I have been prescribed seroquel 150mg as the starting dose back in June,i was upped to 300mg 2weeks later and have been taking that dose up til the end of August when i had my last pysc app,i explained to him that i was'nt benefiting from it,it was'nt helping me sleep and actually making me more anxious,so he dropped me to 150 which i have been taking since,in the hope of getting weaned off. I have tried many anti d's for anxiety/panic attacks,depression and ocd and none of them seem to work,i am currently taking Valdoxan 50mg,along with xanax 1mg twice daily.(The xanax is the only one thta helps the panic)
My pysc app was cancelled and i dont know when i will be called for another one,the secretary said Dec is the earliest,but i cant wait that long,i want off this med as it is causing unwanted side effects even after been on it this long,plus it is making me bloated,not actual weight gain(i am still the same weight)but my legs are swollen and feet. I dont see the point continuing with a med that is'nt working as i feel its just adding another med to the list for nothing.
What i want to know is can i just stop the 150 altogether?Will i suffer brain zaps/shakes and major wd's? I am scared to come off because of feared wd's,i am also currently undergoing treatment for endometriosis as alot of you already know,so i'm not the best painwise at the moment.I know i have advised other people in past posts to taper off certain meds,but now i'm at a loss and stuck and want so desperately off this med.
Can anyone give me advice or share their opnion in what i could do to make coming off this easier?Should i increase in any vitimans or anything from the health store or otc meds or will the xanax i am prescribed help?
Sorry this was so long,but i'm confused as what to expect but adamant i want off.
Also i asked my gp could she give me lower dose for me to go to 100mg,then 50mg,but she said she cannot go over pysc,but i cant understand as i cant see him til god knows when.So please any advice welcome!!
Thank you in advance.
Puckiemull
Hi Guys, I need some help please!! I want to come off Seroquel!?
- Posted:
- 3 Oct 2011 by puckiemull
- Topics:
- seroquel, depression, bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, obsessive compulsive disorder, paranoid disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, borderline personality disorder
Responses (10)
pledge3 Oct 2011
Hey there puckiemull. I know how its been going for you. I'd increase the xanax, that most certainly will help eliviate the side-effects. As you know, I stopped seroquel, and at the time, it was replaced with mirtazapine (remeron). . But most certainly, I'd increase the xanax. you'll see the improvement quite quickly. Care for a cuppa?
mik9343 Oct 2011
Hi Puck, just read your post on Seroquel and i was on it for a while and hed the same porblems that you are having and had, DON'T STOP taking it cold turkey puck what i did was lower my dose by myself everyweek i would take less and less untill i was down to just a small piece of the pill, my Serquel were the type that you could break into smaller pieces and i would do that for a week and break it down a little more for another week or even two and so on untill i had just about a quarter of the pill i was taking and did that for about another 2 weeks and my brain slowly slowly had got used to that and then i would skip a dose one day and then take a quarter the next day and do that for a bout a week or 2 and slowly start breaking down the quarter of the pill and do the same thing and after about a month or two i was able to stop it all together.
puckiemull
3 Oct 2011
Hi mik,
Thanks for the advice,i understand what you're saying,only problem is i am on extended release so i cannot break the pills. As i said to Pledge above,i was just onto my gp,she said she will try get me an earlier app with the pysc,but she wont give me lower dose of seroquel so i can taper properly and i really want off this med. I understand the wd's you're talking about and went through,its just so frustrating taking something that just makes you feel blah!!
Anyways thanks so much for replying,hopefully i'll get app soon and see how it goes,if not i'll just take it as it comes,maybe take it every second day??I dunno would that make a difference,thats the worst with the xr,not being able to split them!! Thanks for your help!Have a good day!!
mik934
3 Oct 2011
Your very welcome Puck, i had a feeling you were on the time release the kind you can't split apart, sorry i was much help. maybe if you tryed to take it every other day like you said it might get your brain used to the cutting down. Not a doctor i just play one on t.v.LOL.. JUst trying to make ya laugh Puck but it will get better i promise! I know several people that had the same problem it just took a little time and help from the doctor.. I understand how ya feel, i hate taking a med that does not help and another med you need to wean off, it SUCKS! Good luck hun.. Mickey.
heartsgrace
slattery3 Oct 2011
Hi puckiemull... I can't speak for seroquel, as I have never taken it. But I did abruptly quit depakote and zyprexa for 13 months, and stated withdrawal effects never happened. I did the same (to lose a few pounds) this summer with depakote and abilify, for 16 days, but nothing negative happened either.
