Quetiapine for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 5)

• Tammy
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 1, 2024

"This works amazingly well for sleep! I have had insomnia my whole life, usually, it would take me up to 2 hours to fall asleep every night, no matter what. I also suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. When my anxiety is really bad, it makes it even more difficult to fall asleep, then I develop sleep anxiety. I now take Seroquel and go to bed in an hour, it makes me fall asleep within 15 minutes. It has worked 100% every time. I’ve been taking 50mg for almost a year. It seems to calm the racing thoughts and allow my body to fall asleep naturally. Once I am asleep, I sleep great. I feel rested, alert, and energized the next day. When I had insomnia, it was also hard to manage my weight because I was up all night, I would start to get hungry and need to eat something to fall asleep. Since taking this, I can manage my weight so much easier. It’s also very safe with minimal side effects. Hope this helps anyone dealing with similar issues! It’s also very cheap. Highly recommend!"

• Eh he...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 11, 2019

"Ever since I was a child, I have been that kid who had endless energy and pulled regular all-nighters. I never knew any better because it was from birth, but it was detrimental to my mental/physical health whether I knew it or not. I was diagnosed with moderate depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder in 2012 and was prescribed quetiapine. I’ve now been taking it for 7 years, and I’ve seen a great difference in my sleep. Sadly, though, I still have some nights like these where I can’t sleep because I’m excited. If I don’t get any sleep at all, then I get pretty much the equivalent of a stomach virus. I don’t like that part at all, but considering 99% of the time I get sleep with the meds, it’s not that horrendous. But it’s definitely something that has helped me a lot!"

• Jaidee
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2019

"I was thinking too much and could not get to sleep. I take 25 mg of Seroquel before bed, and within 30 minutes, I struggle to stay awake, and it relaxes me. The next day, I still have anxiety, but I've only been taking this for 1 week."

• Brenda...
• January 13, 2016

"I have been on Quetiapine for sleep for 5 weeks now, and I have been sleeping great! I have had no side effects except the first 2 days, it took a while to get out of my system in the late morning to early afternoon. Now, just a good night's sleep and refreshed, ready to go first thing in the morning. I have severe sleep issues, this has been a lifesaver along with escitalopram for depression/anxiety."

• AAano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2020

"I was taking 100 mg a night for insomnia. It worked at putting me to sleep, but it gave me some intense memory issues. I was forgetting things, losing train of thought mid-sentence, and forgetting what I was talking about. About 30 minutes after taking it, I couldn't remember anything at all. I couldn't concentrate or focus at work. I took 25 mg initially, and it didn't put me to sleep, but it let me sleep through the night for about a week. Then I went up to 50 mg and same thing."

• srhin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 5, 2014

"Having been diagnosed with primary chronic insomnia at the age of 13, I have spent my life dealing with the condition. After serving for 20 years of active duty, I found that my condition worsened as time went on. Now, in my mid-40s, my condition has come to the point where, without medication, I can and do stay awake for 3-4 days on end without difficulty. Using quetiapine in combination with another medication has turned out to be the only combination that gives me 6-8 hours of solid sleep. I take 100 mg along with my other med and within an hour, I am tired enough to go to sleep. I have had nights where the combination had no effect, but there have been only a dozen or so in the last 5 years."

• Banta
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 14, 2020

"I'm on 300 mg at night. I've been on this dose for 6 years. I tend to have vivid, colorful dreams and then wake up exhausted. Even after the alarm goes off after 7 to 8 hours of sleep, I have to set the alarm for at least another 2 hours. I find that I'm more sensitive to sunlight and my metabolism has decreased. I find weight gain a problem, and my skin has become inflamed with dermatitis. I also have found that if I miss a tablet, I end up having withdrawals. It does help with sleep but has a few side effects attached to it. I was tried on so many antidepressants, but unfortunately, they had an absolute adverse effect on me, so I couldn't take them, and I'm left with Seroquel."

• TheAr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2018

"The key to taking this drug is finding the correct dose. From reading the comments, it seems that a lot of folks are prescribed very large doses. Perhaps they need them, tolerance has built up... I don't know, but all I need to get me feeling super chill is 6.5 mg. It is a very tranquil and pleasant, relaxing feeling. Any higher dosage than that and the next day I am a complete mess :-)"

• vanil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 20, 2012

Seroquel (quetiapine) "I'm 20 years old and I've been on Seroquel for about 1 year now. It really helps. I take it for 2 reasons: insomnia and to help control irritability as a result of having Asperger's syndrome. The FDA is considering approving Seroquel for use in patients with ASD who are at least 10 years old, it is now considered an off-label use. I've been on other antipsychotics to control anger (Abilify, Geodon, Risperdal) and they did not help as much as this, and some had bad side effects including fainting and seizures, very low blood sugar, feeling depressed, and feeling very restless all the time. I also tried Trazodone for sleep, but it didn't work. Thank God for my Seroquel!"

