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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chrisjc | @chrisjc | Sep 11, 2020

Hi all, it's been about two months since I posted and wanted to follow up and not leave anyone in the dark. I was able to get off the seroquel but the withdrawals were a living hell. It took about 2 months before the storm passed and another month until I was stable. I'm still having residual side effects but nothing major. The problem is that my anxiety disorder really kicked up since then. I've had to increase my paxil from 10mg to 25mg (in 5mg increments) and take klonopin 0.5mg at night and 0.25mg in the morning (I played with the numbers a few times and that was the best one), and I've recently added a low dose of wellbutrin to hopefully treat the paxil side effects. Seroquel was, by far, the worst drug I've ever had to come off of. Quitting smoking is like a walk in the park, even tapering off klonopin was a joke. Just stick with it and stay in touch with your psychiatrist, and from now on: Dont take an antipsychotic if you dont have schizophrenia/bi-polar disorder! Nothing off-label!

REPLY
2 replies
bustrbrwn22 | @bustrbrwn22 | Sep 11, 2020
In reply to @chrisjc "Hi all, it's been about two months since I posted and wanted to follow up and..." + (show)
@chrisjc

Hi all, it's been about two months since I posted and wanted to follow up and not leave anyone in the dark. I was able to get off the seroquel but the withdrawals were a living hell. It took about 2 months before the storm passed and another month until I was stable. I'm still having residual side effects but nothing major. The problem is that my anxiety disorder really kicked up since then. I've had to increase my paxil from 10mg to 25mg (in 5mg increments) and take klonopin 0.5mg at night and 0.25mg in the morning (I played with the numbers a few times and that was the best one), and I've recently added a low dose of wellbutrin to hopefully treat the paxil side effects. Seroquel was, by far, the worst drug I've ever had to come off of. Quitting smoking is like a walk in the park, even tapering off klonopin was a joke. Just stick with it and stay in touch with your psychiatrist, and from now on: Dont take an antipsychotic if you dont have schizophrenia/bi-polar disorder! Nothing off-label!

Jump to this post

Seroquel blessed me with a 30 pound weight gain in a year. I finally figured out what was causing it and got off of it. I totally agree with you!

REPLY
1 reply
Amanda Burnett | @amandaa | Sep 11, 2020
In reply to @bustrbrwn22 "Seroquel blessed me with a 30 pound weight gain in a year. I finally figured out..." + (show)
@bustrbrwn22

Seroquel blessed me with a 30 pound weight gain in a year. I finally figured out what was causing it and got off of it. I totally agree with you!

Jump to this post

Hi @bustrbrwn22, If you don't mind sharing, what were your physicians using the Seroquel for and did you taper off yourself or was it physician assisted?
I would be interested to know if they substituted anything in its place and how you have been feeling since you came off of it.

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bustrbrwn22 | @bustrbrwn22 | Sep 11, 2020

@amandaburnett Seroquel was prescribed for major depressive disorder and out of this world anxiety/panic attacks. It didn’t help at all but after a year I realized I had gone from a size 0 to 8. I can’t remember clearly but I think we just substituted with Vraylar which was a whole other trip that I can share privately if your interested. Both of these meds were identified as scientifically effective for me through a saliva (I think could have been urine or blood) called Oneome or something like that. I didn’t have any side effects from dropping one and swapping with another. I hope I gave any tiny bit of help.

REPLY
sears | @sears | Sep 12, 2020
In reply to @chrisjc "Hi all, it's been about two months since I posted and wanted to follow up and..." + (show)
@chrisjc

Hi all, it's been about two months since I posted and wanted to follow up and not leave anyone in the dark. I was able to get off the seroquel but the withdrawals were a living hell. It took about 2 months before the storm passed and another month until I was stable. I'm still having residual side effects but nothing major. The problem is that my anxiety disorder really kicked up since then. I've had to increase my paxil from 10mg to 25mg (in 5mg increments) and take klonopin 0.5mg at night and 0.25mg in the morning (I played with the numbers a few times and that was the best one), and I've recently added a low dose of wellbutrin to hopefully treat the paxil side effects. Seroquel was, by far, the worst drug I've ever had to come off of. Quitting smoking is like a walk in the park, even tapering off klonopin was a joke. Just stick with it and stay in touch with your psychiatrist, and from now on: Dont take an antipsychotic if you dont have schizophrenia/bi-polar disorder! Nothing off-label!

Jump to this post

Amen! Listen to chrisjc. He knows what he’s talking about here.

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bustrbrwn22 | @bustrbrwn22 | Sep 12, 2020

In my mind Seroquel and Vraylar are just bad bad bad. Hope I don’t offend anyone. And these are newer drugs I think?

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mayo337xxx | @mayo337xxx | Oct 20, 2020

Anyone else have no sleep from stopping seroquel

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1 reply
Erika | @erikas | Oct 20, 2020
In reply to @mayo337xxx "Anyone else have no sleep from stopping seroquel" + (show)
@mayo337xxx

Anyone else have no sleep from stopping seroquel

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@mayo337xxx Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It must be a challenge to not be able to sleep after successfully tapering off Seroquel. Sleep is so important for healthy living. You'll notice that I've moved your question to an existing discussion. I did this so that you could connect with members like, @chrisjc @vickimurray @helenfrances and @mcshibe, who may have some thoughts on sleep after stopping Seroquel.

@mayo337xxx How long were you on Seroquel? What things have you done since weaning off Seroquel to help improve sleep?

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2 replies
mayo337xxx | @mayo337xxx | Oct 20, 2020
In reply to @erikas "@mayo337xxx Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It must be a challenge to not be able to..." + (show)
@erikas

@mayo337xxx Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It must be a challenge to not be able to sleep after successfully tapering off Seroquel. Sleep is so important for healthy living. You'll notice that I've moved your question to an existing discussion. I did this so that you could connect with members like, @chrisjc @vickimurray @helenfrances and @mcshibe, who may have some thoughts on sleep after stopping Seroquel.

@mayo337xxx How long were you on Seroquel? What things have you done since weaning off Seroquel to help improve sleep?

Jump to this post

I’m still going thru withdrawal
Worst drug ever !!!
I did a taper for 2 weeks... useless
Then 9 days cold turkey ( no sleep for over 3 weeks ) last night I did 50 mg and went to sleep
Valium helps but is addictive: still no help for sleep

REPLY
mayo337xxx | @mayo337xxx | Oct 20, 2020

Seroquel is the worst drug I’ve ever come off
Including OxyContin (pres) diazepam ( pres)
And cocaine
Been up at least 3 weeks ... hoping to find out when is the end and what’s the best way off the drug

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