Getting off of Seroquel

@tinkeringtech, to find discussions, including resources members have shared about getting off Seroquel, see the search results here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=Seroquel

Do you have a doctor to help guide you through tapering?

How do I deal with nervousness and not able to sleep?

I never wanted to be on seroquel because it’s horrible for the liver and it can lead to diabetes. Plus. I’m def not bipolar. My doc was giving it to calm my nerves. It has a sedative effect. I was on high doses, 300-500 mg I think. I began to get a stopped up nose and start sneezing uncontrollably within 5 minutes of taking it. I was using Afrin daily to just breathe!! All this caused post nasal drip to get into my upper lungs and I had to use a nebulizer to get the gunk out. I had to cold turkey seroquel. Plus it raised my lipids fast. The withdrawals were horrible, chills and cold sweats for 2 weeks. It was horrible. Some of these meds are toxic but docs will put you on them “off label” sometimes to avoid controlled substances.

I’ve been on Seroquel on and off for 7 years now. For the last 4 years I’ve been on 150mg. I really wanna get off it, however, if I do not take seroquel I cannot sleep. Any advice on what else I might try? It has causes a lot of issues including induced diabetes and 60lbs weight gained ( I was only 105lbs before taking seroquel).
I have been doing great, rarely any depression or anxiety and I actually sleep but the diabetes and weight gain is so drastic even though I eat extremely healthy and walk for at least 30 mins a day.
Any advice would be so helpful. I would love to get off it but anytime I even missed a dose I don’t sleep. I forgot my meds once on vacation and I didn’t sleep for 5 days.

I'm thinking you first when the doctors are mixing and making my body an experiment...

You dont say why you want off the drug.

Are you having troubling side effects?

Agree about your titration rate. Shrinks are guessing at the rates. They only know about averages and means. Individual reactions to changes in dose of pretty much any antidepressant vary dramatically.

As long as your side effects aren't too bothersome, GO SLOW!

Hello! My story is very similar to yours. I was on seroquel for sleep for 17 years. I researched how to do it myself. I have struggled with sleep ever since. It is like my brain will not turn off. I think it’s related to my hypothalamus. I wish I could find a doctor who truly understands. I have tried a variety of natural supplements with little relief. I have found if I can’t sleep for a couple days, if I take a very small amount (about 6 - 10 mg), I fall right to sleep. I try to avoid that, so I have been using klonopin. I am fully aware of the potential for addiction, but I have been off seroquel for two years, and sleep is still a struggle. What is discouraging is that most people I have read about going off it give up and go back on because they cannot sleep. I have blood tests to take and I think I’m avoiding them because I’m afraid none of my labs have improved. I want to know, Vuitton then I don’t….

I just starting trying something called “Dream,” made by a company called Rebalance. I think it is helping. Good luck. I hope you’re giving yourself credit for going off of seroquel because it’s tough. Don’t give up. You can do this!😊

I do a great deal of research on mental health medications. The only thing I can say with any certainly is; they effect everyone differently. The medical professionals do not know why they work, when they do work, nor do they know the full extent of all the possible side effects. It is very frustrating to look up a medication for its uses and side effects and find constant equivocation.

I've titrated off of a number of medications including Seroquel and have learned a few lessons the hard way. Make one small change at a time. Allow the body two to four weeks to adjust before making another change. The body does not want these drugs and will, if it can, find balance. Expect just about anything and everything to happen, especially sleep disturbances and depression. Control what you can control. Eat a nutritious diet and do yourself a big favor and exercise everyday. The benefits are worth the effort.

Lastly, for me I have had to accept that my system may be so compromised that I may never be completely well. I won't stop trying, but psych meds do a lot of damage, some may be permanent.

Be patient with yourself and control what you can control.

I hope you live in peace and good health.

Hello. I was
prescribed a high dose of Seroquel to take at bedtime to help me sleep. My psychologist told me I probably won’t like being on this medication because it has some severe side effects. When I was on this medication, I had these really severe and vivid nightmares. I would have to be awakened by my husband and he said that I was always crying out “Help me help me”. I have no idea what that was about, but I knew that this was a problem for me. I spoke with my doctor, and with the help of him we weaned off of this medication very very slowly and I believe that that’s the important thing about trying to get off of any medicines is that you do it very very slowly. I hope that you are able to sleep without this medication. I know that I have been using is a medication called Trazodone 300mg. before bedtime and that gives me a lot of rest but without the side effects of the nightmares. This medication has worked well for me. I hope you are able to find a solution to your sleep. Trazdone is not an antidepressant, but rather a sleep disorder medication. Ask your doctor about it.

I totally agree low / small changes slowly over time. I’m back at 400mg am and 400mg pm. I was on trazodone for many years and at 300mg like your self it stopped working. One of my biggest complaints and issue with seroquel was my diagnosis of Tardive dyskinesia in 2019 along with many involuntary motor movements. Finally found a doctor that understands this medication at put me on Benztropine which is a Parkinson’s medication but has practically negated all the involuntary motor movements. Tried to taper from 1200mg of seroquel over 8 months only to make it to 400mg but the side effects withdrawal symptoms were to intense and intolerable for me. Finally working on bettering my overall health.