Seroquel and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Liz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 27, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I have a child on Seroquel. We've tried Abilify, Risperdal, and Geodon to no avail. Seroquel seems to keep her psychotic symptoms at a whisper instead of shouting in her head. My husband has also used Seroquel for his schizoaffective disorder. He switched to Risperdal because the Seroquel was sedating when ingesting over 50 mg, and he needed doses during the day. Our daughter is on an average of 500 mg a day with no sedating effects whatsoever, and we're wondering if she just does not do well on this class of drug since 600 mg a day is the highest she can safely go for her age. Nothing seems to keep her psychotic symptoms completely in check, particularly her paranoia."

• Lil...
• December 5, 2011

For Insomnia "I would NOT recommend taking this medication for longer than a few weeks for insomnia. It works amazingly well at first, but then, over the course of time, you will need to up the dosage to get the same result. Over time, you will find that the medication makes you groggy and can cause weight gain. Then, when you try to get off, it is very, very hard. I was only on 50 mgs for 6 months, and it has taken 2 months for my sleep to occur naturally more than in 2-hour increments. Overall, it made my insomnia worse."

• Anonymous
• March 10, 2008

For Bipolar Disorder "It took me down from a manic episode relatively quickly, but after the mania stopped, I just felt sedated all the time. I don't love Seroquel, but it has its benefits."

• Bel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 12, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I’ve struggled with unmedicated bipolar disorder 1 for years. I have always been very hesitant to take antipsychotics because I happen to be one of those people that gets all the rare side effects. I took Seroquel for the last 6-7 months, and at the 300 mg dosage, my symptoms nearly faded away entirely. But I didn't like the way it made me feel. I felt dumbed down and slow. I was in a constant state of sedation and could barely work. I didn’t feel manic or experience psychosis, but I felt I couldn’t enjoy life either. I’m tapering down now and hope to try something new."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Thank you everyone for sharing your views. For those that Seroquel has helped, how many weeks did it take to feel relief from the agitation? I have been on this for a week and don't feel less agitated yet, only too drowsy to yell as much after I take it for a period."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 15, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "My liver has always looked fine on ultrasounds. Since I've been taking Seroquel (4 years), my liver is enlarged, fatty, and dense. However, I have been on various antidepressant meds for 35 years, and the liver has to process this every day. It also made me drowsy. Don't know if Seroquel made my liver this way or just all the years on meds. I am currently coming off Seroquel and onto Lamictal and Rexulti. Fingers crossed! Good luck to you all, it's a very tough condition to live with!"

• tir...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 11, 2014

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Unfortunately, this medication does not suit me, as I get a lot of the undesirable side effects. Slurred speech, terrible confusion, drowsiness but not able to sleep, cravings for sugary foods, a sort of spaced-out feeling, and restless leg. Apart from that, it's great! :) Wish I could continue taking it, but it's not worth the side effects in my case."

• Anonymous
• June 30, 2011

For Insomnia "Causes too much daytime drowsiness. Works well as a sleep aid, but there is too much carry-over sleepiness during the day."

• 411...
• June 23, 2011

For Insomnia "I have been taking Seroquel for a while now. Aside from being extremely hungry when I wake up, groggy, and the weight gain, it is a really good sleep aid. I am currently on 200 mg. Not only am I less stressed and anxious, but it slows me down to a point where I can actually think clearly rather than having racing thoughts, and it tones down the late night activity greatly. I still work out and am very active, but it is a lot less extreme thanks to Seroquel."

• Anonymous
• March 31, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I am a 49 yr old male - after a confusing and distressful life for myself and family at the age of 35 yrs and a 3 mth stay in the hospital, I was diagnosed as being bipolar. I have taken different medications over the last 14 yrs (Seroquel, Tegretol, etc.) and after my most recent manic/depressive episode, started taking Seroquel. I take 300 mg at night and at present am quite stable with mood, thoughts, and sleep patterns, though I do feel lethargic, drowsy, and being on 'auto pilot' during the day and suffer aching limbs. This, however, is a small price to pay for actually feeling like a normal part of society for the 1st time in my life."

• 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!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2019

For Schizophrenia "Seroquel makes the psychosis easier to deal with but makes me very tired. Experienced side effect drowsiness every time I took it."

• A-n...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 13, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "If you have Bipolar Disorder type II, please learn as much as you can about this condition from professional, reputable sources so you can make informed decisions about treatment and management options. This is a treatable, manageable illness, take hope in that. After 20+ years struggling to 'cure' myself 'naturally' and being miserable, dangerously depressed, and dysfunctional, I finally decided to try psych medication. I found a doctor who SPECIALISES in this disorder and is up to date with the latest research findings in this specific condition. If you don't like your current GP or Psych's attitude, find someone else! I started a combo of Lamictal (AM and PM) and Seroquel (Only PM - makes you drowsy). I kept a daily mood diary, and it took 3 months for my mood to fully stabilize. To help the bipolar depression, we added bupropion and N-Acetyl Cysteine, a supplement (all based on clinical research!). For 5 years now, I’ve had my life back. Deciding to take this medication saved my life."

