![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Zana on May 28, 2009, at 8:32:39
I was feeling so good I thought I could do with less Seroquel. I got down from 300mg to 150mg with no problem but when I dropped to 100mg, I crashed within days.
Anybody have any experience restarting seroquel. How long should it be before my blood levels are back up?
Zana
Posted by Phillipa on May 28, 2009, at 10:36:10
In reply to Crashing, posted by Zana on May 28, 2009, at 8:32:39
Zana oh no and you were doing so great. Definitely the seroquel????? Not the pristiq not working? Guess up at the rate you lowered it and depending on how fast it worked before maybe it will be the same this time. I sure hope so. Thinking of you. Love Phillipa
Posted by Zana on May 28, 2009, at 12:31:44
In reply to Re: Crashing » Zana, posted by Phillipa on May 28, 2009, at 10:36:10
Stupid of me to tinker. You know the love hate thing with the meds. But it's also true: if it ain't broke don't fix it. But I was feeling so much better I figured maybe I could do with less seroquel- it has such bad long term side effects, like 16% diabeties and that's just what they're reporting. But I'm down from 300mg to 150mg. That's something. And since it is the only thing I've changed, I have every reason to think I'll feel just as good as I was feeling when I get my blood levels back up. Right??
Hope you're having a decent day. Maybe even a good one!
Zana
Posted by Phillipa on May 28, 2009, at 13:11:06
In reply to Re: Crashing, posted by Zana on May 28, 2009, at 12:31:44
Zana oh I definitely know what you mean about the love hate relation with meds. Still rain here. How quick did you cut down? What would happen if you just take the dose you did good at before? How lone since been on it? Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on May 28, 2009, at 20:08:01
In reply to Re: Crashing, posted by Zana on May 28, 2009, at 12:31:44
> Stupid of me to tinker. You know the love hate thing with the meds. But it's also true: if it ain't broke don't fix it. But I was feeling so much better I figured maybe I could do with less seroquel- it has such bad long term side effects, like 16% diabeties and that's just what they're reporting. But I'm down from 300mg to 150mg. That's something. And since it is the only thing I've changed, I have every reason to think I'll feel just as good as I was feeling when I get my blood levels back up. Right??
It is a catch-22 for me, but I know I still have to take Seroquel to function.Dumping it too fast not only puts you up with the risk for a bad case of withdrawal dyskinesia (temporary but uncomfortable) but also increased anxiety and breakthrough symptoms.
I know about the fear of diabetes and other things -- I am overweight, but there just doesn't yet seem to be another option.
If you're concerned about diabetes have your GP or psychiatrist check your fasting glucose (there are other tests too, but if you want the bare minimum) every 3-6 months -- that is about the standard of care and that should better put your mind at ease as to what to do.
-- best wishes
-- Jay
Posted by Zana on May 28, 2009, at 21:27:51
In reply to Re: Crashing » Zana, posted by yxibow on May 28, 2009, at 20:08:01
Thanks Jay.
I went down on the seroquel ridiculously slowly, 50mgs every three weeks. But within five days of going from 150 to 100 my mood had really deteriorated. The thing that really irks me is that I am taking sooo much other stuff. But I had this sneaking suspicion that the seroquel was doing something that the regular (remeron + pristiq) ADs were not. I wish things were simpler..
So far I am not really that worried about the diabeties. But I may ask for a fasting glucose at my next physical. It's not until December so I don't have to think about the "fasting" part of that for a while.
Take care.
Zana
PS. Where does yxibow come from?
Posted by yxibow on May 29, 2009, at 0:57:35
In reply to Re: Crashing )) yxibow, posted by Zana on May 28, 2009, at 21:27:51
> Thanks Jay.
> I went down on the seroquel ridiculously slowly, 50mgs every three weeks.That's not completely ridiculous if you had been on it for a long time and it was helping you. Admittedly it could probably be as little as 50mgs per week or two weeks, but with APs and sensitivity to them, safety is better.
But within five days of going from 150 to 100 my mood had really deteriorated. The thing that really irks me is that I am taking sooo much other stuff. But I had this sneaking suspicion that the seroquel was doing something that the regular (remeron + pristiq) ADs were not. I wish things were simpler..
I understand
I do too -- 6 medications at fairly elevated levels are not something I relish -- lots of catch-22s and all...
> So far I am not really that worried about the diabeties. But I may ask for a fasting glucose at my next physical. It's not until December so I don't have to think about the "fasting" part of that for a while.
Its a good idea -- fasting really just means about 12 hours, so skip dessert and go to bed and get your test.
> PS. Where does yxibow come from?
Hah, that's on a need to know basis. :)
I have no idea actually -- I somehow invented this "nom de plume" by assembling little used letters together. It means absolutely nothing, which was the point I guess to have some privacy. "Avatars" stick.
-- Jay
Posted by Zyprexa on June 2, 2009, at 14:19:56
In reply to Crashing, posted by Zana on May 28, 2009, at 8:32:39
I have that problem every time I quit or reduce my zyprexa. I think its a sign that the medicine is working and should not be stoped. You feel fine when taking it and think you could stop or reduce. Some times it takes a while for the withdraw effect to take notice. IE: you stop the med for x#days and feel fine. Then all of a sudden you feel worse than ever.
I don't think you should decrease any further. And don't tell your doctor what you have done untill you are absolutly certain you can stay at the low dose. The half life of seroquel is like 6 hours so it should not take long to get the levels up. It will probably happen right away or on a day or two.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.