Quetiapine and Depression: What Users Say

• cb1...
• January 27, 2021

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). I’m 20. I was depressed and suicidal when my psychiatrist put me on Seroquel. It took 4-5 months for it to fully kick in. 300 mg was too much for me, my mornings were horrible, and I fainted a couple of times. My heart was beating so fast when I woke up, and I would get so dizzy. It was so hard to start my days properly. I wouldn’t go back to 300 mg, it also made me feel like a potato because I never felt sad anymore. I am now taking 150 mg, which is working soooo well for me. I am finally happy, and I have reached a point of emotional stability and consciousness that I have never had previously. It makes me feel like I have seen real life on the other side. I was so blinded due to BPD, and now Seroquel-only (no dialect treatment)-made me feel so confident and the person I’ve always been looking for. I’ve been on it for 9 months, and I can’t imagine my life without it. I might be addicted to it, but IDC-I would never go back to my BPD, it scares me into the thought of living in that nightmare."

• alv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2020

For Insomnia "So I was prescribed Seroquel for insomnia, and I was so scared to try it. I had the best night's sleep I have had in probably 5 years. The downside is the side effects the next day were hard on me. My anxiety and depression are worse. So do I keep taking it, and will the side effects subside, or is this drug just not for me? Ugh, it's the only thing that has helped with sleep. Help."

• Ahi...
• March 30, 2019

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "Warning: may trigger suicidal thoughts. History: I was prescribed Seroquel after multiple medications weren’t helping to improve my depression. Quickly, my depression got markedly worse to the point of me not being able to get out of bed and not bathing because it felt too exhausting. I also had my suicidal ideation and thoughts get overwhelmingly worse. My psychiatrist increased my dosage and it just got worse. I had to change psychiatrists (unrelated to this), and my new psychiatrist immediately had me taper down my dosage with the goal of getting off the Seroquel completely. Once I got off of it completely, I felt like a new person - no depression or suicidal thoughts since. I know this medication has helped a lot of people, and I am so happy it has. I don’t think many other people have had this experience, but I wanted to put it out there that it wasn’t good for me, and if anyone is having similar experiences, please speak with the person who prescribed it and know that it can get better."

• Kmt...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 2, 2015

Quetiapine for Depression "I have taken it for PTSD at night for a long time. I'm able to sleep without having horrific nightmares. There is weight gain, but that boosts me to eat healthy and exercise, which helps my depression! Klonopin to help with daytime anxiety and Seroquel before bed are the two drugs that keep me sane and able to live a normal life."

• Jun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2020

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was prescribed 25 mg of quetiapine as an alternative to Valiums to treat my recent worsening anxiety, and I can honestly say that I have never felt worse in my entire life. I’ve only been on it for four days and have already experienced brain fog and really dark thoughts. I have, however, noticed that it helps ‘contain’ my anxiety, but to an extent where I feel nothing, that it’s making me more depressed. I don’t know if it’s normal to feel this way after less than a week of taking this medication? I’ve previously been on mirtazapine around a year ago, and quetiapine gives me similar effects such as weight gain, suicidal thoughts, depression, and brain fog. I’m returning to my doctor to make a note of that and will never go near this medication ever again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2014

Quetiapine for Depression "Made me a zombie at low doses and didn't help with depression. In fact, I felt even more depressed since I wasn't able to hold a conversation or think straight due to drowsiness. But it seems to work for some people."

• DSR...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 13, 2019

For Depression "I started this drug several years ago for chronic insomnia. At first, it was a godsend. I was sleeping for 6-7 hours when before, I was sleeping for only 2. My sleep doctor suggested it after every other sleep medication had failed. However, I began battling severe depression a couple of years ago, but I did not connect the depression with the quetiapine. I was very religious about taking 50 mg of quetiapine every night. However, I screwed up and ran out one weekend. So I braced myself for a night without sleep. But the next morning, I had no depression symptoms. I started cutting the pills in half and have been sleeping, but not having the crippling depression symptoms. Amazing... I have been battling crippling depression all this time as a side effect of the quetiapine due to my attempts to sleep at night. Quetiapine is a powerful drug with the potential to change lives for the better, but proceed with extreme caution!"