• restl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2019

"I have been on Seroquel for 6 months. I told my doctor I do not want anything that will make me gain weight, and this has-I'm miserable. He gave this to me to sleep, and it does knock me out but only for 4 hours until my mind is awake. This is not worth the weight gain and stomach issues I've been having, along with dry mouth. I couldn't understand how I could be gaining weight without eating, and my doctor said that I couldn't. But research I did says yes, medications will make you gain weight even if you are not consuming calories. I'm weaning myself off as of today. I've had it with all these meds. They keep switching, and nothing changes. I will report back on my withdrawals, if any. I do not believe this medicine is worth the side effects."

• Brinx
• November 18, 2014

"I had severe insomnia for years, which caused major depression and anxiety. I tried a ton of medications, but Seroquel was definitely the best. I'm still on it at 150 mg (3 x 50), which gives me 7.5-9 hours sleep/night. When I take 100 mg, I get about 5.5-6.5 hrs sleep. I take it an hour or so before bed. It sucked for about a week when I got on it, but I have been on it for 3 years now, and it's a lifesaver. I still have nights where I have bad sleep, but it's rare. I have had 0 side effects. Just as a reference, mirtazapine did work for me too, but I gained weight. Ambien never worked well, and benzodiazepines worked, but addiction scared me. Insomnia is the worst, and this medicine gave me my life back."

• h1ghr...
• October 24, 2015

"I started taking this for bipolar type 1 disorder and for insomnia. I take 50 mg nightly, which sedated me and helps with mood stabilization and psychotic episodes. PROS: I sleep nightly, my general quality of life has improved, and as long as I take it, the odd occasions where I experience psychosis aren't as bad. CONS: When I first started it, I had a case of restless leg syndrome (that went away within a month or two), sometimes I feel like my facial expression is mask-like, I feel like my breathing is heavier the morning after taking it, and I have very vivid, life-like dreams/nightmares. Do keep an eye on what you eat, I find it can give you the munchies and makes it harder to lose weight. This medication has honestly saved my life."

• Jen
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 14, 2019

"So I've been an insomniac since grade school and finally got something for it in 2006. 200 mg of quetiapine. Gained weight and ate at night, not remembering that I had done so. Well, now I'm on 400 mg and still some days it doesn't work, I never know. I've read a bunch of these experiences, and no one has said they take over 100 mg. Am I the only one taking this much? And I've tried others (many), and nothing else works. But me taking this much and it not always working is insane!"

• costly
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 29, 2014

"I have been on 25 mg of Seroquel and 0.5 mg Klonopin for 11 years for chronic insomnia. This combination has been wonderful, and I haven't noticed any side effects. However, my insurance will not cover the cost."

• Cherr...
• April 23, 2017

"I am currently on 25 mg taken 2 hours before bed for insomnia. I have found it to be very sedating and sleep for the entire night. On the first night, around the 2-hour mark after taking, I was not able to function properly. Cleaning my teeth and preparing my clothes for the morning was a big effort. Lightheadedness and dizziness. I have noticed others have had intense dreams/nightmares while on this medication, and I did too. The following day, I feel lethargic and drained despite a full night of sleep. I have rated it a 7 because it certainly works to relieve my insomnia, but the cluster of side effects is frustrating. I would recommend trying it for the first time when you have the following days free and are not working and adjusting."

• Hutch
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 25, 2019

"Well, I have been taking Seroquel for a year. Started at 25, then 50 mg, and eventually 300 mg at night. Taking that dose for maybe six months. And now it doesn't work anymore. I don't sleep at all now. So my doctor is going to raise it higher on my next visit."

• Kat
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2019

"I was put on quetiapine 50 mg to help in my detox from Xanax, which I gained dependence on to fall asleep every night. Quetiapine 50 mg didn't seem to work that well, so we upped the dose to 100 mg, then 150 mg. Currently, I'm sitting at 100 mg at night before bed. I wish the ravenous eating side effect was touched on more often because it's affecting me badly. This pill will kick relatively quick, and you'll know because you'll want to eat everything. I didn't see that pattern right away, but I found myself snacking right before falling asleep and immediately eating breakfast when waking up. Weight gain is a huge side effect. Also, worth the mention is the groggy feeling and cotton mouth you'll have when you wake up."

