Getting off of Seroquel
I have been on 300 mgs. Seroquel ER for over a year for augmenting my antidepressant which is 45 mgs. Of Mirtazapine. I decided to try and get off of the Seroquel. I was on 300mgs ER (extended release). I titrated down to 250 mg ER for 2 months without too many problems.than i titrated down to 200mgs ER just 5 days ago. My plan is to try to titrate off using ER tablets. My thinking is that perhaps the drug will remove its self from my system more gradually. I have had some nausea and a couple of episodes of diarrhea. I also have a very irregular heart beat and was started on 60 mgs of Propranolol ER (extended release) 4 weeks ago. It seems to be helping my heartbeat. I have wondered if the nausea and light headness is from the Propranolol, a Beta Blocker, or the dose reduction of the Seroquel. I also wonder if the way iam titrating the Seroquel is safe. My doctor says it will only take a couple of weeks...I think that is too fast of a taper after being on a drug for over a year. What do you think?
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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.
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1 ReactionI 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.
probably heart rate..
Hey i've been on 50 mg of Seroquel for about 4 and a half years I've tried a 2 month taper once and didn't succeed had really bad heart palpitations, really bad insomnia and anxiety I was thinking to do really slow taper about 25% decrease every 3 months. Or maybe slower. Need any advise would really help. Scared to try again!!
I tapered from Ativan .5 very slowly. Suggested by my sleep medicine doctor.
Attached is how I did my taper.
You could do it more slowly. And if I had something going on, I just stayed longer at one “session.”
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2 ReactionsI am trying to give up seroquel xr 50mg. at night time. Doctor has prescribed 25 mg regular seroquel to dose down. Managed to dose down from 100 mg xr to 50 mg xr no problem. Hoping this goes as easy. Having issues with my heart so I need to stop this med. I have been on this for 6 years.
Wish me luck and any advise will be greatly appreciated.
I am trying the same as you. From 50mg seroquel xr. Doctor suggested 25 mg regular seroquel to help with taper. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know as I know this is the most problematic of all the tapers.
Hoping your taper is going well.