Quetiapine for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder User Reviews

• Dyl...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 29, 2012

Quetiapine "300 mg 4x/day. I used to have horrible hyper-vigilance, hyper-startle, anxiety, paranoia, insomnia symptoms. NOTHING (meditation, yoga, EMDR, etc.) helped that much, let alone fix it. So, the doctor said to try this. Because of my side-effect sensitivity, my doctor started me on 25 mg. That first night, I slept a full night for the first time in months. But then I started sleeping too much - up to 14 hrs a day on the weekends. We backed off to 12.5 mg & my life CHANGED. I'm under more stress right now so my dose is back to 25 mg & I'm doing great on it. It pulls me down out of that watchfulness that prevents me from doing anything but surviving (and poorly, at that). For me, after a near-lifetime of struggle, this is a miracle."

• Veg...
• December 3, 2016

"I have had PTSD since age 9. I am a severe abuse and torture survivor of 14 years of daily abuse and torture. I tried many medications, but this one for me is a lifesaver. I've had so many anxiety attacks (like heart attacks but not fatal) that my heart is covered in scar tissue. Quetiapine (Seroquel) has stopped a lot of my issues and made me calmer. It's extending my life. I'm thankful for that."

• Man...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 18, 2020

"After no luck with two SSRIs, I was put on quetiapine at a dose of 12.5-25 mg per night before bed for PTSD, as an augment to the 50 mg/day desvenlafaxine SNRI antidepressant. I tolerated it super well, and it’s made such an amazing difference to my sleep/rest. No more flashbacks at night, or waking up in terror/sweats, just back to my old self. After 6 months, I now take 1/4 of a 25 mg tablet a night just before bed, and sometimes none at all. I’ve also noticed my hypervigilance during the day has almost completely gone, but that could be the desvenlafaxine more than the quetiapine."

• Sop...
• September 19, 2015

"I experienced a major traumatic event that resulted in the loss of my 4-year-old daughter and almost the loss of my own life with permanent organ damage. In the hospital, I was started on high doses of lorazepam, which did nothing. When I returned home, I deteriorated fast, and the PTSD symptoms increased. Anyone who has PTSD can tell you it's completely paralyzing. I was taken to the emergency room and given Seroquel to take 25 mg in the morning and 50 mg before bedtime. This medicine honestly saved my life. I was able to make it through her funeral and some very hard times. It's been 1 1/2 years, and with therapy, I've been able to taper down to 12.5 mg at bedtime. This dose easily puts me to sleep and has a calming effect."

• Ano...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 30, 2020

"After 39 years of severe PTSD, Seroquel along with specialized inpatient and outpatient therapy has turned my life around. I function 75% better now for the last 39 years. I have been on 200-400 mg Seroquel at night with 25-50 mg per day if needed for severe anxiety/panic attacks, for 17 years. I have developed type 2 diabetes and have gained weight, but this is nothing compared to what I went through in childhood into my late years. Seroquel helped my capacity to learn recovery tools. In the past 2 years, I’ve reduced Seroquel from 550-700 mg at night to 400 mg and daily 50-100 mg to 25-50 mg once a week. I am so relieved to have been given a second chance at life, along with 12-step recovery and private therapy."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2012

Quetiapine "Within three days, basically all my anxiety is gone, and I feel fantastic! FINALLY, a doctor and psychologist worked together to treat what they said was a 'unique' problem. I had anxiety all the time but wasn't depressed. So I'm one happy lady, and I'm sure my kids are loving their old mum back."

• Bea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 13, 2012

"Various incidents in Vietnam combat, intel work of over two decades slowly became an effect on sleep. The use of therapies, 12 steps, counseling all left something still not quite right. When an enlightened physician in the VAMC psych ward dosed Seroquel at 100 mg three times daily, first sleep in 30 years. At 200 mg nightly, no more dreams of conflict, resulting in a life saved, a definite sleep within 45 minutes, usually six to eight hours. Waking easily, up for a happy day every day."

