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Global Patient Feedback for Seroquel (Quetiapine) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I am 62 yr female and bipolar. I am currantly taking 200mg lamictal,50ng seraquel,5mg requip,ambien cr. I was diagnosed bp two years ago after being told I had depression for 40 years and taking all the usual drugs for it and having no good results.I was allways depressed and would have bouts of extreme rage which cost me my job. After going on lamictal my life changed for the better and I wish I had known I was bp sooner. My only complaint is the weight gain of 30lbs. and I used to take topomax and stopped, should I try taking it again?
62 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-18 19:37:22
Answer/Reply:
I am nearly 66 and have a similar history. I participated in a study in 1999 to a determine if Lamichtal is effective for B/Polar and thus be marketed as such. I had to drop out at the point I became in the placebo group because the medication was so effective for me that I crashed without it. That was good data for the study.
I take the same dose as you and also Seroquel same dose but I take Klonopin as well. It has been a good combination for me for over 10 years. I am so grateful for the drug Lamichtal which I feel is the primary reason I am able to function so well.
66 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-22 10:11:45
Question/Comment:
I've been taking seroquel 100mg every night for sleep for about 8 months now. I gained about 10lbs even though I try to work out everyday. I can deal with the weight gain, its the talking in my sleep that bothers me. I often wake up in the morning from dreams having talking outloud, or even yelling stuff like i have tourettes. Of course once I'm awake I stop and I just laugh it off, but its pretty annoying. Does anybody else talk in their sleep or have strange dreams as a result of taking Seroquel?
28 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-17 10:21:36
Answer/Reply:
I didn't have the talking in my sleep, but I woke up every two hours. I was on 600 mg. My problem was I gained 60 lbs.
57 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-20 12:05:36
Answer/Reply:
I've been taking seroquel 90mg for sleep for the past 5years I use to take 120mg but with vicodin,neurotin and morphine, I was having serious problems staying awake,but I also have fibomylagia and other nerve damage. the vivid dreams I don't mind, sometimes it's hard to know when you're sleeping and awake because everything is so relevent and real. I thought I was the only one who had talking dreams and shouting sometimes I get violent and I kicked my television a large one off my nite stand a couple of times and I've had to move things away from my bed area for fear of breaking things. I wish I could help you but all I can do is let you know you ain't by your self.
58 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-22 22:01:47
Answer/Reply:
Yes,I have experienced talking in my sleep as well.Sometimes so loud I wake up startled.It is very annoying.I have been taking seroquel 300mg at bedtime and 25-50mg during the day for about 5 months.You are not alone as I have talked to others who have the same problem.
41 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-25 21:26:33
Answer/Reply:
hiya
I have been having recurring dreams.Each night I am in a different house , each night different things happen but each dream tries to convince me this is my house . Last nights there were loads of people trying to convince me, blatantly lying to me people I haven't seen for years I managed to escape them and get home nearly, but it is getting so I don't want to go to sleep Also I cannot guarantee to when Iwill go to sleep or wake up and I have experimented with when I take it.It makes me sweat in my sleep heavily but my boyfriend hasn't reported any yelling yet .On 100mg of sertraline too. Good luck and hope this helps
48 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-31 14:59:20
Question/Comment:
I've been taking lithium for bipolar disease for 30 years. Had sleeping problems all during that time. Seroquel at 800 mgs/night for me has been the most effective "curative" of my sleep problems ever. I also take Pristiq and lithium. Dreams are vivid and weird, but for me they have always been so! The weight gain is horrendous, from 130 to 240 - but I still would rather get good sleep than do without Seroquel. I am also pre-diabetic, so I should probably have a discussion with my doctors. Most serious problem I have with medications right now is being able to afford them since BCBS raised the prices.
54 year old female
55 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-16 18:22:58
Answer/Reply:
meds r soooo expensive that i cannot afford them,no insurance
41 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-17 23:57:36
Answer/Reply:
You should contact the drug manufacturer Astra Zeneca. I too have NO insurance and qualified for free supply of Seroguel. Talk to your doctor/s about it - I'm sure they'll help.
52 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-20 13:49:08
Answer/Reply:
I know this is a little different & all doctors/Mental health facilities are the same but I am broke, it costs me almost %175 for 10 pills! Seroquel XR has not been out long & there are a lot of places that give out samples of the drug and since its newer then regular seroquil I know that they make a lot of samples available. Its worthy a try..I did it
33 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-24 18:52:56
Answer/Reply:
Call Job and Family Services, they are a combination of the old Welfare program , Job training programs and other social welfare programs there is never a reason to go without medications even talk to your doctors nursing staff they will have a listing of sublimential programs, that's how they get a large portions of their payments from. don't wait my mother passed away lacking the proper medication she needed and no one should have to suffer that way.
58 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-22 22:45:51
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Medications can be very expensive, and there is not a generic available yet for Seroquel. Sometimes if you contact the manufacturer, they have patient assistance programs. In addition, sometimes the local social services can provide financial assistance.
You can find out more about Manufacturer's Patient Assistant Programs here: http://www.pparx.org/
Posted: 2009-08-23 17:01:47
Answer/Reply:
Check with your prescribing physician. There is a discount card available for Seroquel. The savings is about $25 per script for 12 months. You may also be able to get the card from their website. My Dr. gave me the card, but my son's Dr. hadn't received any from her drug rep.