• Els...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 25, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I give Seroquel 7 out of 10. It works like a charm for my crazy head, but that doesn't seem to change the fact that it has sedative side effects."

• Bip...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 21, 2016

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Works kind of well, but you will sleep like nonstop, and you will gain weight. I gained at least 30 pounds on this med and was sleeping like 14 hours a day."

• ins...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 10, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Took for bipolar. Good side effects: more or less consistently put me to sleep every night. Bad side effects: gained roughly 20 lbs 6 months in, had a difficult time getting up every day, needed more sleep than usual. It helped for a while, but it mostly made my episodes less severe, did not effectively stop or prevent them."

• 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."

• cou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2013

For Schizophrenia "I was prescribed this for paranoid psychosis and depression. At first, I was to take a half of a 100 mg tablet at night for a week, then raise to the whole pill. After taking the half the first night at eight and feeling drunk, I decided this might not be for me, so I cut the half in half and take a quarter pill a night. It has helped me sleep and seems to curve my overthinking things and thinking that every comment or conversation on social media is about me. I think also by getting off social media altogether, it also helped my situation. But overall good medication, it's the only thing I take."

• Anonymous
• April 26, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "So far, so good. I have been on Remeron (30 mg) for 3 years. It stopped being effective almost a year ago. Since then, I have tried many other things. Finally, my doctor suggested Seroquel (100 mg at bedtime), in addition to the Remeron. I noticed the difference almost immediately-within 24 hours. Severe depression symptoms have eased off, and also less anxiety. Unlike others, I have had no grogginess with it so far. So, while it's early in the game, Seroquel looks to be good so far. Will post an update as my treatment time continues."

• ano...
• April 17, 2011

For Insomnia "I am in treatment for Lyme disease, and the antibiotics, as well as the infections, cause insomnia, depression, anxiety, and racing thoughts. I used herbs to quiet my mind so I could sleep, and they were successful for a couple of years, but finally, I needed something stronger. I take just half of a 25 mg pill an hour before I want to fall asleep. It works very well, but I do feel groggy in the morning. At first, I even had trouble talking, as my speech was slurred."

• Ins...
• April 13, 2011

For Insomnia "I am a 38-year-old female who has suffered from severe insomnia for 6 years, which has gotten much worse. I have been taking 10 mg of Ambien, which worked well initially (about a year) until it stopped working. I wake up at 2:30 AM and cannot go back to sleep. I have also tried all typically prescribed sleeping medicines to no avail. I was diagnosed with depression. I am taking 20 mg of Prozac and recently 25 mg of Seroquel. I was worried about those who gained so much weight on Seroquel, as I am a fitness fanatic. On the 1st night, I took it at 7:30 pm, woke up feeling very groggy and out of it all day but did sleep better the first night. On the 2nd night, I took it earlier at 6:30 pm and noticed my legs twitching. Slept and felt better taking it earlier. Haven't noticed any cravings."

• Anonymous
• August 1, 2009

For Insomnia "I am 49-year-old female with a lifetime of insomnia. I had been taking Ambien for sleep for over a decade for my insomnia but had been waking up during the night, cooking, cleaning, drawing, etc., so my doctor suggested I try 50 mg of Seroquel instead. I've been taking it for two weeks now, and I am sleeping and waking alert (YES!) and not semi-foggy...you all know that feeling, right? An added benefit is I am less anxious throughout the day."

• Anonymous
• June 12, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel has helped me a lot in the crisis days. However, I have gained a lot of weight and get drowsy easily. I would recommend it if you are really agitated and full of anxiety and have racing thoughts."

• Anonymous
• August 19, 2008

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on 400 mg of Seroquel for 6 months. It helped me sleep and also took away my voices that I was hearing. It works great, but I feel drowsy."

• Vkk...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 12, 2022

For Schizophrenia "I took Seroquel/quetiapine for 7 years, and it works like magic. Made back normal. I had no more delusional thoughts, no more paranoia, and no more fearful feelings. My life was the BEST. However, BOYYYYY, the side effects are serious. I took 800 mg at night before bed, and it knocks you OUT! I used to sleep to like 4 pm on it, if not MORE. Had me sleepy ALL the time. And I didn't mind that, but what I didn't like was that when I would take it, my heart would beat so fast I would feel like it would explode, and I used to feel really high and like I was catching an episode of psychosis, so I would just hurry and go to sleep (as if the medicine didn't make me sleepy anyway, lol), and these side effects never let up over the seven years, but it was a miracle drug. I'm no longer on it because I got pregnant and was afraid to take it, and it stopped working once I started taking it again. So now I'm on Invega Sustenna injection, but I would kinda recommend, and the reason I say kinda is because of the side effects."