Getting off of Seroquel

Posted by anniegk @anniegk, Jun 8, 2018

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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@lla2019

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.

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@Ila2019
Hi
“manic episode brought on my cold turkey stopping of Prozac after 15 years at 800 mg.”
I believe you meant to say 80mg not 800.
Congratulations on getting off Seroquil. Although it can be helpful in certain patients, in my opinion (which doesn’t matter) it is over prescribed.
Did you stop the Seroquil slowly?
Jake

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I have been off Seroquel since April 21st. While my mind is clear I am experiencing some serious depression. I am also experiencing heaviness in my legs when I walk. It has gotten to the point where I am not able to walk very far.........even grocery shopping without stopping or cutting it short. I am debating as to ask my dr to put me back on Prozac which I was on for 17 years. I went off Prozac cold turkey...... and it caused a manic episode which put me in the hospital. The dr (who I have no faith in) diagnosed me off that manic attack as being bipolar even though I have never shown any signs of Bipolar. I did research on it and the data out there supports his diagnosis............ One manic attack is all it takes when taking an antidepressant...... the data indicates that if you have a manic attack while being on or going off an antidepressant indications are that you are bipolar. There has been very little study about going from a Prozac withdrawal into a full manic episode as a result of the withdrawal. The studies have stated there is not enough research on this to base an conclusion on. I believe that is what happened to me. But now...........here I am....... with this depression hanging over me......not being able to shake it. Some days it is worse than others. I am going to my family doctor on Tuesday.......... I do not think the answer is going back on another drug. I want to get through this by myself........ I stopped going to my psy dr because I truly felt he did not have my best interest. I hesitate to go to another dr because every drug that is out there has side effects that I don't want to be exposed to. Prozac worked for me.......but it was as if I had cotton around my emotions and brain..... I never felt anything......or dealt with it......... It allowed me to not become overwhelmed with the events at the time. I do not know what to do. If I ask my family dr to put me back on Prozac I believe she will. Do I really want to go down that path again.

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Hi, I’m also new here and was brought to this thread by my own search about Seroquel and the withdrawal process. I was on Seroquel for about 5 years for bipolar disorder. Like most people, I started off on 100mg, was increased to 200mg, before finally getting on my dosage of 300mg. Unfortunately, my husband started working for a new company in July 2019 and with it our insurance at the time expired. Our new insurance wouldn’t kick in until September 1st so I took my last dose of Seroquel on July 29th. I know that it is not wise to stop taking this medication abruptly, but I had no choice. Seroquel is very pricey without insurance. Thankfully I haven’t had any manic or depressive episodes. It’s now been almost 60 days since I stopped taking the medication, but I’m still suffering with daily nausea. How long is this supposed to last?

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@kwilder01

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.

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@kwilder01 I hope your son has been over the worst of the withdrawal symptoms. I know your post is from April, but have you tried melatonin to help with the sleeping difficulties? It seems to help me a little. I’ve no idea as to the nausea as I’m dealing with the same issues

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@malloryrene

Hi, I’m also new here and was brought to this thread by my own search about Seroquel and the withdrawal process. I was on Seroquel for about 5 years for bipolar disorder. Like most people, I started off on 100mg, was increased to 200mg, before finally getting on my dosage of 300mg. Unfortunately, my husband started working for a new company in July 2019 and with it our insurance at the time expired. Our new insurance wouldn’t kick in until September 1st so I took my last dose of Seroquel on July 29th. I know that it is not wise to stop taking this medication abruptly, but I had no choice. Seroquel is very pricey without insurance. Thankfully I haven’t had any manic or depressive episodes. It’s now been almost 60 days since I stopped taking the medication, but I’m still suffering with daily nausea. How long is this supposed to last?

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Hi, @malloryrene - that is sure a hard place to be to not have insurance to cover an expensive medication for a bit and feel forced to quit. Good to hear you have not had any manic or depressive episodes, but the nausea daily sounds difficult to deal with.

Wanted to suggest you might check out this thread on bipolar https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/bi-polar-issues

I also wanted to invite members in this thread like @lla2019 @jakedduck1 @brucerwilson @cameo009 @sqnomore @kwilder01 to return to this discussion to offer any insights they have on how long the nausea resulting from stopping the quetiapine (Seroquel) may last.

Is your nausea constant, malloryrene, or does it come and go throughout the day?

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@lisalucier

Hi, @malloryrene - that is sure a hard place to be to not have insurance to cover an expensive medication for a bit and feel forced to quit. Good to hear you have not had any manic or depressive episodes, but the nausea daily sounds difficult to deal with.

Wanted to suggest you might check out this thread on bipolar https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/bi-polar-issues

I also wanted to invite members in this thread like @lla2019 @jakedduck1 @brucerwilson @cameo009 @sqnomore @kwilder01 to return to this discussion to offer any insights they have on how long the nausea resulting from stopping the quetiapine (Seroquel) may last.

Is your nausea constant, malloryrene, or does it come and go throughout the day?

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@lisalucier the nausea comes and goes throughout the day. When I wake up in the morning the nausea is immediately there. I don’t actually vomit, but I do gag as if I will vomit any minute.

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@malloryrene

@lisalucier the nausea comes and goes throughout the day. When I wake up in the morning the nausea is immediately there. I don’t actually vomit, but I do gag as if I will vomit any minute.

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Hi, @malloryrene - all that nausea sounds pretty miserable. Did you have it again when you woke up today?

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@malloryrene if it makes you feel any better ive had bad nausea too while adjusting to my effexor, same as you no vomiting just lots of gagging in the morning..hang in there.

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I am new to this, I have bee taking 200mg of seroquel for over a year for severe insomnia. I have been having almost like hallucinations, confusion and very disoriented along with severe weight gain. I called my dr in the past about what I should do to stop taking it how I should taper down and I was told to just stop talking it. I didn’t after a lot of research that was the last thing it said to do because of different type of withdrawals. If anyone has any ideas on how much I should cut down at a time and how long to stay on that dose before I reduce the dose again I would greatly appreciate it. I can’t keep going on like this I’ve had other side affects dizziness, sweats at night, trouble thinking, I also have tachycardia which I take medication for. So please anyone that has any info they can give me it would be greatly appreciated

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@debbie73

I am new to this, I have bee taking 200mg of seroquel for over a year for severe insomnia. I have been having almost like hallucinations, confusion and very disoriented along with severe weight gain. I called my dr in the past about what I should do to stop taking it how I should taper down and I was told to just stop talking it. I didn’t after a lot of research that was the last thing it said to do because of different type of withdrawals. If anyone has any ideas on how much I should cut down at a time and how long to stay on that dose before I reduce the dose again I would greatly appreciate it. I can’t keep going on like this I’ve had other side affects dizziness, sweats at night, trouble thinking, I also have tachycardia which I take medication for. So please anyone that has any info they can give me it would be greatly appreciated

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First off find a new Dr. I'm getting of Seroguel that I have been on for
three years my Dr is going this way l was on 200 mg at night so I doing
half for one week and then 1/4 for a week then if I can handle that I'll be
off of Seroguel for another week then we will talk about a new drug or see
how I do without anything. So for you since you are on a higher dose go
down to150 a week then 100 a week , and 50a week or slower if you don't
feel right. Good luck

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