46 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-21 12:09:59
Answer/Reply:
I am bipolar and took seroquel as a sleep medication for three years (200 mg). I started having health problems earlier this year, some of which I believe were caused by Seroquel. After being warned that the drug could cause thyroid problems, I ask my family physician to do test for this. As a result I was diagnosed as having hypothyroidism. My psych doctor told me there were virutally no side effects from taking Seroquel. I think there will be many more health problems that come to light because of this drug, or taking this drug without monitoring one's blood level, sugar, etc. I am now having severe cramps in my stomach and rapid reflux. I think its possible they are all interrelated. I hope you can find a better sleep medication. The company producing this drug gets 75% percent of its profits from Seroquel. There is now a class action suit again the company because of the number of cases of diabetes resulting from use of Seroquel.
71 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-30 15:23:43
Question/Comment:
I take Seroquel for sleep problems, I also suffer from depression, fibromyalgia,kidney and thyroid problems, I understand that I have serotonin and dopamine levels that are depleted due to the fibromyalgia pain, I also read that some doctors feel that fibromyalgia is caused by my thyroid problems. I do appreciate getting a nights sleep but I don't like the weight gain. It varies from 176 to 220 lbs. I don't like this part of it at all and no matter how much I exercise I seem to crave m&m's ,chocolates and sweet items like muffins and cookies..I need help because my energy levels are always down so I take vitamins B& D to boost my metabolism. before seroquel I had never weighted more than 160lbs. I hate taking between 13 to 19 different medications for pain, allergies the kidney disease and para thyroid issue. but I don't feel sorry for myself I get angry
and it motivates me to keep on fighting every day if I don't do the work who will and if I don't care for myself who will
58 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-12 22:36:46
Question/Comment:
I have been takeing 100mg of seroquel at night for sleeping problems for 6 months now it really seems to be helping, the only problem i seem to experence is weight gain (40lbs) is there ANYTHING that can help with this problem?
40 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-23 04:52:11
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Approximately 20% of iGuard patients report weight gain as a side effect of taking Seroquel. The best way to maintain a healthy weight or lose unwanted pounds is to eat a well balanced diet and maintain a physical activity regimen on a regular basis. Unfortunately there are not shortcuts to keeping a healthy weight and or losing extra pounds. You should discuss your concerns with your doctor and get his or her support and approval for a weight loss regimen.
Posted: 2009-07-28 23:04:56
Answer/Reply:
Try asking your doctor about topamax or zonagram. Both of these are used to counteract the weight gain of seroquel
25 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-01 14:15:29
Answer/Reply:
Drink water, lots of water.
46 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-05 09:51:32
Answer/Reply:
I'm a 48 year old female taking Seroquel for bipolar. I'm on Topamax for a mood stabalizer and that really counteracts the weight gain. In fact I lost quite a bit of weight when I started taking it. I also take zoloft.
49 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-18 19:12:42
Answer/Reply:
I am a 52 year female diagnosed as bipolar/manic depressive. I take 800mg of Seroquel, Topamax, Depakote, and Celexa. I live a fairly normal life. I do not sleep at night but approximately 3-4 hours. As far as my weight is concerned, I am overweight by about 50 pounds.
52 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-20 09:59:22
Question/Comment:
I'm about to be 29 years old.I'm on seroquel and effexor for my obsessive compulsive disorder,anxiety/panic disorder and depression. The seroquel helps with the intrusive thoughts to help me fall asleep but I've also suffered with bulimia which I have under control with therapy.I'm just so scared to fall back into my bulimic habits because of the weight gain. the seroqeul has made me insatiable with sweets and breads!!Has anyone tried anything else close to seroquel without the weight gain or cravings? I appreciate it!!!
28 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-21 15:47:55
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
It sounds as if the Seroquel is working effectively for your health conditions but you have an undesired side effect of food craving. You should carefully weigh the benefits versus tradeoffs of Seroquel and discuss this with your doctor before deciding to replace the Seroquel with a different medication. You may want to also discuss your concerns with a therapist. Perhaps he or she could help you develop some ways shift your thinking when you begin to have cravings for sweets and breads.
Posted: 2009-07-23 22:16:32
Answer/Reply:
I'm bipolar and Seroquel is the best thing I've found. I started to gain weight with it so I asked my doctor to put me on something else. We tried 3 meds, abilify, geodone, and lithium. First was the abilify, it made my drool, it made my face twitch, I couldn't smile, I couldn't sleep for days, I forgot words, etc. Second was geodone and the side effect I got was so bad I ended up in the hospital, ans lastly was lithium. This wasn't as bad as the other two. I got nausa and heat flashes. I went back to seroquel because I realized that my sanity was worth more to me than not gaining weight. My doc put me on zonagran and I've been able to maitain my current weight.
25 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-01 14:22:27
Answer/Reply:
try abilify or maybe risperdal. as always consult your doctor 1 st
41 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-17 23:59:02
Question/Comment:
I take 100mg of seroquel at night for sleeping problems. Sometimes it knocks me right out and sometimes it doesn't. My issue with the drug is that since i started taking it I've been having very unpleasant vivid dreams in the morning. These vivid dreams in the morning didn't occur until i started taking this medication. Its nothing very serious, but I was curious if anybody experiences similiar effects from the drug?
