Quetiapine and Brain Fog: What Users Say (Page 2)

• d9i...
• May 15, 2009

Quetiapine for Schizoaffective Disorder "I have been taking Seroquel for a number of years. I have been prescribed numerous other antipsychotics, which have had worse side effects than the condition. Love the Seroquel, a good night's sleep is the best side effect. Used to get the munchies for chocolate and sweet things. Eat a whole block of chocolate or a packet of biscuits. Only take it at night because the morning dose makes me a zombie. I don't know if it is addictive, but if I miss a dose, it makes me all zoned out and crook. I think I will be taking this for the rest of my life, but it makes my head clear and stops the hallucinations. I've had some bad life experiences lately, and this has stopped me from falling and dealing with what has happened."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 2, 2022

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "Worst medication I have ever been on. If you want to test how a lobotomy feels, try Seroquel. When I first started on a lower dose for sleeping, which was fine. I didn’t find it very helpful but it did help increase my appetite as I was underweight. If you are on 25 mg for anxiety/depression/insomnia, do not let your doctor increase this dosage. Every time my psychiatrist saw me, he increased my dosage more and more. After about two years of having my dosage increased every month or two, I began having serious side effects. I felt like a zombie, caused a lot of relationship issues as I wasn’t able to hold a conversation. It’s like I lost all my opinions and could no longer think for myself. Lost all creativity, which worsened my depression as I am a designer. I eventually was taken off it when I was taken to the hospital for losing control over my body. I lost all bladder control and would wet my pants frequently. Developed tardive dyskinesia. In the end, I was on 300 mg."

• Vir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I just started taking 100 mg quetiapine to help me sleep. Only been on it for 5 days. I suffer from anxiety-sometimes severe, depression-sometimes severe, and severe pain from severe osteoarthritis, severe back pain from multiple surgeries, and degenerative disc disease. Anyway, thus far, quetiapine seems to help me sleep somewhat. Still waking up too early, averaging 4 hours of sleep per night, and I feel really foggy. Not sure what to do because I was taking trazodone, which helped me sleep but was nasty stuff. So from a lot of reviews I've read here, it seems quetiapine affects a lot of people differently. I'm so scared of it, yet I'm exhausted from lack of sleep, which causes me more anxiety and depression. I've not gotten a decent night's sleep in months. Any suggestions?"

• Sun...
• January 3, 2009

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I like this medicine. Even the side effects are manageable. I get loopy on them, but that is better than the screaming drama queen I once was. I take 600 mg and have a psychiatrist and a counselor, who helps me through situations that I used to rage through. Also, I'm a rapid-cycling Bipolar II, so I think it's wonderful just to be able to be somewhat normal."

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

For Insomnia "This is actually my 2nd review of Seroquel for sleep. I actually take a rather high dose -- 700 mg. All I can say is that it's the best sleep medication I've ever been on. I've tried just about everything: Zopiclone, Sublinox, Amitriptyline, Trazodone, Doxepin -- most of which I've found hit and miss (the best of those I would have to say is Sublinox). I've been taking this medication for many months now, and it's really been great. I wake up refreshed, and I do not find a hangover like other sleep meds (Remeron, for instance, was brutal for that). It also has a nice, pleasant mellowing effect (unlike Trazodone or Remeron, which made me feel like some sort of zombie). I highly recommend this medication."

• ora...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was prescribed Seroquel as an emergency anxiety medication several months ago. It definitely helps in a pinch, but it caused me to gain weight and made me very zombie-like. However, I do not have any of the conditions it is most prescribed for, so I'm not sure how well it works for everyone else."

• Res...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2015

Quetiapine for Schizophrenia "I lost touch with reality for quite a while. I mainly use this as a sleep aid, but I am a paranoid schizophrenic. As far as symptoms of my schizophrenia, it helps. However, whenever it's about time to take my dose, I notice my condition worsening a lot. If I take it late, I am loopy and a bit delusional, but I hold a steady job that requires us to work late some days. Also, if I am just having an overall bad day, it seems to not help my symptoms at all. I am pretty sure I would be a lot worse without this medication. My insurance doesn't cover it, but I got a card from the doctor making my prescription only cost around 17 bucks. If I didn't have that card, it would be about 80 bucks with my work insurance, 400 or something with none."

• DP0...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "This medicine has really helped with my bipolar. I take 300 mg (slow release) every evening, and it's really helped balance my moods and ease any depressive episodes. The only side effect is feeling like a zombie if I wake up too early, but it's all about taking the pill at the right time before you sleep. If anything, I'm getting the best sleep I've ever had when taken properly."