• honest
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 13, 2014

"I'm taking quetiapine, temazepam, and Vistaril. I suffer from anxiety, major depression, and insomnia. I'm taking Vistaril for the anxiety. I'm on 50 mg four times a day. When reading, most of you said it made you pretty sleepy. I feel normal for the first time in 40 years, like maybe I can have a life now. My experience so far has been a great one. I don't get drowsy at all. Like I said, this is the first time in my life I feel 100% normal. I take two Seroquel 100 mg in the morning for major depression. That doesn't make me drowsy at all. When I read about Vistaril and Seroquel, people say they are drowsy and lethargic, not me, I feel great! I also take Seroquel 300 mg at bedtime along with 30 mg Restoril at bedtime. The only side effects I have are movements in my neck and the chills. Yep, that's it. I can't say I like the jerk in my neck, but if I feel normal and I just have those two side effects, life is great. I think what most people do is give up too fast, work with your doctors, they just have to find the right cocktail for you. Never give up on yourself!"

• Dave
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 10, 2019

"Very scary drug. At first, it was good and helped with my sleep. Been taking 25 mg-100 mg at bedtime for the past 7 months. Definitely puts you to sleep; however, you’ll get some insane and crazy nightmares from this stuff. Very hard to get out of bed in the morning. Literally no energy and feeling like a zombie. My eyes are always bloodshot, and I honestly feel like a zombie. I try to not take this med when I don’t have to as much as possible. Good for anxious nights where you can’t fall asleep. But definitely not worth the nightmares and morning after. Honestly, I would stay away. This drug is crazy and shouldn’t be prescribed for insomnia."

• ALano
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 25, 2019

"If you need sleep, this medication works wonders, but there is a huge downside. I have been taking it for 2 years and have gained 20 lbs. A few minutes after I take it, I get an uncontrollable hunger and have to eat quite a bit to calm it. It makes me sleep like a baby, but I am done with this overeating business. I weaned myself off, and that insane hunger was gone up until tonight when I wanted to actually sleep, so I took 50 mg (normally 200), and I ate so much! If you can overcome the urge to eat after taking it, it could be a wonderful solution to your sleep problems."

• Anonymous
• September 18, 2016

"I took this back when I was 15, and it was perfect for my terrible anxiety and insomnia. 25 mg knocked me out completely and put me to sleep. I've been on melatonin for the last few years, as quetiapine made me too drowsy the next day. But recently, I have been back on quetiapine, as I have been finding my anxiety keeping me up at night. I've put myself back on a 12.5-25 mg dose, and it's worked wonders. It feels euphoric and puts me to sleep like a charm. Downsides: I've been feeling so out of it during the day, drowsy, harder to wake, plus I've had a few headaches and stomach upsets. Also, I'm scared I'm going to gain weight, as that is commonly reported. As far as doing its job as a sleeping pill, though, it's incredible."

• Sleep...
• July 1, 2019

"I have been taking Seroquel for sleep now for 14 years! I am not big on taking this type of medication. However, when I first started on it, I was increasing the medication and got up to 100 mg. It was too much and the side effects were horrible. I can take 25 to 50 mg a night and be fine. I prefer to take the least as possible. I have no side effects other than if you love the sun, be extremely careful. I have had heatstroke twice now, and if you are on a higher dose, it can be worse. The sun is your worst nightmare on this medication if you are out in high temperatures. This is my warning to you from experience. Good luck to you!"

• nickn...
• May 11, 2013

"This does the job for mellowing you out, then out you will be like a light. It makes you very hungry, though, and you may find it tricky at first getting out of bed at high doses. If you need sleep, this is perfect, remember it's not the quantity of the sleep, it's the quality. This for sure gives you the quality."

• jenzw
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 17, 2013

"Brilliant - Tried all the usual sleeping tablets with no success. This works for me 99% of the time. I've accidentally forgotten to take it a couple of times without realizing until the next day, and the difference is very noticeable."

• Anonymous
• September 22, 2019

"I have been on this medication for 10 years, 400 mg before bed, and have had no side effects, most likely because I train hard at the gym every day with a program of aerobics and weight training, so I don't gain weight. I consistently get 9 hours of good sleep each night. Everyone is different, and some have horrid effects from this medication, but if you are currently on Ambien and are having bad side effects, then it may be worth your while to try this medication."