28 year old Male
Posted: 2009-07-14 04:11:43
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Of the approximately 12,000 iGuard patients taking Seroquel less than 1% report vivid dreams as a side effect. You should followup with your doctor to alert them you are experiencing these vivid dreams and to also monitor it if the symptoms worsen over time.
Posted: 2009-07-16 22:14:05
Question/Comment:
I take 90 mgs of Cymbalta for depression and 50 of Seroquel just to sleep. I am not bi-polar but Seroquel is actually the best thing I have ever taken for sleep.
61 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-06 18:57:36
Answer/Reply:
I started taking Seroqual 50 mgs and 90 mgs of cymbalta myself I'm 51 and the only thing it does is knock me out and I sleep good but I have weird dreams.
I'm not bipolar I have anixtey disorder and depressions. The meds seem to work I'm relax but I can't stop bitting my nails.
52 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-10 15:02:33
Question/Comment:
I suspect Seroquel may actually be contributing to my depression. I have taken it since October 2008 for bipolar, and it acts great as a sleep aid. However, a few times I've skipped taking it, I believe I have more energy, think clearer, & feel somewhat relieved of depression for a day or two. Has anyone had similar experiences?
38 year old Male
Posted: 2009-07-04 15:48:51
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Among iGuard members, 15% report confusion as a side effect of the medication. Drowsiness is also a common side effect. The feeling of having more energy, thinking clearer may be a result of not having this side effect carryover from your dose the night before. If the cloudiness continues or your symptoms get worse, please make an appointment with your physician to discuss your symptoms and the effectiveness of your medication regimen.
Posted: 2009-07-06 16:23:15
Question/Comment:
Has anyone taken Seroquel & Lyrica together at night time and experienced excessive sleeping (12 -16 hours), & dizziness upon awakening?
38 year old Male
Posted: 2009-07-04 15:41:34
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Seroquel and Lyrica can both cause drowsiness and dizziness. Taking them at the same time can have an additive effect, which may have contributed to the long sleep time and the dizziness upon awakening. You may try taking the medications at least 3 hours apart to see if the side effects are reduced. Some patients find that the body will be accustomed to side effects such as dizziness, so as you continue to take the medication the side effects may also lessen. If you still have trouble with these two medications, please make an appointment to discuss them with your physician.
Posted: 2009-07-06 16:27:17
Question/Comment:
my son was recently diagnoses with nos psychosis, and was given seroquel. He suggested that we needed to adjust the meds....seroquel only turned the "volume" down on the auditory hallucinations and paranoia. The dr prescribed abilify and paxil for the depression and said take the seroquel if needed. We are new to this...any suggestions
18 year old Male
Posted: 2009-06-20 13:58:58
Question/Comment:
i would like to know why this drug seroquel is so expensive , also i was takin just plain old seroquel(600mg) but now my psych has me taking seroquel XR (extended release) of which the effects are not the same. i have thus started to chew my dose of 600mg even though the bottle of meds clearly states Do not crush, chew or cut in half, swallow whole. Will chewing the pills hurt me or something? i am a female 39yrs, been taking seroquel for 7 yrs, only recently have been chewing up meds since they changed it by prescibing the seroquel XR.
40 year old Female
Posted: 2009-06-10 22:21:02
Answer/Reply:
i am a 20 y.o. female who has been on medication and in therapy treating depression and bipolar for over 15 years now.(i started off being diagnosed with adhd very young, and in my teens my mom found a doctor who agreed with her that i was indeed bipolar)i am obviously no doctor, but have come to understand in all my trials with different medications and whatnot, that a major reason that pills say not to crush or chew them, is because (in so many words...) how they dissolve, and how fast they enter and pass through your system. i have been taking 25 mg pills of seroquel for years now(i take them at night for sleep, and/or during the day for anxiety, and for some reason i have almost no tolerance for it) and there have been times that when i have a really bad anxiety attack i will chew 2-3 pills to get them into my system faster, and after having talked about it with my doctor have learned that although its not really reccomended, it wont exactly hurt you, and of course make sure that even if its just a few crackers, there is food in your stomach when you take them. however i would reccomend just calling your doctor, or even next appointment just mention it to them because one, as i said im no doctor, and twoim not familiar with the XRs and i would hate for something to happen to you over something so preventable...good luck!!
20 year old Female
Posted: 2009-06-17 15:05:57
Answer/Reply:
since you are taking extended release seroquel now when you chew them crush them or otherwise break them down you are putting more medicine in your body at one time then your doctor would like and even though the mg. says the same, the extended release are higher mg then the regular seroquel in order to stay in your system longer. So basicly instead of your 600 mg you could really be taking 800-1200mg at one time when you break down the extended release pills of any kind. not a good idea. if you don't like the new meds. tell your Dr. to switch you back to your regular pills. IT'S SAFER!!!!
