Seroquel and medication

I am friend and caretaker for TBI patient (Traumatic Brain Injury).(he has no short term memory and some cognitive problems. Seroquel is his miracle drug . He has been on it for about 5 years now and it has helped so much with inappropriateness and keeping him calm and functional. He had been in long term care facility for about 6 years and they over medicated with many potent drugs (just wanted to keep him inactive since he was young mobile male with TBI).He has been out and living with me for past 5+ years, it took a little while to change and modify the medication and is now taking daily low doses of meds: (20 mg paxcil, 750 depakote er, 50mg x 3 times a day (total 150mg) of seroquel (using 25mg pills), and 5 mg of lipitor and 100mg docqlace. He does have a weight problem which is a bit hard to control because he does want to eat a lot but having lots of fruits and vegetables around and asking him to wait 30 minutes after eating for his food to digest rather than getting 2nds has helped a lot too. Seroquel for him is in my opinion the most important one.

I have been on Seroquel for about a month and a half.
When I first began to experience anxiety, I was given antidepressants starting with Celexa,(didn't work) Zoloft( made me feel worse), and Trazodone(same effects) , along with anti-anxiety medications.Nothing was working, and I ended up with Serotonin syndrome- HORRIBLE experience- did not sleep for a month, and it was as though my "fight or flight" response was on "hyperdrive".

Finally went to a Pdoc instead of a general practitioner,and he took me off what I was on . He put me on 50 mg. of Seroquel in the a.m., and 50 mg. in the p.m. before bedtime. I improved within several days, and have felt like myself for the most part ever since. I am thankful especially to be sleeping! Have gained some weight back, but since the serotonin syndrome caused me to lose 20 pounds in a month and a half, that is good. The first couple of weeks or so I had dry mouth, but that has gone away. There have been no sexual side effects like the ones caused by zoloft- that makes both my husband and myself happy.
Just hope if I continue to exercise and eat right that I won't experience the weight gain everyone is talking about.
My life is extremely stressful right now due to long-term circumstances beyond my control, and this medication is helping me to cope! Besides feeling some mild depression and grief due to those circumstances, I am just thankful to be functioning well again!

I have severe headaches.

Every night about 5-8pm I become very anxious,hypochondria and
obsessive. Does that mean that I need more medication

I was raped by my then current boyfriend while on Seroquel. I would wake up and know that something was not right, he would not admit to anything..now three years later I am starting to remember things that I couldnt recall at the current time. Seroquel was his date rape drug.

other than a little trouble getting my day started from fatigue, Seroquel has been wonderful for me. I was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis 9 months ago, and after inpatient treatment plus medication, have been great. I do not worry about unimportant things the way I used to. My happiness has more to do with becoming a Christian than the meds, but physically I am able to exercise and take care of my family with very little trouble. Advice to those with fatigue-go to bed early. I take my meds around 8 or so usually, once my kids are in bed. That way I make time for the 10 to 12 hrs of sleep I need on the meds. If I want to stay up late, I make arrangement with my husband to help me with the kids the next day.
My dose started at 800 mg and is now down to 400mg.

Seroquel gave me the worst side effects I have ever experienced from any of the psychotropic meds I have been on. I walked like a zombie, my pupils were huge, I couldn't think...and I was arrested for driving under the influence. I was convicted too! No drinking or illegal drugs I assure you. Don't try this medication, and if you are on it be VERY CAREFUL.

I have been on Seroquel for three days now...tonight will be my third night taking it and so far I've had severe persistent sore throat, stuffy nose ] and my eyes have been so itchy. I'm pretty sure it's just a cold going around but those are also very important side effects and I've already called my doctor about it and he also said it was just something going around. I have noticed I've been hungry, hungry, hungry and I eat A TON already as it is. I'm 110 lbs and I eat like a horse, I always have, even before I started the medication. I'm 5'1" and now I'm worried I'm going to blow up to the size of a house! I can't monitor how much I eat because I eat so much as it is. I do, somewhat, somewhat remember eating a block of cheese last night before bed time. I know why they say to take it before bedtime!! It knocks me out. Which is bad because I have a 17 month old who still wakes up around 4-5ish in the morning. His bedroom is right across the hall from ours and we have his door cracked open an inch and we leave ours halfway open so we can hear him. I am usually a light sleeper but last night I noticed that it sounded like he was across the street, I could hardly hear him. I'm surprised I even made it out of bed, got him and brought him back to our bed without running into something or dropping him. It's scary. It really is. My doctor is giving it to me to treat my mood swings. I'm hoping they don't do diagnose me with bipolar disorder like they've talked about when I was a teen. I have had some tachycardia but I also have a heart problem I was born with that has been pretty messed up for over a week--I started having premature ventricular contractions, but this was before I started the medication. I am actually wearing an EKG-like monitor during the day to record this...this has nothing to do with the medicine but I thought I'd through it in there in case they decided it is. I talked to my cardiologist today and told her I was on this medication. Well, it's about 8:17 here and I need to go take the medicine and hit the sack...goodnight.