• LZ ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 5, 2014

"Vietnam, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) went FUBAR 15 years ago. That's the first time I contacted the VA or even heard of PTSD. One severe symptom was inability to sleep. The VA was very slow to give me an appointment, so I went to a private shrink who got me on Seroquel. The VA has kept me on it since. Taking this, I have been able to get a good night's sleep every night since. Since then and to this date, if I forget to take it, I either can't fall asleep at all or doze off for about 45 minutes, then wake up wide awake and can't get back to sleep. The FDA hasn't approved this for PTSD sleep disorders, but should do so immediately. I've had no side effects whatsoever, unlike many other medicines I've been on/off for PTSD."

• Anonymous
• February 12, 2010

Quetiapine "The side effects that most complain about are what I love most about this medication. I am a 5'9" male in the Army that had lost weight all the way down to 128 lbs and was sleeping 3-4 hours a night on average. I have been on Seroquel for 4 months. I weigh 165 lbs now and sleep 8-9 hours a night."

• Reb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2019

"I was on this medication, quetiapine, a couple of years ago, and it ruined my life. I wasn't diagnosed with anything at the time, I now am diagnosed with PTSD and ASD, and I'm so glad I got off them. Quetiapine made me hallucinate and made me extremely paranoid that people wanted to hurt me. I don't have any of these thoughts anymore, thank goodness, but I still have a lot of anger about the drug. If you are being put on it, like any drug, ask lots of questions and just start with the lowest dose. Be careful with this drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 15, 2017

"Spent 6 years in the Marine (Iraq 2007) and 7 plus years as a narcotics agent with law enforcement. I take 25-50 mg at night, and I sleep like a baby now. Before, I would sleep approximately 2 hours a night. This pill has helped me, and my family life is better now. Definitely recommend for PTSD."

• Air...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 5, 2015

"I am a veteran of Iraq and have been struggling with PTSD since I got out. I have also bipolar disorder and was thinking about suicide a lot. I will tell you one thing, this medication (forgetting the weight gain) has saved my life! I feel completely normal, of course, I am not taking it by itself. I take another mood stabilizer and an antidepressant with it. Right now, I take 3 doses of 100 mg daily, and I feel normal again!! This medication is just great!"

• Anonymous
• April 6, 2009

Quetiapine "Seroquel has helped to reduce my post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms by 3/4. I am mostly living a 'normal' life again, and the anxiety, fear, and psychosis are nearly gone after one and a half years on it. It is working for me, and I am on a low dose of 40 mg per night."

• jha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2020

"I've been on Seroquel for about 1.5 weeks now, and so far, so good. My pdoc added it to my Prozac and Klonopin regimen in order to help my insomnia and augment the Prozac. I was still feeling extreme generalized anxiety during the day, along with panic attacks (which Klonopin tremendously helps). The first few days were sooooooo sedating -- could barely function during the day and slept 16 hours every night. This goes away. Now, I'm finding the medication so helpful. My anxiety is much better, my mood swings quelled, and triggers have a 'dampened' effect on me now, albeit still an effect. I'm on 50 mg. Kind of want to go up to 100 mg. The anxiety is still there, but just muted a bit. No weight gain so far, or change in appetite."

• Mis...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 16, 2020

"I've been on quetiapine for dissociative identity disorder for over 10 years. This is the only medication that works for me. I seem to be physically unable to sleep on my own due to mental illness. I've been on doses ranging from 50 mg to 1600 mg for various reasons, but it works best at 200 mg. It's a true wonder drug. Never fails. 10/10 for me too."

• Jad...
• December 17, 2017

"I got traumatized (PTSD, anxiety, depression) when my boyfriend hung himself in front of me, and I got the blame and was made to go to NZ (where it is traditional to stay/sleep next to his body for 5 days straight before the funeral) - and told it was all my fault. I take 50 mg, which is 2x25 mg at night, and it relaxes me and makes me sleep around 6-8 hours a night, but I smoke marijuana as well for my PTSD."

• SGM...
• June 22, 2014

"I went to a psychiatrist last week for post-traumatic stress disorder, having been diagnosed by the VA when I retired. I was put on 50 mg quetiapine. While in two days, my lifetime nail biting ceased, and I feel less anxious, I am tired as heck."