29 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-02 04:38:00
Question/Comment:
I have serious eye issues that is related to being a premmie. I was taking Seroquel since 2002 for various reasons. Recently I was experiencing "visual disturbances". I mentioned this to my doc and described what I was experiencing. We were not sure if the severe eye issues was affected by taking seroquel. I was seeing things like cobwebs or wispy clouds. When I began to experience this problem it caused me to have major panic attacks. Since I knew about the risk of developing catarcts I wasn't sure how it affected my severe eye issues. So we discussed at length about this problem, it was suggested by a person that I was working with that I see an opthalmalogist about this issue. I went to have my eyes checked and they didn't really say a whole lot about it so I have stopped taking seroquel since may 2009. Right now it's a waiting game because we weren't sure if my eye issue was affected by the seroquel. So if there is anyone out there that have the same eye issues that I have you might want to keep an eye on the "visual disturbances" that I described above and make appts with an opthalmalogist/optometrist. I don't want to scare anybody out there I thought I would bring the issue up.
42 year old Female
Posted: 2009-06-04 15:12:08
Question/Comment:
I have taken seroquel since 2002 for various problems. I thought I would mention on what's been happening-I have had eye issues relating to being a premmie. I recently experienced "visual disturbances" what I mean is that I was seeing some things that have sent me into a panic attack. I tried to find more info on the side effects-I knew about the possiblity of developing cataracts but it doesn't say anything about those patients who have serious or severe eye issues. Since I was seeing visual disturbances I discussed with my doc and informed him/her about the eye issues. I know that I am always at risk for detached retinas due to being a premmie so I am always being aware of what to look for. I have been off the seroquel since may 30th of this year. So if you have serious eye issues that I mentioned it is a good idea to check with your opthamalogist/optometrist to make sure that everything is okay. So I thought if there are anyone out there that might have the same problems I mentioned so discuss with your docs about any eye issues that you may have. I don't want to scare anyone but thought to mention about this situation.
42 year old Female
Posted: 2009-06-04 14:35:42
Question/Comment:
My 7 y/o son has Bipolar & ADHD. He takes 300 of Seroquel 3x's/day, 30 of Cymbalta & 4 of Periactin. Even with all these meds we are still having a lot of problems. The docs have tried several ADHD meds, all with the same outcome, increased bipolar behaviors, especially aggression & anxiety. My son goes to a “special school†& the class size is only 10, but still daily he has to be taken to the "quiet room" & put into holds to keep him from hurting himself. We have tried several different meds, the doctors are at a loss as to what to try next. Is anybody going through anything similar or have any suggestions?
7 year old Male
Posted: 2009-04-06 02:09:45
Answer/Reply:
I am very sorry that you are having such a hard time. Seroquel is one of the worst drugs a person with brain issues can take. My daughter tried to kill herself 3 times while on the drug. She attacked me also.
She has been off of it for 6 months now, has a job, is her regular self again. You need to seek help elsewhere. I can't imagine a 7 year old on the amount of drug my 22 year old was taking.
They are taking stabs in the dark, while your son suffers. This is appalling.
I am a 30-year special education teacher and I've never heard of such a thing. Stand up and advocate for him.
22 year old Female
Posted: 2009-04-15 23:33:24
Answer/Reply:
I just want to say that it was a good thing they took your son off of ADHD medications because those definitly can exacerbate the mania, especially if someone is wrongly diagnosed as ADHD which shares many symptoms of bipolar. ADHD meds I believ are the only class of drugs that have the opposite affect on someone who does not have ADHD. Also remember that anti-depressants when taken alone exacerbate the bipolar as well. In regards to your frustration, sometimes it takes many med adjustments to find the perfect match for a particular person. But when it is found, all your hard work will be worth it! Don't punish your son for not knowing how to control something he currently has no control over. I'm sure it scares him just as much as it scares you.
29 year old Female
Posted: 2009-04-21 22:04:15
Answer/Reply:
My son is now 12 and has been Autistic/Bipolar ADHD since 2 1/2. He now takes: Trilepatal, Clonidine (.01) 20 mg Ritalin LA, Risperdal. He just came off of Seroquel.
Its hard to determine what is best because each child will act differenty to the same meds. Patience is a big virtue.
Is your son attending a special school?
Even when the dr. finds the right meds , the meds will eventually have to be changed again. It's like being in a honeymoon period.
I hope this helps you.
45 year old Female
Posted: 2009-04-26 15:56:49
Answer/Reply:
Our son is 16 and was diagnosed with Fragile X (genetic) and PDD, severe social anxiety disorder. He has been on the following meds for anxiety:
Ritalin, Celexa, Straterra, Tenex, Adderall,Seroquel, Prozac,Remeron,adavant,Risperdal.
He gained alot of weight over the yeras but when he was 8 and very small the psychiatrist gave him alot of risperdal like start with 1 cc and increase very day until 3 and then stay with that. He was a mess and all he did was sleep like on a 6 hour flight he slept thr whole time and side effects were horrid.
Now we are taking him to a place in MD Kennedy Krieger Institute to be re evaluated and re diagnosed byt ehir fragiel X clinic and neuro psychiatrists.
ha sanyone been theer?
What do you think of the meds he has been on?
16 year old Male
Posted: 2009-05-25 21:32:41
Answer/Reply:
I have an 8 year old son that has been diagnosed with bipolar and severe ADHD. We have been through so much with him! He has been on so many different kinds of meds. Same thing as you, increased bipolar behavior along with the aggression. He is in "special classes" also and the school still could not handle him. We then hospitalized him and did a med wash. They sent him home with no meds because he all these evaluations they wanted to perform but were just waiting for the doctors. With Landon on no meds was an absolute nightmare!!!! He then had to be hospitalized again. He now is on a total of 3 meds a day instead of a whole cocktail of meds. A total of 125 mg of Seroquel several times a day, a total of 30 mg of Ritalin, and a total of .25 mg of Clonidine. His behavior has really improved. There are still many problems we face with Landon, but they have gotten better.
