Quetiapine for Borderline Personality Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• fin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2013

"I was first diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder eight years ago in my teens. Co-morbid major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder. I have only been on this medicine for just over two months, but it has changed my life. It is available generically and affordable. I also suffered from insomnia from a very young age, and now about 30-45 minutes after taking my pill, I dozed off for exactly 8 hours of sleep and wake up rested and refreshed. If I have to be up for something in the morning, I need to remember to take it ~9 hours before I need to get up. It's a minor inconvenience compared to all the good it has done me. I am a much calmer person."

• Ano...
• November 11, 2010

Quetiapine "I am 4 weeks into taking 25 mg of Seroquel, and I noticed the difference almost straight away. I can think so much better because my anxiety is reduced enough for me to think in straight lines again. I am nowhere near as paranoid and a bit less dissociative too, which is all really good. I was also prescribed Cymbalta for depression but have just ditched that because I was too fearless and suicidal on it. While Seroquel is not touching my depression, I noticed that after taking it, I felt that I gained a degree of self-control back, which helped me to start to use basic life skills that I have learned, which help me to deal with some of the BPD approaches to life's problems. Seriously, I find Seroquel, even at the low dose, to be excellent."

• che...
• October 5, 2008

Quetiapine "I am 12 months into taking Seroquel for BPD, and I feel more settled, happy, and relaxed without the insane anger outbursts and days of crying I experienced with some other medications. It may not be for everybody, but for some of us, it does work and gives us our quality of life back."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2019

"I have struggled from a very young age with depression and anxiety very badly. I have tried so many different medications, and this is by far the best! I don’t think I could have carried on with life without this medication, I had really bad insomnia as well, and now I get a great night's sleep. I suffer from borderline personality disorder, very bad depression, anxiety, insomnia, and autism spectrum disorder. To anyone who’s thinking of taking this medication, I would definitely recommend it."

• For...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 19, 2024

"I take quetiapine for BPD and ASD. I currently take 200 mg in the morning and 200 mg in the evening. From my experience, it’s been a brilliant medication for my sleep and my mental health issues. But the only downside is I get chronic lower back pain and can’t lose weight. My back has got so bad I’ve had to come off it, as no pain relief or exercise seems to work. I’m waiting for the mental health team to start me on a different one. I’m from the UK, so I could be waiting a while. If I didn’t get back pain, I would have stayed on quetiapine. Even lowering the dose didn’t improve my back. After doing my research, I discovered that back pain and muscle weakness are side effects. So do your homework before you go on it."

• Lim...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 24, 2020

"I've been using quetiapine for 5 years, and my psychiatrist has told me from the very start I may be on it for many years to come or the rest of my life. I've only just overcome that fact really. From the start, I felt extremely “high” or “sedated.” I was prescribed quetiapine for hallucinations and night terrors. I started on 75 mg, and I'm currently on 250 mg, and over the years, despite the startup side effects from 2-4 weeks, maybe 6 weeks for some people, it is still a brilliant drug for my BPD and PTSD. I still get low points, but I bounce back fairly quickly, and I feel quetiapine has stabilized my mood throughout the years of taking it."

• Kin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2023

"I used to be so insecure and my mind would be so fragile and unable to perform properly, as if I couldn't act with any confidence or self-esteem. But with 150mg of Seroquel, I felt extremely confident and free. It was like a switch being flipped. It's a miracle, really. And it helps me sleep so deeply, and I love the 'drunk' feeling at the end of the night when you're on the verge of falling asleep. It makes me feel so calm and my confidence levels just skyrocket, allowing me to do things that 'normal' people do. I really can't believe it, and I'm so grateful. I wonder what 200mg would feel like. It also helps with my schizophrenia (I hear voices and have hallucinatory mental pressure). The only side effect is that I have really unusual visions in my mind as I'm about to fall asleep, and I also hear different voices at that time. But when I wake up, I feel like a new person and much more symptom-free."

• Est...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 15, 2019

"I take quetiapine 250 mg each night alongside 200 mg sertraline nightly and 200 mg lamotrigine throughout the day for BPD, and it's balanced me perfectly. It is the best drug combination for BPD and an absolute lifesaver. Literally does all the heavy lifting."

• Cha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 6, 2016

"I really have a love/hate relationship with quetiapine. Here goes... Love - keeps moods stable, helps with my psychosis and disassociation linked to bipolar and EUPD. I feel like it keeps my more volatile mood swings back and helps me to be calm in situations I would ordinarily struggle with. Hate - Man, it makes me eat. I've been on it for 9 months and I've put on just over 2 stone. I hate being this heavy, but it seems no amount of gym sessions (I'm extremely physically fit but can't lose the weight) and diets help. Every night I go to the fridge after I've taken 200 mg of it. It also makes me super tired, and I REALLY struggle to get up in the morning. I also feel like I'm trapped in a cycle - if I come off it, my moods are awful."

• dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2019

"I decided to stop taking it because of the massive weight gain, but at 100 mg, it did help my Borderline Personality Disorder - you end up feeling NOTHING rather than everything. I guess it depends on the person. I lost my actual personality but gained a more normal reaction type, and my mood was generally 'better' - I was more neutral rather than the extreme highs and lows. I also had a few side effects: extreme drowsiness, weight gain (I'd say approx. 2 st in 2 months), a complete lack of motivation, and also *weirdly* awful restless legs for about 2 hours after taking it."

• Tin...
• December 18, 2015

"I have been on Seroquel (75 mg, with 75 mg of Zoloft) for 2 months now. It's the only thing that's completely managed mood swings (along with weekly DBT therapy). I have PTSD, anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder. I'm on Seroquel for mood swings. It's helped me sleep through the night and feel refreshed in the morning. Weight gain was not a problem for me, but the headaches when I first started taking it (within the first week) were excruciatingly painful."

• Mee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 7, 2015

"I stayed in my own little comfortable world, as I called it, because I was paranoid, had bad compulsions and habits, hypochondria. Every day was a struggle, and I would cry randomly. I did not consider myself depressed because I was such a happy girl, even though at a split second I would turn into something else and would have no emotion for anything. Sometimes I would have bad anxiety due to giving myself all of this stress, and I couldn't eat, and then I became sick, and most of the time with that came no confidence. Sometimes I had many flowing ideas and such creativity. I was diagnosed recently with hypomania, BPD, and a bit of skitz. This med has helped so much, but if you have symptoms of bipolar, do not take anxiety medication... you’ll feel terrible."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 2, 2018

"I was recently diagnosed with BPD after years of suffering with emotional problems on top of depression and anxiety. Antidepressants don't seem to touch the BPD, and I worked with my psychiatrist to get on Seroquel (regular, not extended release). I started at 25 mg and then titrated up to 50 mg as prescribed. At first, it caused drowsiness, but that wore off after a few days. My family and I have definitely noticed my emotions are much more leveled, and I don't feel anxious nearly as much as before. It helps with the quality of sleep, but I still struggle with insomnia as far as when I go to bed (not currently working). I'm very happy with the results so far."

• Noo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 9, 2020

"Quetiapine helped me a ton in terms of emotional instability and sleep. I was on 150 mg for about a year. All going fantastic. Then 100 mg because of unrelated heart problems, now 50 mg because of swallowing problems that have lasted the entire time. Since being on the 50, I am unable to sleep and have suicidal and self-harm thoughts every day, unable to work. I wish I didn't have swallowing problems, as this med changed my life. I have had no weight gain either."

• Bro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2013

"I started on quetiapine nearly 5 months ago after switching from chlorpromazine for the mood-stabilizing properties. I'm on 600 mg of the XR version nightly. It took nearly 2 months for me to notice an effect, but once it did take effect, there was a great difference. I went from being incredibly low with repeated drinking, self-harm, and hospital admissions to a deep stability I haven't experienced in years. I've not self-harmed now for 3 months and also quit drinking alcohol. My mood is on very much an even keel with no extreme highs and lows. I'm just happy at a normal level and enjoying life and am dealing with things so much better. The only negative is slight weight gain, but it's a price I'm willing to pay for this stability."

• Ave...
• June 21, 2016

"I'm at the two-week point. And while it's still a bit painful to get out of bed, once I do, I no longer feel 'stoned.' There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Days one through five were as follows: 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg, 400 mg. Then it was a matter of getting my body acclimated to 400 mg, which I thought would never happen. If you are able to take vacation/sick days/medical leave, I do suggest it. I did not. Either way, just know it does get better within a matter of weeks."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 23, 2013

"I have been taking Seroquel XR consistently for almost a year. I recently decided to try to lower my dose from 200 mg/night to 100 mg/night because I'm fed up with the weight gain (diet/exercise don't seem to do much to combat it), but I began to feel unstable a few days after lowering the dose. On Seroquel XR, I am content, even-tempered, not very anxious, no paranoia, no self-harm thoughts, but when I mess with the dosage or stop it entirely, I quickly remember why I take it. I instantly begin to assume that others don't care about me, to feel lonely, impulsive, and very down for no reason. I'm hoping to switch to a medication with a similar mechanism as Seroquel XR without the weight gain...(Geodon...?)"

