Quetiapine for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• Kit...
• September 24, 2016

"I'm a Desert Shield/Desert Storm vet who went through a lot of stuff. Plus, during peacetime, I was taken hostage in South America and faced execution. Like a lot of vets, I self-medicated with alcohol. I had done this for many years. One year, I went to the VA hospital near me and spoke with a Dr. about the issues I was having. She said I most likely had PTSD. I went through the whole process with the VA to get benefits, and they finally saw this as a disability. I was put on an antidepressant, mood stabilizer, prazosin (for nightmares), Xanax (for anxiety), quetiapine 200 mg (for restlessness and hypervigilance). I also take 30 mg of Oxycodone a day for pain related to an injury while in the military. Quetiapine works; be careful with other drugs."

• ron...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2022

"After a lifetime of stressful events (teaching career, family issues, and love tangles) and a resulting desire to self-harm, I finally realized that there was something wrong that I couldn't resolve on my own. I was referred by my NHS GP for counseling and put on fluoxetine for depression. I still suffer anxiety, though, and was this week prescribed quetiapine at 12.5 mg at night. No side effects so far and less worry, but it's a low dose and early days. It seems that therapy is more about managing things/events rather than a complete cure. So far, I'm sleeping more easily and feel more confident, but I still can't catch a bus or go to the shops. I'm jittery when speaking and am happiest when sleeping or reading a book. Best wishes from the UK to all the vets and readers on this thread - stay strong and keep healing."

• Syb...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 20, 2018

"Had PTSD from an incident with police. Had a nervous breakdown. I turned to alcohol in a drastic way, just to pass out and escape or die. I wanted to escape my own brain. Eventually committed myself. I was put on 50 mg of Seroquel in the morning, 50 mg in the afternoon, and 400 mg at night. Unfortunately, I recently had an even more traumatic incident with police, and the PTSD is back with a vengeance. I have cirrhosis and can't take anything now. I am up now because I woke up from a nightmare, my heart was racing. I am not going to fall asleep again. Back to the Seroquel. Best medicine ever. Would risk death just to be able to take it again and feel normal again, but a doctor will never give it to me with my condition. The doctors can't even find anything I can take. One doctor in the ER was actually Googling on his phone to find anything that I could take. Everything is processed through the liver. If you are able, I highly recommend it."

• Anonymous
• July 2, 2010

Quetiapine "This drug did not work for me. The sedating effects were almost more than I could handle, and I constantly had the feeling of being 'underwater' as I tried to talk and communicate with those around me. It worked on my symptoms a little bit, but not enough to make up for the weirdness I felt from the side effects. I was on a dose of 300 mg 4x a day, so I don't know if that would produce worse side effects or not."

• Yod...
• April 24, 2017

"I was just put on this medication. My friends, family, and I noticed a difference. I am on 25 mg 2x a day and 100 mg at night. Helps me big time. It helps me big time. I don't have the heart beating out of my chest feelings."

• Bro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2017

"I was shot in the neck four years ago. I have PTSD, depression, anxiety, depression with psychosis. I have panic attacks to where I don't sleep at all sometimes, like 2 days. So they prescribed Seroquel for me, and I took it, and I had the craziest, scariest dream ever in my life. I gained like 20 pounds within two weeks. I didn't want to do anything but sleep all the time. The medicine just doesn't agree with me, so I have to stop taking it - but it's nice to know that it is helping others. God bless! So I'm still trying to find a peaceful life, hopefully, I will soon. My team of doctors is on it... awesome that it works for some, just not me."

• dev...
• July 21, 2015

"I was a recon Marine 1989/1999 and saw action in Kuwait, Somalia, and Bosnia. I came home and self-medicated with alcohol to escape the mental strains of what I had to do there. After marrying my wife and enjoying what I thought was a normal retired Marine life, she realized I had a problem. After getting me to commit to a mental health regimen, the doctor prescribed Seroquel. With a 100 mg starting dose, twice a day, the drinking that I've been doing for 10 years every night stopped completely. I'm now taking 300 milligrams 2 times a day and have no ill effects. To the contrary, my dreams are so peaceful that I can't wait to lay down and go to sleep. I have experienced the herky-jerky muscle movements at times when I walk, but not"

• Mim...
• April 26, 2018

"On it for 18 years to permit me to sleep all night. Absolutely necessary for me. If I forget, I either don’t fall asleep or wake up in an hour or so and can’t get back to sleep. This is a PTSD lifesaver. VA prescribed and supplied."

• Zap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2023

"Had a horrible episode at work, was taken to the hospital and put on this medication. It has given me the ability to get on a routine within my home. I am still unable to go out, I am isolated, but at least my bed is made!"

