Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• April 27, 2008

Quetiapine "I have been on Seroquel for 4 months now. I have terrible insomnia and racing thoughts because of my bipolar disorder. This drug worked wonders for me, and now I can finally sleep at night without my mind racing for hours."

• the...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 8, 2017

Quetiapine "I've been on this for about 8 months so far. I take 300 mg at bedtime. It helps with sleep, but I do feel a bit tired during the day. This has really reduced my mania. I used to argue with people until I was literally foaming at the mouth, but now I lose interest in arguments within 5 or 10 minutes. Twitter and news used to upset me, and I'd get amped up about stories, but that's gone away mostly. Now I can react to things that used to make me furious with a laugh or just a short discussion with someone. Seroquel's not perfect, but the weirdness and intensity I used to experience have gone. It also helps greatly with my IBS. I haven't had any weight gain, but my diet is low-fat and limited. Seroquel is much better than TCAs, by the way. Good luck!"

• 0rd...
• September 24, 2014

Quetiapine "Seroquel helped my paranoia and really kept me mentally stable, but I also was tired all the time, sometimes sleeping for 15 hours a day. I also gained 30 pounds within three months of being on Seroquel. I wouldn't recommend this medicine for anyone who does not wish to rapidly gain weight."

• Hop...
• August 6, 2013

Quetiapine "I have tried just about every medicine there is to treat bipolar disorder, and Seroquel, hands down, is the best one for me in terms of stability. However, the weight gain has been a problem. I gained 40 pounds on Seroquel. The good news is I've lost 16 pounds of that in 3 1/2 months. It's been hard work, but I am confident I can meet my goal of losing 48 more pounds over the next year."

• Kat...
• May 8, 2012

Quetiapine "Seroquel helps both manic and depressive symptoms, however, it is much better when combined with other mood-stabilizing medications. Good for providing sleep, but it can be too sedating until you get used to it (just take it consistently and stick with it). Slight raise in appetite for carbs but nothing a healthy diet and exercise can't counteract, which is what you should be doing if you have a serious mental illness anyway. A good first medicine to try, because it's a mood stabilizer (for both types of episodes), antipsychotic, sleep medication, and anxiolytic! It's great for controlling anxiety and making you feel calmer and means you don't have to take Valium or sleeping pills, which can be addictive-whereas Seroquel is NOT addictive."

• BPb...
• January 3, 2020

Quetiapine "Seroquel did not feel like it was doing anything for me the first month and a half in terms of my mood because it was the only med I was on. It did help me sleep again -- but I can't say it saved me from all of the racing thoughts and rapid cycling when up. As someone with Bipolar Disorder who experiences severe depressive phases, two doses of Lithium Carbonate, Gabapentin as needed for anxiety, and Seroquel 150mg at night for sleep is what is best for me. I guess how it forces me to fall asleep and stay asleep is what, in turn, affects my mood to be more relaxed the next day. Who wouldn't be relaxed when they sleep 8-12 hours a night lol? Other than that effect, I do not notice a big difference in my mood change like I do with other meds."

• Tya...
• September 26, 2019

"I've struggled with severe anxiety for most of my life (leading me to being physically sick and suicidal at its worst), and recently was diagnosed with bipolar 1. I'm generally a big advocate for natural healing, but things have gotten so intense that I needed more help. My psychiatrist is amazing and wanted to go slow! He said he doesn't want my first experience with big pharma to be traumatic. I noticed at 300 mg I was really groggy, irritable, and had a slight hand tremor. Mind you, I'm 5'2 and 115 lbs, so I'm a light weight with most substances! 150 mg has been my sweet spot! Overall, I'm super optimistic! But I'm also working hard to be consistent in all aspects of my life. That's key for bipolar/anxiety! I meditate, exercise, eat right, spend time in nature, journal, go to therapy, go to bed and wake up at the same time, etc. No medicine will be a cure-all on its own! Peace and happiness is a constant practice. Coming from a suicide survivor, I promise it gets better!"

• lal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 7, 2022

Quetiapine "I once rated this medication highly for my initial positive experience with it. I now believe that is only because it helps me sleep. Once I got up to 200 mg, I felt like a zombie and experienced some other concerning symptoms. When I expressed my concerns, I was told that this was a 'baby dose,' and they intended to still increase from there. I disagreed. I have weaned down to a sleeping aid dose and intend to decrease from there and get off this stuff. It's terribly addicting. When I was at 200 mg, I used to experience withdrawal-like symptoms if I was accidentally late to take my nightly dose: splitting headaches, shaking. I've seen some say it can be dangerous to not have an exact time each day it is taken, but this was never expressed to me by the psychiatrists who prescribed me. This is not an opiate, but there's a reason some people sell this and call it 'baby heroin.' If you get prescribed it for sleeping, it did help with that."