• yor...
• January 28, 2009

Quetiapine "I've now been on this drug for 5 months. I haven't self-harmed during this time. I have gained some weight, although in recent weeks, I've been able to stop bingeing for the first time in years. I tend to wake up feeling down or agitated, so perhaps the pills aren't working for the full 24 hours. However, once I've taken the medicines, I am calm again. The major downside is that I easily sleep for 14 hours straight and find it impossible to motivate myself to do anything. The days go by very quickly, and I do little other than eat, sleep, and watch TV. In the long term, this has to be a bad thing, but for now, I'm happy not to be feeling ill."

• Bpd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2016

"I began taking Seroquel 100 mg 3 nights ago, it has helped a lot. I have been suffering for 20+ years and didn't know I was BPD. At first, I was diagnosed E.H. (emotionally handicapped) when I was 12, then when I was 30, Dr. said I had alcohol-induced psychosis. Now I'm 38 and I have BPD. The emotional roller coaster in my brain sucks. I go from suicidal thoughts to smiling and shaking hands and pleasant conversation. Mostly I'm depressed, I have paranoid thoughts as well. Seroquel has calmed that down a lot. I slept great the first night, then woke up 4 times the next night, last night about 4 times as well. I don't feel any emotion. Everything is slow and I have stopped talking to myself, with a few words here and there. I hope I get better."

• app...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2019

"I've been taking Seroquel 100 mg at night and Wellbutrin 200 mg in the morning for about a month for borderline personality disorder. I was previously taking Seroquel 50 mg and Wellbutrin 200 mg, but was still having problems. My mood is overall better. I have more energy and am more talkative and not as fearful. I don't read into things as much. When I do get upset, the reaction is much less severe. I still have some racing thoughts when triggered, but the severity is less. I seem to forget things almost instantaneously at times, though, which makes conversation and focusing a bit difficult. My husband says things have been going well with us for a while now. That's really something since that hasn't happened in our marriage ever before. What's helped also is learning CBT skills."

• MRS...
• August 19, 2012

"I am 32 years old. I got diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder a mere 6 months ago, but I have definitely been suffering with BPD since I was 11. Since taking quetiapine, I am no longer an insomniac (the longest I went without sleep was 4 days). I have no racing thoughts, no more paranoia; my rages are less. I can deal with people in a more diplomatic way than before. I am far less irritable or argumentative. The only downside is slight weight gain, but I try to be very mindful about food because I have high cholesterol, and heart disease runs in my family, so I have to be careful. I also get slight tingling in my fingers. I am on 100mg at night and 50mg during the day; it takes the edge off at work because I have a very stressful job."

• Smi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 25, 2019

"I have BPD. I take 90 mg of Duloxetine in the morning and 300 mg of Quetiapine at night. It works very well for me. I find it hard to lose weight, but I would rather carry a bit of weight and be mentally strong."

• tam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 8, 2024

"I finally got 25mg per day, and it helps me to sleep. I could go up to 5 days and nights not sleeping in distress. In turn, I feel less angry, anxiety has reduced. I would highly recommend it for BPD. No unwanted side effects either. About once a week, a worry can override it, so maybe I need a higher dose occasionally. I think drugs are avoided for BPD, and yet I find it really helpful."

• Tru...
• June 16, 2018

"I was diagnosed with bipolar 9 years ago and have been taking 100 mg every night for the 9 years, and it has been very positive and life-changing. Before being diagnosed, I had been drinking at least 4 nights a week. I would stay out those nights until there was no more alcohol to be found! The booze almost cost me my marriage and family. From the first night of taking the medication, I quit drinking and maybe have had 6 beers in 8 years. It has helped me to sleep and have had no side effects. It’s a lifesaver, a family saver, and I believe it has saved my life. I now depend on it. There have been times when I have run out, I cannot sleep at all, not a wink. Again, it has changed my life very positively. Wish the diagnosis would have been at a young age. I am 60 years old now, and the last 9 years have been better."

• Tim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 29, 2020

"I’m currently on 50 mg of Seroquel. It has helped a lot with psychotic symptoms related to BPD (borderline personality disorder), I haven’t had auditory hallucinations on it at this dose. It’s also helped boost my appetite, which I was struggling with. The drowsiness made morning classes difficult since I was put on it while attending college, but overall I’d say the side effects are preferable to the symptoms the Seroquel is treating. It also seems to help taper down my impulsiveness."