While on Seroquel (for several month), I began experiencing severe insomnia, sometimes getting 1 or 2 hours of sleep a night... and many,many nights, ZERO hours of sleep. This, of course, took me off of work. Dr. decided @ that point to take me off the Seroquel ('clean out my system and start over'). The whole process took about 2 months until I started to feel halfway normal again. After speaking to the Dr. and telling him I still wasn't getting enough sleep after returning to work (2 or so hours a night), his response was he did not know what to tell me. I assume he did not want to put me on any sleep medication. I started Melatonin on my own and finally began to get some relief. Now that I am not on Seroquel, I find that I do not require the amount of sleep that I did while taking it. However, due to that, being nocturnal by nature, I have a tendency to short myself sleep wise even though I know it is not in my best interest and that I am an adult and should be able to go to bed when I should! (lol). Anyway, has anyone else experienced insomnia while on Seroquel?? (I was on 600 mg at the time). Thanks
Has anyone experienced insomnia while taking Seroquel?
Question posted by will it ever stop? on 11 July 2011
Last updated on 13 August 2023
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23 Answers Page 2
I have been on seroquel (quetiapine) generic 50 mg for 2 months now. It used to make sleep throughout the night and I felt great! Then I had to go through some stress and once missed a dose... and the problems began. Now I can't fall asleep at all, although it should act as a sedative. I take me lot on in but next month thing I have lightheadness and pressure to my head, like if something is moving there.
My doctor doesn't wan to put me n pills, but I started a new job and those sleepless nights don't help at all. Scared!
Please any feedback is appreciated
I was prescribed Seroquel for insomnia, and it's worked well for me. So weird how one medication can have complete opposite effects in people!
That's really strange, as most people experience drowsiness rather than insomnia from Seroquel. I was actually taking it a few years ago as a sleeping pill because regular sleep medications keep me up at night (weird, huh?). As LaurieShay stated, it's an uncommon side effect. I suggest you call the FDA and report the side effect you experienced from the Seroquel so they can add it to their database of drug side effects. They keep record of all the side effects of all the drugs that people experience who call them and report their experienced side effects.
I have been taking quetiapine for years throughout my 30s and 40s and sometimes it wipes me out within minutes and other times I remain awake but in a frozen trance like state. Like the lights are on but nobody's home .
I thought strange too as it help me sleep for the last 7 years. But, it no longer helps with sleep as I have grown tolerant to seroquel and now it causes anxiety and insomnia. You can read blogs all over the internet that discuss this.
i take 800mg of seroquel, 400mg at bedtime and then 400mg when i wake up in 1-3 hours... i was taking 1200mg but it didn't do anything else, at first it helped but then not really... my dr. just added remeron to my long list of drugs... 15mg, then 30mg and now 45mg... and do you know what??? i have been getting 5 to 6 hours of sleep a night, maybe not all at once but pretty darn close... and i actually feel like taking a nap later!!! it was to help with my depression but turned out to be a serendipity!!! good luck in your journey forward!!! hugs, lesliehelen
I found remeron gave me horrible night terrors. Doctor switched me back to seroquel which still isn't helping me sleep
I was actually on 800 mg and could not sleep for days. they actually put me in nutward thinking i was on other drugs. Their idea was to give me more tranquiliseres which had the same affect as serequil, it made me speed like i was on uppers. i still have not found any sleep meds that work so i sleep 2-4 hours here and there when possible. hope this helps you some. cheryl
Seroquel is keeping me up too. I have to take antianxiety meds with it to try and sleep, but went up to 200 mg. Last night and was kicking my legs all night, wide awake, miserable. Im seeing my Psych Dr. today to see if he changes it.
That is very unusual. I found seroquel the ONLY thing that ever has put me to sleep! Maybe cut down your mg? I was on 300 and it knocked me out while other medications and i mean all of them did absolutely nothing to or for me. I wish you much luck. Have you tried 5HTP and than melatonin? It's worth a shot.
Quit the opposite. 200 mgs of seroquel puts me right to sleep. 600 mg should certainly do the job. It seems as though you have other issues going on that have nothing to do with the seroquel. You may as well come off the seroquel and try something else for sleep as seroquel certainly isn't helping.
No doubt it's a knock out med. However; I've been on seroquel for 8 years and it no longer puts me to sleep. In fact, it's the opposite now: insomnia and anxiety. We grow a tolerance to these meds eventually and my time has come.
Hey will it ever stop?
While it is very uncommon, insomnia is a serious side effect of Seroquel. For curiosity sake, check ou the following link for the side effects of seroquel, it lists trouble sleeping as a side effect:
https://www.drugs.com/sfx/seroquel-side-effects.html
Just wanted to share,
Laurie
Laurie,
I notice i'm not sleeping since i started seroquel,i know its early days for me on it but i thought it helps you to sleep??
Hey puckiemull,
I serious side effect of the seroquel can be trouble sleeping. For most people it does help them sleep, for some it causes insomnia. You need to let the doctor know what is happening. OK?
Laurie
Related topics
seroquel, depression, bipolar disorder, insomnia, sleep disorders, sleep
Further information
- Seroquel uses and safety info
- Seroquel prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Seroquel (detailed)
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