Seroquel/Quetiapine scary withdrawal symptoms?

Posted by albv9 @albv9, Jul 21 12:24pm

Hi. I'm hoping to get some help or reassurance that what I'm experiencing is fairly common and that it will improve with time. I was prescribed Seroquel/Quetiapine for insomnia (IR, regular, not XR) to take nightly or as needed, 25 or 50mgs, by a nurse practitioner. I took it most nights anywhere between 12.5 and 50 mg doses from October 2024 until June 2025, about a total of 220 x25mg pills over about 9 months.

It helped insomnia tremendously with no other side effects (that I could notice). Around June 29, 2025 I stopped cold turkey as I was becoming worried about potential side effects of long term use. About 11 days after stopping I suddenly started feeling dizzy. Not a regular dizzy, more like a persistent and consistent "stoned in a bad way" dizzy, feeling really drugged, that isn't going away, it is now day 13 of feeling this way. Secondary (not as persistent, consistent, or bothersome) sensations are a weird internal body buzz and a strange bitter taste in my mouth. No other symptoms, blood pressure and temperature are fine, as are nutrition and hydration, no other meds (other than Reactine for allergies, and supplements - nothing new in the last few months however), nothing new ingested. I have been under a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety for years, plus perimenopause, but I have never experienced anything like this persistent "stoned" feeling. It feels too coincidental to stopping Seroquel, though I never thought that quitting it after only on it 9ish months at low dose would cause something this horrendous. The NP who prescribed it said that it is very safe, non addictive, can just use it as needed for sleep or discontinue.

Is there anyone out there who has experienced something similar? Please put my mind at ease and tell me for how long, and what helped you, this is terrifying, and I can't help but spiral into worrying about things like MS or brain tumours or some other scary causes, even though the onset of this awful "stoned" feeling came shortly after discontinuing Seroquel. Thank you.

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Welcome to group was me. Getting off medication of any type cold turkey has effects on you. I've been getting lowered on my meds, hoping to get off them all at some point .came down to quickly and ended up having to relax and start over by increasing one of the meds i was trying too get off of. Dizzy spells return, but getting better as the days pass. Everyone is different, what works for one might not for another. But be patient and keep asking questions. Be safe

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Don't know if I helped any, but best of luck getting your answers.

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Like a dad, stop with the what if, worrying. Life is two short anyway. Try to make some one smile or flirt a little, maybe help them with a issue they are trying to solve. Ill be 69 this year and shooting for many more years to come. Just can't drive for another year no worry, I got this and so do you. Enjoy being yourself and alive to help.

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My mom was on Seroquel for a while, and I did a ton of research and talked to her doctors and local pharmacists about it.
From what you've described, it sounds like withdrawal symptoms. Even though some doctors might say it isn't addictive, the body can become dependent on it, even in low doses. When you stop taking it, your brain has to re-regulate itself, and that can cause a variety of strange symptoms.

Everyone reacts differently, but it is very common for symptoms to show up a week or two after quitting. The "stoned" feeling, the internal body buzz, even the bitter taste could be all signs of withdrawal.

As for how long it lasts, that's really tough to say. For some people, it's a few weeks, for others, it can be a couple of months. The good news is that it almost always gets better with time.

Just be patient and try to manage anxiety. I know it is easier said than done, but the stress can make the symptoms feel worse. If it bothers you and you can not wait for it to go away, you can always talk to a different doctor, who has more experience with this kind of thing.
Hope I helped a little bit, let me know when you are better.

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Profile picture for bridgeback2 @bridgeback2

My mom was on Seroquel for a while, and I did a ton of research and talked to her doctors and local pharmacists about it.
From what you've described, it sounds like withdrawal symptoms. Even though some doctors might say it isn't addictive, the body can become dependent on it, even in low doses. When you stop taking it, your brain has to re-regulate itself, and that can cause a variety of strange symptoms.

Everyone reacts differently, but it is very common for symptoms to show up a week or two after quitting. The "stoned" feeling, the internal body buzz, even the bitter taste could be all signs of withdrawal.

As for how long it lasts, that's really tough to say. For some people, it's a few weeks, for others, it can be a couple of months. The good news is that it almost always gets better with time.

Just be patient and try to manage anxiety. I know it is easier said than done, but the stress can make the symptoms feel worse. If it bothers you and you can not wait for it to go away, you can always talk to a different doctor, who has more experience with this kind of thing.
Hope I helped a little bit, let me know when you are better.

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Thank you so much, I sincerely appreciate your thoughtful reply! Did your mom have any of the withdrawal symptoms? I also understand that withdrawal symptoms and duration vary widely, some people get them, others don't, for some they present more "neuro" like, for others gastro.

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Hi albv9,

I've been taking Seroquel for the same reason, as a sleep aid and secondly as a "mood stabilizer" for over 20 years. I'm 70 y/o now and am still taking it.

I'm not a Dr, but I haven't experienced any lt affects from the drug and my Dr still prescribes it.

I suggest talking with your Dr. Maybe it's not necessary to stop.

All the best to you.

Joe

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Profile picture for albv9 @albv9

Thank you so much, I sincerely appreciate your thoughtful reply! Did your mom have any of the withdrawal symptoms? I also understand that withdrawal symptoms and duration vary widely, some people get them, others don't, for some they present more "neuro" like, for others gastro.

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Luckily, she didn't have any serious. She had constipation and pain in her stomach sometimes, but that can be caused by anything basically, so it is a question whether the drug induced it.
I just love to go through a thorough investigation before taking any drugs, and since I take care of my mom, I did that for her, too.
You are on point. Everyone reacts differently to everything, so you can never no anything for sure

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Profile picture for heyjoe415 @heyjoe415

Hi albv9,

I've been taking Seroquel for the same reason, as a sleep aid and secondly as a "mood stabilizer" for over 20 years. I'm 70 y/o now and am still taking it.

I'm not a Dr, but I haven't experienced any lt affects from the drug and my Dr still prescribes it.

I suggest talking with your Dr. Maybe it's not necessary to stop.

All the best to you.

Joe

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Hi Joe, what dosage of Seroquel have you used in the last 20 years? I have been taking Seroquel 12.5 (half a pill of 25mg) every night, to help me sleep, for the last 1 1/2 years. Last week my PD took me off Seroquel and put me on Mirtazapine7.5 mg. She read some studies that indicate that Seroquel long term leads to Dementia and a propensity for stroke. Mittazapine is not helping me sleep as well as Seroquel did. No withdrawl symptoms form Seriquel yet..

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Profile picture for heyjoe415 @heyjoe415

Hi albv9,

I've been taking Seroquel for the same reason, as a sleep aid and secondly as a "mood stabilizer" for over 20 years. I'm 70 y/o now and am still taking it.

I'm not a Dr, but I haven't experienced any lt affects from the drug and my Dr still prescribes it.

I suggest talking with your Dr. Maybe it's not necessary to stop.

All the best to you.

Joe

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Good for you and good for your Doctor. If you read the side effects for any medication you would never take anything. If your body tolerates it and it helps you consider yourself lucky. You have a good PCP. Many PCP’s should stay off the internet. There are many things that cause dementia but for some people it is simply genetic and runs in families.
Good luck to you.

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