I am not telling you to go this route, just stating that I did what they don't advise. And it took 13 months off the drugs before I suffered any bad consequences (i.e. another manic episode). I really do hope that the psychiatrist can fit you in sooner though - it seems a long time to wait between now and December. Perhaps you should mention your plans to the receptionist, so that they understand how urgent it is to fit you in fast? Good luck, and I understand exactly how you feel.
puckiemull
3 Oct 2011
Thank you slattery,
I am waition a phone call back so fingers crossed will get app soon. I'm not bipolar but suffer sever anxiety/panic disorder along with depression and ocd,my pysc prescribed the seroquel to help me sleep and for anxiety,but has made me worse and not helping me sleep,so i want off asap.
Will hope to get app this week,if not will try taking it evey other day and see how wd's go.
Thanks for your reply
Puckiemull
LaurieShay3 Oct 2011
Hey puckiemull,
If you haven't already solved your dilemma, I suggest you get a script for 50mg tablets and drop to 100mgs a day for a week, then to 50mgs a day for a week, then everyother day for a week, then stop. You'll need about 30 pills to accomplish this taper.
Let me know what the doctor says and if you need more assistance. Write me anytime, I miss hearing from you,
Laurie
Anonymous 3 Oct 2011
A, sounds like Laurie can help you so maybe that will work. You know what I told you in email. GOd I wish I could just fly you here!!! Will keep a ck on you. V
Anonymous 4 Oct 2011
Hi Vonniepie,
Let's pass the hat! We can all pitch in ten bucks and let's get puckiemull here, where someone will pay attention to her!!
I'll kick in more than 10, I'm serious, if anyone wants to do this, let me know, and we can start a "Fund for Puckiemull's Two-Way Ticket"!!
I love it, and while we are at it, let's have a dc convention!! We can all meet!
What a riot that would be, anyone know of a central location betwixt Chile, the UK, and Hawaii? Someone with geographical knowledge please, I am directionally umm, 'challenged'!!
Lara
xoxo
LaurieShay
Delila3 Oct 2011
Hi! Long time no speak. I haven't actually weaned off seroquel, but i take them and at one stage i was off them for a week, i thought it may help to tell you the symptoms i had so you can know what to expect and prepare for it...
Nausea, restlessness, headache, trouble sleeping. You can take an anti-emetic such as valoid, and plain paracetamol are good for the headaches. For sleeping you could try melatonin (as i've spoken to you before about) or nightnurse is really good. Like others have already suggested, the xanax will help with the restlessness, and also the sleep possibly(?). Laurie's suggestion is good for coming off them, but without wanting to cause offence, i would suggest reducing by 50mg a fortnight, rather than weekly. But that is just my opinion. Good luck hun, speak soon, D
3 Oct 2011
Hi to all my friends,
Thank you al for your replys and help. My gp rang back with an app for me to see another pysc in the same clinic thursday,so i'll have a good talk then and get my dose reduced then and taper off properly.
Thank you for all your kind words and advice,it was much appreciated!
Hugs to you all and hope you are all keeping well!!
pledge
4 Oct 2011
That sounds like good news puckiemull and appreciate the up-date. Take care, and have a good evening.
LiverLips
6 Oct 2011
Let us all know how the visit goes please, puckie! I'll keep you in my thoughts & add you to my prayer list. (The list fits right around my neighbourhood block now LOL)
I'm so very sorry that so many of us have to experience situations & pain & discomfort like this. My hubby ("fiance") has a fractured foot. We've been waiting 2 months to hear from the specialist. I called that office & the answering machine said to expect that it'd be 6 months to a year before we even get an appointment. That's just for a consult!!! Then, the doctor will probably want a NEW X-ray. After that, another consultation & then book surgery at our hospital. It's likely to be close to 18 months before this surgery is even done! Absolutely MIND-BLOWING to me in this day & age of the 21st bloody century! GGGRRR!!!
