![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 58. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sugarpuss on January 17, 2004, at 13:04:54
I accidentally posted about Seroquel in the psych forum but was told I should try this forum instead.
Just found this site today and it seems to be a very helpful forum.
I was just prescribed Seroquel, 25-50 mg a night for insomnia, and I'm curious about a lot of things.
I have learned that Seroquel has little to no recreational value, which, I suppose, is good to know, although I don't want it for recreational use. My doctor prescribed it to me as a sleep aid (25 to 50mg) because I'm a wretched insomniac, and as of now I've been taking 200+mg a night of diphenhydramine to sleep, and while that sort of works for me (it takes two hours to make me sleepy, and then I can fall but not stay asleep), I want/need something more effective. I'm the kind of person who just needs a lot of sleep -- I can function on four or five hours but you probably wouldn't want to be in a room with me.
So far I've tried Ambien (made me feel trippy and put me to sleep but I'd wake up completely unable to fall asleep again after four or five hours), Sonata (same as Ambien), trazadone (I hate the way it makes me feel), and 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). The only two things that have ever worked reliably are diphenhydramine (I have a question about that coming up) and Klonopin, but since I am prescribed only a certain number per month and legitimately need them for my panic disorder, I unfortunately can't often "afford" to take extra ones at night to fall asleep (and anyway, after a few days in a row, it doesn't work, obviously).
My doctor first suggested Risperdal, but I was on that as a teenager and I literally do not remember two months of my life -- they medicated me very badly and while Risperdal very well may be effective as a sleep aid for me now, I've been scared away from it and am unwilling to use it again, so he prescribed the Seroquel.
So, now, a few questions that I did not find answers to on the boards -- if I missed something, I apologize.
#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 realize that websites such as RXList and Drugs.com tell you side effects, but I'm interested in hearing personal experiences as well; I feel I learn more hearing it straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. 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?
#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 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. Also, are there any other medications or street drugs that are ill-advised to use in conjunction with Seroquel? The only drug I use recreationally with any regularity is marijuana which I'm not worried about, but I do ecstasy, acid, and cocaine a few times a year (like, no more than five-six times each, if that) and I'm curious if those are particularly dangerous combinations. (Although I've heard that Seroquel is a good "come-down" pill for speed/coke/e.) Also, if these are dangerous combinations, I'm curious as to why (I'm just a curious girl...)
#3 - Diphenhydramine. In the event that Seroquel doesn't work for me and I must return to my lovely old standby, I'm curious what ill effects longterm use of diphenhydramine has, if any. I've been taking it every night for probably about a year now, 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 (I suppose some people would consider the fact that it makes me RETARDED for about an hour before it puts me to sleep an ill effect, but I just find it sort of amusing), but I'm curious if there's any longterm problems I should be concerned with.
#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. I was impressed with Klonopin because for quite some time now 2-2.5mg a day has OBLITERATED my panic attacks, and likewise impressed with diphenhydramine because while I *have* had to gradually go from a pill to three-four pills a night, it took a year to get to that point. Does anyone know how tolerance works with Seroquel?
#5 - Duration. How long does it generally take to kick in, and how long does it keep you asleep?
I think that's about it. I could have just said "I want to know everything there is to know about this medication in a language that people who aren't doctors can understand", but I'll just shut up now and stop wasting space, but hopefully someone out there has the answers! Thanks in advance.
Posted by SLS on January 17, 2004, at 15:35:22
In reply to Seroquel, posted by Sugarpuss on January 17, 2004, at 13:04:54
Hi.
> Just found this site today and it seems to be a very helpful forum.
Welcome!
> I was just prescribed Seroquel, 25-50 mg a night for insomnia, and I'm curious about a lot of things.That will put a lot of people to sleep, but it didn't affect me that way. It just seemed to make me feel irritable for some reason. I don't think I've seen anyone else here report that as a side effect. Of course, we all react differently to medication. If it works for you, it will probably keep working for you. Tolerance is not usually a problem with Seroquel, although you might find that you need more than 50mg. That's a good starting dose, though.
I can't think of any reason why taking Seroquel and Klonopin at the same time would be a problem.
If Seroquel just doesn't cut it, you can try a small amount of Remeron. I usually see people use 7.5mg for sleep. It is an antidepressant, but it has been used as a sleep aid quite frequently.
