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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@pharis022

I was on Seroquel for 3 years and then went on to Olanzapine. I titrated for many months, but the withdrawal symptoms seemed to be endless. I have been off of them both for 3 months now and I am still wondering if some of my symptoms are related to the withdrawal. I researched theses drugs and not only are they dangerous, they can impact your chemistry for life. Very bad drugs.

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Yes, they are very bad drugs. I stopped olanzapine cold turkey and 2 months later I put myself into a long term depression and medical treatment impatient hospital. It almost killed me. Now I've been on Seroquel since May. I am going to titrate off all my meds as my physical health continues to deteriorate. And at age 63 they are no longer working. I anticipate a long duration to accomplish this but I want to live naturally and become physically healthy again!

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@kmr24karat

Yes, they are very bad drugs. I stopped olanzapine cold turkey and 2 months later I put myself into a long term depression and medical treatment impatient hospital. It almost killed me. Now I've been on Seroquel since May. I am going to titrate off all my meds as my physical health continues to deteriorate. And at age 63 they are no longer working. I anticipate a long duration to accomplish this but I want to live naturally and become physically healthy again!

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I am a strong advocate against Seroquel period. I started symptoms of tardive dyskinesia and gained 30 lbs in a year. On top of pain, depression, PTSD, anxiety, and agoraphobia I am now fat.

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Seroquel and Effexor should be banned from the market.

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@kmr24karat

Yes, they are very bad drugs. I stopped olanzapine cold turkey and 2 months later I put myself into a long term depression and medical treatment impatient hospital. It almost killed me. Now I've been on Seroquel since May. I am going to titrate off all my meds as my physical health continues to deteriorate. And at age 63 they are no longer working. I anticipate a long duration to accomplish this but I want to live naturally and become physically healthy again!

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Good luck and God bless.

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@sears

Seroquel and Effexor should be banned from the market.

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I would like to add Vraylar to the list. On that one I woke up every night for an hour or so with snake-like movements of my tongue in and out of my mouth. Couldn’t control. Turns out I hadn’t read the warnings good enough. My bad.

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@kmr24karat

Yes, they are very bad drugs. I stopped olanzapine cold turkey and 2 months later I put myself into a long term depression and medical treatment impatient hospital. It almost killed me. Now I've been on Seroquel since May. I am going to titrate off all my meds as my physical health continues to deteriorate. And at age 63 they are no longer working. I anticipate a long duration to accomplish this but I want to live naturally and become physically healthy again!

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@kmr24karat Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You feel your medications are no longer working. You went off olanzapine cold turkey and that resulted in an inpatient hospital stay. Now you are on Seroquel. You want to be medication free. I'm wondering if you have a trusted provider that will help you safety taper off all of your medications?

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@bamagirl77

I've been on 600mg of seroquel for 19 years...I have been diagnosed with prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetic neuropathy...I'm weak and tired all the time...20 years ago I was admitted into the hospital for suicidal ideation...the Dr there started me on 800 mg of Seroquel...I've been through several psychiatrists since...I've been with the one I'm with now for 3 years...he is suggesting for me to ween off of it...he said 6-8 months...when I was put on it I weighed 125 in 30 days I weighed 190 and twenty years later I weigh 300...I really want off of this medication I feel that it is slowly killing me...but on the other hand I'm scared.

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@bamagirl77 You have been on Seroquel for 19 years. Seroquel has caused you to gain weight and the weight gain likely results in other medical issues such as, prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetic neuropathy. You were given the medication due to suicidal ideation and while Seroquel may be causing medical issues, you are scared to go off of it.

May I ask if you have a therapist or close family that you feel comfortable reaching out to in times of need? You may be able to make a "Safety Plan" and include your provider as well. Is this something that you would consider?

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@mayo337xxx

You’re not alone !!
Have u ever slept walked on seroquel ?
Every time I’ve tried to get off the crap and go below 200 mg I sleep walk. This time I’ve only done twice ( drank hydrogen peroxide one night and shampoo another )
I too seem to be on the cold side

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I am afraid of what I would do if I took a pill for sleeping (such as: otc sleep aids). I am so tired and get so little sleep. I pee every half hour all night long. I do take water pills because of swelling. I don't know if peeing all the time means your kidneys are working great of exactly what. I did go to a urologist and she said I never completely empty. She told me to use a catheter but didn't show me how to insert it and I have tried but I cannot do it. No one will show me and I looked online but that was futile. So, I cracked my head by zooming off the toilet in my sleep and went across the bathroom floor and hit my head (top) at a high speed. I sprinted because I sit in that position with my feet (heels up in the air). Cracked my spinous process in my neck at C4 level. Thank God I didn't have to have surgery. I am going on lack of sleep. I take so many pills for pain, my doctor is afraid to give me anything for sleep. Also, I have sleep apnea and can't wear the mask because of severely deviated septum. I don't think it was set high enough and one night I had it on and couldn't get enough air--ripped it off my face in my sleep and never put it on again. I know we all have issues and I am so afraid of doing something in my sleep like you did--drink something poisonous or something. I know I went to sleep standing up in the bathroom--started falling over forward and something hit my face--it was the shower curtain. It woke me up otherwise, head first into the tub. A while back, I was on paxil. I gained 50#. I told my doctor "yes, I am depressed but the pills make me fat and bald so which is worse!

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@woogie

I am afraid of what I would do if I took a pill for sleeping (such as: otc sleep aids). I am so tired and get so little sleep. I pee every half hour all night long. I do take water pills because of swelling. I don't know if peeing all the time means your kidneys are working great of exactly what. I did go to a urologist and she said I never completely empty. She told me to use a catheter but didn't show me how to insert it and I have tried but I cannot do it. No one will show me and I looked online but that was futile. So, I cracked my head by zooming off the toilet in my sleep and went across the bathroom floor and hit my head (top) at a high speed. I sprinted because I sit in that position with my feet (heels up in the air). Cracked my spinous process in my neck at C4 level. Thank God I didn't have to have surgery. I am going on lack of sleep. I take so many pills for pain, my doctor is afraid to give me anything for sleep. Also, I have sleep apnea and can't wear the mask because of severely deviated septum. I don't think it was set high enough and one night I had it on and couldn't get enough air--ripped it off my face in my sleep and never put it on again. I know we all have issues and I am so afraid of doing something in my sleep like you did--drink something poisonous or something. I know I went to sleep standing up in the bathroom--started falling over forward and something hit my face--it was the shower curtain. It woke me up otherwise, head first into the tub. A while back, I was on paxil. I gained 50#. I told my doctor "yes, I am depressed but the pills make me fat and bald so which is worse!

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@woogie. I used to take melatonin to help me sleep. Now I take magnesium and it works much better. Not sure if your bloodwork shows this is an option for you; I’m usually low in all vitamins.

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@bamagirl77

I've been on 600mg of seroquel for 19 years...I have been diagnosed with prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetic neuropathy...I'm weak and tired all the time...20 years ago I was admitted into the hospital for suicidal ideation...the Dr there started me on 800 mg of Seroquel...I've been through several psychiatrists since...I've been with the one I'm with now for 3 years...he is suggesting for me to ween off of it...he said 6-8 months...when I was put on it I weighed 125 in 30 days I weighed 190 and twenty years later I weigh 300...I really want off of this medication I feel that it is slowly killing me...but on the other hand I'm scared.

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I seriously can’t believe your doctor has allowed you to get in this condition. He and others like him should be stripped of their licenses.

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