In need of some rational encouragement, advice, please

Hey there...

As I said in an earlier post, I was back at work today and am glad for it. Here's why I'm writing now...

My psychiatrist gave me a prescription for Seroquel to help with sleep. I've had pretty bad sleep since July. He set the dosage at 50 to 100mg, but the first dose that I took (last night) I took 25mg and it did work. I still get up at 3am to go to the bathroom, but I did fall back to sleep. Had some vivid dreams (can we say technicolor!) which was entertaining.

Here's the point: I slept a little too well and was groggy for the better part of the morning. Having too much sleep for me is about as bad as not having enough in that I felt spacey, jittery, etc. This then gave me a few anxiety attacks, but I was able to work through those. Of course with all that adrenaline coursing through me I have a killer headache.

I made the classic mistake of googling side effects, and now have a few questions. I'm going to see my psych next week, but I wanted to know if anyone who has had experience could tell me if I would be better off taking the Seroquel a little earlier than bedtime. Also, does the body need a little time to adjust to the med so that I won't feel so groggy into the late morning early afternoon?

I'm not jazzed about taking a sleep aid, but I'll debate the merits with my psyc later.

Thanks in advance,

Bat.

[BonnieSue]

Hi battersea922,

You can take the Seroquel/quetiapine a little earlier, but be prepared to have to go to bed earlier, too. Is your prescription for the ER(Extended Release) form of Seroquel? If so, you can ask your doc right away to prescribe some regular and non-ER Seroquel to try out...it may solve your problem. Hopefully you're getting the generic quetiapine and saving significant money.

Yes, your body can adjust to the med and you may find it doesn't affect you nearly so much as time goes on. I eventually became quite used to larger doses of it after a few years. For now, you could take it only every other day on work nights and that may get you through the workweek better with less groggy days. And please stick to that beginning dose of 25mg because increasing it would very much increase your dopiness. Best wishes and blessings to you.

[Hidden in reply to BonnieSue]

Thank you!