• Anonymous
• November 18, 2010

Quetiapine for Borderline Personality Disorder "This medication is adequate compared to others in its class, despite still causing significant side effects such as weight gain (which is very undesirable). At first, this medicine seemed very strong and made me 'zombie-like' (e.g., slow, unemotional, sleepy), but after a couple of days, these were significantly improved. I was on a dose of up to 75 mg, and as far as the effects of each individual dose; 25 mg helped with sleep and 'anger management,' 50 mg increased my hunger (a lot), and 75 mg helped a little more with anxiety and emotional stability."

• Anonymous
• May 17, 2010

Quetiapine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Excellent for sleep onset - up to a point. If things get really bad, I've had to augment it with temazepam and Valium. I also have depression. I was on and off it for about 3 months, and it causes brain fog and word retrieval problems. There is also a significant increase in appetite, but it's not as bad as Remeron."

• ago...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2015

For Insomnia "The good - Was given 25 mg for sleep issues. It sure definitely helps with sleep. Will knock you out at 25 mg. Ambien was not very effective, and it's a very dangerous drug if you wake up while taking it, will never take Ambien again. The bad - I feel like I'm in a groggy haze for 4+ hours in the morning. Very sedated and slow thinking. Also seemed to cause intense dreams in the beginning. Don't think I will, or can, continue on a daily basis. I have things to do during the day. Could be useful if you really need some good sleep and don't have much to do the next day."

• Jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2021

For Insomnia "I've been on this for just a week. I take it every night with Lunesta, and it works wonders. But once I wake up, I don't want to get up from bed. I'm zombie-like all day. It's hard to get this done. Definitely works for sleep."

• Sud...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2021

For Insomnia "I had a panic attack one night and couldn’t get much sleep. I’ve never had bad sleeping problems before, really, but the problem kind of persisted for a few days. Somehow, I ended up being prescribed this for sleep. One 50 mg tablet a night before sleepy time. First off, it barely even helps at all. At most, I get 3 hours of very poor sleep on this, even if I do everything needed to be tired and get a good night's sleep. I’m going on 3 days of taking this, and it’s basically ruined my life (not kidding). The side effects are 100% not worth it: the extremely dry mouth, dizziness, inability to focus on anything, and tiredness the following day are pretty bad alone. But when I consider the fact that I’m no longer able to get even 1 hour of sleep at night without it now, and it has caused me to fall into a deep dark hole of depression where all I do every day is research whether this drug is right for me (which I don’t believe it should be prescribed to anyone for sleep)."

• tig...
• September 23, 2009

Quetiapine 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."

• Wha...
• May 15, 2019

Quetiapine for Schizophrenia "I started taking this when I was 12 years old, and the entire time I was on it, I gained probably like 40-60 pounds. But I was somewhat overweight at the time, so probably thought not much about it. I would miss school because my mom had a death wish if she woke me up. It made me tired and foggy for days. Last October, my mom woke me up just a few hours after taking it. And I couldn't even comprehend what she was saying. So along with the schizophrenia, I also have sleep apnea, I stop breathing in my sleep. Thank god I can figure it out pretty fast and wake up. On Seroquel, it's impossible and also makes it worse. Even after more than ten years, I really hate this medication. I haven't taken it for a year or more. But they still prescribe it. They started me on Abilify, which I recommend for anyone with schizophrenia or B.L.P. or B.P. because Abilify does work, and it works fast, and also it doesn't cause any sleeping problems or drowsiness. And even comes in a once-a-month dose."

• Din...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 25, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Been on this for over a year, and it works wonders for me. Yes, at the start, this leaves you zombie-like in the morning, but it absolutely passes. After 3 weeks, all is settled nicely, and the lethargy entirely passes. So don't let the initial hangovers put you off, it's short-term stress for long-term gain. I'm on 100 mg IR and 200 mg XR at night, and it gives me magnificent sleep and solid coverage the following day. Love this drug for sleep and mood stabilization. If you've been prescribed it, persist with it because it's very much worth it in my opinion."

• Chr...
• March 31, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was put on this medication, it started at a very high dose. All I did was sleep, eat, and walk in a fog. The doctor reduced the milligrams, and things started to improve until my body began to act the same way again. Long story short, I'm down to .30 mg at night. I drag in the mornings, but my energy increases as the day passes. I'm working this medication out of my system because I found it to be a very heavy drug to take. This is coming from a person who has taken it for five years."

