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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Beckett on March 18, 2014, at 1:31:42
Hello,
I haven't been around for awhile....
I was given 200mg of Seroquel in hospital for sleep and its antidepressant affect. That was January, and I try to take 50mg, and find myself breaking down and taking an addition 200mg. I do sleep well and deeply with the Seroquel, but I have difficulty waking, and I am concerned that it affects my driving in the earlier part of the day.
I am concerned as well that antipsychotics will not be kind to me if I am fortunate enough to enjoy longevity.
I have tried to reduce my dose but haven't found a way to sleep without luck. I do have an appointment with a CBT sleep specialists.
Question: If I cannot take benzodiazepines, could I take Sonata?
For what it is worth, my medications are:
Lyrica. 500mg in the evening
30mg remeron at bedtime
Guanfacin. 1mg nightlyLamictal 200mg. AM
Tramadol ERI'm one of us blessed with insomnia since grammar school.
*Sigh*
Posted by Partlycloudy on March 18, 2014, at 13:13:17
In reply to Is seroquel really helping me?, posted by Beckett on March 18, 2014, at 1:31:42
Hi Beckett,
If you don't require an antipsychotic, then Seroquel is probably NOT the medication for you. My old pdoc had prescribed it for me mostly for insomnia but also its slight antidepressant effects, but it really slowed me down overall.it took an evaluation by a new doctor to get my meds overhauled. Some doctors are inflexible.
For sleep I am currently on Ambien CR, a low dose of Trileptal, 1 mg of Klonopin, and my second daily dose of Lexapro. Plus a gazillion supplements for other conditions (fish oil, cholesterol stuff, vitamin D, and Occuvite).Don't know if this is helpful or confusing...
PC
Posted by Phillipa on March 18, 2014, at 14:53:27
In reply to Re: Is seroquel really helping me? » Beckett, posted by Partlycloudy on March 18, 2014, at 13:13:17
PC fish oil doesn't amp you? What brand amount? Phillipa
Posted by phidippus on March 18, 2014, at 18:20:49
In reply to Is seroquel really helping me?, posted by Beckett on March 18, 2014, at 1:31:42
if you don't like anything else Seroquel does to you, I'd recommend you try Geodon-it will also help you sleep and will have a stronger antidepressant profile.
>If I cannot take benzodiazepines, could I take Sonata?
It shouldn't be an issue.
Why aren't you splitting your Lyrica dose 300 in the morning and 300 at night?
Eric
Posted by Partlycloudy on March 18, 2014, at 19:27:51
In reply to Re: Is seroquel really helping me? » Partlycloudy, posted by Phillipa on March 18, 2014, at 14:53:27
I am taking Nordic Naturals ultimate omega 1000 mg nightly. No amping of this person.
PC
Posted by Phillipa on March 18, 2014, at 20:15:56
In reply to Re: Is seroquel really helping me? » Phillipa, posted by Partlycloudy on March 18, 2014, at 19:27:51
I took the same but Ultimate Omega. Maybe this one was too strong? Used to amp me up. Still have the bottle in refridgerator? Phillipa
Posted by Christ_empowered on March 18, 2014, at 20:26:50
In reply to Is seroquel really helping me?, posted by Beckett on March 18, 2014, at 1:31:42
Sonata is benzo-ish, much like ambien...I think it really depends on the doctor. Psychiatry isn't science, you know...
...if you can avoid an antipsychotic, I would. Hydroxyzine (atarax, vistaril) is much, much cheaper than Seroquel and can help you sleep and maybe help with daytime anxiety. It also (I believe...) boosts antidepressants, though I'm not quite sure how.
200mgs/day isn't a lot, but if I remember correctly, its your lifetime exposure to neuroleptics that determines effects on the brain, TD risk, etc., so if you can taper and get off completely, my personal advice (and I *have* to take 30/Abilify daily, btw) would be to get off the Seroquel.Good luck!
Posted by LouisianaSportsman on March 18, 2014, at 22:40:18
In reply to Re: Is seroquel really helping me?, posted by phidippus on March 18, 2014, at 18:20:49
>
> Why aren't you splitting your Lyrica dose 300 in the morning and 300 at night?
>
> EricI have a private reason that I am no longer prescribed pregabalin. But, I would have had suggested taking the entire 500mg. in the MORNING. This advice is not to be considered. (I am now prescribed a more cautious dosage of gabapentin.)
I highly recommend Lyrica (superior to gabapentin) as a remedy for bipolar depression patients taking it as prescribed.
Why do you continue to take Lyrica, Beckett? In what way does it benefit you taking it in the evening? Is your sleep better? Mood more stabilized? Anxiety decreased? I'm just curious. I have found it to be the best most effective medication for me.
