Seroquel and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Me ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 18, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel has been a lifesaver! I have taken it for over 10 years. I take 800 mg at bedtime. I cannot sleep, and my mind does not stop when trying to go to sleep. I also use a weighted blanket and a noise machine. This past month, I went down to 600 mg to try to lose weight. It was a rough month, but I finally made it with a few anti-anxiety meds, which I am off of now. Hopefully, I can continue on 600 mg for a while. I don't feel groggy when I wake up, either by alarm clock or on my own. Seroquel is not for everyone, but give it a try."

• SJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 16, 2021

"I have been on 400 mg Seroquel with 1 mg of clonazepam and 900 mg lithium for MDD. The Seroquel works after about 40 minutes for me, and I instantly feel drowsy and feel the need to go to bed. I take 375 mg venlafaxine in the morning, and Seroquel helps me wind down after being on such a high antidepressant dose during the day. Recommend if your antidepressants keep you up at night!"

• Lea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 4, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on this medication for years. The only things that aren't fun are the drowsiness and the increased appetite, but this medication's side effects don't affect me nearly as much as other medications I've taken."

• 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."

• Alt...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 17, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I use this drug in a low dose, 25 mg, to help me sleep. I am diagnosed BP1. It makes me tired enough to get to sleep. I do not feel extremely tired, but if I lie down and close my eyes, I fall asleep quickly and usually can stay asleep for 7 or more hours. Some days, I do feel very groggy, but it is worth it to me. I drink very little alcohol - one beer every two weeks or so, but if I drink the beer close to bedtime, the combination makes me extremely tired. I have gained 15 pounds since my last bipolar major episode (severe M followed by severe D in fall 17 to winter 2018). All the gain happened on olanzapine (discontinued), but either lithium or Seroquel seems to have made it tough to take some of that weight off."

• Nui...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 21, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Very drowsy for the first week of taking it, but once your body gets used to it, it is a great mood stabilizer. I've been on it 6 years, and it calms the edginess and irritability with bipolar. Also makes you sleep like a rock. My weight only changed when lithium was added to my meds. No significant weight gain for me. If I go a few days without it, I notice I'm on edge constantly."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 5, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel has been very helpful with sleep, and I also noticed some mood stabilization in combination with Lamictal and sometimes Klonopin. Sometimes it is overly sedating, but taking it a couple of hours before normally going to sleep is important for me so that I don't feel drowsy the next day. I did not notice any weight gain on it. My doctor started me on 50 mg, which was good for sedation, but no major difference in mood. 100 mg does make a difference in lowering my anxiety and some mood stabilization with my other medications, but sometimes she recommends me to take 200 mg to reduce mania from flaring up when it starts. Overall, this med has been useful for Bipolar 1 for me."

• 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!"

• 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."

• 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."

• 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)."

• Dir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed 200-700 mg for bipolar with psychotic features. At 200-400 mg, I slept well and woke up happy and felt content. Some symptoms remained, thus the increase to 700 mg. At that level, I had nightly blackouts where I would write belligerent texts to loved ones at night and have no memory of it. I was horrified to learn of it later. I've tried Geodon and Zyprexa with bad results like drooling, somnolence, and tachycardia. Next doctor visit, I will ask to be put on 300 Seroquel. I had good results at that level and wish to return to that. Looking forward to it. I'm not on any antipsychotic currently, and I feel anxious."

• 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."

• jwi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I am having Seroquel blues. Just recently, my normal dosage of 400 mg went up 200 mg more, and that 200 I must take during the day. I am so frustrated trying to find out how long it takes for the body to get used to taking the medication during the day. I always feel like I am in slow motion and unable to be patient with others, having irritability and having to take naps during the day to overcome the drowsiness. I know this medicine is important because it helps with the mania, paranoia, and suicidal ideation."

