Seroquel and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• 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."

• Bip...
• May 17, 2011

For Depression "Taking low dose, 25-50 mg at bedtime for about two years. I was tired during the day, so we switched to hydroxyzine for the sleep. Bad idea, as I was very irritable and after about 6 months, wound up back in the hospital. Low dose Seroquel has positively changed my life. My psych says low dose has a remarkable effect on bipolar patients in his practice."

• Sur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "One of the worst meds I've ever taken was only on 25-50 milligrams a day, made me extremely tired and my eyes black. I'd wake up feeling like I was being choked. If I was trying to work out, doing push-ups for instance, I'd get a sharp pain in my head and either my arm or leg, or both, would give out, and I'd fall to the floor, almost hurting myself. I thought it was bad for me, or I must be allergic to it, so I had to refuse to take it anymore after a couple of months. I can't believe they are still giving this to people without knowing how destructive it can be to people's lives. It's an older antipsychotic medicine, they claim, so how could they not know the brutal side effects it causes."

• mae...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm surprised to see so many positive reviews for Seroquel for depression and panic/anxiety. That is why I was prescribed it 2x a day, and I didn't take it very long. Everyone is different, I'm glad it works for others. For me, I was extremely tired 24/7, had to force myself to get up and stay up and do anything. I felt like I was out of it, like it wasn't even to help me mentally and emotionally, but like I took a street drug. I was so tired and forcing myself to stay up. I couldn't do anything, luckily, I didn't have a job at the time. This drug did not help me. Everyone's different though, I'm sure it has helped others. To me, it's like Seroquel = sleep."

• Maz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel has helped me through psychosis from bipolar 1. I was paranoid to the point I struggled to leave the house and was convinced there were cameras in my walls and TV. On top of that, I was seeing people in my room and I was literally scared all the time. I started out on 50 mg twice a day, then 100 mg twice a day. At the moment, I am happy at this dose. I can sleep and I still get paranoid thoughts, but I can easily push them aside, whereas before it was constant thoughts flying around my brain. I considered suicide many times before this drug, and literally without it, I don't think I would be here. You have to give this drug time to work and yes, you get side effects: dry mouth, tiredness, and for me, nausea, but that outweighs the alternative."

• Whi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 2, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "This was the first antipsychotic I was put on, I was pushed into it by my psychiatrist at the time. I was on a low dose, 150 mg. I took it for four months before taking myself off it due to extreme tiredness and horrific weight gain. I gained over 2.5 stones in the time I was on it, despite managing my food intake very carefully and exercising rigorously. A couple of years later, I wound up being prescribed Seroquel again, this time at 300 mg. Same as last time, it really knocked me out, and once again I gained weight. This med did nothing for my mood, but I kept being told to 'give the medication time to work.' After six months, I came off it again. Since weaning off the med, I haven't slept properly, and that was almost three months ago."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar, PTSD, and depression. I was put on lithium and Seroquel about 5 months ago. Lithium makes it so I don't feel... anything. And seriously, I take it around 6 pm, and the next morning I feel like a zombie. Half the time I can't even get out of bed to go to work. All I want to do all day is sleep. I've told my doctor, but he keeps telling me to give it some more time... I have kids I have to take care of, but I feel so tired and lazy on Seroquel. The only upside is it does help me sleep throughout the night instead of being awake, depressing about my life. Lithium, not sure what it does to me, but tries to block my emotional feelings, which is good and bad at the same time. I still feel sadness, though. Every day."

• Par...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 18, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I used this medication at the peak of my mania-induced paranoid psychotic episode, and it helped calm it immediately. However, I am extremely sensitive to medication, so while taking only 25 mg of this, I became so tired that I couldn't possibly stay awake. Even though I took it at night, it became dangerous because I could no longer walk or talk properly, I even considered peeing in the bed because I couldn't even walk to the bathroom...lol. Although it completely knocked me out for 8+ hours and I had a fantastic sleep, when I woke up, I was still tired... which eventually made me depressed. I ended up stopping this medication because I couldn't get the dose up to where it needed to be to control my bipolar symptoms (any higher than 25 mg and I'd start drooling). I guess I'm just very sensitive."

• 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."

• 649...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 29, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I have started to take 200 mg in July 2015. I have gained too much weight, nearly 20 kg. I have taken 100 mg in December 2015, and now I have been taking 50 mg. I want to quit Seroquel because I feel like a zombie. I sleep very well, but I can't get up early, and I often go to work too late. During the day, I feel tired and sleepy. For my mind and brain, it is good, but the damage of Seroquel is more than the benefits, I think. It does cause addiction. I want to quit it, or I want to take 25 mg anymore."

• Cle...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 6, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel helped my mental status, but I couldn't take being tired all the time, and the weight gain was ridiculous, even with eating healthy and working out six days a week. To get off of it, you have to taper so slow. When I dropped from 12.5 mg to 0 mg, I went through terrible withdrawals, way worse than stopping opiates. Throwing up, flu symptoms, I lived in bed and was close to wanting to just quit. I was worthless from day three of stopping to day nine. I woke up on day ten feeling back to my old self and so happy to be free of this stuff they call Seroquel."

• 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."

• fly...
• August 21, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Diagnosed bipolar II early 2017, age 29. A combination of 100 mgs of lamotrigine + 20 mgs Lexapro worked better to stabilize my moods/reduce my anxiety than anything ever had before, I was happy. Partner and I decided I was in a good place to start planning for a baby, however, my psych warned of the possible risks of conceiving on lamotrigine, so I began a 12 mth period of transitioning to Seroquel, which is considered lower risk during pregnancy than lamotrigine. Transitioning between drugs was going to be destabilizing - I was prepared for that. What I wasn’t prepared for was getting to a point where I should have “stabilized” on my 200 mgs of Seroquel, and to be more depressed, more tired, more overweight, less motivated, more aggressive/irritable than I had been in a very long time. I gained 10 kgs in a year, my appetite was HUGE, and I could barely function due to heavy sedation. Back on lamotrigine now and feeling much more like my happy self again."