8 year old Male
Posted: 2009-04-29 23:10:54
Answer/Reply:
I wonder if your son is lashing out because he is over medicated. As a teenager I was on 200 mg of Seroquel 3x a day and could not even get out of bed or find the energy to take my next dose of medication. I was mad and felt terrible all the time. Even now, as an adult on Seroquel I find that if I don't sleep it off all the way I am just flat out nasty,mean, and aggressive-and thats on 100-150 mgs at night to help me sleep. It should also be noted that antidepressants are known to increase symptoms and suicidality in young children and teens-which is always the first info in the leaflet they give and readily found on drug manufacturers websites. As difficult as it may be to do,maybe they could admit him to a hospital until they are able to find the right meds at the right doses and combination so that his symptoms and behavior are better controlled and you don't have to worry about him harming himself or others. I wish you the best of luck! :)
26 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-03 10:44:15
Answer/Reply:
I have a grandson I have custody of for the past 6 years and was diagnosed as adhd. We have tried several brands of medicine on him and have had to go back to ritalin 20mg. 4xdaily and respirodine twice daily. He is 8 years old now and is due for another med. change because it doesn't seem to be working.He has his good days and his bad days. We are seeing a specialist up in Marquette for his med change and will be doing it when school lets out because we never know how the medicine is going to work or not work at all. Good luck with finding the right medicine. Every child is different and acts different to different medicines. Try not to buy anything that has blue or red dye in it. That makes there condition worse. Billee, E.M.
53 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-27 14:03:50
Answer/Reply:
i know a lot of people have replied to you, but i am a 20 year old female who grew up bipolar, taking adhd treatments because none of my doctors would listen to my mother when she told them she thought i was. my mother had a unique way of punnishing me and handling my misbehavior, that she got a lot of..."unpleasant remarks"...from other people for, but i think, as her only child, that it worked out for the better. for example, if i was throwing a temper tantrum, my mother would very calmly turn to me, and in a quiet voice(yet still loud enough that i could hear her) she would tell me that she has things she needs to do, and that i can cry and scream all i want upstairs in my room, but she doesnt want to hear it. if i didnt go to my room, she would calmly carry me there, put me down and leave me alone...she would ignore me completely until i calmed down, occasionally she would come in and "get the laundry" to check on me and make sure i was okay, but she would never make eye contact or talk to me while i was carrying on. eventually i would realize that i wasnt getting a rise out of her, and i still didnt have what i wanted, and i would calm down, usually pout for a while before i eventually started to just play. then my mom would come in and we would talk about the situation whether it was me misbehaving, or not getting something i wanted, or something else. another thing my mom did for me that helped a lot, was she always explained to me why she said what she said
if i asked for a cookie at 5:00 in the evening, her answer wasnt just 'no', it was 'no because we will have dinner in half an hour, if you eat all your dinner maybe you can have a cookie, but only if you eat all your dinner'. then not only would i understand why she said no, but i would have incentive to behave through dinner because i still wanted that cookie. incentive to behave usually helped me through school...my teachers had rules that if you get so many star stickers you get a prize, some went on behavior and some went by schoolwork scores. i hope some of this helps you!!
20 year old Female
Posted: 2009-06-17 15:18:57
Answer/Reply:
sorry to hear your son isnt respoding to Seroquel, ive ben on it since 2001 for schizo affective disorder, and it has worked well for me, the only thing now is im now a diabetic and Seroquel is known to cause it get his sugar checked
40 year old Male
Posted: 2009-06-27 23:28:25
Question/Comment:
I've been reading the comments about others here. I just wanted to share my experience thus far. I've been taking 1200mg/Seroquel and 600mg/Neurotin at night and 200mg of zoloft during the morning for 16 months now. I've no issues so far. I am a little over weight at 218lbs at 5'11" and about to turn the big 50. Intermittinly I will have to take tramadol (I think that is the name) it is an anti physchotic (sp?). I also take Klonapin when needed. It was 14 months befor the paranoia subsided to a level that I could really go outside in the yard. I am in a rural area so there are no homes near by. How ever I have experienced one or more of the side effects at one time or another. My psychiatrist does blood work ever 3 to 6 months at my request for liver, blood sugar and so forth. This was at my request and she thought it be a good idea, There are episodes of the mania still present once a week some times 2 days a week. I still suffer from depression but it only pops it's ugly head back into my life for a couple of days every other week. Some episodes are worse than others.
The primary concern I have with this cocktail of meds is staying hydrated. If I do not drink enough liquids I become dehyrated very quickly if I am outside reying to do something. Even when inside all day I still go through at minimum a gallon of water a day. Add in a few large glasses of orange soda and a pot of coffee in the morning hours.
At times I suffer from insomnia still even if the mania isn't there. Probably 3 - 5 nights every two weeks. My short term memory is very bad on some days and ok on others. But this was the case before the medicines. It seems to be a little worse at times since starting the medicines.