• Ano...
• March 9, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I used to seek out and attempt to prolong manic highs, to the point where I was nearly oblivious to anything outside of the experience of the moment, and I was able to put off duties and worries comfortably in my own psychosis. The antidepressants I had been taking prior (sertraline, Wellbutrin) seemed to exacerbate my manic highs. Seroquel has taken the edge off of the manic episodes and allowed me to deal with quitting other medicines. It is highly sedating, however, I would say it has a very minimal effect on cognition. I was far more concerned with my thought processing while under the influence of two antidepressants and Vyvanse for suspected ADD."

• Anonymous
• November 14, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Seroquel (along with a myriad of other psychiatric medications) for 10 years at a dose of 600 mg at night. For a while, I would get so sedated that while sleeping, I would stop breathing and jump awake feeling like I was drowning. While the medicine has been very helpful, I am starting to titrate it down in the hope of losing the 15 kg that I put on when I started it. I now find it impossible to sleep without it, so I'm coming off it very slowly hoping that my other medicines will keep my mood balanced. Overall, a really good medication."

• Anonymous
• July 20, 2011

For Insomnia "I was prescribed 75 mg of Seroquel for insomnia. It worked like a charm for about the first week. Then it made me sleep too much. I was sleeping 12-14 hours a day and was still waking up groggy. As well as gaining around 25 pounds in a matter of 2 months, my physician and I both decided that it would be better to stop taking it. But I still will keep the rest of the medicine I have just in case there are one of those nights that I can absolutely not sleep. Great medicine, just not for me."

• Anonymous
• February 23, 2011

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Withdrawal is nasty in spite of doctors saying there are no withdrawal effects. It is sedative and can be impairing, so drivers, be careful."

• Anonymous
• April 3, 2010

For Depression "Diagnosed with fibromyalgia several years ago but am highly functioning with Ultram (tramadol) and Flexeril. Added 25 mg of Seroquel for insomnia, and I can finally sleep through the night! Because I am so groggy in the morning, I cut them in half on work nights and enjoy the whole dose on Friday and Saturday nights. No side effects after a few weeks (other than the grogginess). I am hopeful it will also help with my depression from dealing with chronic pain."

• 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)."

• Anonymous
• January 6, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I use it along with other medicines to treat my severe bipolar disorder. It helps me sleep and keeps the 'thoughts' associated with this disorder in check. I'm not constantly thinking bad, self-destructive thoughts when I'm taking it. The only bad thing about it is the grogginess and the always hungry feeling."

• Sch...
• December 16, 2008

For Schizophrenia "It worked really well for a little while, but I've started having delusions again. It still helps, though. It also puts you to sleep."

• Hea...
• September 24, 2008

For Bipolar Disorder "I was recently prescribed Seroquel, and I can tell the difference already with my bipolar. However, it made me so drowsy and lethargic that I can only take it at night. It has helped me think more clearly and has lessened my manic and depressive episodes to where I feel almost 'normal' again."

• lyn...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 3, 2025

For Bipolar Disorder "This drug literally saved my life. At first, it is hard to get used to the fogginess and feeling sleepy, but most of the side effects went away after 6 months. I did gain about 30 lbs, but that was over the course of 10 years and I have recently been able to get it off. I have had to keep track of calories and eat well to not gain weight on this med. However, that is a better lifestyle anyway. This med helped so much with my OCD/intrusive thoughts and depression. I don't know if I will ever go off this med. At this time, 50-100 mg is all I need. However, when I have a major depression episode, it is increased to 200-300, but that has only happened 2x in 18 years. I felt I needed to write this for someone on the fence about trying this medicine or not. I am glad I did."

• Jac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 20, 2025

For Bipolar Disorder "It took me a good week to a week and a half before my body finally adjusted, but I am almost 1 year on this medication, and the quality of life has improved dramatically. Like everyone else mentions, it definitely helps with sleep! As someone who could only sleep 4-6 hours each night, this lets me get a solid 8 hours each night, and I wake up feeling great! The first week/week and a half, I was groggy and tired a lot during the day, halfway even thought about stopping taking it, but I kept on it and boy am I glad I did! I have been taking 100 mg each night since day 1 of taking it."