Quetiapine and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 4)

• lax...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Within 3 days of starting this medication, I had a massive spike in anxiety and panic attacks and was more suicidal than I ever have been. But this is just my experience, your body is different and may respond better. :) Don’t give up! You will find something that works!"

• Lol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2022

For Insomnia "My issues are severe anxiety and depression/BPD traits/insomnia/agoraphobia. I just took 25g last night and wow. I woke up today (have I even woken up yet?) and I feel worse than I have ever felt in my life. I woke up at all the same times as usual, only this time, when I had to get up to go pee, it was like being absolutely hammered without any of the fun. Horrible trip. Couldn’t wake up even when it was time to wake. Couldn’t take care of my dogs because I could hardly move. I felt confused, guilty, frightened, and upset. Made me feel suicidal. It sparked an argument with my spouse because I said I wouldn’t take it again. I can hardly be around him because I’m so tired. It’s made me super emotional and kinda angry that anyone would think giving me something that makes me unable to function would be what I needed when I was already so low. I’ve been against meds from the start but finally wanted to see if it could help me and went in with a hopeful heart. These are not what I need at all. I’m willing to try other meds but these are a no."

• Lol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2022

For Insomnia "My issues are severe anxiety and depression/BPD traits/insomnia/agoraphobia. I just took 25g last night and wow. I woke up today (have I even woken up yet?) and I feel worse than I have ever felt in my life. I woke up at all the same times as usual, only this time, when I had to get up to go pee, it was like being absolutely hammered without any of the fun. Horrible trip. Couldn’t wake up even when it was time to wake. Couldn’t take care of my dogs because I could hardly move. I felt confused, guilty, frightened, and upset. Made me feel suicidal. It sparked an argument with my spouse because I said I wouldn’t take it again. I can hardly be around him because I’m so tired. It’s made me super emotional and kinda angry that anyone would think giving me something that makes me unable to function would be what I needed when I was already so low. I’ve been against meds from the start but finally wanted to see if it could help me and went in with a hopeful heart. These are not what I need at all. I’m willing to try other meds but these are a no."

• Lol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2022

For Insomnia "My issues are severe anxiety and depression/BPD traits/insomnia/agoraphobia. I just took 25g last night and wow. I woke up today (have I even woken up yet?) and I feel worse than I have ever felt in my life. I woke up at all the same times as usual, only this time, when I had to get up to go pee, it was like being absolutely hammered without any of the fun. Horrible trip. Couldn’t wake up even when it was time to wake. Couldn’t take care of my dogs because I could hardly move. I felt confused, guilty, frightened, and upset. Made me feel suicidal. It sparked an argument with my spouse because I said I wouldn’t take it again. I can hardly be around him because I’m so tired. It’s made me super emotional and kinda angry that anyone would think giving me something that makes me unable to function would be what I needed when I was already so low. I’ve been against meds from the start but finally wanted to see if it could help me and went in with a hopeful heart. These are not what I need at all. I’m willing to try other meds but these are a no."

• Fiz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 21, 2023

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel was the best and the worst medication I was on so far for bipolar disorder. It helped me stay a bit more stable, helped me sleep really well, and was the only mood stabilizer that didn't cause a negative reaction. Though I was going to be proved wrong. One random day, months and months after taking it, I went to bed and woke up in a hospital bed. No idea which hospital I was at, I guessed. Had no idea what day it was. Turned out it was 2 days after I arrived at the hospital! I apparently walked around the house looking for something, went to bed, and lay on the bed weirdly. I then fell off and hit my head and had a nasty hit on my leg. After that, I have been having spells of severe anxiety like I've never felt or heard of before. I also had hallucinations to the point I was trying to jump out of a moving vehicle. Seroquel is a really good medicine, but it definitely was NOT for me. I do miss the sleep :("

• Jay...
• February 28, 2016

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I am writing both as a user and a person seeking additional information on Seroquel XR. I have been on it for about three months. I have found that it eliminated the manic phase of my diagnosis, as well as anxiety. However, tapering back and forth due to side effects has made it difficult to make consistent observations, and I have suffered depression and even suicidality as a result. What have others experienced on this topic? I understand bipolar disorder is a multifaceted illness and therefore should be treated from both angles. Are most of you on more than one medication in conjunction with Seroquel? I understand I have also had a difficult time taking it as prescribed, and this may have hindered my results. Thank you."

• HCC...
• February 20, 2012

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I've taken these pills since I was 19, and I'm 24 now. First, I had to take 600 mg, and I managed to lower them to 450 mg. I wish I could leave them, but I have learned I need them. So far, they have helped me a lot. I do wish I could fight anxiety, weird feelings in my legs while I sleep, and the hunger I experience 24/7. But it's a love/hate relationship between this medicine and me. I hate it, but I don't think I can ever quit it. Sad for me, good for the pharmacies."