So De-hydration, insomnia and some short term memory have really only been the issues I have had to deal with from the medicines and illness's I suffer. The voices (2 of them) are very seldom heard anymore. maybe a couple of times a month unless my anxiety jumps and with or without the depression when it hits hard. When I hear Judas or Hephereseaus start up with me or start to argue amoung themselves about what I can, should or shouldn't do, I know there is something coming on. So I kinda of prepare for what ever ny taking the klonapin. I try to stay off of the tramadol due to it's very bad side effects which I do suffer when I am on it.
From your,
Bi-polar, paranoia, barely skitzoid friend.
50 year old Male
Posted: 2009-03-07 07:51:30
Answer/Reply:
I have used Tramadol in the past and it's for pain, moderate-mod. severe pain. Not an anitpsychoic. Tramadol is just the generic name, you might see Ultram - it's the name brand
I had the worst time after I stopped this medication. I had no idea that it could cause withdrawal symptoms. It's not a narcotic, so I didn't think there would be any problems. So be careful with this one.
Avoid Abrupt Cessation
taper dose gradually to D/C (abrupt cessation of tramadol may cause a withdrawal syndrome including anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, paresthesias, sweating, piloerection, rigors, tremors, pain, nausea, diarrhea, upper respiratory symptoms, and rarely hallucinations)
49 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-23 04:00:12
Answer/Reply:
Yes, be careful with Ultram. I was put on for pain and experienced a psychotic reaction. When I told my gyn at my next checkup, she told me that she had been hearing of a lot of issues with the drug, and that one of the sanest people she knows (a medical colleague no less) had taken it and thought a giant cat was after her. Have heard some other anecdotes to this effect as well. I know I'll never take it again!
43 year old Female
Posted: 2009-06-04 00:44:00
Question/Comment:
I was diagnosed with bipolar II - rapid cycler 2 years ago. My depressions were very profound, couldn't take of myself with grooming and bathing. I couldn't retain infomation, couldn't sleep, couldn't work. My drug PAST was significant (clean and sober since) and I ran a 6 million dollar company for years. My disability got to the point I couldn't hold down a job at a convenience store as I my short term memory was shot.
I began taking Seroquel and Effexor both 2 years ago. My doc says the very few people respond to this combination. Even though I have had to place a claim of disability, the combination of both have given me a life back. I am overall stable everyday, am happier, and acutally like living. I sleep VERY well with no hangovers. I have friends now and have no panic attacks. Diabetes does run in my family and am monitoring it closely as well as high blood pressure....
Scott
51 year old Male
Posted: 2009-03-06 15:39:10
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Hi Scott~
I've been diagnosed with bipolar disease and extreme Adult ADHD as well as general anxiety & Depression. My question for you is, what exactly does bipolar II mean? I've heard of it, but don't really understand the major difference between just bipolar and bipolar II? Do you understand the exact difference? I'm just curious and would like to know. Hopefully you can help explain it to me. I'd appreciate any help you can give me. I'd also like to understand what the Effexor medication your on is used for? I hope you don't mind telling me. If you'd rather not say, I'll respect your privacy. I'm just wondering. Take care and peace for now. I'll look forward to hearing from you.
Jessica M. in MN
Posted: 2009-03-07 00:24:33
Answer/Reply:
this medication has given me my life back to
i finally can sleep again and lead a normal life
37 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-31 17:08:18
Question/Comment:
my 44 yr old husband was given seroquel in late November 2008 by his PCP of 10 yrs. He was an insulin dependent diabetic with Hep C, High Blood pressure, neuropathy, COPD, Shortly after starting Seroquel, his sugar levels became out of control (450 to 520 was his average numbers). he notified his PCP via phone and was told "to increase his insulin from 15 units to 25 units twice a day). He became sick about a week later with bronchitis. He went in to see his PCP and they held him at their office for 2 1/2 hours while they tried to get his sugar levels "within a safe range" rather than send him straight to the hospital or call EMS to take him there. He was sent home with another prescription of Seroquel that he INCREASED from 100 mgs to 300 mgs! Three weeks later we were cleaning house and my husband became short of breath...he called for my help and I called 911 because he was having difficulty breathing..He was taken to the nearest hospital in critical condition. He had to be intubated for 48 hours until he became stable enough to move to the step down unit in CICU. He is now permanently brain damaged due to lack of oxygen to his brain. I was told after several series of MRI's CAT scan's and blood tests that Seroquel caused my husbands condition. He will never walk, talk, be able to drink liquids without choking (they must have a thickener added to them before he drinks anything) his quality of life went from that of a "normal" person to someone who requires 24 hour care. He is at risk for falling as he no longer has any control of his bodily functions. He can't even urinate on his own...he must be catherized every 6 hours. He should have never been given this medication because of his pre existing diabetes and high blood pressure. Has his PCP been UP on the side effects of the medications that he "gives out" my husband would not be in the shape that he is permanently in now! PLEASE make sure your tested for diabetes BEFORE you start taking this medication!
40 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-06 14:35:23
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Im very sorry about your husband. I have always been a firm believer that a PCP does not have any business getting into the Psychiatriac Industry unless he also has a Doctorate in Psychiatry. Their are trained professionals, specialist that deal with this and maybe a Psychiatrist would not have placed your husband on Seroquel because of his medical condition. Seroquel is an anti-psychotic. Also when my husband's medication was increased it was done in much smaller increments, not in a jump of 200 MG in 1 dose... I would definitely be seeking legal advice against your PCP... God Bless you and your husband.
