Seroquel and anxiety

Have been on serouel for about 2 months. Low dosages about 25-50 mg at night for sleep. It's true what they say at these dosages you might as well be taking benadryl. See for me benadryl wires me. Seroquel does make you drowsy but for me, the anxiety is still there. I've gained a ton of weight like alot of people and yes you do feel like a potatoe. By the time the drug wears of it's time to take it again. Seeing a Sleep Spec. soon since my neurologist said I suffer from myoclunus during sleep onset. But i've read up on that and it seems what they prescribe is clonazepam and/or depakote. and i don't have seizures? I hate benzos they make extremely aggressive. Trying magnesium and gabba supplements at night along with lexapro 10 mgs. Seems to take the edge of the muscle spasms, but I still need the seroquel if I want to sleep a few more hrs than the usual uninterrupted. i hate it.

Seroquel: I'm 48 and in reasonably good health. I have good days mixed with terrible days. The family thinks the drug is working mood-wise (at least most of the time) but I'm losing my hair, losing weight and still have anxiety. I continue to have REALLY bad days when the old suicide thoughts come around. Note: I attempted suicide via overdose of multiple drugs in Nov. '09. I'm Bi-Polar Type II (more depression than mania). I've been on ALL the drugs for depression and bi-polar mood instability. Been on Seroquel (in addition to Lamictal) since the suicide attempt, initially with fast ramping up of the dosage to get me to 400 mg p/day. Bad side effects: racing heart, worse anxiety, continued depression, hand trembling, acne, and hair loss - the list goes on. My doctor advised staying w/Seroquel and lowering my dosage gradually back to 150 mg for several weeks, then back to 200 mg. So far, no racing heart and the feeling that I was coming out of my skin, shakiness, and just overall discomfort (w/slight paranoia). These were just the scariest of the side effects. But the weight loss and hair loss, along with raging acne on my forehead are concerns as well - none of these are doing anything for my self-esteem and that fuels the depression and anxiety. I have an appt. w/my doc in a few days. I'll be advising him that I'm backing down the Seroquel dosage to the point where I can stop taking it completely. I'll be asking for yet another alternative drug. I'm also considering ECT (eletro shock therapy) to maybe hit the RESET button in the brain. I've read very positive things about the results (except for short-term memory loss whcih usually goes away) and I figure I have nothing to lose at this point. We shall see... Until then, life is very hard and getting things done is a ridiculous attempt. Couldn't hold a job right now if my life depended on it.

Be very careful if you are going to start taking Seroquel and discuss the side effects w/your doc BEFORE taking it (they often don't even mention them when discussing the drug and it's possible benefits). No one told me and I had to find the info myself on the internet, including the manufacturer's web site, where, by the way, they indicate that a baseline blood panel be run BEFORE taking the drug and then every two months or so to monitor cholesterol, tryglycerides, etc. since Seroquel can cause increases. Be VERY aware of tachycardia (racing heart) - this is the worst effect and can be quite dangerous.

I'm done w/Seroquel and will move on, hopefully to something better...

I was on Seroquel for a week at the end of 2006 and the whole time I was on it, I experienced heart pain. I felt very heavy and sleepy. It took all my energy to do anything. I insisted on getting off Seroquel when the girl in the next room died suddenly of heart failure. (I don't know what meds she was on, but it made me take my heart pain seriously.) I also gained a pound a day and experienced severe constipation. I normally have a good appetite, but food suddenly seemed repulsive to me. I was, however, able to tolerate cream of wheat. Eating light meals made me feel more alert. Heavy meals made me unable to resist falling asleep. Unfortunately, my doctor considered all my complaints to be related to my mental condition rather than coming from Seroquel. Ironically, Seroquel did nothing to fix the abnormal thoughts I had at the time.

