145 and now I'm down to 105 and while I actually kind of WANT to gain about five pounds (my hipbones could probably kill someone), I don't want any serious weight gain... but if it were a coin toss between eweight gain and puking, I'd take weight gain any day!
>> --These side effects never went away for me, only lessened a bit on lower doses. in fact, i might venture to say they got worse, namely with sequentially nightly use.
Maybe that will happen if I keep taking it but as I said in another comment on this thread I took one yesterday and it made me very dull and spacey, almost EXACTLY like a large(r) does of Klonopin, and it HELPED me fall asleep though I could have stayed awake. I slept only six hours (physically I could have easily slept longer but our alarm went off) and only felt hangover-y for about 20 minutes after waking up, even after taking my Klonopin.
>
>
> >Also, if these are dangerous combinations, I'm curious as to why (I'm just a curious girl...)
> --risks of SERIOUS neurological problems such as Tardive Dyskensia, etc., scare the shit out of me...What IS that, exactly? I keep hearing the term tossed around and it makes me wonder why my doctor didn't mention it.
I also haven't felt any of the "tremors", leg-shakes, etc. that other people have described but I believe that could be because of my Klonopin, since it's an anti-convulsant.
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 20, 2004, at 0:30:57
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by Sugarpuss on January 18, 2004, at 23:14:37
> All I know is that one time my ex and I (foolishly) got really f[*]cked up and then took Ambien...
Sorry to be such a prude, but please don't use language that could offend others. If you have any questions about this, or comments about posting policies in general, please see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
or redirect a follow-up to Psycho-Babble Administration. Please also feel free to post to PBA if you'd like to discuss alternative ways to express yourself. Thanks,
Bob
Posted by Sugarpuss on January 20, 2004, at 0:53:21
In reply to Re: please be civil » Sugarpuss, posted by Dr. Bob on January 20, 2004, at 0:30:57
Sorry! I didn't realize cursing wasn't allowed, I'm used to a very different sort of messageboard.
Posted by Camille Dumont on January 20, 2004, at 8:54:26
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by Sugarpuss on January 18, 2004, at 11:21:47
> I'm wondering if perhaps the other medication you were on contributed to some of your side effects. I've heard a lot of horror stories about Effexor; I've never been on it myself but I know of more than a few people who have been and who complained of a lot of similar symptoms. Could it be from either the Effexor or the combination of the two instead of just from the Seroquel?
Its quite possible that it was from the combination of both. If you look at the side effects from Seroquel, weight loss is listed as "rare" and Effexor does tend to agitate me but aside from that I have zero side effects from Effexor so I prefer to stick with that.
With just the effexor (now at 300mg) I have insomnia on and off but when I do sleep I don't get the night sweats and the strange nightmares only lasted for like the first two weeks that I took it. In fact effexor tends to make you "dream" alot ... or at least they are much more vivid than normal.
>
> I guess I'll just have to try it and see what it does for me. If it really is linked to weight loss I'll have to ditch it, because over the last half a year or so, due to being on various meds and painkillers particularly, I've dropped to under 105, which at 5'6 1/2" is already pretty skinny, I don't want to go any lower.
>Indeed that is quite thin. I mean I'm 5'1" so at 105 I'm not too worried as its a normal weight. As you are already thin, perhaps it will have a different effect on you. In fact many people gain weight on Seroquel ... as with many APs.
> I suppose seeing things sometimes is better than being the walking dead all the time. I know when I was a teen and on Risperdal I was such a zombie that I can't remember a single minute of the entire time I was on the pills. But I don't have any issues like that mentally (I'm bipolar, borderline, obsessive-compulsive, and have a panic disorder), my doctor resorted to the Seroquel only because we were really starting to run low on options and he says he's had quite a lot of success using it in lower doses to treat insomnia/mania.
Well, all I can say is that it IS definately sedating ... even moreso if you take it during the day. As I don't have any maniac episodes, for me, even trying to stay awake for an hour after taking it (at 25mg) was not an option. Perhaps at a lower dose it could have a calming effect for you.