• Nat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 8, 2013

Quetiapine "I was diagnosed with bipolar II about 5 years ago, and I've tried everything on the market. Nothing worked for me except Seroquel. Right now, I take 300 mg twice per day, and I'm so stable. I'm loving it. The problem, though, with Seroquel is that it's a major weight gainer. I would stop taking it on and off when I felt better, but then would use other meds to bandage my symptoms... get back on, then off again... until one day I decided to stop with the denial and allow someone to help me for real. I've been on it now faithfully for 9 months... but I've put on 60 lbs! It makes me eat after hours in the middle of the night. I'm depressed because of the weight gain. So I work out at home at times, trying to be more consistent. You have to work this medicine."

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2011

Quetiapine "I've had bad reactions to every mood stabilizer I've tried, but this was truly the scariest. I had to withdraw from college because I was sleeping constantly, crying for 8 hours at a time, and hallucinating. I eventually became suicidal and landed myself in the hospital for 2 weeks. I know that everyone reacts differently, and finding the bipolar cocktail is a painful trial-and-error process, but if you have this experience, I wanted you to know you are not alone."

• MCa...
• February 23, 2009

Quetiapine "A word to the wise: A psychiatrist prescribed a small dosage of Seroquel (at bedtime) for me (25 MG) to promote sleep. After a short period of time, I noticed an overwhelming craving for sugar-pastry, candy, milkshakes, etc. During preceding visits to my family physician, I learned that my sugar levels were rising steadily, something uncommon in my previous medical history. Eventually, this rise in blood levels developed into diabetes. Once this cause and effect was established, I ceased taking Seroquel. I no longer have an insatiable appetite for sweets."

• fre...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 27, 2013

Quetiapine "Took for bipolar disorder (for the depression). In small doses, this caused me to be too sleepy to function. When I took a large dose at night, however, it knocked me out, and I was good the next day. This really did help with the depression and mood swings. However, it caused significant weight gain. I had to stop taking this when a job had ended and I no longer had insurance. I fought insomnia for around 6 months, but after that time, was finally able to sleep again, and the weight came out. I would recommend this for someone who really needs it, but not until other medicines have been tried first with no success."

• JJJ...
• February 23, 2013

Quetiapine "I have found Seroquel to be very helpful in my life. I was on high antidepressant medicines but gave those up. The Seroquel helps me lead a normal life by allowing me to sleep and calm down after long working hours in a high-demand job. I take 100 mg before dinner, which helps my appetite also. I would not take Seroquel during the day, as I feel it would inhibit my ability to communicate at work. From what I've read, some interpolate the effects of the medicines in differing ways, but I can honestly say it has saved me from a very dark place. Expensive but worth the cost."

• lyn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2012

Quetiapine "I've been in and out of mental health clinics for a long time, just trying to find something to slow my racing thoughts and make me feel like life is bearable. I've taken benzodiazepines, only to become drug-seeking and take too many and need early refills, thereby being forced by the prescriber to wean off. Done SSRIs with no effect whatsoever. Remeron made me gain 40 pounds in like 2 months' time and didn't help me sleep. Marijuana made me paranoid. I just started some new therapy and was diagnosed with bipolar II and post-traumatic stress disorder. She gave me Seroquel XR, and my mind is calm and I sleep well on it. I'm still on a pretty low dose, going up to 100 mg tonight and then 150 mg in 2 days. Just hope I don't gain weight, but so far I feel productive and my mind is quiet."

• pjs...
• October 31, 2011

Quetiapine "The Seroquel makes me feel like I'm dreaming. I kind of feel like I'm losing my sense of reality. The dreams/nightmares I have seem lucid, like I can't tell the difference between what I dreamt and what really happened. It is just completely changing my personality. I don't feel like myself anymore."

• Mym...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 1, 2017

Quetiapine "I was having extreme depression and hypomania, and they could not find the correct drug for me, and this was the miracle drug for me, it was the key. It works very well for me, and I would recommend it. I take Seroquel at night because it does make me a little sleepy."

• Sno...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 18, 2021

Quetiapine "I started off taking 25 mg of Seroquel with Lamictal, 450 mg of bupropion XL, risperidone, and 9 mg of melatonin to aid the sleep effect of the Seroquel. I slept great and gained no weight on it. I began having trouble falling asleep. My pdoc upped the dosage to 50 mg without changing anything else. At first, I was a little groggy in the morning. That went away, and now I sleep well every night for a little over 8 hours, which is normal for me. So I've had a very good experience with it."