Before December of 2006, I never had heart pain, but now I will get it when I am experiencing anxiety or if I am frustrated with someone else. If it caused heart damage, it was on a level that was too mild to be picked up by an EKG. I feel like the Seroquel changed something in my heart function and that returning to how things were before is impossible. I feel like my heart and my brain are better connected now, which helps me to be aware of my emotions. It's hard to stay mad at someone when doing so causes me physical pain!

WHY??? Why do psychiatrists insist that if a medication is making you worse, it's your fault, unless of course it's a medication they think is "bad" like anything that works. Okay no, but benzodiazepines in particular. I took seroquel, I felt horrible, exactly as said above zombie outside, screaming inside, I felt like I was drowning, and had a sumo wrestler on my head, I couldn't think, my heart was racing..
I gave it a week, big mistake, I ended up taking more ativan to cope with the anxiety trying to be the good patient and give it a chance and my psychiatrist cut me off that cold turkey (dangerous!) because I was taking too much.

And now tells me to take more Seroquel. I have anxiety, I'm not stupid, now I think the only reason I need anxiety medication is because of the spider web of doctor's and psychiatrists, Oh of course this post won't change anything, None of this makes sense, how is this good for anyone persons mental health.
I really would like a chance to live a life, not be told "If you're having problems go to the ER"
and weight 5 hours, and having all that time to think about all the other times you've been in the ER
for a similar reason, and all the tears and frustration and ghoulish terror that you've been put through because your Dr Doesn't believe you.. or says you're acting out, or says you're a drug seeker
or says that side effect is impossible, or worse yet tells you to try to do some deep breathing.
Which is rather like being engulfed in flames soul and all and having someone suggest taking B12
to help calm you down. Meanwhile other people are getting promoted having babies, getting their hair done, window shopping... all those things that seemed so attainable at one time.

My son died, subsequently my partner had a heart attack and stroke which has left him a zerox copy of himself, he was a brilliant English professor, now he's a ghost. Pardon me for being a little anxious
I already had anxiety and depression. Now I'm being told that I'm using these traumas as an excuse to go from 3 ativan to 5. An EXCUSE...

Where do these people come from?

started taking seoquel 25 mg an hour before sleep, then 50 mg. went up to 75mg because i wasn't "tired" enough to sleep. it was working okay, but my friends had warned me that i might experience weight gain and absolutely uncontrollable hunger for carbs and sweets. and as a 46 yo woman that already weighed 200 lbs. that was not a happy prospect. but i ignored that; maybe it would be different for me. btw, i am diagnosed as bipolar 2 and am taking lamotrigine, celexa, lithium and now seroquel. i was in a couple months ago for anxiety and loss of time, for lack of a better term. my pdoc told be to get off the 75mg of benadryl i was taking and gave me samples of seroquel to help me sleep, etc.. so, after experiencing weight gain, sore breasts, bigger stomach (i don't have a scale), labored breathing when walking to the freakin' mailbox and feeling like a truck has run over me for at least half the day, then anxiety immediately following, i have decided to pitch the seroquel. also, i am going off lithium and my blood pressure med (i was taking that for migraines associated with pre menstruation and now am menopausal). i'm going to start melatonin again (which i used for years and it worked) when i'm weaned off the evil seroquel... sigh. and no, the docs DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT GAIN!!!! THEY JUST WANT TO KEEP YOU ALIVE AND UPRIGHT IF POSSIBLE! i'm more depressed knowing i could easily balloon upwards to god-knows-what. so if your doc hands you "free" samples of seroquel, please keep track of your symptoms. maybe it will work for you but be cautious, please!

