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Getting off of Seroquel
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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@erikas
Hello Erika,
I must agree with @sears, your suggestions are not realistic. Tens of thousands of people from around the world haven’t pursued the avenues that you suggest. Some I’m sure never heard or understand some of the opinions, others were never thought of, your doctor suggestions seldom work.
I’m glad you understand the difficulty in finding a provider with the knowledge of helping people get off these drugs. However like @sears says “it’s not reality” and an appointment with a new provider takes weeks if not months.
Jake
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1 ReactionHe already told me to go down from 325 mg seraquel to 300. And decrease the Kolonopin by .5mg. I will cut down the Kolonopin but too afraid to cut the Seraquel.
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1 ReactionWhy afraid of cutting seroquel?
I just went thru 6 weeks of heel getting off 200 mg
If u don’t need it , get another poison
Why does Seraquel have such nasty side effects? I had no idea it's an addictive drug like the Benzos. I'm tired of second opinions. I've been sick for 61 years! Could my DR. put me on something to ease the side effects of tapering?
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1 ReactionYes they can
@mariajean03
Hello,
Of course everyone is different and reacts differently but Klonopin was the worst drug I ever discontinued. Not that I had withdrawals except at the very last but I remedied that quickly enough. Obviously your doctor should be much more knowledgeable than I, but like you I would be skeptical of going off of two drugs at the same time. You may do fine. Sounds like you have a doctor that understands these meds need to be tapered slowly. How much Klonopin are you currently taking? Why are you on these medications and how long have you been taking them?
Take care,
Jake
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1 Reaction@mariajean03
Is the reason you’re trying to get off of these two medicines you’re currently taking because of the side effects they cause? If side effects have been your problem I’m curious if you have ever tried the medication Zoloft. It’s an anti-depressant which is also used for OCD. My cousin takes Zoloft and has no side effects whatsoever. I’ve also read of other people who take it who are side effect free. Of course that doesn’t mean everybody will be. I take anticonvulsants myself and have found at least with them the side effects often decrease in severity if not completely go away if you can take it for between one and three months. I don’t know if antidepressants work the same way. Be a good question to ask your doctor.
Take care,
Jake
Such as? Another drug one would have to taper? What can you take to help withdrawals? We’d all like to know if you’re willing to share.
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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2 Reactions@bamagirl77
I’m not a medical professional but when someone takes an antipsychotic medication for 19 years that seems fast to me. I’m not sure why you were put on that medicine to begin with but the longer your taper the less likely it is that any of the original symptoms will return.
Remember your brain needs Time to readjust between dosage decreases and the longer you’ve been on a medication the longer your taper should be. Of course you can always slow down your taper if you have any withdrawal symptoms. Although reducing your medication slowly doesn’t guarantee a withdrawal free taper however it greatly increases the odds.
I’m not sure if you have ever heard of the 5 to 10% method but many people are using it and having good success. Say you choose 10%. Decrease your 600 mg x 10% and take that amount for 3 to 6 weeks for example. Then decrease each subsequent dose by 10%.
Doctors frequently make decreases to large and patients end up with withdrawals.
You might want to ask your physician if s/he is factoring in the length of time you’ve taken this medication and what he s/he thinks about it. If
you choose this method it is best to use a compounding pharmacy.
Take care,
Jake
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