• DSR...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 13, 2019

For Depression "I started this drug several years ago for chronic insomnia. At first, it was a godsend. I was sleeping for 6-7 hours when before, I was sleeping for only 2. My sleep doctor suggested it after every other sleep medication had failed. However, I began battling severe depression a couple of years ago, but I did not connect the depression with the quetiapine. I was very religious about taking 50 mg of quetiapine every night. However, I screwed up and ran out one weekend. So I braced myself for a night without sleep. But the next morning, I had no depression symptoms. I started cutting the pills in half and have been sleeping, but not having the crippling depression symptoms. Amazing... I have been battling crippling depression all this time as a side effect of the quetiapine due to my attempts to sleep at night. Quetiapine is a powerful drug with the potential to change lives for the better, but proceed with extreme caution!"

• van...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 20, 2012

Quetiapine for Insomnia "I'm 20 years old and I've been on Seroquel for about 1 year now. It really helps. I take it for 2 reasons: insomnia and to help control irritability as a result of having Asperger's syndrome. The FDA is considering approving Seroquel for use in patients with ASD who are at least 10 years old, it is now considered an off-label use. I've been on other antipsychotics to control anger (Abilify, Geodon, Risperdal) and they did not help as much as this, and some had bad side effects including fainting and seizures, very low blood sugar, feeling depressed, and feeling very restless all the time. I also tried Trazodone for sleep, but it didn't work. Thank God for my Seroquel!"

• Anonymous
• July 5, 2012

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "This medicine is great for sleep and helping anxiety, but if you have responsibilities, work, school, kids, ANYTHING, then be prepared. I am only on 100mg and although I feel calmer and not so irritable, I just feel sort of drowsed and no motivation to do anything, not even simple things like taking a shower or making something to eat. I woke up this morning needing to go to the bathroom and it seemed like an overwhelming task and I was stumbling around like when you are drunk. If you don't have to work or answer to anyone, then it's fine because you can just space out and not have such negative emotions and feel better."

• Pat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 12, 2013

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I suffer from mainly depression and anxiety. I have had a few bouts of hypomania. This was recommended to me to help with anxiety and mood swings. Within an hour of taking this medicine, I was always somewhat buzzed and not in a good way. It felt like you had to lie down and sleep, or you would become extremely irritable. The sleep was great on it, however, you wake up in a fog for hours, usually until dinner time for me. It really flattens you out, so you don't feel much, just emotionless and tired. I took anywhere from 50 to 200 mg, and the result was the same. I am off now and trying safer meds. Seroquel wasn't for me, but I'm glad it helps millions, though!"

• RG3...
• March 22, 2017

Quetiapine for Schizophrenia "The drug made me gain weight and become depressed, which I was never before using the drug. I now have an addiction that I can't beat. I would probably sue them for not warning me about the drug's addictive properties. I think this drug may help some people. However, people have a right to be informed about what they are getting into."

• Sho...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 21, 2019

For Depression "On quetiapine for depression, and I slept all night, but stayed in bed all day, depressed. My life fell apart. I gained 60 lbs., my health deteriorated, I became hopeless, stopped eating well or taking care of my family, and neglected responsibilities. I'm on Topamax now, and I am so much better!"

• may...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 27, 2016

For Insomnia "I am having insomnia for ages, sometimes it gets better, sometimes worse, depends on how much I am stressed. The subsequent things in my behavior happen based on how long the insomnia period lasts. I had a very bad period last year-depression with insomnia, sleeping for 3-4 hours a night for a couple of months. I almost lost my job because I was not able to focus on anything during the day, just blankly looking at the monitor, not understanding what I read. I was put on quetiapine for insomnia, 25 mg before going to bed (+ Valdoxan), and it worked immediately, also, my colleagues noticed how my behavior changed. I loved it. When I was back to normal, I quit with quetiapine, was sleeping less for 2 weeks, and then I was fine."