Oh, so sorry puck, I got sidetracked. Anyway, I wish you all the best with your health! from Wendy :)
P.S. I still vote for Costa Rica (sorry Laurie) :D
puckiemull
3 Oct 2011
Thanks Christie,
It was me advising you last week,LOL,amazin how things turn!!
Thank you hun
Christie00
4 Oct 2011
Hey that's how it works right? Lol. ... and you had great advice. I just didn't have resources to do it that way. But hope it works out better for you. Its a yucky medication.
Anonymous 7 Oct 2011
Hi puckiemull,
This is great news indeed!! Finally, you will be off Seroquel.
I don't know what to tell you about lamictal, perhaps you shouldn't even start it? IF, however, you do start it, make sure you use condoms so you don't become pregnant!!
I've a friend that takes it, but he has Bipolar disorder. And he has no chance of getting pregnant, now does HE? (sorry, couldn't resist that one!!)
Let us know what you decide my friend???
Love,
Lara
puckiemull
7 Oct 2011
Thanks Sweets,
I might go see how i am without starting it,i'll see how i go..
Cheers for the reply my friend.
Hugs to you
A xx
smileyhappy8 Oct 2011
Hi Puckiemull,
I had a psychoatic episode when I took Seroquel. It took 6 months after to find the right meds for my major depression. I had to get off quickly and am fine. But you should get off of it slowly since you are able to handle Seroquel better than me. Take it slow don't hurry it unless it is making you very sick. Good luck!
Anonymous 8 Oct 2011
Hi smileyhappy,
I've a Q for you my friend, were you the one that was on Baclofen and had a horrible episode when going off of it, or was that someone else?
For the life of me, I cannot recall who told me about this, and I cannot find my Q to see who it was!!
Thank you my friend!!
Lara
puckiemull
8 Oct 2011
Thanks for that smiley, I need to get off this,it is doing absolutely nothing for me.Another 2weeks and i'll be off for good hopefully!
I'm sorry you had a bad episode,i'm hearing some awful things about this med, i know what works for one does'nt for another,but its terrible how some has to find out the hard way.
Lara how are you my friend?Longtime no chat properly!!!
smileyhappy
sweetie pie11 Oct 2011
Hey there puckiemull! I do not recomend that you increase your Zanax wihout talking to your psyche doctor. Zanax is a Benzo and it needs to be monitored closely. Can you call the nurse at your doctor's office and ask her to talk with your doctor about this. He can write a script and you could pick it up. That is if he is comfortable increasing your dose. As for the Seroquel, I would not just stop cold turkey. You most likely have some uncomfortable side effects. I am sorry that you are not responding well to the Seroquel. Do you think you stayed on it long enough to get the full effect? Some SSRI'S may need more time to build up in your system. I understand about Zanax being the omly drug that controls your anxiety. My daughter tells me the same thing. Another sugesstion if you start feeling worse is to go to a walk in clinic, like Prompt Care or First Med. They will see you until you can see your own doctor. I hope this has helped some. Take care and I hope things work out for you. Sweetie Pie
puckiemull
11 Oct 2011
Hi sweetie pie,
No i have'nt increased my dose of xanax,i'm taking 1mg twice a day as prescribed. I didnt start the lamictal and i'm tapering off the seroquel,i got app last thurs with pysc and he prescribed the above.
I'm down to 50mg seroquel,he gave me the lamictal but i want to see can i go along without it,so far i'm fine except from the pain from endo,thats there everyday.
Thank you for your reply,but not to worry i wont be taking more xanax then i should!! Thanks again
sweetie pie
12 Oct 2011
Puckiemull, I hope that I did not sound too overbearing! I had a niece who took too many Zanax and almost died. She decided to increase her dosage(way too much,) because she said that it was not helping her anxiety. I guess I am alittle sensitive when Zanax is involved. It sounds like you are feeling alittle better. I am really happy to hear that! your friend, Sweetie Pie
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Hi Pledge,
Tnks for your reply,yes would love a cuppa pls,i'm already out of count as to how many i've had today!! Anyway thanks for the advice,i cant increase the xanax as i'll run out by the end of the month,just rang gp a while ago,she said she'll try to get through to pysc's office and get me an earlier app,she wont give me lower doses or increase my xanax,so i'm ina pickle,ugh!!
Hope you're keeping well!!