Posted by Beckett on March 20, 2014, at 14:19:44
In reply to Re: Is seroquel really helping me? » Beckett, posted by Partlycloudy on March 18, 2014, at 13:13:17
Your input was very helpfully, thank you pc.
I stopped my seroquel, determined not o let what happened between me a Saphris to happen again.
For the past few days I have begun to cry again and have what I think are anxiety episodes though they are very dystopic. Can bouts of dytopiiao be anxiety manifest? I don't know, but I connected (just today) the crashing of mood with stopping seroquel so suddenly. I feel I'll be damned if I start it up agin.
I did not mean to write you a novella :). Thanks for your experience.
Posted by Beckett on March 20, 2014, at 14:22:46
In reply to Re: Is seroquel really helping me?, posted by phidippus on March 18, 2014, at 18:20:49
Hi Eric
Since reading your comment about Lyrica, I have split it, and I feel better. I was loading it at night for sleep--not that it worked well that way.
I will keep your idea about geodon in my pocket--thank you.
Posted by Beckett on March 20, 2014, at 14:24:50
In reply to Re: Is seroquel really helping me? » Phillipa, posted by Partlycloudy on March 18, 2014, at 19:27:51
I wish 3,000 MorEPA jacked me up. Coffee isn't very magic these days.
Posted by Beckett on March 20, 2014, at 14:33:33
In reply to Re: Is seroquel really helping me?, posted by Christ_empowered on March 18, 2014, at 20:26:50
omg, ce. I do hear you about AAP's. I haven't had luck with them to date, and I have tried a few. Do you have an opinion about geodon? Abilify seems to be your ticket. But you seem to get something tangible from it, though I recall you wrestle with taking it.
Thanks, I'm not sure about Sonata, though my shrink called a script in. It is benzo-ish, but it doesn't seem as bad as lunesta. I don't think, at least, it has the same chemical (molecular?) root as lunesta and ambien.
Posted by Beckett on March 20, 2014, at 14:42:44
In reply to Re: Is seroquel really helping me? » phidippus, posted by LouisianaSportsman on March 18, 2014, at 22:40:18
>^But, I would have had suggested taking the entire 500mg. in the MORNING. This advice is not to be considered. (I am now prescribed a more cautious dosage of gabapentin.)
This made me smile. I am splitting my dose now. I don't do well on gabapentin. I quickly work up a tolerance and feel so high and loopy. (Sounds good today.). I am curious about your experiences with Lyrica, but if you consider it best unsaid, then I'll agree,
Yes, Lyrica is for anxiety. Did you find it to work for depression?
Posted by bleauberry on March 21, 2014, at 10:52:22
In reply to Is seroquel really helping me?, posted by Beckett on March 18, 2014, at 1:31:42
Try doxycycline or amoxycillin.
In my experience, whenever there is profound longterm insomnia that requires a cocktail of heavy sleep meds....there is an infection at the root of it all. Lyme is really common.
These are my opinions based on intuition guided by experience, but are probably not generally accepted consensus. Generally accepted consensus is, in my opinion, what keeps a lot of people sick.
Posted by Christ_empowered on March 22, 2014, at 15:46:06
In reply to Re: Is seroquel really helping me?, posted by bleauberry on March 21, 2014, at 10:52:22
antipsychotics are....well...a necessary evil for some of us. I don't mean to whine. Abilify works against the agitation and what not, keeps uber-crazy at bay, and seems to make antidepressants work w/o agitation, which is good since I take a TCA (Tofranil).Honestly, I might be off the neuroleptic sooner than I think. Call it divine intervention, call it healing of my various wounds, etc., maybe an improved environment...my cocktail is starting to feel like overkill.
anyway, I used to take Sonata, way back when. I didn't see what the big deal was, until I snorted it. I was 19, btw, so that kinda stupid stuff that teenagers and college kids do was kosher at that point in my life. I don't recommend it.
I hope you get to feeling better asap, without any neuroleptic!
Posted by Beckett on March 23, 2014, at 16:37:04
In reply to Re: Is seroquel really helping me?, posted by Christ_empowered on March 22, 2014, at 15:46:06
Snortinh Sonata? I imagine you were a wild one :) In a good way I think, except for mood damage it likely caused. I speak for myself.
Posted by Beckett on March 23, 2014, at 16:42:30
In reply to Re: Is seroquel really helping me?, posted by bleauberry on March 21, 2014, at 10:52:22
Hi bleauberry, thanks.
My Lyme returned negative, though I did not have as thorough a test as you have recommended in your other posts to the board.
I would like a doctor to work with regarding the antibiotics. I'm afraid I can't sail my own ship right now.
This is the end of the thread.
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