I'm diagnosed with bipolar and ptsd - got on Lithium over a month ago and so far so good - however, the dr. added 300 mg of Seroquel xr and I'm having a terrible time with the side effects and I want to stop immediately. Can I just stop taking?
How do I get off Seroquel xr - can't stand side effects?
Question posted by akworley1 on 5 Jan 2012
Last updated on 1 February 2022 by WMTand
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48 Answers
WMTand
1 Feb 2022
I am on Seroquel too but my dr said has to be slowly lowered when time to stop taking it. I take 50mg but at night to help with flashbacks and other PTSD issues
dandylion67
29 Nov 2020
Who diagnosed you? A GP or a Psychiatrist? I know most avoid prescribing Seroquel because it has some very dangerous sight effects. My brother was on it for years because he has really bad schizophrenia. He went off them because he gained heaps of weight, slept for hours & wet the bed.
dandylion67
11 Sep 2020
Did your Psychiatrist put you on Seroquel or your GP?
That’s a pretty high dose
astimmel1
18 June 2020
I have been on Seroquel for atleast 10 years. I have Major Depression, social anxiety, borderline personality. I have been on higher doses but right now im stable at 100 mg. In the beginning i couldnt keep my eyes open but after a few weeks or months you tolerate it and i wasnt tired anymore. Im very pleased with it. I only take it at Night. It is given to me for sleep, moods and psychotic episodes. It makes me feel very calm and sleepy which is what i do. Goto sleep. I take all my medication at night. The psychotic episodes just starting a few years ago. I was under the impression my husband was having an affair. I had it solved and i BElieved this to be true. So i left him and my son who was 5 years old. I went to my parents and a few years i filed divorce. Got divorce and now we are back together. He never had an affair. It was my thoughts tricking me. A bogus reality. Very scary.
But Seroquel is the only pill that has helped with this. It does what its supposed to. But yes the withdrawal is uncomftorable. I weaned off with my doctor when i was pregnant. Very slowly. I remember being up all night with restless legs. It was horrible.
dandylion67
3 Feb 2020
I’m shocked your Doctor put you on such a high dose of Seroquel.
Do you mind me asking do you see a General GP or a Psychiatrist?
My brother in law has Schizophrenia & was put on 100mg Seroquel years ago from his Psychiatrist.
He gained heaps of weight & slept for hours.
Thankfully he’s been off them for a while now,
dandylion67
4 Dec 2019
My brother in law was on Seroquel for chronic Schizophrenia.
They are extremely strong & almost put him in a coma.
Im shocked at how many Doctors just prescribe them for Insomnia & Panic Attacks.
murray55
21 Aug 2019
I have been on 300-600 mg of Seroquel for 19 years. The drug was initially prescribed as an addition to my depression meds for insomnia. What a terrible drug to take for insomnia! The long-term side effects do not warrant such a potent drug. This medication is an antipsychotic not a sleeping aid. I have terrible osteoarthritis pain, muscle pain, and a whole host of other issues because of this drug. It is important to wean down gradually. I am down to 50 mg. now after tapering for two months and think I am ready to quit altogether. I take 150 mg of trazodone as a replacement to help me sleep. I hope to get off the trazodone as well but not right away. I will take it one drug at a time.
mine99
20 March 2019
No you can't just stop taking I truly am sorry to say. You are really on that high a dose? No wonder! Your doctor needs to find you 1 or 2 other medications to supplement it. Lithium would be one. I take 100 mgs of xr, roughly 3 or 4 hrs. before bed (sleep effect). 300 would have you down in half hour. All other drugs in the same class have the SAME effects. Effects could be weighed though. Consult about lowering your dose, it can be done. I feel your pain!
mine99
20 March 2019
It CAN be done, I wanted the same. You must find a drug with the same effects . When you look, you will find that ALL of the others have the same side effects (although strength of effect varies). So, I guess it isn't hopeless but consult with your doctor about new drug, dosage, time and all that. The only problem may be finding one that works with you individually. I am sorry for being so brutally honest.
vaneveryw
23 Jan 2019
do not just stop taking, taper as directed by psychiatrist
Pippy longstockings
6 Oct 2018
I have due to side effects. No adverse effects so far, it’s been a few days now
Inactive
17 July 2018
The doctor thinks since I have not a psychos episode since 1998 and my illness was drug undoes psychos that I may not be mental I'll anymore.
Inactive
17 July 2018
I have been on Seroquel xr for psychos over 20 years at first it was 800 maximum then it got slowly decreased over the years now it 2018 and I'm on 25 mg of Seroquel. I have to take 7 of them for 2 weeks and decreased by 25 every 2 weeks till they are disconnected.
Medzie02
27 March 2018
You'll be awake for days if you reduce too quickly. I'm a 47 yr old male and need to taper off Seroquel. I've been on 100mg to treat Insomnia for 12 months. Some nights I'd have to take another 50mg. This is my second attempt to get off it due to weight gain and reduce from 100mg to 50mg in one go. Got NO sleep so raided my herbal and nutrient dispensary and it helped drift into a light sleep. The second day didn't work so well... was tossing and turning all night. But... I noticed my back, joint pain and rheumatism on the leg muscles are all gone!!! I didn't relate those to Seroquel but noticed many others have experienced the same. So I looked up further experiences from Seroquel users and noticed a few "hairloss" comments. Yes! My hair has been coming out in strands only since Seroquel. I'm thinning so much I've used Minoxidil to treat it.
Last night was my third night on 50mg. But I was wide awake at 2am and took more herbs and nutrients to sleep than I should have. It led to nausea then violent vomiting. I didn't have much food in the stomach so vomited blood and mucus. It was just the stomach lining and some bits of food.
Seroquel is a very powerful drug. The first time I tried to reduce 100mg to 50mg my doctor gave me Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) for sleep to assist withdrawals. Rohypnol didn't work!! My brain wanted the extra 50mg of Seroquel... nothing else. After two weeks of no sleep I gave up.
This is my second try to get off Seroquel and I "may" take it up to 75mg and go slower. I purchased over the counter doxylamine to help for tonight. I don't fancy my chances. My brain just won't get tired and shut down.
Lashea41
22 March 2018
Hi my name is lashea im 40 years old I’ve been on Seroquel for 14 years 15 in September I lost my daughter exactly 14 years ago I could cope ,very depressed. so I was put on this medication for the last year I’ve been desperately wanting off but I’m afraid of the side effects .ive experience some of the side effects.like,troubles sleeping,eating,night sweats,my feet itch’s bad sometimes.DOES IT GET WORST... but I have a bigger dalema I just found out I’m 2months pregnant and I’m worried about the years of taking this medicine will it effected my baby and is there anyone who gone through this are know someone who knows about pregnancy and seroquel ... any information will be greatly appreciated THANK YOU.
Related topics
seroquel, seroquel xr, sta-d, bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, lithium, side effect
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