> My doctor first suggested Risperdal,
Yikes. I can't see using it for sleep. It actually keeps some people awake.
Weight gain with Seroquel is a possibility, but it is no where as bad as Zyprexa. Most people don't complain too much. Side effects are pretty minimal, especially at such a low dosage. I don't recall suffering any sexual side effects.
I think the best thing to do would be to give it a try. You're not married to the drug, and it is safe to combine with the medication you are already taking. If you don't like it, just stop it and move on to the next drug. You won't know util you try.
I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful. I'm sure you'll get more replies to your post. I just didn't want to leave you hanging.
Good Luck.
- Scott
Posted by john1022 on January 17, 2004, at 15:47:27
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by SLS on January 17, 2004, at 15:35:22
I would recommend a product that Vitamin World sells (vitaminworld.com). It is 5htp, but has magnesium, niacinmide, b6 and valerian root added. When I would take 2-3 capsules at night it would knock me out as hard as Ativan/Lorazapam and harder than diphenhydramine (Nytol) or Ambien.
Just thought I would make a recommendation if the Seroquel doesn't work out. The 5htp product might be safer as well. It takes about 4-5 days to get the effect from the valerian end of it though
Posted by mags on January 17, 2004, at 16:00:43
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by john1022 on January 17, 2004, at 15:47:27
Seroquel worked really well for me as a sleep aid for me and worked quite quickly....10 -15 minutes...but you may need more than he has prescribed...I did find it made me a bit of a zombie the next day but eventually I got used to it....weight gain was problem for me....but I was also on Depakote...which is REAL bad for weight gain too....
Mags
Posted by Sugarpuss on January 17, 2004, at 18:17:55
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by mags on January 17, 2004, at 16:00:43
Thanks, guys! You're very helpful.
I'm just a real wuss when it comes to trying new meds. I also thought of another question -- say I use it every night for X amount of time, and then just *stop*. I'm sure the insomnia would bash me over the head while calling me an idiot, but is it the kind of medication that will produce adverse effects if you use it steadily and then stop?
Posted by jerrympls on January 17, 2004, at 22:37:38
In reply to Seroquel, posted by Sugarpuss on January 17, 2004, at 13:04:54
>
> So, now, a few questions that I did not find answers to on the boards -- if I missed something, I apologize.
>
> #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 realize that websites such as RXList and Drugs.com tell you side effects, but I'm interested in hearing personal experiences as well; I feel I learn more hearing it straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. 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?I am on Seroquel and Klonopin. Side effects for Seroquel can include weight gain in higher dosages. I'm actually on 200mg of Seroquel for insomnia PLUS 20mg of Ambien if I wke up in the middle of the night. Klonopin isn't strong enough to help me sleep at night due to my insomnia being so strong. I also was on Restoril + Ambien, however, I quickly became tolerant to Restoril. I HATE Trazodone and refuse to take it for sleep - it's hard to explain but I hate the way it makes me feel as well. There is an older med called Chloral Hydrate that is still used after traditional meds fail. You may want to ask your dr. about it.
>
> #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 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. Also, are there any other medications or street drugs that are ill-advised to use in conjunction with Seroquel? The only drug I use recreationally with any regularity is marijuana which I'm not worried about, but I do ecstasy, acid, and cocaine a few times a year (like, no more than five-six times each, if that) and I'm curious if those are particularly dangerous combinations. (Although I've heard that Seroquel is a good "come-down" pill for speed/coke/e.) Also, if these are dangerous combinations, I'm curious as to why (I'm just a curious girl...)Interesting - but I've also been on Vicodin, Klonopin and Seroquel at the same time. My doc prescibes me an extra dose of Klonopin to take at night along with the Seroquel - so I doubt there are any interactions except to make you more sleepy. Of course, one must be careful with all these sedating meds - so making sure your doc knows you're on Vicodin is a good thing in case there is some negative interactions. In my case, my doc wasn't worried. I even was prescribed Vicodin for use AS an antidepressant because I am treatment resistant. So, I was taking 4 tabs of Vicodin a day, plus 4mg of Klonopin, plus 200mg Seroquel at night PLUS 20mg of Ambien if needed. I'm still alive and these meds were prescibed all by the same doc.