Hi,
I have been on Cilift for anxiety and depression for 13 years. I also have hypothyroidism so am on Eltroxin every day. I have been on Urbanol for a while but it was not helping the extreme anxiety. I was prescribed Seroquel and have been on it for 3 weeks. My anxiety seems to be far worse, especially in the mornings but it does help me sleep at night. Stilnox sleeping tablets were not working. I have a pain in my chest, severe headaches, tingling feeling in my hands and a 'funny head'. I am on Yasmin as I have the Mirena but it does not work. The Mirena is still fitted. I have now read on this site (thank goodness I came across it) that both these cause extreme anxiety. I have now stopped the Seroquel and plan to stop the Yasmin and have the Mirena removed. If you have any similar experiences please comment.

im only 16 and Ive used seroquel for about 7-8 months and recently Ive been having 1 or 2 fears stuck in my head. Anxiety in general. And Ive totally lost my sex drive and some of my feelings I used to have. Maybe its just hormones. But, Ive talked to my psychiatrist and I am weaning off it now.

Are these side effects, or am i just going crazy?

I took Seroquel for five years and it was hell. It didn't work for me at all. I experienced anxiety, constipation, migraine headaches and acne. I've been off of it for about a week and I've never been happier.

I have been on Temazepam 45 mg. @ bedtime for over a year, about 3 months ago it stopped working. This week my doctor stopped the Temazepam and put me on Seroquel 50 mg. @ bedtime. The first night I woke every 2 hours with BAD nightmares! So I tried two more nights just in case it needs a "working in" period: Well I still wake every two hours like clockwork and the dreams are so so real! I wake myself up talking! I don't know how much longer it will take (if ever) to get into my system. I just want to know if anyone else is having this problem and if I should call my doctor? All help would be appreciated.
******

I was put on 25mg of Seroquel for anxiety. Got the prescription filled and took my 25mg before bed. I woke up in the morning having a hell of a time with aggressive constant uncontrollable body movements and the tips of my fingers were purple. tingling and numb. My eyes were hurting and i had a busting headache. My body and face was pouring sweat although i felt extremely cold and my face was pale white. I never took another.

I have been on seroquel since july 2006.I take 200 to sleep at night, although in times of stress I add 25mgs pills as needed, and I also take effexor xr 37.5 and 75.First, the good effects- the combo got rid of the crazy highs and deep dark despairs of the lows.It got rid of the compulsions,the anxiety, social phobias lessened,unbidden harming thoughts, and the ocd rituals, and delusions...So it has been a real lifesaver for me.Now, on to the side effects.
I have gone from size 12 to size 16. thats a lot! I know its the seroquel, cause and effect. I got a foot infection from trying on shoes at the outlet mall-(never again) although I have never ever had one before, and i am 55.Guess what- I am still getting flareups of infection 2 1/2 years later! And isnt that a diabetes sign? The rest of the side effects are somewhat helped by drinking water. The side pains,occasional digestive issues, dry mouth, snoring, nonexistant sex life, confusion, memory issues,and the need to consume, and consume, food, are all there.Ive been existing on samples of these meds, but samples are no longer available, and the cheapest price for my meds as above is just over $800 per month.I cant possibly pay for thisI would be happy to take something else that didnt have side effects, and cost less, but what?

hated it. It was prescribed for insomnia and anxiety. Worked at first for the insomnia at 25 mg, then had to go up to 50 mg and barely worked then. My anxiety was worse, woke up with panic attacks. Vivid horrid nightmares. Spiraled into a severe, deep suicidal depression on it. Had hand tremors and restless legs. Currently weaning off. Never again!

I was on Seroquel for about a year or so for "anxiety" and insomnia. I gained weight and noticed a thick white coating on my tongue while taking it. I eventually came off of this medication when I suddenly began to lose weight rapidly - I dropped to 88 lbs. My hair also began to thin considerably, especially around the temples and top of my head.

None of this even matters because the anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder was actually chronic Lyme, babesia, and a number of viruses - along with an allergy to the wireless boom.

If you've been placed on this medication, please join lymenet and find an LLMD. Also, google 'electromagnetic hypersensitivity' and 'microwave sickness', because US doctors are clueless. It's more profitable to prescribe psych meds than to remove the cell phone masts and antennas that are causing "mental" illness.