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 21, 2004, at 0:08:06
In reply to Re: please be civil, posted by Sugarpuss on January 20, 2004, at 0:53:21
Posted by Doctor Feel Good on January 28, 2004, at 21:17:28
In reply to Re: Seroquel » Camille Dumont, posted by Laree on January 18, 2004, at 17:39:20
I just took 25mg of seroquel for the 1st time last night, since I couldnt sleep unless I am drunk or benzos. I have been substance free for a while. Last night I had nightmares , woke up paralyzed, sweaty, severe auditory, tactile, and visual hallucinations. Major paranoia, extreme anxiety, I literally felt the claws of the creatures I saw digging into me. Then all day I was anxious and depressed, sweaty, felt like a zombie. It's awful. I function way better not sleeping taking 150mgx2 Wellbutrin and 100mgx2of Zoloft. I hear ambien rules, but tolerance is developed by then end of the first month. I'm almost done with my MA in Clinical Psychology, and will be going for my PhD,so I have above average knowledge in Psychopharmacology (I got an A). My seroquel experience was totally unexpected, and I can NOT believe seroquel does not have these adverse effects on their website. Bastards. I said so many Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be To The Fathers last night in a state of terror.
Posted by EscherDementian on January 28, 2004, at 23:14:09
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by Doctor Feel Good on January 28, 2004, at 21:17:28
25mg seroquel affects me like pill-induced narcolepsy. When it was perscribed to me for anxiety, it turned the situation i was anxious about into a total fiasco or worse, because i would suddenly drop and sleep wherever i was- (airport, restaurant, and even work) -not to awaken for hours. My normally colorful and eventful dreams were weak, brown and boring.
Ambien perscribed to me for sleep turned me into a furiously raging aggressor looking for someone to verbally abuse or something precious to tear up. For anyone who knows me, that is a shocking personality change that would have been thought impossible for me.
Those are two meds that i will never never again use for those reasons.
Posted by Doctor Feel Good on January 28, 2004, at 23:47:49
In reply to Re: Seroquel - Ambien, posted by EscherDementian on January 28, 2004, at 23:14:09
That's awful. If Ambien did that to you, then your problems may stem from GABA anomalies. Perhaps you could look into Gabitril. It is prescribed for epilepsy, but I know of a couple friends who had it prescribed for anxiety, and they are doing quite well. Their anxiety was severe (they thought they were panic attacks). Good luck buddy! P.S. Are you currently on other meds, and have u had a physical including a thyroid test?
GABITRIL—A Selective GABA Reuptake Inhibitor (SGRI)
Increases GABA levels in vitro by selectively binding to GAT-1, the predominant GABA uptake transporter
Proven safety profile with a low potential for drug interactions
Linear pharmacokinetics offer predictable systemic exposure
More than 14 million patient days of exposure to GABITRIL therapy
The precise mechanism by which GABITRIL exerts its effect in humans is unknown
GABITRIL is indicated as adjunctive therapy in adults and children 12 years and older in the treatment of partial seizures.This except is taken from Gabitril.com, these are their references.
References:
1. Borden LA, Murali Dhar TG, Smith KE, Weinshank RL, Branchek TA, Gluchowski C. Tiagabine, SK&F 89976-A, CI-966, and NNC-711 are selective for the cloned GABA transporter GAT-1. Eur J Pharmacol. 1994;269:219-224.
2. GABITRIL package insert, Cephalon, Inc.
3. Data on file, Cephalon, Inc.
4. Giardina WJ. Anticonvulsant action of tiagabine, a new GABA-uptake inhibitor. J Epilepsy. 1994;7:161-166.
5. Schachter SC. Tiagabine: current status and potential clinical applications. Exp Opin Invest Drugs. 1996;5:1377-1387.
6. Fink-Jensen A, Suzdak PD, Swedberg MDB, Judge ME, Hansen L, Nielsen PG. The g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) uptake inhibitor, tiagabine, increases extracellular brain levels of GABA in awake rats. Eur J Pharmacol. 1992;220:197-201.
Posted by Sugarpuss on January 29, 2004, at 1:22:50
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by Doctor Feel Good on January 28, 2004, at 21:17:28
Wow, that's awful, Doctor Feelgood (I love that song, haha). I've taken 25mg of Seroquel three times now (I try not to use it often), and every time it's effectively put and kept me asleep, but every time except for one I've had very realistic, bizarre dreams and/or sleep paralysis. Last night after I took it I was so sure that I actually *crawled over my boyfriend and fell headfirst off of the bed* that I asked him about it when we got up and he looked at me like I was a lunatic. Fortunately even though I was SURE it had really happened, when it "happened" I was laughing, because -- well come on, picture a 23-year-old girl just randomly doing a slow-mo somersault over the side of her bed and collapsing in a fit of giggles because... well, that would be a really ridiculous thing to do!
I'm really familiar with that sort of dream and sleep paralysis though, and I've done enough research on it that it doesn't scare me anymore, so I'm okay, but obviously Seroquel isn't the answer for you. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience!