• Zom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 21, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Weight gain, lethargic 300 dosage at bedtime, any more you'll have heads turning in public. Reclusion is a major problem due to zombie effects, messed up part is my roommates had to tell me because I didn't even notice. I have not been able to get a job. I tried college, and it didn't work. My short-term memory is short, can't even remember what I ate for dinner three days ago. I do sleep, though. All you can do is push on and forget."

• Pla...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 12, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I had side effects beginning Seroquel, which subsided after 6 weeks. I grew to appreciate this drug, it did wonders for my racing thoughts, plus sleep. BUT now I need to come off it after many years. OMG, even tapering is horrible. I'm off it now, and I’m suffering withdrawals. So extreme lethargic, depressed, flu-like, had 2 weeks of random vomiting, plus still had nausea and can hardly look at food. I used to call Seroquel my friend and smile, but now my light-headedness is back. I wish I had energy and could eat well. 2 weeks this could last or more. Just putting this out there, I was a fan and still am, I guess, of this drug, but coming off is hard. I hardly ever get side effects and have gone off quickly with some, but this - this is hard."

• tig...
• September 23, 2009

For Insomnia "Was taking Seroquel in combination with Wellbutrin and Zoloft. Took at night to help me sleep, but it left me foggy, tired, and dizzy the next day. In addition, it made me VERY fat. Gained 20 lbs in a little over a month and could not stop eating. Off it now, will save the pills for anxiety attacks (knowing it will knock me out). Effective, but side effects were too much."

• 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."

• Haz...
• July 19, 2012

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I have been on these tablets for 3 days now, for borderline personality. I've been so tired after I take the 100 mg at night, but my anger is still a problem, and I'm feeling a tiny bit less like I'm lonely and no one understands me and my emotions. But honestly, not much of a change. I just still don't know if my life's going to get any better."

• Nam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed Seroquel for my bipolar. My doctor prescribed me an antidepressant (Mirtazapine) at first because he thought I was simply depressed, but that sent me right into a manic episode. After that, I was prescribed Seroquel. It did end my manic episode, but the side effects were bad. I had really bad and vivid nightmares every night. I struggled with that before, but Seroquel made it so much worse. I used to wake in the middle of the night, scared, and my whole room spinning around me and cold sweat. The worst part is that I felt even more depressed than I did at the beginning. It helped for mania but didn't help at all against my depression. I feel like it made it worse because I was tired 24/7. I wasn't as anxious as I was before, though. I had to get off it because I had to go to the doctor because I literally couldn't pee anymore. That's a not so common side effect of antipsychotics. All in all, it did not work for me personally, but everyone reacts differently to it!"

• Mba...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 16, 2021

"I'm prescribed Seroquel along with Keppra to help my seizures (been 10 years), and it is awful. I'm always forced to go back to Seroquel every time I get a seizure, and the side effects are terrible. Here is my review: and please read carefully. Disadvantages: 1. Knocks you out within minutes. 2. You wake up feeling like a zombie. Swollen eyes because you will feel tired and unmotivated for the whole entire day. (NEVER TAKE IT IN THE MORNING) 3. Unable to control your mood within the first few weeks of usage (you feel emotionless, unmotivated, no motivation to respond to people or get up from bed). 4. MAJOR WEIGHT GAIN. 10 kg within months. 5. Dependency - can't sleep without Seroquel. And it's so hard to get off it. 6. Weird dreams. Advantages: 1. Helps prevent seizures. 2. Helps sleep. 3. Improves mood over time (after 1-2 months of usage. First few weeks will be hard for you). 4. Controls heart rate. 5. Helps prevent daily anxiety and panic attacks."

• But...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "It leaves me so tired, mellow, and calm. I have no negative thoughts. Just thoughts. They aren’t necessarily super positive, but it’s nice to just have thoughts with no strong emotions attached. It does leave me more sleepy than I’d like, but it’s so worth it to me. I’m 24 and female and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. It has helped both. I’ve only been on it a short while, but the sedative effects are already proving helpful."

• Gas...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 20, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "At one point, I was on regular Seroquel as needed and Seroquel XR daily. During this time, I gained a lot of weight that I just could not take off. I was prescribed the Seroquel as needed, 25 mgs up to 3 times a day. Later on, I was going through something else, and Seroquel had just gone generic. My psychiatrist put me back on the 25 mg pill as needed. I rarely used it, and this time I didn't gain any weight from it, which I was relieved about. I know they say that the lower doses are supposed to make you really tired, but that didn't seem to have any effect on me."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 4, 2022

For Schizoaffective Disorder "In my experience, Seroquel literally saved my life and helped control the symptoms of schizophrenia correctly when the dose was increased to 400 mg. I felt more like myself again and far less paranoid. My downsides include drowsiness, tiredness, and dry mouth, so drink more water than usual."

• rav...
• March 24, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I am taking Zopiclone 7.5 and Seroquel 25 mg so I can sleep at night. I also take Clonazepam 2 mg daily and Effexor XR 75 mg. I have lost about 10 kg and still not feeling 'normal,' per se. I have tried various other combos, but this is better than what I have been on. Sleeping without nightmares, and even though I get tired during the day, at least I'm not awake half the night."

• Adv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "Taking it actively at 100 mg, diagnosed with BP1 disorder and 'monitored' schizophrenia. I am currently 18 days into treatment, and it just has made me feel thirsty and tired during the day. I still have hallucinations and delusions, but it does reduce anxiety and paranoia."