Seroquel XR for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews

• Srz...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 12, 2015

"This medication completely changed my life. My diagnosis is mixed rapid-cycling bipolar disorder with psychotic features. Before my regimen, I would suffer a week of depression, followed by a day of dangerous mixed affective episode, followed by a few hours of euphoria before the process would begin all over again. I had ruminating and intrusive thoughts, panic attacks, anxiety, extreme guilt, dissociation, and suicidal ideation (and a few near-attempts). But, within weeks of the therapeutic dose, my mood stabilized, my anxiety dropped off, my obsessive and intrusive ruminations relinquished their hold, and unexpectedly, I gained a spectrum of emotions I didn't even know I lacked (and that was the best thing of all). Truly life-altering."

• Bel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 27, 2017

"This drug is a wonder drug. After 15 years of brutal bipolar symptoms (undiagnosed/untreated) that destroyed my whole life, I now take 300 mg at night, and now I can have a normal life free of anxiety, mood swings, and bipolar symptoms, etc. I hold down a responsible full-time job, have healthy relationships and friendships, and I have hobbies. I never had any of that before; my bipolar disorder destroyed my whole life. Seroquel gave it back. I hear of people wanting to go off Seroquel... I'm the opposite. I would go to any lengths to make sure I never have to go off it. I'll gladly spend the rest of my life on it because it gives me a normal life, and I won't risk that for anything. I've been on it for 3 years, with no side effects."

• Sof...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 4, 2019

"I have bipolar disorder type 2. I'm on Seroquel XR 150 mg for 10 years now. Before, I was on Seroquel 300 mg for more than a year. I have tried different antipsychotic medicine combinations for years, but only Seroquel works for me. Changed my life for the better. I have chronic insomnia, tried all sleeping pills, but only lasted for weeks, then I couldn't sleep anymore. But Seroquel put me to sleep, deeper sleep, and I wake up feeling better. I just need to sleep every night at the same time. Also, I gained weight, and the side effect when I feel groggy at night is I feel hungry, so I ended up eating at midnight. I know it sucks that I gained weight. I tried to stop taking it for a few days, then my depression attacked me very suddenly and my mood fluctuated. From then, I never stopped taking Seroquel and I feel better. I told my psychiatrist that Seroquel is my best friend, without it, I feel horrible. It is indeed a lifesaver."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2013

"Works like a charm. It was prescribed for me for Bipolar I disorder (as part of my cocktail of meds), especially for symptoms involving lack of sleep. I have been struggling with sleep problems for so many years, and this works great for me at 50 mg. It even helps with depression and anxiety temporarily. I feel a lot calmer, which is definitely needed for me, especially at night. It helps with racing thoughts and voices as well. No more 'noise' in my head at night for most part."

• Anonymous
• June 29, 2010

"I feel like this medication has saved my life. At the beginning of 2010, I had a mental breakdown. I was suffering from crying spells for no apparent reason and just did not want to live. I felt like I was watching someone go through the motions of my life and my true self was suffering and hurting. I made an emergency appointment with my psychiatrist. He started me at 50 mg on day one, 100 mg on day two, 150 mg on day three, 200 mg on day four, and 300 mg as maintenance. I used to have passive suicidal thoughts all the time and can now say that I don't. I've suffered from this condition for 12 years (Depersonalization Disorder). I've not known what it is like to not have depression until now. I feel like I owe my life to Seroquel XR."

• Bri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2014

"I've only been on Seroquel for 2 to 3 weeks, but I have had a largely positive experience. I have had a diagnosis of depression for about ten years and was using Cipralex (Lexapro). I came off Cipralex twice, and both times I became very depressed. Even on Cipralex, my mood was constantly changing, so I went to see a psychiatrist who thinks I may have Cyclothymia or bipolar II, so he started me on 50 mg of Seroquel. Initially, I was very groggy but have gotten over that. I've also gained a stone in weight. But my mood has really stabilized for the first time. I feel happy, confident, and passionate. I no longer have a million thoughts in my head, so I can focus better. Hopefully, this continues."

• Anonymous
• August 29, 2009

"I have heard all kinds of bad things about Seroquel, but to me, this medicine has saved my life. I was diagnosed with cyclothymia with racing thoughts and extreme hypomanic phases followed by intense depression. Not to mention, I would get so paranoid sometimes that I couldn't leave the house. I had tried everything including lithium, but then I went to a new doctor. She said I could try Seroquel XR, but I probably wouldn't like feeling sedated. I said, 'Sedated? Fine!' The funny thing is that I have more energy, but it is calm positive energy. I made a huge turnaround, and life is back on track. I thought I had ADHD as well, but now I have great concentration, no anxiety, and can sit still for hours. I highly recommend it if your symptoms sound like mine."

• Anonymous
• December 12, 2010

"All I can say is that it is a miracle medicine. I finally have my life back. There are side effects, but it is worth it. I am in college and doing well. My doctors said that would never happen for me. They said that I would be in and out of the psych ward. I have not needed to be in the hospital in over five years. I can finally hold a job. Like I said, I have my life back, something I was told would never happen. Seroquel XR is the reason for that. Regular Seroquel is great too, it just made me sleep for 18 hours a day. Seroquel XR makes me sleepy, but I no longer oversleep. Again, I say I got my life back."

