Getting off of Seroquel

Have been on Seroquel for over 10 years. Have tapered down to 100mg/night and would like to continue so I’m eventually totally off it as concerned about long term brain damage (though realize that it may be too late now).
My PROBLEM is that I can’t get a good nights sleep without it. Even at 100mg, I don’t sleep that great... wake up really early.
Any suggestions on how to get off while improving or at least maintaining current sleep quality?
Thanks much,

@lla2019
Good morning,
I like your name, that was my Grandmothers name less the 2019, lol.
Although Seroquel can be a beneficial medication for some,in my opinion it is too often prescribed irresponsibly. A friend of mine with Paranoid Schizophrenia was non functional prior to starting Seroquel. It has helped his Schizophrenia significantly but at the cost of developing Seroquel
Induced Diabetes.
Glad you got off it and are back to feeling better.
Jake

My son has been on and off of Quetiapine/Seroquel for years. Most recently his dose has been 100 mg at night for about a year. Experienced extreme lethargy and no motivation along with tremors. So decided to go off of it. Doctor suggested reducing to 50 mg for a week then 25 mg for a week and stop which he has done. Now off of it for 3 days. He has been vomiting for those 3 days. Can't keep anything down and hasn't eaten. Has been taking anti-nausea meds and ok for a while but then still throws up. I'm just wanting to know how long these symptoms will be lasting. Not sure if he tapered too quickly? Called Doctor and he said he could go back on it and take 12.5 mg every night for a week and then do 12.5 mg every other night for another week and then stop it. I'm not sure if its better to do that or if it will just prolong him getting off of it. Maybe he should just try to deal with the withdrawal for another few days rather than go back on the meds? Has anyone ever tapered from 100 mg in a 2 week period? And if so what was your experience? This is not an easy process. Didn't realize it would be this bad.

@mrsminniemouse - how are things going with the taper?

All going well. No negative side effects and it’s been a week. We’ve just dropped from 25mg to 12.5mg. Thanks for asking!

That seems to be quite a big and rapid jump to me. I’m no expert though. My daughter was on one 25mg tablet daily and psychiatrist said drop to half a tablet for a month then a quarter
of a tablet for a month. Then zero. We’ve done a week on half a tablet and no side effects as of yet.
Good luck.

I think the big jumps down from higher doses are more problematic. 25 mg is pretty low for Seroquel, so going to 12.5 and then 0 in a few weeks seems reasonable. But some people still can't handle a quick jump down to zero. Personally, I think the Seroquel taper should be very slow, as it is for benzodiazepines, especially if you've taken it for a long time. The brain needs time to adjust back to its normal physiology.

Does anyone have any ideas of ways to deal with the withdrawal symptoms of Seroquel holistically to help with the nausea and other side effects of difficulty sleeping and anxiety? I really don't want my son going on any more prescribed meds. He has no quality of life because of vomiting for the last 3 days due to discontinuing Seroquel.

The only method I know of that works is to go back up a bit until the symptoms subside. Then GRADUALLY go down over a long period of time, maybe months or even years, depending on how long he's been on the drug. It is best to find a doctor who is expert at taking people off psych meds because most GPs don't know enough.

The only "holistic" way to help this is to take care of general health. Eat well. Get some exercise. Meditate a bit to reduce anxiety. Drink lots of water. The withdrawal symptoms are not due to the drug; they are due to the body having to do without the drug. In time, he will stabilize as he gets back to normal, but the reason he took Seroquel in the first place needs to be addressed. The illness could come back.