Posted by Sugarpuss on January 29, 2004, at 1:25:20
In reply to Re: Seroquel - Ambien, posted by EscherDementian on January 28, 2004, at 23:14:09
> 25mg seroquel affects me like pill-induced narcolepsy. When it was perscribed to me for anxiety, it turned the situation i was anxious about into a total fiasco or worse, because i would suddenly drop and sleep wherever i was- (airport, restaurant, and even work) -not to awaken for hours. My normally colorful and eventful dreams were weak, brown and boring.
Wow, how odd! I can see what you're saying about suddenly dropping -- I've taken it three times, and the second time I was sitting on my couch reading and was planning to move to the bed once I got sleepy and woke up, still sitting up, three hours later, quite confused, but I've never been unable to stay awake if I had to, and if anything it's made my dreams much MORE vivid.
>
> Ambien perscribed to me for sleep turned me into a furiously raging aggressor looking for someone to verbally abuse or something precious to tear up. For anyone who knows me, that is a shocking personality change that would have been thought impossible for me.Ambien just made me feel slightly hallucinogenic and didn't let me sleep for very long, although as a young teenager when I was on it I apparently had some kind of "episode" that they never told me the details of.
>
> Those are two meds that i will never never again use for those reasons.I don't blame you! Hopefully you have found/will find something that works.
>
Posted by Doctor Feel Good on January 29, 2004, at 1:51:08
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by Sugarpuss on January 29, 2004, at 1:22:50
At least you have a funny story. =) I've gotta call my doc tomorrow and ask what my next option is. I have a history of marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol dependence (I'm clean now, tan, and getting big from the gym which keeps me sober), so she said "Ambien would not be my first or second choice". I sure hope I can give it a try. I ordered 90 x 10mg generic ambien from Germany, but I don't intend on trying it until I've exhausted my options for sleep treatment. Right now it's 2:47am, I can't sleep and I'm watching Austin Powers 3. I'm laughing my butt off and I really don't care that I'm awake. It's so much better than last nights seroquel experience, I am just starting to notice my zombiness and sore neck going away, and I'm getting happy. Yay! ;)
Posted by EscherDementian on January 29, 2004, at 2:34:44
In reply to Re: Seroquel - Ambien » EscherDementian, posted by Doctor Feel Good on January 28, 2004, at 23:47:49
> That's awful. If Ambien did that to you, then your problems may stem from GABA anomalies.
>That's one that hasn't been suggested yet. But then, i'm a bit of a different bird, anyway...
>Perhaps you could look into Gabitril. It is prescribed for epilepsy, but I know of a couple friends who had it prescribed for anxiety, and they are doing quite well. Their anxiety was severe (they thought they were panic attacks).
>i no longer have the anxiety that i did when RXed the seroquel (a year and a half ago): my seemingly unreasonable anxiety increased (a precurser you might say) to the eventual release of full blown PTSD terror episodes. i believe that long term unrelenting childhood terror has an effect on the development of the amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, etc. and causes a burnout that can make fear unrecognizable until one has the adult skills and safety to experience fear and terror. This was the case for me. In my case, the mixed blessing of erroneous RXing and my refusal of more "perscription experiments" is exactly what needed to happen when i began to experience fear, and my childhood experiences began to 'come up to be healed'. It's a rough ride -deeply- and tough work, but The Real Work, nonetheless. ~Genuine 'healing' IF done with a well-trained therapist with a honed and respectable repertoire of experience. (not kidding around: Therapist & Pdoc newbies beware) *whew* ...am still working with the tail end of it.
>Good luck buddy! P.S. Are you currently on other meds, and have u had a physical including a thyroid test?
>i could lol for a century if my answer to that question weren't so sad...
At a peak of my terrors (and before i found an appropriate therapist) i made a crisis MD apptmnt and insisted that my doc test full panel thyroid, hormones, liver, etc. AND full physical. i had not slept for 4 days and nights, and in 6 days all the liquid or food i'd been able to get down was 1/2 an orange and 1/2 a protein bar. i was in a state of extreme distress (near hysteria, shaking and frightened, uncontrollably crying) during the appointment & blood draw.
