Seroquel/Quetiapine.

[Jeffju]

Has anyone been prescribed this drug in low dosage for insomnia?? And, if so, did they have any side affects on you.?? They are supposed to relieve anxiety as well as help with insomnia but I have found they seem to increase my anxiety and I have panic attacks during the night now so think I will stop taking them. I would be really interested as I think my GP thinks I am making it up BUT I do know how I feel!! Thanks.

[hamble99b]

there is a site called Boots MD [or MED] where I often look med's up.

my gp says if something has a bad reaction to get back to him straight away.

ask your pharmacist too.

sandra.

[Carolinee71]

Hi I am on quetiapine as well and I think I have been on them since around Christmas time. Not sure if it is classed as a low dose or not I take 150 mg slow release once aday . I also take 20 mg of escitalopram every morning.

The quetiapine made me feels a lot worse to start with, and it didn't seem to have any positive help with regards to my depression, and at the time i wasnt really sure why i had been put on it.

I did ask my GP about it as I thought I didn't need an " anti psychotic drug" for depression. He explained that it works to help the feelings of anxiety and may well help a bit with sleep ( although my lack of being able to sleep was due to pain not anything else ,but i am not sure I was believed at the start that my pain was that bad)

I kept going back to my psychiatrist every two weeks for him just to sit there as I pour out my heart and he would go " ah mmmm. Lets increase the dose"

I think I started on about 20 mg and have now settled on 150mg.

I don't feel it has solved my anxiety or depression, but I think it just stopped me crying all the time so I guess it has helped after all. I think it has also helped a bit with sleep so I guess the doctors might know what they are doing!

My psychiatrist has also put me on lorazepam and this has really helped a lot.

I am now at a stand still, I am still classed as having severe depression along with anxiety. My psychiatrist will now not give me anything else or change anything until the doctors find out what is causing my chronic pain as I am on very strong pain killers

I don't know if you have had side effects from new tablets before as I think in the short term I have reacted badly ,from nausea and not eating to increased feelings of depression and suicidal thoughts to every drug my doctors have put me on. For me if the side effects are still very bad and not getting better after two weeks I go back to the doctor and get them to change the drug.

For what it's worth my GP says it is a very good drug once you can get over the side effects and have the dose increased to a beneficial dose.

I hope that which everyway you wish to go ( you don't say how long you have been taking them) either to stay on them for a little while or go back and get something else, you will soon find a tablet that will help

Sorry it's gone on so long

Hugs ,

Caroline

[Jeffju]

Thanks very much for your answer. I must admit to only taking it for 4 nights but do query if I need an anti-psychotic tablet to help me sleep however low the dose. What happened to a plain old sleeping tablet. I didn't take one last night and have felt so much better today. I willl continue my wayuntil I pluck up courage to see the doctor again. Hope you are getting better, thanks once again. xx

[merlinmac in reply to Jeffju]

Hi Jeffju

I have had this drug prescribed only a few months ago and wondered like you why I had been prescribed an antipsychotic as I just wanted something to help severe depression and anxiety resulting in not sleeping. It completely knocked me out just slept so found it impossible to take. I could not keep awake go back to psychiatrist and notify gp as I dont think this is right.

I know how you feel sitting there and being doled out tablets because of this drug |i have had a complete breakdown just messing with meds has caused this but I am managing to tell myself that sometimes some of these drugs are not suitable for us I think because we are so sensitive.

I hope you get this sorted out soon. xx

[Jeffju]

Thanks so much and , yes, this drug was messing with my head. I feel sure there must be some 'normal' sleeping tablets out there. I am definately not taking these ones anymore. Have had two better, not brilliant, nights sleep without them.

[merlinmac]

That is good to hear hope it continues for you. Ther are sleeping tablets perhaps you can get your GP to supply you with some if you still having trouble or even go to health shop. Just an idea Good Luck

[Jeffju]

Thanks have felt much better this last week without taking those tablets. Just use what I always have,... works for me. Thanks for your reply. xx

[Burstcouch]

I am taking quetiapine 100mg along with citalopram 40mg as it was recommended by a pyschiatrist.

My mood had improved on citalopram but I was suffering from really bad anxiety and bad dreams. Hence the referal by my wonderful GP to see a pyschaitrist.

The combination for me works brilliantly and it was after about 6 weeks I suddenly noticed a difference.

For the first time in 18 months I am starting to feel happier and smiling again

hope this information helps

choiceandmedication.org/nsf...

[Jeffju]

So pleased to hear that ot is working for you and that you are in a better place now. So good to hear positive stories on here . All the best and long may it continue. xx