[cbh1964]

i've been on seroquel for about 2 years. my psych prescribed it for bi-polar but it made me sleepy, so he told me to take it at night for a sleep pill. I've been on 50 mg for every night for that two years. now i really want to get off it. the times i have missed a dose, i have been completely unable to sleep and then the next day have had the most amazing case of the all over itchies - but mostly in my feet.

i have been tapering off this time. i cut the 50's in half and then the now 25's in half. last night was my first time trying to sleep without any and i fell asleep around 5 this morning. i'm not working right now so that is ok, sort of, but the real, nasty problem is the itchies.

does anyone have any experience with this? my doctor is in another state, we moved, and i haven't connected with anyone new yet, but i have always been bothered by the 'addictiveness' of this drug.

thanks for any help you can give me.

cbh1964

[mpvt]

You're doing it right by weaning down the way you are.You may find that you need to dose every other night and then every 3rd.Once you get to that point you should be able to stop.Good luck and be patient and let your body get used to the changes....Dave

[Reality bites]

Hi there!
The question I have for you is what are you taking for your B.P now? Do you have a shrink yet? Are you noticing any changes apart from the itchiness? Im worried you could relapse and not have the medical support you need. I have found from personal experience that it is better to find a shrink when you are in a strong mental state. It's easier to pick the most capable for you, rather then being stuck with what you get in a weakened state of mind, you'll be desperate and settle. Search out a decent doctor that knows you before a relapse and can recongnise you for who you are not what you seem to become when you have a bad day.Good luck and I admire you for your courage keep up your strength and determination!!

[JJkeegan86]

Ive was on seroquell for about 9 or 10 months , i used to take 300mg at bedtime, but it never made me sleepy at all unfortunatly. but i didnt go through any significant withdrawl symptoms.

[cheric2204]

I've been taking seroquel since 2001. Highest dose was 300mg at night. While I have obsessive compulsive disorder, I think this drug was mainly for sleep as sleep has always been a problem for me. I also take celexa but am switching that to lexapro. I am down to 50mg of seroquel at bedtime and sometimes I have trouble sleeping. I want to get off of it alltogether and last night took 25mg. That's as small as I can cut the pill since I am starting with a 200mg pill. I am always tired and gained alot of weight. If I can stay at 25mg for a few weeks and do ok, I'm going to stop. I have gone back and forth with the dosage. If I have high anxiety and can't sleep, I'll take more. When I feel better I drop the dosage down. My doctor seems to want me to take this forever and I feel differently. I've never had the itch that you describe but maybe slow down your tapering schedule.

[sammyb88]

I took seroquel for a long time. It stopped being effective for me. I don't recall being itchy at all but I remember having a "knocked out" feeling when I took my night dose. I was one 300 am 600 pm.

[Jamie Zadrozny]

Hi there. I took Seroquel for about 1 year, a few years back. The withdrawal you are experiencing I experienced as well. I took it for insomnia and a few "'psychotic episodes" (I took Zoloft when I was younger and was prescribed too much so it imbalanced my serotonin levels.) At that time in my life my diagnosis as major depression disorder. I was on many different milligrams at different times of the day. At one point it was 100mg in the morning and 300mg at night. I decided one day I was sick of taking medication so I abruptly stopped taking celexa 25mg and seroquel 300mg. And I remember my ENTIRE body constantly being itchy, it was so uncomfortable. I would put baby powder over my entire body basically and it helped soothe the itching. So I know exactly what you are going through. My method for getting off the medication was obviously very dangerous. I hope you and your doctor are weening you off of it.

Goodluck
-Jamie

[ajw81]

Originally Posted by Jamie Zadrozny

Hi there. I took Seroquel for about 1 year, a few years back. The withdrawal you are experiencing I experienced as well. I took it for insomnia and a few "'psychotic episodes" (I took Zoloft when I was younger and was prescribed too much so it imbalanced my serotonin levels.) At that time in my life my diagnosis as major depression disorder. I was on many different milligrams at different times of the day. At one point it was 100mg in the morning and 300mg at night. I decided one day I was sick of taking medication so I abruptly stopped taking celexa 25mg and seroquel 300mg. And I remember my ENTIRE body constantly being itchy, it was so uncomfortable. I would put baby powder over my entire body basically and it helped soothe the itching. So I know exactly what you are going through. My method for getting off the medication was obviously very dangerous. I hope you and your doctor are weening you off of it.

Goodluck
-Jamie

How long did your side effects last? I have been on 450 for several years and have been cutting down for a while. The last two nights I have not been taking any. So far my main problems are not sleeping but a couple hours, itching and dizziness at times. Had a little problem with speech today but that was why riding in a car which really causes me to get dizzy and nausea

Thanks.