Hi Caeti, I took seroquel for two days approx 7 yrs ago and it immediately made me suicidal so I stopped it at once...not saying it may not be good for you, though. I have a history of depression, social anxiety, eating disorder and occasional hallucinations w/paranoia...I now take Abilify along with Effexor XR and that combin. seems to work...mlc

I think I tried Seroquel once, and only once. It's in the "anti-psychotic" class of drugs - so far every single anti-psychotic I have tried has made me horribly unsettled, antsy, didn't want to stay still or move around, like I wanted to crawl out of my skin. The only drug in that class that I'm willing to take is Riperdal, and only a little, and only "as needed" - I refuse to take it regularly.

As with all these things, it works better for some people then others. I think most of these drugs change a little (or a lot) after you take them regularly for a while.

Me, personally, I don't want to have anything to do with Seroquel.

Hi Caeti, I tried several antidepressants before landing on a combination of Seroquel XR 50-75 mg and Strattera which I have taken for an extended period of time and on which I am doing well. It is unconventional but it works for me. Thankfully, my P warned me to expect to take several days adjusting to the medication. I made sure I started it when I had a long weekend off work. I slept 12 hours the first night and ten the following night. I wake from a deep sleep but once I get moving I am wide awake and usually rested for the day. It does help me get the rest I need to function during the day and do intense therapy. I also usually sleep through the night in spite of occasional bad dreams and nightmares.

While I was still learning to listen to my body, tolerate stress and regulate my emotions I needed to supplement with Xanax to help me with anxiety and panic attacks but I rarely need to take that anymore. Medications that worsen my depression or intensify negative emotions I avoid by giving feedback to my P and her making adjustments and changes. Your MD will benefit from the feedback you give and will keep exploring the best options until the right combination of meds and dosages that are best for you are found. Hang in there!

DeeplyRooted

Hi Caeti,

I'm sorry to read that things have been so rough for you - that's really, really awful.

I don't know what you should do about your job - no doubt there are lots of factors to take into consideration - but I do want to say that no benefits are worth your life. As good as this job may be (and actually it sounds like your experience of it is just really damaging), there will be other jobs, in one direction or another.

You need to get safe and get well. You need to get yourself out of danger really fast. If you have to let some things go in that process, okay. You WILL be able to put together a more stable and happy life for yourself once you are through the crisis. But please take your health and wellbeing as the absolute priority in this time.

We are thinking of you and wishing you well.

Hi I have been on Seroquel (I don't think it is the XR though, does that mean it is extended release, maybe you would have less side effects during the day if it wasn't the XR one??) since May. I take between 25-50mg at night just before bed. This means I can sleep and during the day I am much less anxious and can actually cope and not being a screaming wreck.

When I wake up it takes a long time to fully wake up, I like the drowsy feeling but as soon as I get up I am wide awake and fully functioning.

I have put on a lot of weight and only just recently noticed it has coincided with starting the Seroquel. I have put on 14kg since May - that is a lot of weight in just a few months and I have not changed my eating habits in that time.

I did some research on the net and found it is quite common to put on weight with this drug and that it maybe due to slower metabolism but also insulin resistance. Since I have type 2 diabetes I am suspecting it is due to the insulin resistance mainly for me. I am seeing my dr today and I am looking forward to starting to resolve the weight issue because it is very depressing.

I also take 300mg effexor in the morning and 45mg avanza at night.

Hi Caeti,

I have had experience with Seroquel 25-50mg, although I have not taken the extended release form. I have worked with clients prescribed Seroquel XR and for many, they seemed to become more symptomatic resulting in increases in hospitalizatons and then being switched to another med. It is scary to see client's react like that..and the docs didn't seem to think that would be the outcome...not from the drug company's advertising, I guess.

My experience with regular Seroquel...was that I took 25mg to 50 mg to sleep at night. It seemed to give me a guaranteed 6-7 hours, however, I found I was not functioning my best at work. I felt like my mind was slowed down so thinking was just not happening very well. I would sit at my computer and NO THOUGHTS would come up. It was pretty weird, I would forget what people said to me and I was very concerned about errors.
I stopped that med and am now taking 25mg-100mg of Trazodone at bedtime for sleep. I seem to function in the daytime a lot better.

I wish you all the best,

Itshardtosay.