• roy...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 21, 2014

"Seroquel XR has changed my life! I tried regular Seroquel, and it's like having your head in a bucket. The XL version feels like a completely different medicine. I take 100 mg at night. I wake up refreshed, happy, eager to start my day, I also take Lamictal 300 mg in the morning. No side effects from either medicine. I have been on both for about 7 years. I have been depressed once in that time, and it was situational."

• Cur...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 20, 2021

"I have been taking 800 mg Seroquel XR since 2012. I used to hold down two jobs. I have always worked since high school. I have no children, but was very close to my big family and involved in all events. Back in 2012, I had a hard time getting to sleep. The doctor put me on Seroquel, said I was bipolar. I have never gotten mad at anyone and get along with everyone. I’m not an angry person. After taking this drug for a while, it changed my life and ruined my relationship with family and friends. I became a zombie, I never answered my door, and all I did was sleep. I missed out on many family events. Now my family is in my life and asks me what is wrong with me. I can’t stop moving my head from left to right. My doctor hasn’t done any blood work on me for several years, but he still has me taking these pills. I can’t function anymore. The list goes on. I love life and always lived it until this drug came into my life."

• Anonymous
• November 5, 2020

"Listen to me when I say never & I mean never experiment with this drug Seroquel or Seroquel XR. It will only make your anxiety worse & if you have OCD your in for a nightmare. Worst drug ever & it will not help with your symptoms what so ever & will only help you sleep at night. Do not & I repeat do not get on this medication. On top of that you will have some of the craziest thoughts you could ever imagine."

• KTS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 29, 2018

"Within 2 months, at a dose of 300 mg, it completely changed my life. I have been on many meds and combinations for 20 years, but this (along with much soul-searching, personal responsibility, facing truth, therapy, and DBT skills) has stabilized my bipolar I and almost cured my borderline personality disorder. I had resigned myself to a difficult and tragic life before this happened. I was inspired to move to a single med because I was a longtime user of lithium, SSRI, Lamictal combo and wanted to try for a baby. This ended up giving me new life - my own."

• Hay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2016

"This medication has been a real lifesaver. I had struggled with heavy depression interspersed with hypomania for a few years before I was eventually diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder, for which I was prescribed this. The initial 50 mg did nothing except be an overrated sleep pill, but the boost to 300 mg for bipolar depression helped begin to mellow me out, and a few weeks later I was starting to experience a life free of devastating mood swings. I've read horror stories online, but I experienced nothing of the sort (actually *lost* weight in the past few months). It's a shame there are risks with long-term use, I would happily take this forever otherwise - these past few months have been nice, happy, and productive for me thanks to this."

• Anonymous
• May 3, 2010

"At 41, I simply couldn't take the depression, the mania, the ADD, or the severe anxiety attacks anymore. I finally went to the doctor, and she put me on Seroquel XR, starting at 50 mg for 4 days, then 100 mg for 4 days, and now the maintenance dosage of 150 mg. It has honestly changed my life and saved my marriage. My brain seems to function normally now. My nearly constant suicidal thoughts are gone, and I can concentrate on tasks for more than 15 seconds at a time. I would rather have a healthy appetite than feel nauseous, so that side effect only boosts my moods. The only thing I don't like is my dreams are vivid, but not in a nightmare sort of way. I've begun dreaming in color, which is also new. I can certainly live with that..."

• Sli...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 8, 2020

"Finally was able to get back on Quetiapine after adding fiber pills to my diet, and I am loving sleep. Spent my whole life not sleeping well or at all lately (was up for almost a week straight last year). Quetiapine IR was a surefire way of knocking me out within an hour and staying asleep well into the morning. Pretty groggy, though, and had to keep increasing my dose. My Pdoc recently sent the XR version into the pharmacy instead, and it is rather different. I don’t get knocked out right away, which means I can create a better sleep hygiene routine. If I am more relaxed, I don’t need to be put to sleep but gradually work my way into it. It does take a minute to fully wake up, but I have to say I feel my overall mood remains pretty stable for most of the rest of the day."

• lyn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2012

"I've been in and out of mental health clinics for a long time, just trying to find something to slow my racing thoughts and make me feel like life is bearable. I've taken benzodiazepines, only to become drug-seeking and take too many and need early refills, thereby being forced by the prescriber to wean off. Done SSRIs with no effect whatsoever. Remeron made me gain 40 pounds in like 2 months' time and didn't help me sleep. Marijuana made me paranoid. I just started some new therapy and was diagnosed with bipolar II and post-traumatic stress disorder. She gave me Seroquel XR, and my mind is calm and I sleep well on it. I'm still on a pretty low dose, going up to 100 mg tonight and then 150 mg in 2 days. Just hope I don't gain weight, but so far I feel productive and my mind is quiet."

