Desperate to be free from dependence on Seroquel for sleep

Posted by daddyb60 @daddyb60, May 21, 2021

I suffer from Bipolar 1. Back in 2018 I lost the ability to go to sleep naturally. I was hospitalized twice after being awake for seven days and falling into psychosis as a result. It took 600mg of Seroquel to get me to sleep (which is an off-label use of this antipsychotic.) I have been taking 150-300mg every night since. I am desperate to break this dependence but when I don't take my nightly dose, I don't sleep. The Seroquel has caused me to gain a lot fo weight and I think it actually prevents me from getting into deep sleep. I have tried many of the prescription sleep meds with no success. Can anyone help me find a way to break free? And please don't suggest "Have you tried taking a shower before bed?" Thanks!

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@chulderman

I have the same problem and honestly, I still take seroquel for other things (unipolar depression adjunct) but there was a time I did not need it. What I did need was ramelteon AND trazadone. It helped a lot.

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If the medicine works and you sleep why di you want off it? I'll never stop my Trazadone. I'm happy for the sleep.

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@andytheman

Unfortunately, and I’m speaking about myself, benzodiazepines like klonopin, adavan, Xanax, and other benzodiazepines are extremely difficult and may be even be dangerous to get off of. It sometimes takes up to a year to wean off. Withdrawal symptoms are a nightmare. In my opinion, they should be removed from the pharmacies who fills them through your doctor.

Don’t start them is my advice as I’ve been on klonopin (Clonazapan) for years and I’m not able to wean off of. Adavan (lorazepan) is a little bit easier to wean off of. I can't speak about Xanax as I've never been on it.

I take 150 mg of Seroquel at bedtime for sleep and it is working. It makes me fall asleep during the day as well. I need to taper down. I’m also on lamictal in the morning and I don’t know what it’s for.
I recently had a genetics test and results will be discussed at my next psychiatrist appointment. Some say it doesn’t work. Others swear by it so we’ll see how it goes. I’ve also gone from 186 to 207 lbs in 4 months.

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@andytheman
I'm no great fan of benzodiazepines myself.
However, I disagree that they should be taken off the market and not be used.
The drug Klonopin which I consumed and took over two years to get of but I did it slow enough that I had no withdrawals. The drug Klonopin was originally developed to treat various types of Epileptic seizures, which works well for some people.
Surely you wouldn't want those people to not have access to it and undergo seizures again.
You didn't say why (or I failed to see) why you go to a Psychiatrist. Lamictal is an anti-seizure drug primarily used for generalized and focal seizures. numerous anticonvulsants are also mood stabilizers and may be used for various psychiatric conditions. psychiatric conditions. I would confront your doctor and ask why Lamictal was prescribed.
Seroquel has the potential to cause weight gain. A friend of mine that’s on it gained weight until he changed his diet. He said he was still hungry after eating so he ate more.
I hope all goes well,
Jake

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Good points Jake. I was thinking I was never prone to epileptic seizures or any type of seizures.
I have a generalized anxiety disorder. And a touch of depression but I lean more towards anxiety and mood swings with social dissociation mixed in. In other words.

I am not a good social person. I don’t like being around people such as a crowd and I don’t make friends easily. If klonopin is the only anti seizure medication then obviously go for it but my roommate has seizures and he is not on klonopin.

There are other anti seizure medications I’m not aware of I’m sure.
Klonopin is also used to calm anxiety. Adavan is also a Benzo but easier to kick. Same with Xanax, another Benzo. That was my experience with adavan.

Seroquel is 50mg in the morning and 150mg at bedtime and it helps me fall asleep.
The lamictal is good for my mood disorder. I’m not so sure that Seroquel is all it’s touted as.

Yes, it helps me fall asleep but one thing I noticed is that I fall asleep in my recliner, on the couch watching TV and sitting outside in our gazebo so I’ve been seeing a psychiatrist most of my life. Started at 5 and I just turned 70 yesterday and still seeing him.

Well my original psychiatrist died 2 weeks after retiring on a vacation in Australia. He went to bed and never woke up. He had 43 years as a psychiatrist.
My new one I’ve met once so being with the same psychiatrist for 10 years and I’m seeing the new one once resulted in my taking a genetics test.