• Skr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 27, 2014

Quetiapine for Schizophrenia "When I was 14, I was put on 450 mg/day before bedtime, and within 6 months, I gained 25-30 pounds. It worked super well to get rid of my hallucinations (including the tactile ones), but it made me extremely zombie-like. My grades slipped at school, and I slept as soon as I got home till the next morning. The first day, I slept 22 hours. This medicine made me so hungry all the time, and no matter how much I ate, I was never full."

• CRC...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 30, 2022

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I've been taking this medicine for 11 years. I was diagnosed with bipolar 26 years ago. Then, 3 years ago, another doctor said I don't have bipolar, it's mood dysregulation from complex trauma and PTSD. Anyway, regardless, I do need medication, as it does help. I was originally given Seroquel for anxiety and to help me sleep. Doses have been from 100 mg to 200 mg per day. I've always noticed that when I take it, my sinuses get extremely blocked to the point it affects my breathing. Then I got COVID and developed asthma, so I could no longer tolerate being on it anymore. So the doctor helped me reduce it. I'm now down to 25 mg per day, and my sleeping has improved a lot. I'm no more anxious than before. I realize now that this medication was making me so sleepy and zombie-like, I had no motivation, just getting by each day. It seems I didn't need that much Seroquel after all. I am grateful for this medication, but I think maybe people are being given higher doses than are necessary."

• Ser...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 30, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I absolutely loved this med at first. Started off with 25 mg cut in half and taken morning and evening for anxiety. Upped to 50 mg XR after a few weeks. Had it for 4 years, and it worked wonders. Then I started experiencing brain fog, memory loss, extreme fatigue, depression, and many, many more. It took me 2 years to realize it was the drug causing it. Got off in March '21, and I am still suffering from withdrawals."

• Lou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I started taking 25 mg of quetiapine and found taking it around lunchtime works best for me. I have been so grateful to this medication as I finally feel I have been able to deal with my intrusive thoughts so much easier than when I didn’t take quetiapine. I see a lot of reviews here claim they feel zombie-like or can’t stay awake, however, I found that because my anxiety was so high, when I did take my quetiapine, I evened out so I feel relaxed and more focused on my work. A bonus is that for me, I find my appetite has been reduced (and I needed to lose some weight). Again, there are reviews of those saying they have gained a lot of weight, but this is down to the individual and their lifestyle. So, if you follow a good diet and keep active where possible, you will be just fine!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2018

For Insomnia "I started Seroquel for sleep about 6 months ago at a dose of 25 mg. For about a week, it knocked me out, but then it started not to work as much. Doc raised it to 50, same thing, all the way up to 150. The time you spend awake on it makes you feel like a literal zombie. Now I’m at 150 mg for about a month. Not working again. This is apparently the highest I can take before it will affect my brain."

• Anx...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2023

Quetiapine "I have crippling anxiety. It got so bad, I had to leave my job as a kindergarten teacher, and I lost my apartment. I moved back in with my parents. My anxiety has taken away so much of my life, to say the least. It got so bad that I couldn’t eat or sleep. I started to vomit every time I ate. I withered away slowly, week after week. I felt I couldn’t breathe. An ambulance of thoughts was going off in my head. Miserable existence. I began Prozac 20 MG and Seroquel 50 MG at night. Definitely made me sleep, but after two weeks, I felt confused and zombified. The worst side effect was contractions in my tongue, which made it difficult for me to eat and speak. I felt like I had to push my voice out. I stopped taking Seroquel, and they put me on something called mirtazapine. Seroquel helped with sleeping, and that’s about it. It’s a very heavy drug, but sometimes you’re in such a bad position that you need something just to make your head stop spinning to get back to normal."

• Hur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I’m on 150 mg of quetiapine, and I’ve been stable for about 2 weeks now (the longest time I’ve been stable). I’m really grateful, it was tough initially. I felt like a zombie, then like a robot, but after a few days, the effects went away. Quetiapine fixed my sleep schedule, which I had been unable to do for 10+ years."

• cyv...
• September 22, 2015

For Depression "Was put on Seroquel as a mood stabilizer along with my antidepressant 3 years ago. Worked wonderfully. Was able to sleep, eat (which I couldn't do due to anxiety), and felt good. At first. After 3 years, I gained 40 pounds, ate like a pig, and had heart palpitations, high prolactin levels, and felt like a zombie. I have been off of it for almost a month. Terrible drug for me."