Seroquel Withdrawal

[kendal]

on 100 mg a day for 2 months and have grinding of teeth, and tapping of fingers, could this be the seroquel, can i stop cold turkey

[Mary]

Thanks James for your advice on the dose withdrawal-25mg every 3-4 days.I have been on 200mg Seroquel since July2008. I've always had insomnia problems since young. I had undiagnosed overactive thyroid and suffered panic attacks due to it. No one checked my thyroid-just gave me Seroquel mainly for my intractable insomnia.I advice anyone having anxiety/panic attacks especially if they are female to have their thyroid function tests done.I got onto this blog accidentally 3 days ago and immediately started a slow 25mg withdrawal of my Seroquel.My question is this. I was prescribed Seroquel200mg for my insomnia 2 years ago.Everyone seems to say quitting the last 25mg is the hardest and the insomnia lasts for months/years.I was already an insomniac before Seroquel-is the future grim for me as far as sleep is concerned after I quit Seroquel? I hope we ALL unite to form ONE group which will reach out to the politicians that INSOMNIA KILLS !!-Look at Heath Ledger and Michael Jackson. We are all prescribed LEGAL damaging drugs for our insomnia.It's about time we form a group large enough to start research into herbal/food supplements/meditation to help our insomnia instead of being tossed toxic drugs by our doctors as a quick fix.By the way, has anyone done "The Road Back"program and what are your results from it?

[anon]

Regarding how to gradually go off Seroquel, I read that books by Peter Breggin have information on how to go off it gradually, which may help with lessening the effects of withdrawal. He also has information on how to go off antidepressants too. I think I read that he recommends reducing by 10% every 10 weeks. (I haven't read any of his books yet myself, just going on secondhand information so far.)

[Hives]

I was on Seroquel from 2002 - 2008 and never took more than 50mg at night. I weened off the drug after I felt I was no longer benefiting from it. I weened off over a 10 day period. Shortly thereafter I have experienced chronic hives on my back, legs, arms and hands. It's been a year and the hives are getting worse. About once a month my lips swell to 3 or 4 times their size. I have been to 2 allergists and have had a ton of tests. I mostly manage the hives with Zyertc and Xyzal but this is no way to live. I am not taking any other anxiety medication. Steroids work but once the treatment is over, they come back. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm in desperate need of a resolution!

[anon]

kendal wrote:

on 100 mg a day for 2 months and have grinding of teeth, and tapping of fingers, could this be the seroquel, can i stop cold turkey

Someone else on here said that they were grinding their teeth while on Seroquel, so it quite possibly is from the medication. I have noticed some of that lately myself. I don't know anything about it causing tapping of fingers. However, two of its side effects are difficulty concentrating and difficulty sitting still, so I wonder if the tapping of fingers could be a byproduct of those.

As far as going cold turkey, it doesn't seem to be the best way to go off it, according to some of the posts by others on here. It sounds like doing it that way may bring on worse withdrawal symptoms. I hope you can do it gradually and can find a doctor to help you do that. Good luck.

[Victoria]

get off the pill if you can. yeah it's great to sleep but the weight is hardly worth it. niether is the energy it has taken from my already lazy body.sleep is overated and we all know the doctor will give you anything if your depressed!!

[anon]

rich wrote:

I've had depression, anxiety, and OCD for 26 years and have tried a variety of medications. I've been on seroquel for about two months. At first, it worked effectively, giving me a full night's sleep. Up until 3 weeks ago, things seemed to be going fine. Then, with the end of the semester, problems re-emerged: partial insomnia (I can manage about 5 hours of sleep/night), drowsiness, and zombification. I tried going from 100 mg/night down to 75 for two days, thinking I would eliminate the drowsiness and see a return of clear thinking. It took about a day for anxiety/OCD to kick in. I talked with my doctor and am now up to 125 mg. I have no idea how this stuff works, but I am hoping that my body will adapt to this dosage. Anyway, are there withdrawal symptoms if one stops taking this often mind-numbing medication? For those of you who have tried and succeeded, how difficult is it to stop taking seroquel?

The manufacturer of this drug doesn't know how it works either. Just FYI.

