Maintenance drug symptoms and conditions

Have been on Seroquel 300mg for about a month now for management of bipolar. Was combined with Depakote, but the doc discontinued the Depakote. With Seroquel *only*.... Works great for getting to sleep, but. significant weight gain (like 12lbs in 30 days), dry/cotton mouth almost like dehydration, fatigue from simple tasks, mentally foggy during the daytime, loss of emotion, poor motor skills/reaction time, and restless legs. The foggy feeling I attribute to a long half-life with a residual effect carry over to the next day. Before this med, I was manic, but now into a mild emotionless depression which is a dreadful feeling. Saw my doctor today, and he said
to cut the dose to 150mg and said it is a wimpy dose. In my opinion, this
is a horrible maintenance drug for bipolar.

I was on Prilosec for over ten years when my insurance company took it off their formulary, and switched me to a generic. I haven't had any problems with the generic, other than that which I experienced with Prilosec, except slight hair loss. I changed generics, and that stopped. However I firmly believe that this drug is addictive, and I cannot function without it. The insurance company calls it a currative, and my doctor calls it a maintenance drug. The doctor says I will be on it the rest of my life, and the insurance company only approves it for 10 week period of time. I have tried Nexium and can tell no difference. I learned at the beginning how to adapt to the side effects of brief periods of nausea, and constipation.

I have read these posts and I'm amazed. The FDA has approved this drug for short term use (5 days). It sounds like you are all taking it like a maintenance drug. I've been on it for 3 months myself, but I'm questioning why my doctor would prescribe it for that length of time.