Posted: 2009-03-06 20:27:25
Answer/Reply:
this medication has a handout that all pharmacist give with it to not take with certain conditions dealing with blood sugar and you are suppose to have blood screening while taking it
There is a million sites on the internet with the same information
the fact you were able to post on hear means you have access to said internet and could of typed in the name of the medication
I never take any medication without first reading the handouts given and checking it on 3 to 5 places on the internet- webmd and various other ones
the information on all these sites is the same
you may have a suiet against a doctor for perscribing a medication that was counter indicated to his conditions but only if you disclosed these conditions or they were included in his medical record the doctor recieved- doctors are suppose to take a patient history on initiating treatment with a patient and to not do so puts them at risk however it is the patients responsiblity to disclose all relavant history
was this a regular dr or a psyciatrist????
37 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-31 17:06:41
Answer/Reply:
What you are seeing is the effects of malpractice. Consult a malpractice attorney. One of the potential problems here is that all medications come with a rather thick warning from the pharmacy. Failure to read that is a mitigation to any malpractice claim. Also, while I sympathize with your plight, to suggest that a 44 year old man with insulin dependent diabetes, COPD, Hep C, neuropathy and hypertension led anything approaching a "normal" life is somewhat to very deceptive. Your husband was a medical disaster waiting to happen.
One of the primary things that the manufacturer lists is a reaction for blood sugar, and any responsible physician prescribing it would not give it to an insulin dependent diabetic, which leads to the question, what the heck was going on that the doctor thought it was a good idea. I understand the urge to lash out, and warn other people, but what leads to a 44yo with the pathologies you describe being put on an atypical antipsychotic? Take some responsibility.
37 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-31 19:45:35
Question/Comment:
I decided to look up more information on Seroquel because my 6 year old daughter takes this medication on the time release. She has been on it for three months. She has Bipolar disorder and she is hyperactive. Before the medicine she was agressive, violent, and oppositional. Now she sleeps at night and behaves at school. I original praised the medicine until I started noticing the weight gain. Now I am a little worried about the possibility my daughter may become diabetic. Diabities runs in my father's side of the family. So far I have seen no other side effect expect the weight gain. No my daughter is not tired during the day as I am reading from other people's stories.
6 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-22 12:54:20
Answer/Reply:
Hi my husband also takes Seroquel and has gained quite a bit of weight. Unfortunately it is a side effect and we have to weigh the options of A) he either goes back to what he was prior to the medicine so that he can be skinny or B) he can be overweight but sane...non agressive, not violent anymore and doesnt go from the highs to the lows and we dont live on a roller coaster. We choose B, you just have to make the right eating choices for your daughter. In my opinion it might be easier to control your daughters weight than it is for an adult to control their own weight. Gaining weight isnt fun and it does cause other issues but in my life the alternative is far more worse. If your concerned about diabetes just make the right food choices for her. Talk to her Ped about a diet that is right for her. Unfortunately that is all you can do. Oh PS. My husband also took the time release and it was worse on him. He was tired all the time. He takes regular Seroquel now and is doing great. maybe that is an option for your daughter.
39 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-06 20:14:20
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Hello,I am a 45 year old female, and I LOVE my Seroquel! I take it at night with Trazodone for sleep. Without this med combo I am wide awake all night. But I was interested to see that your husband had to make the exact same choice I did. I too, chose to be sane, non-violent and sociable, though yes, I am overweight...to being insane and slender. My quality of life is way better with the Seroquel, than it was without. Sure, I would love to be a slender little twig and stylish, but it isn't me, it matters much more to me that I am SANE! I feel 'normal', and finally...HAPPY!!! Thank you Seroquel.
Posted: 2009-03-09 12:34:10
Question/Comment:
I just started taking Seroquel. I do not like it at all. Its suppoced to help you sleep but when I take it I get RLS symptoms that last hours..It also increased my headaches
26 year old Male
Posted: 2009-02-18 02:07:20
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Maybe Abilify or Geodon??? My husband was on Geodon before Seroquel and he liked it, we changed due to financial reasons with Insurance only. Abilify is expensive, even with Insurance and I dont know anything about the medication. Im fortunate that Seroquel doesnt have that effect on my husband. Good Luck
Posted: 2009-03-06 20:17:28
Answer/Reply:
god i thought it was just my legs i get awfull RLS several times a week and never thought it came from the seroquel i am going to see my doctor asap
42 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-16 22:22:08
Answer/Reply:
I have been on serquel for quite some time and i to have been suffering several instances of RLS at night but never put the two together i am definetly going to ask my doctor for a test to see if the serquel is the cause of this thank you
42 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-16 22:35:10
Question/Comment:
31 year old
I am currentaly takeing 600mg of seroquel, 900mg lithium, 200mg trazadone,.75mg requip, detrol, albueterol, flovent and 500mg naprosyn do you think that it is ok to be taking so much I am tired all the time also I feel dependent on my meds to sleep if I don't take them I cant sleep. If you have any answers for me or ideas to help me please email me sweetcheeksneal@yahoo.com
32 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-12 00:21:22
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
There are many possible interactions with your medications – you should review your entire list of medications with your doctor and make sure he or she knows everything you are taking. Most importantly, Seroquel, lithium, trazadone, Requip, and Detrol may cause drowsiness, dizziness or confusion – and when you take all these medication together, you are at an increased risk of experiencing these side effects. If your sleepiness is preventing you from doing daily activities, talk to your doctor about your treatment options – you may be able to get benefit from a lower dose of certain medications which may reduce your sleepiness during the daytime or you may be able to adjust the timing of your doses so that the side effects occur at times that do not affect your daily activities. You can also keep your eye out for the rare, but more severe side effects such as excessive drowsiness, difficulty breathing, abnormal heart rhythms, and mental haziness that may occur when these medications are used together. You should contact your doctor immediately if any of these symptoms occur.