• nos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2019

Quetiapine "My psychiatrist prescribed me Seroquel for my depression as a teenager, and in hindsight, I have no idea why, seeing as it is an antipsychotic. He might have thought it would help with my mood swings and anxiety, but all it really did was make me too exhausted to get out of bed and cause my depression to get worse. It got to the point that I was institutionalized for six days, I felt so utterly depressed and miserable. All the people I've talked to have had similar experiences with this medication. I definitely wouldn't recommend taking Seroquel unless your psychiatrist really thinks it's the best option for you."

• GRa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 25, 2018

Quetiapine 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."

• Lit...
• August 5, 2013

For Insomnia "I have been on quetiapine 50 mg for I don't know how long, but my sleep lasted 3 hrs. Then I would wake up and sleep the rest of the night. I was very tired and depressed all the time, very unhappy. About 5 days ago, my psych put me on 100 mg. Now I sleep all night, it feels like I'm in another world. I have not seen any more hunger. I won't know about weight gain for a while."

• Lit...
• August 5, 2013

For Insomnia "I have been on quetiapine 50 mg for I don't know how long, but my sleep lasted 3 hrs. Then I would wake up and sleep the rest of the night. I was very tired and depressed all the time, very unhappy. About 5 days ago, my psych put me on 100 mg. Now I sleep all night, it feels like I'm in another world. I have not seen any more hunger. I won't know about weight gain for a while."

• Dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2019

For Depression "Found quetiapine very helpful as a sleep aid for my daughter at a low dose, but as I increased the dose, it made her anxiety and depression worsen. This is our seventh medication. I am now proceeding with pharmacogenetic testing through saliva in hopes that through testing her DNA, we can find an appropriate medication match for my daughter. Hope this helps someone out there."

• Anonymous
• January 30, 2012

Quetiapine for Schizoaffective Disorder "I have been taking 200 mg of Seroquel now for about 4 years for schizoaffective disorder. I love this medicine, especially after trying Abilify and Risperdal, which made me lethargic and apathetic towards everything. It has also helped with my borderline personality and generalized anxiety disorders."

• Bri...
• April 5, 2017

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I have been on this for about 2 months, and I've recently been getting extremely tired all day long (even if I take it way earlier the day before). The drowsiness is so extreme that I can't even watch a show. I'm literally struggling to stay awake all day because I feel like I just want to sleep my life away. My depression has been through the roof as well! And to top it off, the weight I have gained since I have been on it has been insane. I constantly want to eat all the time! I have gained at least 20-30 pounds in the past month or two! I am definitely going to tell my doctor I want off of it ASAP! I can't take it anymore."

• jer...
• September 28, 2009

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking 150 mg XR Seroquel for a year now. It is fantastic for knocking me out and taking all those racing thoughts and wild thinking away at night. I have very odd and random dreams, but I don't mind it. The only troubles I have are that I lack all motivation to do anything. I have been doing worse in school, and my relationship has been falling apart. I just let everything slide. It seems like I just am in my own world and that I could care less for the people around me."

• Deb...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 8, 2021

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed Seroquel for sleep, and I was diagnosed with Bipolar II. At first, I was prescribed a low dose, but I still couldn't sleep, so now the dose is 200 mg at night. I also have ADHD, so I take Adderall, along with the Seroquel. What I notice is this: If I go off Adderall, I get very depressed. I did some research on this phenomenon and found out that Seroquel is a dopamine antagonist, which means that it actually suppresses dopamine in your brain. I also take 100 mg of Topamax twice daily as a mood stabilizer, and the combination of medications seems to work like magic. I don't gain weight at all. However, when I had some blood work done, my thyroid hormones were low, and also my blood sugars were very high, even though I am not overweight. I believe these are side effects from the Seroquel. I do not recommend Seroquel unless absolutely necessary for sleep because there are too many metabolic side effects."

• Imd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2017

For Insomnia "After taking heroin on a regular basis for a year, I couldn't sleep properly at night. Insomnia and depression were the worst, until my doctor prescribed me quetiapine fumarate 200 mg tabs. I sleep like a baby now, 8-11 hours without any morning after effects. Also helped me a lot to get out of depression."

• sue...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 19, 2016

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "Made me feel like a zombie. I slept too much, gained 20 lbs, had restless leg syndrome and congestion at night, increased depression, I had a breakdown of laughing and crying at the same time. I lost sense of reality."