• Tay...
• March 23, 2015

Quetiapine "I've been on Seroquel for a couple of months, and I'm surprised at how good it works and how I have minimal side effects. I take 100 mg-300 mg at night and before my naps, just depending on how tired I already am without the medicine. Like most people, if you don't get ample sleep (8-10 hours), you usually wake up feeling tired and groggy. It usually wears off within a couple of hours, though. I noticed when I take it, my eyes become super red like I just finished smoking weed. I have experienced a little chest pain in my lower rib cage, but it's tolerable. Other than that, I sleep like a baby; I have vivid dreams, which, in my opinion, is neither negative nor positive. But it's helped in stabilizing my mood and controlling my swings."

• Rot...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2019

Quetiapine "I tried this medication a few years ago and could never get the dose correct. It was either too much or not enough. I recently tried it again and only took it for a week before the doctor took me off. I was taking this medication for bipolar disorder and insomnia. 30 minutes to 1 hour after taking this medication, I would have constant dry mouth and my legs would twitch, RLS. Constant tossing and turning because of my legs and having to drink water because of the dry mouth, finally passing out hours later and feeling like rubbish the next day."

• DET...
• April 26, 2010

Quetiapine "I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 with psychotic features 3 years ago, but always dealt with grandiose thinking, mild delusions, and a good deal of depression. After self-medicating for two years, I had a mental meltdown, and after spending 2 months cooped up in my apartment, anorexic, dying; I decided it was time to see a psychiatrist. The medications I was prescribed ranged from mood stabilizers to antipsychotics, benzos, sleeping pills, many I was allergic to, like Depakote and Trileptal. Anyway, at first, I tried the regular Seroquel but gained 40 lbs in one month and slept 14 hours a day. Switched to Seroquel XR, not as tired, lost 20 lbs, appetite/mental noise decreased, panic relief, strong sleep aid, life manageable; they are expensive. HIGHLY recommend."

• cmw...
• April 16, 2013

Quetiapine "I just started taking Seroquel (50 mg) for now at bedtime, and will eventually increase the dose to 150 mg when told to by my doctor. So far, I have experienced serious trouble waking up the next morning, but my doctor says this will go away as I continue to take it. As a teenager, I can honestly say it has helped so far, and that I highly recommend it to others who have struggled as I have."

• Woo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2021

Quetiapine "I started Seroquel due to being on the 'spectrum' of bipolar and having bad anxiety, depression, and some paranoia. I remember when I started it, feeling at peace just being in public. Calmest I have ever felt in my life. Had to stop it because I was having issues with it causing edema in my legs. Have issues with type 2 diabetes prior to this, so figured I'd better not try to start it up again. I really wish I could because it was nothing short of a miracle for me. Weight gain wasn't bad. Getting up too fast from bed would cause dizziness and ear ringing sometimes, but just a few hours after I took it at night. (Didn't happen that often though.) In combination with Luvox, it made a big difference in my life for the better."

• GRa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 25, 2018

Quetiapine "I have been on Seroquel XR for 2.5 years now, with doses ranging from 150mg to 250mg. Currently taking 200mg. It does work, but it works very slowly, therapeutically speaking. The anti-anxiety effects kick in, I would say, in a week or two maximum, and the sleepiness is very intense in the beginning. What I don’t like about it is that you get used to the dose very quickly, and the symptoms return, needing to either up or lower the dose. It’s not a super stable medicine. The first days of upping the dose, you do feel more stable, calmer, peaceful, but a week after, you find yourself asking for more. Now, therapeutically, it brings you back to earth, you know, but it’s not enough. In my case, the lack of motivation is a big thing for me. It was so bad my doctor thought I had attention issues and wanted me to try Adderall, and I said no because I knew it was from Seroquel. Anyway, all antipsychotics are motivation killers and make existing depression worse and trigger ADHD in my case. Good luck."

• oct...
• October 3, 2013

Quetiapine "I have been bipolar for 26 years. After my first and huge depression, I have not missed lithium, not even for a day. I have had a really good acceptance of Seroquel, but not of Seroquel XR. The difference is huge, and XR plays with your sleep patterns and more. The insatiable hunger is so, so true, as is the weight gain. I just eat less and less and less, and as a person who has had an amazing metabolism, I still am 105 lbs. After 3 children, my teen weight, I am now at 115 lbs, and I hate it. But I have no desire to stop Seroquel."

• San...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 17, 2022

Quetiapine "I’m 61 and was diagnosed bipolar NOS, meaning I don’t fit into any category, but I have elements of bipolar. I used to be very impulsive and have made some bad decisions. I was high energy, but I also had a lot of depression. I had bad reactions to antidepressants. I would get very irritable. I've been on a low dose of lithium and 25 mg of Seroquel for several years. The Seroquel makes me a little groggy in the morning, but it has really helped with irritability. I’ve gained some weight because I’m not as hyper as I used to be. Hope this helps. I’m not ashamed to admit I need meds. Some people resist when they should be on them."