Seroquel and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Meg...
• September 4, 2016

For Schizophrenia "I was prescribed Seroquel for PTSD. Never again. 25 mg, I had the worst panic attack of my life, I could barely walk, but I was so scared I kept trying to run around. It was horrible. I went absolutely crazy, then passed out hard. Not my kind of medication. My mother-in-law takes 250 mg a day for schizophrenia, she has for six months now. So far, it is not helping her delusions, hallucinations, or paranoia. She was told to take it at suppertime and seemed drunk and sedated all evening. She now takes it at bedtime, but it is not helping her. :("

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

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Wyn...
• March 31, 2011

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I have been treated for schizoaffective disorder and bipolar 1 since 1998. I have been on many medicines and combinations of medicines. In 2006, I had been off medicines for about a year when I went into psychosis and extremely manic - I was not sleeping and could not relax. The hallucinations and delusions were troubling. I was given Seroquel, and on the first night, I slept and slept very well for the first time in months. I woke up with a clear head and was not confused about who or where I was. I did not get the zombie feeling, but I was very tired all the time - taking Seroquel 4 times a day. When my dose and frequency were reduced, the sleepiness went away. (I take it just at bedtime now). I didn't get weight gain from it. Seroquel was my miracle medicine."

• Cor...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 11, 2012

For Schizophrenia "I take a dose of 600 mg at nighttime (because it makes me sleep). I wish that I could take less because I don't like that it makes me so tired, but I need it to stay sane. I've been on it for 5 years, and I used to sleep about 12 hours, but now it's down to 9. The good thing about Seroquel is that I have only sleeping as a side effect. I have been on other meds and had everything: dry mouth, blurred vision, drooling, constipation, you name it, I had it. So Seroquel is at least good for that. The only bad thing in the last 2 years I have noticed is overthinking and like a conversation going on in my head, but I can't find a good medicine, and I don't want to increase Seroquel because of the sleepiness."

• Hap...
• April 10, 2012

For Depression "After a 6-week period of a severe depressive episode with panic attacks and extreme anxiety, I checked myself into the hospital. The doctor completely changed my meds to Prozac, Wellbutrin, Klonopin, and at bedtime, 10 mg Ambien and 400 mg Seroquel. This combination has worked wonders for me. I started falling and staying asleep for a good 8 hours, my ruminating has stopped almost completely, and my depression has really lifted. I attribute a lot of that to the Seroquel, in that it augments the effects of my antidepressants, stops my mind from racing, and has me sleeping well. The two side effects I've had are grogginess (which has gotten better) and the munchies. I keep fresh fruits and veggies handy at night to snack on instead of junk."

• qui...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 16, 2024

For Bipolar Disorder "My dosage is 200mg XR at noon. Completely removed anxiety and feel smooth when I go to sleep. I take 300mg Seroquel, and it takes 30 minutes, and I'm knocked out for a good night's sleep. Need time to adapt to it but well worth it. Not for everyone but for me it works! Godsent medicine."

• Hea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 4, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Although my doctor prescribed it mainly for bipolar depression, he will temporarily increase the dose in response to emerging manic symptoms, especially racing thoughts, agitation, extreme irritability, and delusions. Positive - Significantly (80-90%) calms my thoughts. Helps me fall and stay asleep. Keeps my depression in check. I am now compliant with all of my medications and trust my doctor. Negative - higher doses blunt my affect. I must take my dosage at bedtime because of tremendous sedation, which is when the drug saturation is highest in my blood and brain. If I must get up during the night, for example, bathroom, I'm disoriented and dizzy. I could never take it during the day. Weight gain from 'munchies.' Sex-related problems."

• Anonymous
• February 19, 2009

For Schizophrenia "Pretty good medication for the condition. My thoughts are more straight, and I seem to have less visual and auditory distortions. It is sedating, though, and takes a little time for your body to adjust to it. I take 100 mg in the morning and 400 mg at night, seems to work pretty good in combination with Effexor for depression, and it's decent for mild anxiety (however, if you have major anxiety, it may not be enough on its own)."

• The...
• September 12, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Of all medications I have taken for mental illnesses, Seroquel has been the most effective. It started working almost immediately. At first, 25 mg nightly, then 50 mg, to 75 mg, to 100 mg only at bedtime due to the drowsiness that accompanies it. I now take 150 mg at bed and 25 mg with breakfast and 25 mg at lunchtime, which is keeping anxiety at bay. It required an increase monthly for me until now. The biggest benefit was treatment of insomnia, which in turn helped me manage my days better. It hasn't been effective in preventing or even reducing the effects of mania, which is why it didn't get a full 10/10 from me. The worst side effect has been the constant weight gain."

• sap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2018

For Schizophrenia "I took one pill, 50 mg. I was in such a deep sleep my children could not wake me up. Even the next morning, I felt like I was drugged. I slept the entire day away. You can forget about driving on this stuff. Two days later, I still felt the effects of the drug."