Two days later, some assistant phoned to say "Dr.____ says your test results came back and everything is 'Normal'." One-size-fits-all 'Normal'! My adrenal profile? Hormones? (the test read "female, mid-cycle")
i asked for the results to be mailed to me.
i shared the four pages of results with a Pdoc and began working with an Homeopath/MD (the tests presented an "interesting pattern" that the MDoc seemingly had no clue how to interpret...)Gosh, sorry for the rantishness.
i rarely write much here anymore, but it seems your questions opened the proverbial can of worms, dear DFG... or as i like to say: Too many kittens for not enough baskets. ;-)Or maybe i'm just glad to have my brain back,
EscherP.S.
Thank You for the excerpt and references. Good work!
Posted by Doctor Feel Good on January 29, 2004, at 2:44:37
In reply to Re: Seroquel - Ambien, posted by EscherDementian on January 29, 2004, at 2:34:44
It's great to hear that you've worked on your issues with a therapist. That's totally the way to go, and anybody who is on meds should be referred to a therapist as a requirement if undergoing med treatment. Sadly, psychiatrists feel the APA Ehethics Code does not apply to them, especially in one of its guiding principles where it is a psychiatrist/psychologist's duty to suggest other professionals who can extend the range of services/benefits to a client. I'm kinda tired to proofread this and check apa.org for the exact code, not to mention this cramped up laptop keyboard. Its 3:43am, and I still can't sleep. Best of luck to ya
Posted by EscherDementian on January 29, 2004, at 4:29:02
In reply to Re: Seroquel - Ambien » EscherDementian, posted by Doctor Feel Good on January 29, 2004, at 2:44:37
> It's great to hear that you've worked on your issues with a therapist. That's totally the way to go, and anybody who is on meds should be referred to a therapist as a requirement if undergoing med treatment.
>Thanks!
...aside: did it w/out meds.> I'm kinda tired to proofread this and check apa.org for the exact code, not to mention this cramped up laptop keyboard. Its 3:43am, and I still can't sleep. Best of luck to ya
>Thanx' again for the response and thought to proofread at all.
Hej~ try this for sleep? =-> Licorice Root tea. Best by Alvita/TwinLabs. *Sweet dreams when you finally get there,
Escher*DSCH can tell you much more (and eloquently) why it works/hp axis/etc. but i'm not sure he posts here anymore, and, like you, i'm too tired (2:30am here) to proofread, or even refer, esp. past posts...
Posted by Fourdaystil on February 11, 2004, at 1:06:05
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by Sugarpuss on January 18, 2004, at 11:21:47
I'm new to this board..was just searching longterm side effects of Seroquel on the internet and found this thread. Hopefully I can be of help and get some answers of my own as well!
I started taking Seroquel six years ago for bipolar disorder and anxiety issues. It was my miracle drug, didn't make me feel drugged and didn't make me feel antsy either. I slept at night (usually within 20 minutes of taking the med) and could function properly during the day.
Since then I have learned new coping techniques and have been able to decrease me dosage significantly. I've been very successful in doing this up until the final point of going medication-free. I can't kick the sleeping problems. Looking back now I realize that even before any of my emotional problems, I've had problems with insomnia.
So, now I'm stuck taking a very tiny pill every night to go to sleep. I can't sleep without it. When I started Seroquel it was brand new, so they didn't know the longterm side effects of Seroquel. My question is to anyone who took Seroquel for a long period of time and successfully went off of it. I want to know if there are any side effects that don't ever go away. For example, I have noticed that I get migraines now that I'm off of the medication, but I figure those will go away with time. It's just the withdrawl reaction of my body. But I need some better treatment for this sleeping problem.
To answer some of your questions (which it's kind of late to be answering them), these are the only side effects I've faced with Seroquel:
1) The first week of taking Seroquel, I was totally knocked out for 12-15 hours at a time. It was very difficult to get up in the morning. This wore off after the first week and I felt refreshed in the morning.
2) They say that weight gain is a side effect of Seroquel, but I have never had that problem. I stayed the same weight for most of the six years I was on the medication. I had gained a few extra pounds from Zyprexa and Zoloft previously and lost those pounds very quickly. But once I reached my normal weight, I maintained it without major diet or exercise.
3) Seroquel doesn't work well with alcohol. I usually would skip my meds if I drank, which didn't really have bad effects on me. The alcohol put me to sleep, and I woke up pretty early the next morning without so much as a hangover. People never understood how I could wake up so early in the morning after a night out, but it worked out for me. Seroquel doesn't stay in your system for long, so you can be flexible with it and your lifestyle. If you are afraid of it interacting badly with something, you can skip out on it for that time...just be careful about how long that other thing will stay in your system.