Posted: 2009-02-16 15:37:23
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
That is alot of meds that cause drowsiness - the seroquel and trazadone are usually used for sleep - I only need 50 mg of seroquel and 2 mg of ativan for a good night of sleep. You may be able to talk with your doctor and reduce those doseages and get the same effect - BUT TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST
Posted: 2009-02-18 20:14:25
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
I would suggest that you get a second opinion from another psychiatrist. I am a retired foster mother of several bi-polar children. Sounds like a lot of medication.
Posted: 2009-03-02 21:48:07
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
I take 400 mg of Seroquel plus 10mg of diazepam and I have no trouble sleeping. My doctor said that anything over 400mg is not good but before doing anything check with your doctor. But I do know that Seroquel will make you very sleepy. If I should need any during the day I usually take 100mg and I can hardly stay awake. So the combination of all those meds I am sure makes it hard for you to function. Maybe he could wean you off some of them very slowly.
Posted: 2009-03-05 20:33:53
Question/Comment:
I've been on Seroquel since age twelve and even though I have been able sleep on it, I am not supportive of it. I have had severe insonia since I was a very young child. To top it all off at age 13 I was diagnosed with PTSD. Seroquel not only made me gain weight, but I retain a lot of water and I have memory loss, trouble concentrating, and Im drousy throughout the day. I wouldnt recomend this at all for children. I've been having problems getting off of it, and I'll be glad to rid myself of it sleep or no sleep. It's hard and frustrating always relying on pills to sleep, and embarassing having to bring them to slumber parties and trips. Not to mention having new doctors and dentists question your sanity. (Not that there is anything bad about people with mental disorders I.E. my mother) I was on 300mg to start but I was a Zombie. Now Im down to 50mg at night. I don't like the idea of drugging children. It might take time an effort to find the cause and fix it...instead of hastily covering up the symptoms.
18 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-25 20:56:40
Answer/Reply:
31 yeaqr old
I have been taking seroquel for some years now. I take 600mg a day plus lithium, trazadone and requip. I fell like a zombie all the time and my memory is gone. I get high sugar once in a while and had to take insulin when I was pregnant with my last child. I have also gained 65 pounds and am full of water. I am dependent on them to sleep I can't withut them. I think that is is very good that you are getting off them now I wish I never started. I have a 11, 12 and 13 child that they have on medication I will not let them think of giving or starting my kid on seroquel never.
32 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-12 00:27:33
Answer/Reply:
For those of you who feel tired during the day - there is a time released version of Seroquel. I don't take it but I know someone who does (that's how I found out about it).
I was also told that it didn't matter if I spread my dose out during the day or took it all at once. I actually take my larger dose in the morning and the smaller dose at bed time. My body has adjusted to what I take and I don't have a problem being sleepy from the Seroquel.
I also take: topamax, Effexor XR, synthroid, medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Byetta (pre-diabetic) and parladel (for a tumor on my pituitary (sp) gland). I top this off with an antihistimine, 81 mg aspirin and 6 fish oil caps per day.
There are days I get tired but those are usually when my BP decides to go on the low side.
The main thing is, you need to give your body a chance to adjust to the medication and remember you are in charge of what goes in your body. If you don't like the way something is working, it's up to you to speak up and say something. If your doctor doesn't listen, it's time to find a new one.
My doctor in CT and now in NC won't make any changes to my medications unless I agree with them.
I've noticed a number of people talk about side effects, what I usually do when I am put on a new medication, mainly because I tend to get the uncommon side effects, is look up the side effects on at least 3 different web sites. This usually gives me a good list since one site usually doesn't list them all and the information you recieve from the drug store or mail order only gives you a partial list.
You have to be your own advocate when it comes to your health care.
If you feel or think you are over medicated - you just might be and it's time to talk with your doctor about reviewing all your meds. Also keep in mind that you can very easily become addicted to a med by taking it as perscribed.
53 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-18 18:57:39
Question/Comment:
I have been on Seroquel for about six years, I have gained some weight and doctors attribute my Diabetes to the prolonged use of this drug. However it works well on my Schizzo-effective disorders and I am able to rest a lot better at night. No voices anymore
48 year old Male
Posted: 2009-01-22 07:15:17
Question/Comment:
Not enough men put info on this, so here is my bit. I take a small dose to help with anger issues. It seems to be helping but I think it is part of the reason I am so tired during the day. The benefits out weigh the cons.
49 year old Male
Posted: 2009-01-19 17:02:28
Question/Comment:
seroquel works great for me it keeps my mood stable thought lucid and i get 6-8 hours of sleep a night
42 year old Male
Posted: 2009-01-15 17:04:06
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