Some people swear about it and others hate it ” it didn’t work “. I don’t know why I’m on an anti seizure medication to tell you the truth except for my mood.

I went from 186 lbs this past January and I’m up to 203 lbs now. I blame Seroquel for that. Oh, I forgot Wellbutrin 150 mg in the morning. Maybe why I’m sleepy all day. I hope I answered some of your concerns and so have I.

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@floralou

If the medicine works and you sleep why di you want off it? I'll never stop my Trazadone. I'm happy for the sleep.

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Severe metabolic syndrome

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@chulderman

Severe metabolic syndrome

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What is metabolic syndrome? I never heard of it before.

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How much exercise do you get? I’ve found that incorporating the whole body movement can help settle down the brain. You give it a different goal, wake it up to something new so that the med does not control your life. Yes these meds can cause people’s metabolism to suffer and gain unintended weight, which is another reason to exercise. Those benzos are bad news and especially if you’re an older person.

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@jenatsky

How much exercise do you get? I’ve found that incorporating the whole body movement can help settle down the brain. You give it a different goal, wake it up to something new so that the med does not control your life. Yes these meds can cause people’s metabolism to suffer and gain unintended weight, which is another reason to exercise. Those benzos are bad news and especially if you’re an older person.

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I had been on Trazadone for at least 20 years. I went to MAYO clinic and was able to eliminate quite a few medications. The trazadone for sleep was the most difficult. The first night I found myself in sleep paralysis. Once I passed out the first night every day after that I could sleep without medication. The first couple of days I used meditation music. Now I can doze off for a short nap and go right to sleep at night. You just have to get through the first night.

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@albiback3

I had been on Trazadone for at least 20 years. I went to MAYO clinic and was able to eliminate quite a few medications. The trazadone for sleep was the most difficult. The first night I found myself in sleep paralysis. Once I passed out the first night every day after that I could sleep without medication. The first couple of days I used meditation music. Now I can doze off for a short nap and go right to sleep at night. You just have to get through the first night.

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Glad to hear you were able to accomplish that goal. Out of curiosity do you recall your dreams if you dream?

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I was under extreme stress and I dreamed about work because that was the stressor. Then I was having scary dreams in fact they were the worst nightmares I have had but only for a few days after stopping Trazadodone. Now after being off for two months now I only have nice and sometimes silly dreams. I am now at complete peace since getting off all the unnecessary medication. I still take one medication for mania and one for depression because I have Bipolar I disorder

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In regards to the discussion “Desperate to be free from dependence on Seroquel for sleep”, this discussion originally started 2 years ago but has recently generated a lot of comments.

Quality sleep is important for a healthy body. Just like eating and exercise, it takes time to develop habits that promote quality sleep. Some of these habits may include exercise earlier in the day and avoiding strenuous activity before sleeping. Gentle stretching or various types of yoga might help. Follow a healthy diet throughout the day and avoid heavy meals late in the day. Sometimes a small snack is helpful before bed or a soothing decaf beverage. A warm bath or shower can be relaxing before bed. Avoid suspenseful screen time and reading. Meditative devotionals or poetry may be better. As a Christian believer I like prayer, Psalms and Proverbs. Learning relaxation breathing techniques and positive imagery techniques can be helpful.

Unfortunately some people are unable to achieve quality sleep using just the above methods. At times a medication may become necessary. That is when a medical professional provider is absolutely essential! The provider can consider all the options, the patients’ medical history including other conditions/ medications that may affect the situation, interactions etc.

Each person should be treated as an individual. There is no such thing as “one size fits all” for treatment especially mental health treatment. Sometimes a curious thing occurs when a medication classified as one thing actually has an effect on something else. This could be a really great result or a really terrible one. It is the Dr.’s job to consider the benefits and risks of what s/he prescribes. The patient’s job is to ask questions until s/he understands the benefits & risks and is satisfied with the proposed treatment. If s/he becomes dissatisfied with a treatment the provider can help with weaning off of it and switching to something else. Sometimes after being on a particular drug for a long time the body becomes too accustomed to it and it is no longer effective. The Dr. can monitor for these problems and make necessary adjustments.

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