• Jes...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 12, 2018

"I went through a lot of recurring trauma and couldn't sleep at night. I'm constantly in hyperarousal and anticipating something. If I don't sleep, my symptoms can worsen. At one point, they increased my dosage by another 50 mg, and I started having nightmares. The doctor decreased my dosage by 50 mg over 3 months until I got to 300 mg. So while there was a little hiccup, this is probably one of the best medications I have taken."

• Ste...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 20, 2018

"14 years in the military, so I have seen much in my life. I've been taking 2x 400 mg a day for around 6 years. Need it every day, if I don't take it, it's very hard for me to function well. I started with Seroquel XR, and it was over $1,300.00 a month for 60 400 mg. At least now there's a cheaper generic version of quetiapine fumarate at almost $400... I copay $3.35..."

• Can...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2015

"I have only just begun a week ago, 25 mg to start. So far, the worst of my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms: panic upon waking, has subsided. Increasing dose tomorrow as still anxious through the day."

• Cpl...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 8, 2016

"After seven and some odd years as a machine gunner (0331) in the Marine Corps, three deployments, and a Purple Heart later, I find myself very grateful for medications such as Seroquel. I am currently prescribed 50 mg (1 pill) of Seroquel (50 mg tablets) a night, but usually take up to 150 mg. I will rarely mix it with 400-3200 mg (per serving) of gabapentin; also 20 mg of fluoxetine every morning and 300 mg of lithium, two tablets a day - quite the sedating cocktail. Don't necessarily have a specific question - however, I am a veteran and noticed some others on here; so I am curious as to any other experiences with these meds or any like it."

• Roc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 12, 2018

"This drug works very well for me after combat deployments on the front lines. I take 300 mg every night, and my mood the next day is much better. I think more clearly and am more focused on what I need to do every day."

• Mon...
• January 9, 2017

"I tried this medication to help with PTSD symptoms. This medication works great for me. The main reason why I took it is for rage and dissociation/disconnection from reality, although mainly for major aggression and rage. Unfortunately, I had to stop taking it shortly after starting because I feel unsafe on it. I get extremely drowsy and it almost knocks me out, although that's not that big of a deal, it fades off after 2 hours or so. The main reason is my blood pressure skyrockets, I feel like the room starts spinning and I get dizzy, my face goes numb, and I feel tingly and more numb everywhere generally, and I get these jolts inside my body while I try to sleep. When I try to sleep, it feels like I'm getting zapped with electricity."

• KiL...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 11, 2020

"Seroquel was initially given to me because my doctor suspected I was bipolar. I ended up not being bipolar, but I was definitely psychotic. I was hearing things that weren’t real. I thought that God was communicating with me, but that obviously was not the case. My doctor prescribed me Seroquel, and about 10-14 days later, I was feeling like my normal self again. My starting dose was 50 mg and increased to 100-200 mg, then 300-400 mg. The only complaints I have about this medication are the weight gain and extremely dry mouth. It makes you extremely hungry. I had just lost about 35 pounds prior to starting these meds, I was 195, and now I’m 240, and every week, no matter what I do, my weight continues to climb higher. So now I’ve begun to wean myself off of these meds so I can start my weight loss journey and be successful again. I’ve been on this medication for 9 months."

• vio...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 8, 2022

"I lived through a terrifying, life-threatening experience, and the result was terrible nightmares, which interfered with my ability to get good sleep, which then manifested in difficulty regulating my emotions/anger/grief. Luckily, I got linked up with a psychiatrist who had worked at a VA with veterans suffering from sleep disrupted by nightmares. He told me quetiapine prescribed at low doses helped with nightmares and asked if I wanted to try it. I started at 25 mg at night and then bumped up to 50 mg at night. This has CHANGED my life. I very rarely have a hard time falling asleep, and it's dulled my nightmares immensely. I used to wake up screaming about 3-4 times a week. Now, this rarely happens. Sometimes, if I'm stressed, a few nightmares will happen, but overall this dosage has significantly decreased my symptoms. I also had very few side effects and have had virtually no weight gain. The first week I started it, I felt a little funny, but that has gone away. I'm so grateful."