[Emma UK]

I am 27 years old and I am currently taking sereqol as I was diagnoised with Bi- polar in 2005. I feel fine and am trying for my second child and I am considering reducing my meds to keep my second child healthy, although I was on serequol with my first and he is a really healthy wee boy now!I have put so much weight on its unbelivable, I used to be a uk size 8 and now I am size 16!I have great support and my husband tells me all the time he does not think I need this tablet as I am as normal as the next person!I would love to reduce my tablets but I am also afraid of having another breakdown as it is not a road I would like to go down again!on the other hand I hate the side effects of this medication!I don't know what to do for the best!

[anon]

I've posted before, but currently am concerned about tardive dyskinesia. Also, am concerned about brain damage from Seroquel as described by Dr. Peter Breggin. (Thanks goodness someone has been trying to sound the warning bells about the side effects and letting people know about the dangers of neuroleptics.)

[anon]

gmcadams wrote:

<quoted text>I'm on day 38 and still having some problems. I saw my doctor Thursday. She said some people sail thru withdrawals w/o much problem. Others go thru a lot like me. She said I'm looking at 6 months or more. In addition to withdrawals, I have some breathing issues since I stopped taking the seroquel. I had to take a xanax with the seroquel or I would stop breathing. Two doctors had me continue in spite of this. She says the two drugs together may have covered up damage the seroquel did to my lungs and now that I'm not on the seroquel I'm short of breath constantly. The nausea and diarrhea will clear up for a day or two and then come back for a few days. Sleeping has become an issue in spite of the restoril I've been taking, so my prior advice may not be as helpful as I thought. I hope you all have a smoother time of it than I have. Good luck and God bless.

Apparently, it can cause problems with respiration due to damage to the diaphragm.(Wish I could remember where I read that.) Good luck and God bless to you also.

[Emma uk]

anon wrote:

I've posted before, but currently am concerned about tardive dyskinesia. Also, am concerned about brain damage from Seroquel as described by Dr. Peter Breggin.(Thanks goodness someone has been trying to sound the warning bells about the side effects and letting people know about the dangers of neuroleptics.)

Hi I am sure you have done plenty of research into the side effects of serequol but I really dont think it causes brain damage as I have been on it from 2005 and I am just the same as I have always been!I dont think you should post comments like that because it is true 100% as every case is different!I have been able to complete my degree and work in a pretty stressful job while on serequol so its not as bad as you are making out!The worst side effect is weight gain in my opinion but I suppose everyone has their own exeperiences on it!

[James R P]

im quiting seroqeul i hate it, ive been off 4 days now and i already feel better, i went to the hospital to help the herion-like withdrawals and i cant beleive how much it helps i feel so free.

[James R P]

i was on it for a year and it killed my sex drive i was taking 400 miligrams a night this drug is evil

[anon]

Emma uk wrote:

<quoted text>Hi I am sure you have done plenty of research into the side effects of serequol but I really dont think it causes brain damage as I have been on it from 2005 and I am just the same as I have always been!I dont think you should post comments like that because it is true 100% as every case is different!I have been able to complete my degree and work in a pretty stressful job while on serequol so its not as bad as you are making out!The worst side effect is weight gain in my opinion but I suppose everyone has their own exeperiences on it!

I wasn't saying it causes brain damage for everyone. I was saying that I personally am concerned about that possible effect. I wasn't trying to scare anyone, but they should be aware of all the information out there. You kind of sound like you think you're proof that what I was saying wasn't true. However, if it is different for everyone, then isn't it possible that it might affect others differently than it did you? It's possible that a drug could cause gradual brain damage for one person and not for another, just like one person could experience a particular side effect, and someone else wouldn't experience it at all.

Yes, I have been researching the topic. I'm standing by what I said and I "should" say whatever I feel is valid.

I'm glad that you've had positive experiences with it yourself, and continue to do so.

[anon]

Meant to say I hope you continue to do so.

[Emma uk]

Well today I went and seen my GP and he agreed that its best to reduce my meds when actively trying for a baby!I am kind of relieved that I am going to be gradually reducing my tablets but at the same time am a bit scared in case I go downhill!But I really feel well and I if I start to feel the symptoms of bi-polar coming on I will not hesitate on going back on them again!I have only told my partner as my family are a bit interferring so until I am not going to say anything until I am on my reduced rate for a while!!I am gonna reduce it very gradually though as I dont want to have much side effects!!Has anyone reduced theres before and not had much side effects?