• Nat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 8, 2013

"I was diagnosed with bipolar II about 5 years ago, and I've tried everything on the market. Nothing worked for me except Seroquel. Right now, I take 300 mg twice per day, and I'm so stable. I'm loving it. The problem, though, with Seroquel is that it's a major weight gainer. I would stop taking it on and off when I felt better, but then would use other meds to bandage my symptoms... get back on, then off again... until one day I decided to stop with the denial and allow someone to help me for real. I've been on it now faithfully for 9 months... but I've put on 60 lbs! It makes me eat after hours in the middle of the night. I'm depressed because of the weight gain. So I work out at home at times, trying to be more consistent. You have to work this medicine."

• pjs...
• October 31, 2011

"The Seroquel makes me feel like I'm dreaming. I kind of feel like I'm losing my sense of reality. The dreams/nightmares I have seem lucid, like I can't tell the difference between what I dreamt and what really happened. It is just completely changing my personality. I don't feel like myself anymore."

• Joj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2017

"No, dude, it doesn't work. I've been on it for a few months. No, it doesn't work for anxiety. It helps the shaking part. That's it. Doesn't work for depression either. When I was on it, I hurt myself and was thinking about suicide. It didn't stop my racing thoughts. My OCD is the same. Man, just no. I gained 40 pounds in 2 months just with 250 mg. It's the worst medication of its category. I was on Zyprexa before, but besides the horrible weight gain, at least I was doing much better. I hate this medication. Do not take it, people. It makes you fat and doesn't help at all. No, man, just NOOO. I'm going back to Paxil 30 mg and Zyprexa 7.5 mg, which work so much better. Bye, Seroquel."

• DET...
• April 26, 2010

"I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 with psychotic features 3 years ago, but always dealt with grandiose thinking, mild delusions, and a good deal of depression. After self-medicating for two years, I had a mental meltdown, and after spending 2 months cooped up in my apartment, anorexic, dying; I decided it was time to see a psychiatrist. The medications I was prescribed ranged from mood stabilizers to antipsychotics, benzos, sleeping pills, many I was allergic to, like Depakote and Trileptal. Anyway, at first, I tried the regular Seroquel but gained 40 lbs in one month and slept 14 hours a day. Switched to Seroquel XR, not as tired, lost 20 lbs, appetite/mental noise decreased, panic relief, strong sleep aid, life manageable; they are expensive. HIGHLY recommend."

• The...
• March 15, 2014

"Aching or discomfort in the lower legs, or sensation of crawling in the legs, unusual tiredness or weakness, dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position, muscle pain or cramps."

• Mus...
• August 17, 2017

"I have been taking this drug for a year and a half, and it has changed my life. I've tried various drugs and lifestyle treatments over 5 years of great instability and desperation, going between breakdown after breakdown. Finding the right dose and preparation (slow release) has not only lifted me from crisis but improved my well-being to an all-time level. (It took a little while to adjust.) In particular, it guarantees me a good night's sleep, and I can up the dose slightly if things slip. It has done wonders for my anxiety and given me the stability to really be what I want to be. I feel it is important to note that the drug is one part of the picture, and mindfulness, exercise, social/professional support, etc., are important where possible."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2016

"OK, it's only early days, day 4 to be exact on 50 mg morning and night. It's amazing! After reading all the horror stories of the tranquilizer effects, zombie-like states, and cravings. It's an understatement when I said I was petrified what effect this would have on me. First day, within an hour of taking it, I slept for six hours, woke up feeling fine, refreshed even. Then dosed up in the evening at 9, again, asleep by 11, slept like a baby. 7 am woke feeling energized, lighter, happier. No drowsiness or brain fuzz! I feel so much more positive about life in general. I feel so blissfully normal! Day 4, still napping within 4 hours of dose for 2 hours max, but I could push through it. And still sleeping all night!"

• may...
• May 9, 2013

"I take this medication for Bipolar II, and it has been amazing at stabilizing my moods. I no longer feel filled with rage and irritability and no longer have issues with impulsive thoughts. The big problem that I am having with this medication is horrendous weight gain. I exercise at least three times a week and eat well, yet I have gained 20 kg (44.09 pounds) in the 8 months that I have been on this medicine. Another issue I have is vivid dreams. But I think this is just a sign of getting deep and sound sleep-something I could never achieve prior to taking this medicine. It is amazing but a nightmare all rolled into one."

• hap...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 10, 2013

"I took regular Seroquel, which did help somewhat. I would rate that at a 4 out of 10. I found out about Seroquel XR when people told me to see a pdoc, this was in 2007 because I was bipolar 1 and couldn't get it under control. On my first visit with the pdoc, I told her my situation, and after my visit, she gave me 2 samples of Seroquel XR, which had only been out for 4 months at that time. It has been a huge help with mania and depression. I take 800 mg at bedtime. When I wake up, I take 400 mg Lamictal, that helps a great deal for me with the racing thoughts and impulsivity, along with 2 mg of clonazepam, which has been a lifesaver. It took many years in and out of the psych hospitals to finally get it right."