>
> #3 - Diphenhydramine. In the event that Seroquel doesn't work for me and I must return to my lovely old standby, I'm curious what ill effects longterm use of diphenhydramine has, if any. I've been taking it every night for probably about a year now, 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 (I suppose some people would consider the fact that it makes me RETARDED for about an hour before it puts me to sleep an ill effect, but I just find it sort of amusing), but I'm curious if there's any longterm problems I should be concerned with.I've used diphendydramine from time to time in addtion to the Seroquel when my insomnia was really bad. I think the most I took was 150mg. There was a time when i used it long-term and never really built up a tolerance - but that's me?
>
> #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. I was impressed with Klonopin because for quite some time now 2-2.5mg a day has OBLITERATED my panic attacks, and likewise impressed with diphenhydramine because while I *have* had to gradually go from a pill to three-four pills a night, it took a year to get to that point. Does anyone know how tolerance works with Seroquel?I've been on Seroquel for over a year and have had NO tolerance what-so-ever. I do need a higher dosage than what you are taking to get me to sleep - but it always works - always. It's something I can always count on to work.
>
> #5 - Duration. How long does it generally take to kick in, and how long does it keep you asleep?Seroquel taken on an empty stomach hits me pretty quickly - within 20mins or so and it keeps me SOUND asleep for 8 hours. It also helps with anxiety. the only downside is that it's hard to get up and keeps me a bit groggy throughout the morning. But again - I'm at a much higher dosage than you. But, it's a comfortable sleep - the opposite of trazodone which feels like your head is being held underwater.
>
> I think that's about it. I could have just said "I want to know everything there is to know about this medication in a language that people who aren't doctors can understand", but I'll just shut up now and stop wasting space, but hopefully someone out there has the answers! Thanks in advance.Hope this helps!
Jerry
Posted by Simus on January 17, 2004, at 23:30:29
In reply to Seroquel, posted by Sugarpuss on January 17, 2004, at 13:04:54
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I couldn't get off of Seroquel fast enough. On just 25mg, I became a zombie after three days. It took a couple of weeks just to get over it. I then decided that insomnia isn't that bad after all. 8)
But to be fair, I'm sure it works well for some people, and you may be one of them.
Posted by Sad Panda on January 18, 2004, at 1:09:33
In reply to Seroquel, posted by Sugarpuss on January 17, 2004, at 13:04:54
The use of antipsychotics sounds scary to me.
Diphenhydramine is a mild anti-histamine, I would recommend low doses of other anti-histamines like Remeron or Doxepin for sleep. Also, you need treatment for Panic Disorder as Klonopin only treats the symptoms. Remeron or Doxepin would be good for this too. My mother has Panic Disorder, she is doing well on Prozac for treatment & Valium for the symptoms.Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by Sugarpuss on January 18, 2004, at 1:59:47
In reply to Re: Seroquel, posted by jerrympls on January 17, 2004, at 22:37:38
"Head being held underwater" is the best description of traz I've heard yet.
Thank you so much for all of your help, you've definitely made me feel better!
Posted by Sugarpuss on January 18, 2004, at 2:01:09
In reply to Re: Seroquel » Sugarpuss, posted by Sad Panda on January 18, 2004, at 1:09:33
Klonopin has worked so well for my panic disorder that it's completely eliminated it. I haven't had a single panic attack since I've been on it and I've even done things I could NEVER have done before, like getting my license/driving, etc.
Posted by Camille Dumont on January 18, 2004, at 10:45:02
In reply to Seroquel, posted by Sugarpuss on January 17, 2004, at 13:04:54
I took Seroquel for a little while.
Started at 25mg for psychotic features + insomnia.
It definately takes care of the insomnia ... as in put me to sleep in like 20 minutes but it also gave me "strange" sleep.
A couble of time a night I would wake up shivering and sweaty all over. Also, in combination with the Effexor that was at 225mg at that time, I lost about a pound a week. Went from like 115 pounds to 105 pounds without changing my diet or trying to lose weight. I figured it had something to do with the sweating as in maybe it made my body temp higher and thus made me expend more energy.
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'd rather be an awake insomniac with on and off visual hallucinations and depersonalization rather than a zombie with no psychotic side effects.
Seeing things that aren't there is sometimes scary but sometimes entertaining whereas being a zombie never is ... or at least never was for me....
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.
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