4) I think you will find that Seroquel will help with your panic disorder. Actually, I found I didn't need another medication to help with the Seroquel.It was my lifesaver for a very difficult time in my life, and I would recommend to anyone in a similar situation as I was and it sounds like you are very similar to me. Hope it works out!
Posted by Doctor Feel Good on February 11, 2004, at 1:25:31
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by Fourdaystil on February 11, 2004, at 1:06:05
> I'm new to this board..was just searching longterm side effects of Seroquel on the internet and found this thread. Hopefully I can be of help and get some answers of my own as well!
Welcome! Seroquel has been a life saver for way more people than as a hassle. Some like myself didnt wish I we were alive the day/week I took it from serious side effects. (i.e. paralyzation, hearing screams, seeing beasts with claws, clawing me which I felt) You are very intuitive and it is great to see you realize you had insomnia before seroquel. If u cant sleep while off it, you may need to stick with it, change medication, or excercise. Heck, if the tiny dose of seroquel works for sleep , keep it up. Long term problems stem from long term D2 Dopamine 2 blockage. There are tests your doctor can do within minutes to see if you have any TD or EPS symptoms. It sounds like you tolerated a high dosage quite nicely. It's great to hear someone doing so well. Good job, use this board for info, but you should always check with your Doctor. Good Luck!
> I started taking Seroquel six years ago for bipolar disorder and anxiety issues. It was my miracle drug, didn't make me feel drugged and didn't make me feel antsy either. I slept at night (usually within 20 minutes of taking the med) and could function properly during the day.
>
> Since then I have learned new coping techniques and have been able to decrease me dosage significantly. I've been very successful in doing this up until the final point of going medication-free. I can't kick the sleeping problems. Looking back now I realize that even before any of my emotional problems, I've had problems with insomnia.
>
> So, now I'm stuck taking a very tiny pill every night to go to sleep. I can't sleep without it. When I started Seroquel it was brand new, so they didn't know the longterm side effects of Seroquel. My question is to anyone who took Seroquel for a long period of time and successfully went off of it. I want to know if there are any side effects that don't ever go away. For example, I have noticed that I get migraines now that I'm off of the medication, but I figure those will go away with time. It's just the withdrawl reaction of my body. But I need some better treatment for this sleeping problem.
>
> To answer some of your questions (which it's kind of late to be answering them), these are the only side effects I've faced with Seroquel:
>
> 1) The first week of taking Seroquel, I was totally knocked out for 12-15 hours at a time. It was very difficult to get up in the morning. This wore off after the first week and I felt refreshed in the morning.
> 2) They say that weight gain is a side effect of Seroquel, but I have never had that problem. I stayed the same weight for most of the six years I was on the medication. I had gained a few extra pounds from Zyprexa and Zoloft previously and lost those pounds very quickly. But once I reached my normal weight, I maintained it without major diet or exercise.
> 3) Seroquel doesn't work well with alcohol. I usually would skip my meds if I drank, which didn't really have bad effects on me. The alcohol put me to sleep, and I woke up pretty early the next morning without so much as a hangover. People never understood how I could wake up so early in the morning after a night out, but it worked out for me. Seroquel doesn't stay in your system for long, so you can be flexible with it and your lifestyle. If you are afraid of it interacting badly with something, you can skip out on it for that time...just be careful about how long that other thing will stay in your system.
> 4) I think you will find that Seroquel will help with your panic disorder. Actually, I found I didn't need another medication to help with the Seroquel.
>
> It was my lifesaver for a very difficult time in my life, and I would recommend to anyone in a similar situation as I was and it sounds like you are very similar to me. Hope it works out!
>
Posted by Lyrical13 on February 12, 2004, at 6:26:26
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by Doctor Feel Good on February 11, 2004, at 1:25:31
Seroquel has been a miracle for me too. Back in Sept when i had maxed out my Effexor and was still having a terrible time with depression/ anxiety...couldn't even function at work..I was falling apart. Adding Seroquel turned things around in a matter of days. I got through the fall much better than I ever remember. I was actually happy about returning to work after Christmas break..usually I feel a little depressed.
Here's the question for me. Last year in the spring (approx March through June really) I was on 150mg Effexor. I was more hypomanic than I ever remember being. First time I ever felt euphoric. Lots of spending sprees and decreased need for sleep. At that time we still thought I had depression w/ GAD. Now realize it's actually BP2. Seroquel was first being used to augment Effexor for depression/GAD. Now we are increasing the dosage to use it as a mood stabilizer. Currenlty on 225mg Effexor, 75mg Seroquel. (I am very sensitive to meds and often require only pediatric dosage) Working our way up to 100-200 mg of Seroquel and then plan to decrease teh Effexor to 150 or possibly 75mg.
