1. < Depression & Anxiety

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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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Nov 16, 2019

@morgan93leonard
I wouldn’t do that if I were you but if your determined, good luck.
Jake

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morgan93leonard | @morgan93leonard | Nov 16, 2019

did your doctor put you on the Seroquel for schizophrenia or for sleeping purposes because mine put me on it for sleeping purposes and it's done everything but help me sleep

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2 replies
wonderingnow | @wonderingnow | Nov 17, 2019
In reply to @morgan93leonard "did your doctor put you on the Seroquel for schizophrenia or for sleeping purposes because mine..." + (show)
@morgan93leonard

did your doctor put you on the Seroquel for schizophrenia or for sleeping purposes because mine put me on it for sleeping purposes and it's done everything but help me sleep

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For sleep and it helps me. I'm sorry you're helped.

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1 reply
wonderingnow | @wonderingnow | Nov 17, 2019
In reply to @wonderingnow "For sleep and it helps me. I'm sorry you're helped." + (show)
@wonderingnow

For sleep and it helps me. I'm sorry you're helped.

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I'm sorry you're NOT helped is what I meant to say

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Nov 17, 2019
In reply to @morgan93leonard "did your doctor put you on the Seroquel for schizophrenia or for sleeping purposes because mine..." + (show)
@morgan93leonard

did your doctor put you on the Seroquel for schizophrenia or for sleeping purposes because mine put me on it for sleeping purposes and it's done everything but help me sleep

Jump to this post

@morgan93leonard - I wanted to add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Another Connect discussion you might check out if you are dealing with insomnia is https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/josephene-i-am-having-terrible-insomnia-as-well-nothing-seems-to-help

Are you and your doctor considering another medication for helping you with sleep if the quetiapine (Seroquel) is not working for that purpose?

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katyripp1967 | @katyripp1967 | Dec 8, 2019

I have no idea. I want to get off the 200 mgs I've been on for over a year and have no idea how to start😥

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1 reply
ellensf | @ellensf | Dec 9, 2019
In reply to @ellensf "Hi, I have some questions for you. Could you give me more details. "I've been on..." + (show)
@ellensf

Hi, I have some questions for you. Could you give me more details. "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"

How long were you on each dose ? You did mention being on 12.5 for 3 weeks. When you went from 200 to 75 did you make that jump all at once ? Or did you have interim doses ? Sounds like after that you only went down by a little ? 75 to 50, 50 to 25, 25 to 12.5. How long were you on each dose ? I take Seroquel for anxiety. I have found that when I take extended release at night it controls my anxiety the next day without feeling tired. I often have to take Ativan in addition to fall asleep.

When I went from Seroquel 400 XR to Seroquel 350 XR and 25 regular I needed a lot more sleep. That is the weird thing that I am trying to figure out.

However I did develop a similar repeated thought problem that you did. However I have had this problem in the past. Doctors have said it was repetitive thinking -- some say that it is a type of OCD and some don't. I only do it when I'm alone. I don't say it out loud. I just pace around my apartment -- usually for an hour or more.

Since OCD is an anxiety disorder, for me I guess reducing seroquel has increased my anxiety.

Again even stranger -- reducing dose increases my sleep, but ups my anxiety.

There is another wrinkle however. To lessen how tired I am (even after 12 hours of sleep) I often take Provigil. It sometimes makes me hyper -- perhaps it is also making me more anxious.

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It turns out that I have anemia. I have gotten the same type of sleeping 12+ hours independent of Seroquel. It appears that it was just coincidence that the 2nd day of my decreasing sequel I felt so tired.

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1 reply
sears | @sears | Dec 9, 2019
In reply to @katyripp1967 "I have no idea. I want to get off the 200 mgs I've been on for..." + (show)
@katyripp1967

I have no idea. I want to get off the 200 mgs I've been on for over a year and have no idea how to start😥

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Can you not ask your doctor?

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Dec 9, 2019
In reply to @ellensf "It turns out that I have anemia. I have gotten the same type of sleeping 12+..." + (show)
@ellensf

It turns out that I have anemia. I have gotten the same type of sleeping 12+ hours independent of Seroquel. It appears that it was just coincidence that the 2nd day of my decreasing sequel I felt so tired.

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Glad you are getting some answers, @ellensf. What type of anemia do you have?

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1 reply
ellensf | @ellensf | Dec 10, 2019
In reply to @lisalucier "Glad you are getting some answers, @ellensf. What type of anemia do you have?" + (show)
@lisalucier

Glad you are getting some answers, @ellensf. What type of anemia do you have?

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I have iron deficiency anemia. Unfortunately after 2 months of eating iron containing foods my numbers just went up slightly. They think I may have some kind of internal bleeding.

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