It has been hell on earth. In order for the Seroquel to tame down my anxiety and mood swings I needed to be on 400 mg. However, anything more than 25mg and I could not stay awake during the day for more than an hour or two. When it did work for the anxiety at 400mg, I felt like I had had a lobotomy. Quitting Seroquel is just as bad if not worse. I am so nauseated I cannot function. I sit around all day trying all sorts of stomach remedies and trying not to vomit. I have also been experiencing violent diarrhea. I can hardly sleep and yet I am horrifically tired. The withdrawals for this are worse than Effexor. I would fervently try to discourage anyone from using this drug. Unless you like feel like the walking dead.

Finally -- something works for my anxiety! But I'm clenching my jaw, gaining weight (including a pot belly), and snoring like a chain saw. Does anyone else have problems with snoring?

i started taking seroquel about 2 years ago, and with being steadily increased in the dosage i have gaine 100 pounds, and i cannot lose anything. I have tried every diet out there, besides surgery. I am afraid to go off them because i have insomnia and deppression, and anxiety soo bad that i can never sleep. and now in reading other persons' effects i am starting to wonder if all my other problems are an affect of this medicine. I take 800 mg. a night just so i can sleep 7-8 hours. How crazy is that??? i am so afraid...

i was on seroquel for 2 count tnem 2 days and my heart would pound and ache and my muscles would twitch and ache like i had run for 5 miles, nothing was ever so scary and i was always hungry, i mean i gained 3 pds in 2 days. I am quiting this crap, at this rate i would be dead in no time welcome back anxiety at least i'll be able to feel that. Oh and also horrible horrible action dreams.

Mental meds are destroying our bodys and minds.. I would reccomend to any one going on marijuana, smoked once or twice daily and tramadol/Ultram for spot relief of depression and anxiety. The marijuana WILL help you if you are bipolar or schizophrenic or just depressed. I have noticed that it can sometimes help or hurt anxiety which i have a big problem with.. I choose to just spot treat with tramadol or xanax.. both have potential for addiction but who the hell cares? there not going to leave you dead or dying like like seroquel and other like drugs.
Don't let your doctor kill you.. THE FDA IS NOT YOUR FRIEND...
It's time we all realize that and stop being there lab rats. You only get one body, one life.. do what ever you have to do to live it.. thats my 5 cents :)

I've been getting chest pains since starting on seroquel, for bipolar , anxiety, depression and anger.. chest pains, lethargic, muscle spasms and eye twitching... we should kill all the doctors and figure it out ourselves...

MHN took away my PTSD diagnosis and told me that I should apply for SSDI with borderline personality disorder. I refused and got a private pay psych eval. Now MHN say's I am refusing to follow there treatment plan because I didn't mess up my application with their bad advice. Now I have been required by Susan Rook-Thomas of MHN to take medication or lose my insurance. Their psychiatrist prescribed Seroquel. I haven't seen anything on it's effectiveness for PTSD. After taking it my ears started ringing and I got sick and dizzy. It may be anxiety from being forced to take meds after bad treatment from MHN.

I take it for anxiety and panic, 100mg 2x day. Has caused severe bloating and some weight gain (went from 175 to 205). But it works so well for what I'm taking it for. One other side effect that I think is being caused by the seroquel is severe acne on my chest, back and neck.

I started on Seroquel to control negative thoughts and eliminate recurring dreams.I find that since taking the drug for about a month I am experiencing an exaggeration of my emotions,hostilities and other negative thoughts.I am still having the recurring dreams and I find that the drug is interferring with my performance on the job.It is causing me to be somewhat confused and I get very frustrated and it is very noticible to others.It has caused me to be more paranoid and it exaggerates my negative feelings for others on the job.I don't like it and it scares me.I am going to take myself off of it tonight in hopes that the side effects will subside.I need my job and I can't go on feeling like this especially on the job.Also I have always had a fear of gaining weight and the stories that I have read here are enough to make me stop taking it and throw it down the toilet.