Will turn you into an emotionless, lethargic, drunk, apathetic zombie that has no more creative or human spark than a turnip does. Throw this crap in the garbage - NOW! I was prescribed this devil spawn drug from a PAIN MANAGEMENT doctor who told me it would help potentiate the Tylenol 3's he gave me. Drink a case of whiskey and smoke a crack rock the size of a buick and you'll essentially reach the point I was at after one of these pills. I started saying crazy things to my Girlfriend, started rearranging the refrigerator, slept for 10 hours (and I normally only sleep 4-6 hours) and woke up with these thoughts in my head like "What am I doing with my life? Nothing is going right, Everything I touch turns to hell". By about 10:30 in the morning at work, it finally started coming out of me and I started waking up and realized just how bad it was. DO NOT take this medication unless you are so severely psychotic that you simply can't make yourself stop killing squirrels. Why the hell a DOCTOR would prescribe this evil in pill form for Pain Management is so far beyond me, it's like wiping before you poop, just don't make no sense.

Hi all, I'm hoping someone here with Seroquel-experience can help us with some information. My wife has been on Seroquel for approximately 5 weeks (ramping up to 200mg per day during the first 10 days, approximately). After 4 weeks, the severe breathing problems started. Physicians have verified the oxygen level in her blood to be excellent, her lungs and heart are in perfect shape, she has no fever and no indication of bacteria-infections. All indications are that this is caused by the Seroquel. She explains the intense sensation as drowning, almost passing out while gasping for air. She's feeling very dizzy, probably due to breathing too much as a result. Occasionally her breathing is not so deep, but more like hyper-ventilation. The problem became unbearable (and my wife endures a lot) after approximately 1 week, so 5 weeks into the Seroquel scheme she quit cold-turkey two days ago. The breathing problems are still the same. We are hoping someone could tell us how much time these breathing problems can be expected to remain, as I've googled my eyes out without finding any information on this. A week? - Two weeks? -Even more? - please respond, and in advance, thank you for your help!

oh, my gosh! i have been on seroquel for six months. it has been horrible! sweating,dehydration, weight gain. the WORST has been costchondritis(severe chest pain), extreme hoarseness, and now muscle aches and tightness in my legs, arms and chest. my psych says he has heard of these side effects but has never seen them. am i poisoning myself?

I've been on seroquel for about 5years, ive been taking 500mg a night, it was prescribed after my doctor said i had schizo effective disorder when i was 19 years old i am now 24. And i feel my life is great execpt for one thing seroquel as it did help me to sleep, and calm me down at the time of my episode back when i was 19, now it has and is still ruining my life. I gained 50kgs which im not sure what that is in pounds probably about 105pounds-ish, i managed to drop about 25kilos but am forever gaining weight and it is a constant battle just to mantain my weight let alone lose the weight, but thats not the worst thing. I am constantly tired it doesn't matter how much i sleep i am still tired i have to go to bed at 9.30pm just so i can wake up at 8am to go to work, and i am so tired all day even after that much sleep and even if i sleep for 12,14 hours i am still tired my partner says that sleep rules my life and nothing is as important in my life than sleep, because im tired my concentration is so bad and my memory is worse, im just in another world and always out of it seroquel runs my life and i hate it im am so scared to come off it, but ive decided that im going to start to do it. and finally rid my life of, this disease which was supposed to help me but has completely taken away my hold on my life, i will not be ruled by seroquel anymore.

Started on Seroquel last September, and between then and Christmas was basically a walking zombie. I was on auto-pilot, functioning as if someone had programmed me to do things. I complained and the dose was reduced, but with no effect. After Christmas the medication was stopped as I was told by my Psychiatrist that I no longer needed it.
Things went from bad to worse after coming off it, my mood dropped dramatically, to the point where I was suicidal, so after 6 weeks, it was started again. Last week another psychiatrist decided I no longer had faith in my medication, and so he removed everything, including the seroquel.
Since then, I have been so sick every time I move, I vomit. I have horrendous headaches and am basically back to being so low I'm suicidal again.
This medication has made my life a misery, and even more so when I stop taking it. They say it is not addictive, but obviously I'm going through some sort of withdrawals, and while I don't like the brain-dead effect it has on me, I'd rather be out of it than suicidal and vomiting constantly. I believe this is all a money-making scam by the drugs companies. Even when you decide its not a medication you want to take, you feel forced to take it to stop feeling worse than you did when you were taking it. Don't know if that makes any sense, but I felt I wanted to share that with others, and recommend to anyone who is considering starting treatment not to.