I have been absolutely crawling out of my skin. Hyper, can't sit still, can't shut up. Worked out yesterday afternoon and did some yoga..that helped some. But still very jumpy/antsy...flying high. I have read that Effexor can cause hypomania so I'm wondering if it is exacerbating my hypomania that's part of BP2. If Seroquel is giving the Effexor a boost is that even adding to that effect rather than stabilizing me? I left a msg for pdoc asking about decreasing Effexor now to 150mg as we continue to increase the Seroquel. Haven't heard back yet. Does that make sense to anyone else besides me? Has anyone had similar experiences or using Effexor with Seroquel to treat BP2? Thanks in advance for any feedback.
L13
Posted by Burgany on February 23, 2004, at 23:03:33
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by Doctor Feel Good on February 11, 2004, at 1:25:31
Hi there,
I'm new to this site but I am so glad to have found it..Its nice to find people with similar issues as I don't really talk to anyone else about this part of my life. I was diagnosed with a mood disorder recently after years of being told I was just depressed and trying numerous anti-depressants which never had any positive effects. I was originally put on Lamotrigine and Risperdal. I am currently up to 200mg of Lamotrigine and have yet to notice any effect but you increase so slowly on this drug. I just stopped the Risperdal as it seemed to make me more anxious and suffer more insomnia than before I was on it( I was prescribed it for help with sleep and it is supposed to work well with Lamotrigine.) So as a substitute I was given Seroquel...I have yet to take it but I'm a little nervous after what I have read here but the thought of a good night sleep is too good not to give this pill a shot. I too suffer from a eating disorder and am very worried about weight gain. I have heard that Seroquel can help with eating disorders. Does anyone know anything about that? My Dr suggested 50mg a night to start with maybe an increase later. Is it okay to start at 25mg? Also if anyone has any info on Lamotrigine I would love to hear as my searches haven't turned up much.
Hope everybody has a wonderful Sleep!
Posted by Doctor Feel Good on February 23, 2004, at 23:39:15
In reply to Re: Seroquel and Lamotrigine, posted by Burgany on February 23, 2004, at 23:03:33
Seroquel and risperidone are antipsychotic/anti-mania pills at high dosage. In low doses, i.e. 25mg Seroquel, they can be prescribed for sleep. Everyone is different, and medication will act differently on an indiviudual basis i.e. look up effexor, some love it, some hate it, and some have high/little/no problems coming off of it. I was always taught to slatt at the lowest dose, and titrate up (up the dosage)depending on how the client feels a week later. Of course I can not see your medcharts, therefore I would never suggest 50mg of seroquel to start. I would prefer to start them at 25mg, and then after 2-3 days suggest 50mg, unless my client called me and said "I can't take this for these reasons ________ " I know some people who broke their 25mg pill into 12.5mg to start. When it comes to psychiatric medicine, there will always be people that range from loving it to dreading it. Some info FYI: Seroquel is the newest of its class of drugs to come out, with less sideffects, and less of an EPS (Extra Pyramidal Symptom) profile. (EPS symptoms: no motivation, tardive dyskinsia, shakes, etc.) Good luck, and bring these possibilities up to you Dr. They would never have u start at 50mg unless they had a reason to, so see why. Good luck!
> Hi there,
> I'm new to this site but I am so glad to have found it..Its nice to find people with similar issues as I don't really talk to anyone else about this part of my life. I was diagnosed with a mood disorder recently after years of being told I was just depressed and trying numerous anti-depressants which never had any positive effects. I was originally put on Lamotrigine and Risperdal. I am currently up to 200mg of Lamotrigine and have yet to notice any effect but you increase so slowly on this drug. I just stopped the Risperdal as it seemed to make me more anxious and suffer more insomnia than before I was on it( I was prescribed it for help with sleep and it is supposed to work well with Lamotrigine.) So as a substitute I was given Seroquel...I have yet to take it but I'm a little nervous after what I have read here but the thought of a good night sleep is too good not to give this pill a shot. I too suffer from a eating disorder and am very worried about weight gain. I have heard that Seroquel can help with eating disorders. Does anyone know anything about that? My Dr suggested 50mg a night to start with maybe an increase later. Is it okay to start at 25mg? Also if anyone has any info on Lamotrigine I would love to hear as my searches haven't turned up much.
> Hope everybody has a wonderful Sleep!
>
>
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