• elg...
• September 6, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Seroquel for over 5 years, with varying doses ranging from 50 mg/day to 400 mg/day, for treatment-resistant depression initially and bipolar disorder II recently, and it's been a gift from God. It doesn't cause the terrible inner restlessness that older antipsychotics or newer ones like Geodon, Risperdal, and Latuda produce, and it's effective against bipolar depression. I would give it a 10, but the side effects can be hard to deal with (drowsiness, tachycardia, BP changes)."

• gri...
• March 12, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been medically treating my bipolar disorder for 11 years. Finding the right medication and the proper doses is tremendous work. You may find that Seroquel is not helping you, but that may not be true, you may not have found the right dose, and initial side effects do subside. I take 900 mg lithium, 400 mg Seroquel, and 400 mg lamotrigine. Up until 2013, I was in and out of serious episodes that would last for months and destroy my life. I was taking 150 mg of Seroquel, and my doc was hesitant to increase my dose. This increase of dose saved me. I am no longer controlled by this disease and rarely have episodes. I do hate Seroquel for sedation, panic attacks at night, lucid nightmares, and weight gain. BUT I have my life back, and the negatives are so worth it!"

• Aud...
• September 23, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Love, love, love this drug. It has normalized my sleep, though the initial morning grogginess was hard to deal with. However, this side effect went away after the first month or two. I'm at 300 mg, and it has normalized my moods and has mostly gotten rid of my anxiety. The only downside is that it causes some pretty extreme 'munchies,' which does lead to some weight gain. May also have contributed to my pre-diabetic condition."

• biz...
• November 25, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel worked for me during my rapid cycling last year and really chilled me out very quickly. The only bad thing to say about it is I found the level of sedation far too much, and it left me incredibly 'plastic' the next day. It was a bit like being a walking zombie, although it got me through the dangerous bit. Also, since I have great trouble sleeping, it helped with that side too, so all in all, it was very good for me. I came off all medicines 9 months ago. Now I am only on zopiclone for sleeping. So hopefully, no matter how good it is, I won't be back on it!"

• sca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "The only good side was that it helped me sleep well. But I couldn't even get up in the morning, I was so drowsy still and felt hung over badly. Also, I was very lethargic. Like numb, and I felt numb. Like crap. Almost like seriously depressed without a depressed state of mind. Horrible."

• Am7...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 10, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Seroquel 400 mg for a lot of years. (It was a lot higher dose.) I am bipolar type 2, diagnosed in 2010, and if I take any more, I cannot get good sleep. I am amazed to read the comments/post how people are sleeping so well and are groggy on a 100-200 mg tablet! Wish I could! Lol. I'm on a 400 mg dose, and I can't sleep well at all. Should my dose be increased? Or should another medication be added? I fall asleep, but I'm not sleeping a load of hours, I get like 5-6 hours of sleep no matter what time I take the dose."

• iva...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Been on Seroquel for some time, and it really helps in managing irritability and wanting to fight with people. I was on 200 mg, it stopped working, so now I'm trying 400 mg, which makes me feel kind of sedated. Think I will try 300 mg, which doesn't make me sedated."

• Doe...
• November 25, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder 10 years ago (recently found out it is actually PTSD/c-PTSD), and I was started on 1200 mg of Seroquel. I was a zombie! I didn't want to do anything but sleep. I was so tired all day. One day after taking my medication and then sleeping 10 hours, I got in my car and was driving somewhere and fell asleep at the wheel. I totaled my car, but luckily I wasn't hurt and no one else was involved. I lost my job. The 'best' part, though, was the 110-pound weight gain I had in less than a year of taking this poison. I've been off of the crap for about 3 years now but still can't drop the weight it caused me to gain. Please be careful if considering taking this drug, it almost ruined my life."

• Nil...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 20, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "For years, I struggled with finding the right medication to help treat my bipolar disorder. Olanzapine basically turned me into Sleeping Beauty. I take 200 mg of Seroquel three times a day. Keeps me nice and level."

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2011

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Seroquel changed my life. After roughly 20 years of treatment with medications for borderline personality disorder, I had a new doctor put me on Seroquel. At first, I resented the sedation, but after time, I adjusted to it and the dosage was moderated and timed differently. Ultimately, however, it was the first medicine to thoroughly handle my anxiety and stop my obsessive thoughts in their tracks. The only downside has been the carbohydrate cravings and weight gain, but even those have become manageable with other supplements and medications. The gains far outweigh losses."

• Ste...
• April 22, 2010

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I began taking 50 mg of Seroquel XR, which I am told is a very low dose. I feel much calmer during the stressful workday, so calm, in fact, that all I want to do is take a nap. I can hardly stay awake. Also, I'm having difficulty with mental acuity and feeling emotionally dulled. I did not take a dose last night, otherwise, I probably wouldn't be capable of writing this. I'm wondering if this sleepiness persists once I've been on it for a while, or if it lessens."