I was on Seroquel for about 3 or 4 months.It worked for me I guess. I developed a skin rash on my palm of my hand and my foot. And my sex life was none existent. So I decided to get off it. Because I herd a lot of other bad things about it I have heart disease in my family and diabetes, and I herd this medication can give you that. Also I have been feeling very sick since I stopped taking it is this normal to steel this ill

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.

Within the hour of taking it my heart started to beat very fast and breathing became difficult. Then I had difficulty speaking or forming words and had trouble walking. I grew increasingly tired and decided to lay down and had difficulty opening my eyes. I still couldn't talk so I decided to sleep it off. The next morning I still had trouble breathing and still do after a week or so of taking it. The doctors I have spoken to don't seem to think it's anything serious and don't care to document these reactions in my chart. The breathing problem occurs about twice a day and lasts about 1 and 1/2 hours. I was taking this medication for anxiety and depression.

Who ever said there is a fine line between love and hate must have been on Seroquel. I have been taking Seroquel off and on for about 4 years. When it comes to my dosage, I have been all over the map. I have taken as much as 800 mg. which I felt I needed for the insomnia in the beginning. I ended up at about 200mg. per night. I wanted as little in me as possible and still get a good nights sleep. Here is where the HATE comes into play, I GAINED 50 lbs. in about a 5-6 month period that time around. Nothing I did would take all of it off, trainner 4 times a week, low cal. diet about 1400-1500 a day. I lost about 20 over 3-4 months where I stopped loosing. I said the HELL with this and stopped taking it. I didn't sleep much during this time but I did get back down to my orginal weight. I recentally started taking my Seroquel again reguarlly and once again I remember why I HATE it soooooo much. I have now gained 40lbs. in about 3-4 months. So I was just reserching other methods for us non-sleepers. I just feel like I'm already being punished by not being able to sleep and to top it off, I get really fat.... as a bonus?? Its not easy to go from a size 2 to a 8-10 in 4 months!!! I will say the love I have for Seroquel comes from the wonderful sleep I get when taking it although it seems I'm starting to loose sleep thinking about how fat I'v gotton. Just wanted to say over my years of taking this medication I have gotton some great sleep but now that the weight gain is back for the second time any LOVE I'v had has turned to HATE.....again!

Ive been on Seroquel for quite some time now, I asked my doctor too get me off. I am also on Lithium and Welbutrin. I have lost 45 pounds. Which isnt a horrible thing but with out Seroquel I am awake all the time. I stay up for days. After day three i break down and take a Seroquel and wake up with the worse body aches ever. It feels like someone beat me up with a metal bat and put me back in bed. If I don't sleep for at least 11 hours I cannot get up and function much less do any daily activities.It also makes my depression worse, on top of my lithium. The bodyaches I cannot do any more.

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 am having problems with seroquel I am having bad side effects. They are heavy menstruation, after showering my underwear appear so to be wet it's embarrassing I use baby powder and baby lotion this never happen to me before I started taken this medication. One more thing that I feel as though I've been having to go to the bathroom very frequently. Please respond back to me.

Thank You

Tiffany

I am having bad side effects from Seroquel they include wet underwear even after I shower I don't understand it. I am also having a heavy menstrual cycle. Can the side effects be worse if the medication has been misprescribed. I've become more aware of these problems as of late. More body awareness.

Sincerely,
Tiffany Jill Rose

I am 17 years old, i have been taking seroquel for 4 months now. I have noticed that my moods are a little on the battered side....i.e. i AM A PHSYCO FREAK i have wierd outburst...like that one...i have horse hair and a crater face i have never felt better. i have also noticed a little something growing around my "private" region. I am a girl or atleast i thought so until i started this medication PLEASE email me back if you have any of these problems or you liek horse hair girls with crater face and a little sun problem. Thank you or call me...205-862-3034. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!

i'm 16. i've been on it for almost a year now. i've increased my intake.... now when i don't take my medication i get cold sweats and stomach aches and i'm more irratible. if i keep taking it. when i want to get off of it in the future will it be harder and make me more sick then i already get.