• PSY...
• February 26, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I am 59 years old, worked as a psych nurse for 28 years, and am bipolar. My symptoms manifest in severe depression, anxiety, and insomnia, so bad I retired early. I have now been on Seroquel for 6 years, and in combination with Lamictal and Requip, I have been able to enjoy life, sleep well, and manage well as an outpatient. Seroquel is, for me, a miracle. I spent many years addicted to Xanax and other benzodiazepines in a futile attempt to sleep and decrease the anxiety. I know that many psyche meds were originally meant to treat other illnesses and found to be beneficial in others, so I feel extremely fortunate to finally have a medicine that works! I often joke with my friends that whoever discovered this medicine should get a Nobel Prize in medicine."

• Joa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder to add to GAD and PTSD. I have major anxiety around starting new medication and have horrific intrusive thoughts about things that could happen to me if I change medication, often resulting in non-compliance with medication packages. I took 25 mg Quetiapine the first night and literally after 30 mins had a panic attack, felt dizzy, felt sleepy, and overall weird. The 2nd night I took 50 mg, the same thing happened again, only this time horrific acid reflux and stomach pain, oh, and vivid dreams. The 3rd night I went to 75 mg, took these with food, no acid reflux, and felt a lot calmer, major dry mouth, and drowsiness. I have noticed I am a lot calmer with loads of motivation already. I have just gone up to 100 mg this evening, had a lot of intrusive thoughts, and again bad anxiety. I am going to persevere with the tablets and keep a log of side effects that I have experienced!!"

• Pry...
• November 9, 2016

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I recently was admitted to a psych ward for a suicide ideation/attempt. I've previously been diagnosed with ADHD and borderline personality disorder. I was taking 70 mg Vyvanse 1x a day, 300 mg Wellbutrin XR 1x a day in the morning, and 20 mg of Paxil 1x before bed. The psychiatrist in the hospital discontinued the Paxil and prescribed 100 mg Luvox 2x a day and 50 mg Seroquel before bed. I've been taking the medication for 9 days. I wake up tired and feel tired the whole day. I also feel jittery, but that could be because I drink caffeinated beverages to help stay awake. My hope is these effects wear off."

• J-F...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 11, 2021

For Insomnia "My psychiatrist tried everything with me - and nothing worked. I was getting an hour or two of sleep a night. Eventually, we tried a very low dose of Seroquel, and that has helped so much. It has also eased my anxiety significantly."

• che...
• September 9, 2015

For Depression "I had depression and could not sleep longer than 2 hours. With Seroquel 200 mg, I was okay and slept 8 to 9 hours after 6 to 7 weeks. Side effects: dizziness, weakness, sweating, chills, cough, loss of appetite. I got to dread taking it because of the side effects. I would wait and fall asleep naturally, but it would only last for 2 to 3 hours. I would wake up, take a short walk to feel tired again, and then would take 100 mg and go to sleep. Still, the side effects were not as bad, but I would get anxious upon awakening and needed to usually take lorazepam or an equivalent. Going to see the doctor and hope he can suggest something different."

• Pea...
• July 24, 2009

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed Seroquel after I got out of one of those psychiatric hospitals and after a terrible bout with Abilify (extremely jittery and restless). Unfortunately, Seroquel affected me in just the opposite way. I consistently went up in dose, peaking at 600 mg for 2 days, then dropping back down to 300 mg. I was on it for almost a month, but I was living in my own little world. I was very muted. It may have stopped the manic episodes, but the depression became worse, almost landing me back in a hospital after I went 'cold turkey.' The good thing, though, was that I slept so peacefully every night. No racing thoughts."

• Qld...
• May 24, 2019

For Insomnia "Have been on the quetiapine for some months now, sadly, I’ve needed to increase the dosage every couple of weeks due to tolerance issues, as it seems to stop working. In my opinion, it’s far less superior to mirtazapine as a sleep aid. If you want to be knocked out within the hour and not have to worry about tolerance issues, try mirtazapine. This drug will help with your anxiety as well as sleep problems, though. Dosage is 150mg."

• Bun...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 19, 2021

Quetiapine for Schizoaffective Disorder "I started Seroquel when I was 13 after 7 years of talking to people who weren't there. I'm 18 now. I heard it's not possible to need this at that age, but here I am. I think at first I was kinda empty, didn't talk, kinda a vegetable. Took about a while to get used to, maybe a week. Then I remember completely losing it and attacking my brother and also feeling suicidal, but I didn't stop taking it when I was put in inpatient. Then everything got better. Now I still hear and see things, but only specific things, and I talk to people more even though I have social anxiety. So it didn't really work for my hallucinations, just maybe depression and anxiety."

• ano...
• April 17, 2011

Quetiapine 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."

• Hol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2015

For Depression "I was prescribed this medication by my psychiatrist about a month or so ago. My mother and I were in no way notified about the effects this medication may have. I am only 15 years of age and I have been on fluoxetine for two years. This particular medication has not agreed with me at all... The same as aripiprazole but worse. My symptoms worsened. I even developed more weird behaviors. I was worse than when I had started. I became increasingly paranoid, ten times more anxious, and my mood fluctuated constantly. There have been no positive changes to my behavior or mood, and the side effects have affected me drastically. I have just gotten off the tablets, and my depression has worsened and I now have insomnia. It has been in no way positive."