• all...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 5, 2016

"Is it effective? Yes! I was prescribed it when I was 12 years old, and now I can't get off of it at 23 years old. I wish I never was put on it, and my parents sought out natural alternatives instead. The withdrawals of even going without it for 18 hours are horrifying and feel like I'm withdrawing from a severe drug. I've tapered myself off from 300 mg to 75 mg, but if I go any lower than 75 mg, I start to experience tremors, cold sweats, nausea, headaches, insomnia, which kicks up my anxiety as well. Don't take this unless it's a last alternative."

• vio...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2022

"I have PTSD from growing up in a violent household, sexual assault, living in Minneapolis during the uprising, and witnessing a violent homicide where my life was in danger. At age 34, I thought I had lost my life forever and that it was only downhill from there. I moved back in with my parents and wasn't sleeping - I would fall asleep and wake up screaming from having nightmares of being shot at over and over again. Two months ago, a new psychiatrist put me on 25 mg of Seroquel, and a week ago it got upped to 50 mg because I liked the 25 mg so much, but some of the benefits had worn off as my body adjusted to the medication. My nightmares have slowed way, way down. I have dreams about guns, but they are just in the dream and are not being fired, so I don't wake up to the sound of gunshots or screaming anymore. I sleep 8+ hours a night. I always try to take it no later than 9:30 pm so I can get up for work in the morning. I haven't gained any weight - but I only take mine at night."

• cmm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2023

"I don't know how anyone had a good experience with this poison. Made me feel the darkest suicidal thoughts after only a week and made me go buy a gun to off myself with. Cops had to come to get me. Never again!"

• hxl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2022

"I take 50 mg quetiapine and 20 mg of escitalopram each night. After a traumatic birth, I ended up in a mom and baby psychiatric unit due to unbearable anxiety and symptoms of PTSD. I've gone from having constant panic attacks all throughout the day and night to having 0 panic attacks for 5 weeks. I've also been able to eat a normal healthy diet, unlike beforehand, as I wouldn't be able to stomach a thing for up to a week at a time. I have been taking the escitalopram for around 8 weeks, but my anxiety attacks didn't completely stop, so I started the quetiapine to fill the gaps, and it truly has worked wonders for me! I've had no side effects apart from being a bit restless the first few nights of taking it and being slightly groggy the next morning for the first week or so!"

• CMa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 7, 2017

"Currently taking 50 mg of Seroquel a day. I also want to say that I'm taking 200 mg of Zoloft regularly, as well as 1 mg of Ativan on really bad days. The reason I was prescribed Seroquel on top of my other meds is mainly because I struggle with extreme rage, disconnection from reality, hypervigilance and paranoia, jumpiness to sounds, etc. A psychiatrist and family doctor both suggested Seroquel for rage, in order to calm down a bit so I'm not going off destroying walls and throwing dehumidifiers, etc. anymore. It works quite well actually, although the only problem is that it makes me insanely drowsy. I took it for the first time today, then passed out for a few hours. Overall good for uncontrollable rage when you get the right dose."

• Dut...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2016

"I'm a Dutch veteran, I've been to Lebanon in '82/'83, and this year after a violent attack in my house, everything was changed and I had aggressive outbursts. After the police came, the psychiatrist diagnosed me with PTSS. Now I'm using 75/100 quetiapine, and it really makes a difference. Instead of almost no sleep, I'm sleeping now 4 to 6 hours a night. I'm a little bit shaky the few hours in the morning, but I can control my moods and thoughts much better now."

• cox...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2016

"Worked on the symptoms for the most part, felt a lot calmer, but sometimes almost brain dead, which made university work very difficult. Put me to sleep like a baby, though, the only problem was, like risperidone, getting up in the morning was extremely hard even if I took it at like 8 pm. Side effects were unbearable. I gained over a stone (and I'm only 5 ft 2) in the space of 3-4 months when only on 25 mg (bi-daily) despite watching what I ate! I always felt like I was sweaty even in the winter and after climbing 2 flights of stairs, and I kept feeling my heart skip a beat. Also worth mentioning, alcohol is a no-go, I could only have 1 or 2 drinks before feeling completely out of it. Bottom line: works but not worth it in my opinion!"

• ari...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2022

"I have been on 25 mg of quetiapine for a few months now due to insomnia caused by C-PTSD. I feel like I've found a miracle cure: I can sleep like I was able to before my injury. On this medication, I fall asleep very naturally about 45 minutes after taking it. It does not make me drowsy, and I sleep easily for 8 or more hours. In fact, I believe the dosage might be a bit high, as I can easily sleep for 12 hours or more, it can be difficult to wake up in the mornings, and I need caffeine to function correctly at work. Nevertheless, I feel a sense of calm during the day. Prior to taking this medication, I would only be able to sleep for 1.5-2 hours before waking up and being unable to fall asleep again. I would also have flashbacks while I slept, nightmares while suffering from insomnia. The only side effect I have noticed is prior to falling asleep, my leg can sometimes shake uncontrollably for a few minutes. Otherwise, this medication has given me my life back."

