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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azgilger4 | @azgilger4 | Jan 20, 2020

In reply to @ginak523 "I just stopped it cold turkey and feel much better ! Thank you for responding ." + (show)

How much you were on? And for how long? It didn't affect your sleep?

azgilger4 | @azgilger4 | Jan 20, 2020

In reply to @jh1 "Titrating off of Seroquel must be done with a doctor." + (show)

Some Drs. Do not know how yo do it properly. That is scary.

azgilger4 | @azgilger4 | Jan 20, 2020

Are you doing well? Are you sleeping properly?

azgilger4 | @azgilger4 | Jan 20, 2020

In reply to @daphnesioux "I was on seroquel 400mg for years my doctor took me down to 100mg and I..." + (show)

Prazosin? What is that?

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jan 20, 2020

In reply to @azgilger4 "Prazosin? What is that?" + (show)

Hi, @azgilger4 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

Here is some Mayo Clinic information on prazosin that may be useful https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/prazosin-oral-route/description/drg-20065617

Have you also taken quetiapine (Seroquel)? Did you or are you in the process of tapering off of it?

lifeshope | @lifeshope | Jan 20, 2020

In reply to @hopeful123 "I have gotten off 600mg Seroquel but not the XR. It was being used to help..." + (show)

Hi Hopeful123
I'm very pleased to have read this message you posted. I can relate. I am currently on 600 mg of Seriqual and with my doctor we are going to decrese it. I am also staying on abilify.
How are things with you now?
How slow should I taper? (I've been on quitipine for approx 15 years).
What should I know and expect?
-it would be great to hear from you or anyone else related. Thank you.

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Jan 20, 2020

In reply to @lifeshope "Hi Hopeful123 I'm very pleased to have read this message you posted. I can relate. I..." + (show)

@lifeshope
It’s hard to say since people are different, some people can easily get off medication while others have a lot of problems. Chances are your doctor will have you cut back to quickly and you may get side effects, if you do you’re obviously reducing it to fast a pace. You’re either reducing buy two large a percentage or not staying on your titrated dose for a long enough period of time. It’s usually thought you should stay on each taper dose for 3 to 6 weeks before reducing again. Another concern is the fact that you’ve been on this medication for a long period of time, because of that you’ll probably want to taper even slower. One thing to be cautious about is to not reduce your dose by the same milligram each month or whatever period of time you choose. For instance don’t reduce 50 or 100 mg every month because the percentage the percentage you’re decreasing your medication actually goes up. It’s much better to reduce by a certain percentage. Consistency will help you to not have side effects. In some medications they use the 5 to 10% rule, although few doctors use it, I believe you’ll find virtually everybody on this forum who has tried to get off of different drugs and use the doctors titration advice is complaining of side effects. Most people who get off the drug Klonopin a seizure medication have a lot of side effects. I got off of it without any side effects but I did it extremely slowly. So I guess it really depends on how quickly you want off your medicine and whether or not you’re willing to deal with the side effects. Stopping the medication quickly will cause will cause more withdrawal effects. Just remember you don’t have to suffer these horrendous side effects so many people complain about. Speed is your enemy. You’ve already taken this drug for 15 years that’s a long time, what’s another year or two. What’s important is to decrease your dose every month without having side effects. Seroquel has an approximate half-life of only six hours so I would take it slow. I hope you let us know the rate that your doctor want you to decrease. Remember that if you take a larger cut in the beginning, although I wouldn’t recommend it, you might not notice the side effects as much as you will when you get down to a lower dose.
I wish you the very best of luck,
Jake

azgilger4 | @azgilger4 | Jan 21, 2020

How did it go? Are you ok?

azgilger4 | @azgilger4 | Jan 21, 2020

In reply to @ginak523 "I just stopped it cold turkey and feel much better ! Thank you for responding ." + (show)

How much were you taking? And for how long

azgilger4 | @azgilger4 | Jan 21, 2020

In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @azgilger4 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Here is some Mayo Clinic information on prazosin..." + (show)

Hello I am on 400mg of seroquel and 1/2 mg of klonopin. No I haven't started tapering yet. Looking to learn how though. 3 months for them both. I can't stand how the seroquel has ruined my life. I am afraid I will never sleep properly now on my own- which I desperately want again.