• Tom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 5, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I've taken quetiapine for 4 years now. Since taking it, I have schizoaffective disorder, type 1 diabetes, and a lot of ECGs since the heart palpitations, giving me a lot of chest pains. Quetiapine was the cause of my type 1 diabetes, confirmed with doctors, and chest pains too. I believe my diagnosis, as well as soon as I took quetiapine, I had intrusive thoughts 24 hours a day, constantly with that and the severe anxiety it gives me. I have OCD now. It's been so hard for me to live with. I would advise people to take quetiapine with caution. Most attempts of coming off this drug made me ill. I would give this drug a 1 and it doesn't even deserve that."

• Wal...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 22, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I've been on it for several years and developed type 2 diabetes. I was put on Metformin, and my blood sugar was always elevated even when fasting. My sleep wasn't great anymore because I developed mild sleep apnea. I also discovered that my testosterone levels were below the clinical normal levels. Since stopping Seroquel and starting testosterone injections, my diabetes is gone, my RBC and hemoglobin have improved. I still have anxiety, but I'm taking an SSRI, which I dislike, and I am weaning off of it. I find another med to be effective in anxiety, and it is called clonidine. I may have ADHD because I tried Adderall in the past with success, but my current doctor doesn't want to prescribe it again. I have an overactive mind with anxiety. Seroquel is good for the short term, otherwise, get your glucose checked. Also, note that Seroquel can drop your thyroid levels. It is a rare side effect."

• Did...
• July 20, 2017

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Haven't had problems with BPD for a while until a sudden flare-up. Drugs have been good for eradicating anxiety and paranoid thoughts, which was its prescribed purpose. I'm on 125 in the evening and 25 in the morning."

• you...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2021

For Depression "I take 350 mg of quetiapine daily (one 150 mg extended-release tablet in the morning and 200 mg immediate-release after dinner), and I must say, it did wonders for me! Unlike other users, this drug doesn't make me sleepy at all, it doesn't make me feel like a robot. I'm not as depressed anymore, I don't feel anxious, I don't self-harm, and I live my life as a normal human being. I've also been using Lexapro (escitalopram) in combination with quetiapine, but quetiapine has been more effective for my depression. I take a stimulant medication in the mornings as well, and quetiapine reduces the side effects."

• won...
• March 12, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I had the typical experience of a bipolar person who had been prescribed and diagnosed with everything in the book prior to being identified as bipolar. I was on various anti-depressants for about 7 years for depression. Then I was on Adderall and Xanax for about a year because the docs thought I had depression, ADHD, and anxiety. I finally hit a breaking point when I had terrible thoughts of severely harming people when I was not at work. I could perform at work, but my personal life was in shambles. I started treatment with my current psychologist about 6 years ago, and had he not correctly diagnosed me and prescribed quetiapine, I have no idea what would be of me at the moment. I now have a stable job, healthy relationships, sleep, and am reaching my goals. Prior to quetiapine, I was in a downward spiral after an abusive relationship. All I need is about 50-150 mg (depending on stress and symptoms) and take Klonopin when needed for anxiety (which I rarely get now). It is a miracle!"

• laz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "JUST BECAUSE I EXPERIENCED THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL! We're all different and we can tolerate things very differently! I was put on this drug to help with my severe bipolar I with rapid cycling, along with anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and psychophysiological insomnia. Within the first 2 doses, I was extremely anxious, more anxious than I've ever been! I felt this super bad overwhelming sense of dread, and I was extremely suicidal. I couldn't stay on this medication for more than a week, I was so bad. I was also taking lamotrigine, escitalopram, buspirone, and nortriptyline."

• mar...
• July 7, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "When I first started taking this medication off work, it pulled me out of my anxious, depressed episode, but it came back once I started working again. I find it helps with anxiety a bit at 300 mg, but feel drugged, sort of depressed, may not be the medication. And still feel I am not coping. Australian government subsidizes all medication with or without insurance."

• Zel...
• November 4, 2020

For Depression "I’m on 50 mg of Citalopram. Not sleeping soundly, which has just turned into insomnia. Psych has given me quetiapine 25 mg to help me sleep. It has taken me 5 days to work out I must have it at 6 pm for it to work (apparently the effect takes 2-3 hours to come on) and to not be groggy until midday the following day (awful). Since taking it, I have noticed a slight increase in depression. Then today, bang, anxiety back although it was quite short-lived. Someone on here mentioned the bounce-back effect, which I’m beginning to see is happening with this drug, the same as Ativan did... just makes depression and anxiety worse. Psych seems to think it’s not addictive either. I really don’t agree with that. How can something that puts you to sleep so nicely ever not be a choice over insomnia? I think I’m going to stop taking it as much as it helps my sleep. Can’t risk having depression and anxiety be any worse. This is a very heavy drug. I’m quite surprised she prescribed it so easily. Beware."