• Ban...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 1, 2020

"I've been on quetiapine 100 mg a night for 6 years. If I up it to 200 mg when I'm not feeling good, I can drop back to the 100 with no issues. If I miss just my normal dose one night, I get side effects like no sleep, migraine to the point I vomit, my head feels like it's about to explode, shakes. As soon as I take it, I go to sleep and wake up okay. I've liked that I've been able to sleep a full 6 hours, but once I wake, even if it's 3 am, I can't go back to sleep. I feel these control my life big time. I now wish I tried something else because I'm struggling to work out how I'll ever get off them now. Now I know why my doctor was against them and said once you start them you will have to stay on them for good. I'm now down to 50 mg, which has been my 7th day, and feeling okay, surprisingly, I sleep well and finding yoga and breathing is helping me more. These I wouldn't recommend, it's something you will find you rely on more than food."

• Tam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 26, 2020

"Ok, started quetiapine about three years ago. They were ok. Starting to take them properly in the last three years, and they work for my voice hearing. Had to adjust to 400 to get my sleep pattern better over the past few weeks, and it gives you munchies. Try not to eat loads, and you'll be fine."

• Jaz...
• October 13, 2015

"Horrible. I was put on 200 Seroquel, and now I've been diagnosed with hypotension. I get dizzy all the time. It's been three months, and I have to go off, it's that severe. This side effect is horrible! Especially for a student not being able to concentrate."

• Jef...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 27, 2023

"I hallucinate from alcohol abuse. These episodes have lasted up to 5 years. It has happened twice before, each time lasting for 5 years. I always toughed it out, but not this time. I am now on 150mg daily. I have gained 25-30 lbs. I slept a lot at first, but it's gotten better. However, when I first started taking it, my hand feels swollen and aches enough to wake me from sleep, and it aches so bad that I can't get back to sleep. After 10 or 12 hours, it feels better. It's a continuous cycle. I pray for some other medication. I can barely use my hand. Quetiapine does help with the anxiety and hallucinations. I feel a thousand times better."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2021

"About six years ago, I had a terrible episode while taking oral steroids for a major asthma flare. I developed severe anxiety and panic on high doses of steroids. My doctor suggested I take a very small amount of Seroquel. I am very sensitive to medications, so she started with the 25 mg tiny pill, and I cut it into quarters (yes, that’s how sensitive I am to meds). Just taking a quarter pill of Seroquel helped calm the severe anxiety and panic. The first dose I took was half of the 25 mg pill, and I was sedated within 10 minutes! Now, years later, I’m having the same side effect from oral steroids due to asthma treatment, and my doctor called in Seroquel 25 mg. Again, I am to cut it in half or quarters to start. I am baffled by the people who take hundreds of milligrams of this drug a day. I don’t know how they function or even get out of bed to use the bathroom or to eat, etc. Maybe their body gets used to it. It’s a lifesaver for steroid anxiety. Very strong medication!"

• Gti...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2016

"Been on this drug for 2 months now for PTSD, anxiety, and depression. 1st day took 100 mg, got 6 hrs sleep, and feel drowsy the whole day. Reduced it to 50 mg, slept for 6 hrs, and drowsy only in the AM. After a week my sleep lessened to 4 hrs. Tweaked it up to 100 mg again. Sometimes I get 6 hrs, at times 4 hrs or less. It was never a straight sleep. I always get straggles and unable to nap at noon time no matter how sleepy I was. Every time I get 4 hrs or less sleep, I get panic attacks and just feel so tired. Doctor told me to increase it to 125 mg. Still get 4-6 hrs sleep and palpitations. I paired it with 1/4 Rivotril for 5 days now and get 8-9 hrs. I feel refreshed and energized the whole day. No more panic attacks and palpitations. But with 125 mg alone, I'm a zombie!"

• Anonymous
• May 4, 2023

"I just don't like Seroquel at all, it makes you too tired! I found I've no interest in the things I used to like doing! It's a dangerous drug with too many dangerous side effects! When you've had your PTSD thrown in your face and made to feel like scum, an antipsychotic just doesn't help self-esteem! Out of 5, I give it 0."

• Udo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2018

"It works but lightly. I used to take Prozac 6 years ago, and then nothing for at least 4 years. After consulting my doctor, I decided to try this for manic depression, but it is not as efficient as you would think it is. The running thoughts come and go but still strike."