I am a bipolar teen, who was put on seroquel back in the 8th grade. I did notice some weightgain, but mostly an extreme increase in breast size. I was 134lbs (5'8") with a D cup at 14 years old. For whatever reason, I was taken off seroquel in the summer of 2002. I lost 10lbs almost immediately. Several years and many alternative medications later, I was put back on seroquel. I've noticed no weightgain, but I am more impatient and physically aggressive. It helps with the manic hallucinations and the insomnia, as well as keeps me out of the depression cycle. I'm 17 now, and haven't had acne for years. I've noticed a small amount on my face lately and am wondering if it could be from this medication??

transition to seroquel for my 11 yr old son was just completed, over the period of coming off one medication and being switched to this, there has been a marked increase in mood swings and agression culminating in a full blown rage this evening.

These symptons have increased in frequency and level with each increase of seroquel and leveling off of the other medication.

Tonight was his last dosage, as one hour later he was literally out of control, agressive, destructive, and physically abusive.

My friend has been on Seroquel for about 1 week and have experienced dumbness in the upper and (lower lips), nervousness and not sleeping well at all. She has stop taken Seroquel. She was also taken another medication, can't recall the name and it did not help either. Seroquel is the second medication given to her by her physician. She was not given any information about the medication, such as the side effects or what the medication is used for. HELP!

I have been tacking seroquel for about six months. I have gained 30 pounds. I also get hot sweats from the medication. I sleep really well on this medication, but I have heard that there my be some side effects with sugar problems. I am a borderline diabetic and I have had my sugar levels to get real high.Does anyone know about this?

I am a recovering IV drug addict and Seroquel has helped me through alot of rough times. I am also Bi-polar and my attitude has also improved a great deal. I havent gained any weight or lost any for that matter, but I can say that I feel much better when I take the medication. I also suffer from ADHD, SEROQUEL has helped this condition too. I am very greatful to my doctor, if not for this drug I truely believe that I would still be shooting thousands of dollars of Cocaine a week.
I realize there are side effects but for this reason I dont really care what they are, I believe that I can live with them as long as Im not in active addiction.

Thanks for listening
CHILL FROM ALABAMA

I AM SIXTEEN YEARS OLD AND MY DOCTOR PUT ME ON SEROQUEL FOR DEPRESSION. I HAVE BEEN OFF OF THIS MEDICATION FOR SIX MONTHS, WHEN I WAS TAKING IT I WOULD SLEEP FOR 15 TO 20 HOURS. I WAS ON 500 MG'S A DAY, AND IF I MISSED A DOSE I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE IT UP.AND I GAINED SO MUCH WEIGHT AT ONE POINT WHILE I WAS ON IT I WEIGHED 230 LBS. I DON'T THINK THAT THE DOCTOR WAS RIGHT WHEN HE PUT ME ON THIS MEDICINE! WHAT DO YOU THINK I SHOULD DO. PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH YOUR FEED BACK.

Since i've been taking seroquel, i have been gaining wait and experiencing chest pain and rapid heart beat when resting

I have gained 30 lbs in 2 months. It does make me sleep well. I also have a bloated out stomach, and tend to swell up a lot in my legs and feet. I have heard this medication can elevate Cholesterol, and liver enzymes too. Im considering getting off this.

I have recently (end of July/02) gone off Seroquel as I felt absolutely fatigued and tired out all the time, and felt
like I did not have a life. I was first put on Seroquel in 1997 as I have been hearing voices since 1996 following a mild concussion after a fall. I am now 69 yrs. old. Another serious side affect was a weight gain of 45 lbs. Being on Seroquel did not take the voices away, so as well as still having to cope with that on a daily basis, I had all these nasty side affects. I felt that if I continued to gain weight at this rate, that I would end of having a heart attack or diabetes. The only thing Seoquel did for the voices was to subdue them somewhat. Since telling me doctor that I wanted off this medication (I tapered off it), I have lost 24 lbs., and continue to lose weight. I feel more like I am a part of what is going on around me, and I don't feel so totally lost. However the voices have gotten more bothersome, and I try to cope as best I can by keeping my faith in Jesus Christ. It is my faith that has brought me safe thus far, and not the medication. It is now 5 months since I stopped the Seroquel so hopefully it is now all out of my system. I don't know if one day I will have to try another form of medication or not, I take one day at a time, and will just have to wait and see what develops from here. Hope this information helps others.

I HAVE BEEN ON SEROQUEL FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. iT IS THE ONLY MEDICATION THAT GIVES ME A FULL NIGHTS REST. I don't want to give it up but the fact is I am always tired in the mornings. I can't think as sharply. It doesn't wear off until mid afternoon. I only take 1/4 of a 25 mg. tablet nightly. I don't have schizophrenia. I have bipolar disorder.