[anon]

Apparently some people do not have withdrawal symptoms when reducing their dosage or going off altogether, so maybe you won't have any problems. Good luck, Emma!

[kate]

I went off the drug in Feb. and it was terrible. Bravo to you! My body was freaking and what helped with me was a whole food diet, lots of water, along with flaxseed oil, some minerals and vitamins.

There's a great book called Super foods, by steven g pratt, md & kathy matthews. It taught me about food and what's needed and why. I marvel at how fast the body recovers from incredable stress. Painful but swift. I hope this helps!

Hives wrote:

I was on Seroquel from 2002 - 2008 and never took more than 50mg at night. I weened off the drug after I felt I was no longer benefiting from it. I weened off over a 10 day period. Shortly thereafter I have experienced chronic hives on my back, legs, arms and hands. It's been a year and the hives are getting worse. About once a month my lips swell to 3 or 4 times their size. I have been to 2 allergists and have had a ton of tests. I mostly manage the hives with Zyertc and Xyzal but this is no way to live. I am not taking any other anxiety medication. Steroids work but once the treatment is over, they come back. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm in desperate need of a resolution!

[kate]

I was on a very high dose and it was hell, but I knew somehow that it would get better and it did! There are things you can do to change the balance in your body. Somethings work fast, others not so much but over time it did.
What helped me was to change to a whole food diet (no sugar except what occurs natually) I added flaxseed oil, vitamins, and minerals. All a huge factor in healing as well as lithuim, the only med and the only one I need. My mind got better. I went through agony with the insomia but I wasn't giving up. New curtains, light and noise drove me crazy. Then I would find things to distract. Cook food enough for a couple of days. Ate well but needed to work up to a full diet-not long. Music 102.3 web channel helped good music and format.
Stuff like that. Of course someone to chat with and Fancast was a big help. I hope that I helped. You can do it your worth it. It will get better.

Keri wrote:

I have been taking Seroquel for just over 2 1/2 years now, the whole time at 600mg. In the beginning it was great! But soon into my second year, alot of my previous symptoms of depression and bipolar came back. At first for a while...I was happy, I wasn't acting so crazy with mood changing, I was finally sleeping good for the first time in many years, thoughts in my head were more clear and focused....but slowly....my symptoms partially came back. Ive learned over the years to just deal with all those unfortunate areas of my problems, but the thing that I am the most scared of in the entire world is the very thought of even missing one single night of my seroquel!!! One single miss of my meds and here is a list of the horrible withdrawal effects I get:
-Nausea and vomiting
-Insomnia
-Hallucination and delusions
-Mania and depression
-Vision problems
-Shakes (BAD)
-Rapid heart rate
-Massive anxiety
All of this combined to the point that I just want to slip away or wish I could sleep forever just to make it all stop!!!! I am not one to think of suicide, but if for any reason I run out and AZ&ME cant get me my RX on time...I actually think about dying as an alternative to the withdrawal!!!!!!!!!!

[anon]

kate wrote:

I was on a very high dose and it was hell, but I knew somehow that it would get better and it did! There are things you can do to change the balance in your body. Somethings work fast, others not so much but over time it did.
What helped me was to change to a whole food diet (no sugar except what occurs natually) I added flaxseed oil, vitamins, and minerals. All a huge factor in healing as well as lithuim, the only med and the only one I need. My mind got better. I went through agony with the insomia but I wasn't giving up. New curtains, light and noise drove me crazy. Then I would find things to distract. Cook food enough for a couple of days. Ate well but needed to work up to a full diet-not long. Music 102.3 web channel helped good music and format.
Stuff like that. Of course someone to chat with and Fancast was a big help. I hope that I helped. You can do it your worth it. It will get better.
<quoted text>

Just saw your comments here. Would you mind telling of any side effects you've experience with lithium, if any, and how long you've been on it? I'm just wondering about what people's experiences with it are like (knowing though that it can vary from person to person).