Getting off of Seroquel

Hello, @sqnomore - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I trust that being a part of this large thread on getting off Quetiapine (Seroquel) will be helpful. If you click VIEW & REPLY, in the email notification, you can scroll back through the past and recent posts. Sounds like @kwilder01 may have the challenge of sleep during a Quetiapine (Seroquel) taper in common with you, and @derryman @jakedduck1 @mxyzptlk and @mrsminniemouse may also have some feedback on dealing with sleep loss from the taper and how to maintain sleep quality.

Are you having trouble falling asleep, @sqnomore, or mainly just awakening much earlier than you'd like?

I was on Seroquel for a year and went against my doctors advice about quitting cold turkey because I couldn’t handle the side effects anymore. The withdrawal symptoms subsided within a week. It was not a good drug for me.

I have been on Seroquel almost continually since the late 1990's.
I am trying to get off. My issue has been terrible psychiatric treatment. I am on Medicaid in a rural area. Twice this past year alone I have had to endure "forced" withdrawal due to not being able to contact my psychiatrist when I've had Medicare issues at the pharmacy.
I'm going through withdrawal right now.
I've developed metabolic syndrome, including diabetes. I have no "support" for a taper or even just getting access.i am in s new community, btw. Never had such issues in the past. Im not complaining ingame, but I really need support of some kind to deal with this

I've been on it more than 20 yrs, I think.
I am experiencing metabolic syndrome at it's worst, finally, too.

I am not anti medication, but I am serious this time about getting off. I do not have medical or psychiatric support. I can't get calls returned from my psychiatrist's office. I haven't been able to find a counselor in nearly two years. I became permanently disabled three years ago due to lithium toxicity.
Good luck to you.

Sorry to hear about your difficulties. Whatever the case, you have to treat your diabetes. If you need insulin, take it. Explore the low carb diet because it actually works to reverse diabetes if you cut your carbs enough. I know because I'm on it.

If you stop your meds, you may have a relapse of your disease, whatever it is. It sounds like you need a basis of support before you go any future. Don't withdraw on your own, it could be disastrous.

Hope you can find some face to face help in your community.

I've been on 200 mg Seroquel at HS, tapered down to 75, sometimes only 50. Then 25 then 12.5. It took me almost a year. After 3 weeks on the lowest dose I could get down to, I stopped taking it. I have rapid thoughts that repeat. I'm a night owl. Tested at a sleep center,etc. Seroquel forces my brain to shut up. UNTIL I went off it. For weeks I had the repeated thoughts and...speaking them out loud. I could stop when around people. But alone, no, I was telling myself to shut up. Awful cycling that I've never had in past. So I had to go back on Seroquel for sleep! The daytime chatter stopped. I'd tried other sleep meds. I'd wake after 2 hours. My medical issues aren't off the charts. Depression, anxiety, (on Xanax low dose, thanks doctor. Now I get to detox off it too!) Doctor did not tell me Seroquel would do this to me. She did tell me after 5 years on Xanax that rules have changed (class med)so no more Xanax. I changed doctors. I want off Seroquel, puts pounds on you, you're blood work will be messed up. It raises your bad and lowers the good. Ups your blood sugar too. Main reason for this post is if you start talking to yourself more than normal, we all do a bit, but really bad cannot stop, it's cus you went off Seroquel. I wasn't manic, or having an OCD episode. I'm now self taught about all this and my new MD will help me get off it. I'm nearly 70. Too old to be dealing with this but, I have to. As we all are trying to do. Thanks for reading.

@cameo009
I hope you are able to get off this medication if you don’t really need it to control serious mental health issues. There are many sleeping medications with far fewer side effects. One problem is doctors are prescribing powerful medications to elicit a side effect in the case of Seroquel drowsiness. Some medications have bad reputations because of serious side effects and have nicknames, Seroquels is SEROKILL. The Anticonvulsant Topamax is well by its nickname DOPEAMAX. Some doctors even call it that. I’d prefer seizures over that crap.
Just because people get a prescription doesn’t mean they have to accept it or get it filled. If your not familiar with a drug check it out first. You have to take care of yourself, no one else cares as much as you do, or should. Good luck with your taper.
Jake

Update on total withdrawal from Seroquel. It has been three weeks since taking my last seroquel. I tapered down slowly...... dropping the dose by half every 10 days. I have been on the drug from January to March. My highest dose was 500. I had major emotional swings the first two days....... than itching all over including my scalp. Bendryl helped with that. At three weeks I still have muscle fatigue. which is getting better each day. For the first two weeks I could barely walk my muscles felt like I had concrete blocks on them including my arms. I read an article that said patients can be this week up to three weeks from their withdrawal. I seem to be following that path. They diagnosed me with Bipolar I. After doing some research I believe I had a manic episode brought on by an abrupt stoppage of Prozac. I was put on Prozac over 15 years ago for anxiety attacks. It really helped. I thought I didnt; need it any more........ It sent me into a 10 day manic phase which I had not idea what was happening. I checked in to the hospital and they decided the manic episode was caused by Bipolar I. Even though I had not symptoms prior to the manic episode. Dr kept upping the dose.......... he was clearly headed toward 800 mg when I said enough is enough. This is me on No Prozac..... No anti-Psch drugs and it is strange. Its like I have been living in a buffered down perception. AND now......... its me......... I have been even keeled and doing well. So far........

I've recently learned that Seroquel causes insulin resistance. Actually all atypicals do that, which is why they increase the risk for diabetes. I've been following a ketogenic diet to reduce my weight without success because insulin resistance inhibits ketosis. So the reason I'm fat is probably because of Seroquel and I will probably stay fat as long as I am on the drug. I'm also at risk of diabetes.

There is an atypical called Latuda (lurasidone) that apparently has less of an effect on weight gain. It causes no insulin resistance although it does have a slight effect on glucose tolerance. In other words, it's less likely you will get diabetes on Latuda.

Has anyone here had experience with the drug?

Update: 7 Weeks off Seroquel: It has been seven weeks since going off Seroquel. I have experienced extreme muscle fatigue. I have also experienced gastro issues which has been problematic. I had read where 95% of neurotransmitters are in your gut.......so it makes sense this is happening. I have been even keel with my moods which supports my theory that I am not bipolar but had a manic episode brought on my cold turkey stopping of Prozac after 15 years at 800 mg. Not the smartest thing I have ever done. Once in a great whie I will have an itchy feeling which Benedryl helps. Not bad like it was when I first went off.