Quetiapine and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Jaz...
• October 13, 2015

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Horrible. I was put on 200 Seroquel, and now I've been diagnosed with hypotension. I get dizzy all the time. It's been three months, and I have to go off, it's that severe. This side effect is horrible! Especially for a student not being able to concentrate."

• Nic...
• December 5, 2017

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Prescribed 25 mg quetiapine for my labile mood for 2 weeks, then dose upped to 50 mg after the 2 weeks. Initially, after the first week on 25 mg, I felt great - like a cloud lifted. Then hypomania set in: initially, I took advantage of the positive effects - blitzed the house, loads of crafts, focused at work. Then the reckless driving and spending began. Once started taking 50 mg at night, stupor, tinnitus, muscle cramps in left leg, heart palpitations, dizziness, blurred vision, that horrible head fizz you get with some head meds; hypomania carried on - insomnia and racing mind, spent £2k in 2 weeks. Intense irritability and nausea. Last weekend was spent lying down and barking abusively at my poor partner. I made the executive decision to stop."

• mam...
• September 29, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I am being court-ordered to take this prescribed medication. I don't like taking any drug. The side effects I have are lethargy, dizziness, my tongue doesn't work at times, I have knots in my stomach, headache, I sleep for more than half the day, lower back pain, and leg pain and cramping. I am prescribed 25 mg, but I break the pill in half, so I am only taking half per day. I am less angry, maybe because I have no desire to do anything. I have been taking the drug for five months now. I just want to be drug-free. I don't think I will check this site again, but I would like some responses."

• Sle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 2, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "My doctor prescribed me this medicine just two days ago, and I was able to pick it up yesterday and took it before bed last night. I did start to feel drowsy and dizzy. As I tried to get comfortable, my heart was racing, my eyes, legs, and arms were restless, but my brain was asleep while my eyes were open. I felt like my doctor prescribed me speed instead of sleeping meds. On top of that, my mouth was as dry as a desert when I woke up this morning, and no matter how much water I drank, my mouth would not absorb it. Bottom of the story, I felt like a tweaker and ended up getting barely any sleep at all. This is just night one, let's hope trial nights two and three are better."

• For...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2022

For Depression "This medication is dangerous, my body felt really heavy, and I couldn't stay awake. I was constipated, couldn't poop or fart. Couldn't eat, I had to force myself to wake up just to breathe because it had me so groggy. I was forgetting how to breathe. I would see things that weren't there, and I had ringing in my ears. I called the pharmacy, they told me to stop taking it. I asked the pharmacist how long it would take for the medication to be out of my body, they said 2 weeks. It was a miserable two weeks, and being so weak, I felt really heavy. I couldn't get up and go to the bathroom, I couldn't control my bladder, and I was so foggy and dizzy. It was bad. After the two weeks, I started to feel somewhat normal. It stayed in my body a few more days, but when it was finally gone, I was happy I could gain back control of my body again, and I could think more clearly. I will never take this drug ever again, it's awful."

• bip...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 27, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I haven't had a depressive or hypomanic episode the entire time I have been on 300 mg quetiapine XL/modified release. It has stabilized my mood effectively, even in the face of traumatic life events (nearly lost my mother to a pulmonary embolism) and concomitant treatment for ADHD with a trial of methylphenidate. The first week was difficult. I had dizziness, increased anxiety, and nearly fainted after standing up too quickly at night. These initial side effects passed after about a week of being on 300 mg. I now only occasionally get dizziness or excessive tiredness after taking the dose in the evening. My only complaint would be having to fast around 3 hours the dose (2 hours before, 1 hour after), so it can be a bit antisocial when it comes to eating in the evening depending on how early you take it. In summary, quetiapine works really well for me with minimal side effects."

• str...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2021

For Insomnia "Prescribed 12.5-50 mg Seroquel as needed for severe anxiety and insomnia. It’s made a huge difference since I started taking it. It’s extremely relaxing, and I no longer have anxiety attacks before bed. It has helped me to feel more confident and deal with stress better. However, when it kicks in, I almost get a high similar to marijuana - drowsy, dizzy, relaxed, loose limbs."

• UWi...
• November 7, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I take 300 mg of XR, have for about two years now: 150 before bed and 150 midday (300 before bed was suppressing REM sleep). It has managed symptoms such as severe suicidal impulses/ideation, however, overall I find that it barely sedates me. So I also take 10 mg of maximum strength melatonin, which seems to work in conjunction with the medication to allow me to sleep. Overall, it seems to be somewhat effective, although I would like to take a higher dose or switch to another medication, however, my doctor wants to eventually taper me off of it completely. Previously, I have been unable to afford my medication and went without for 32 or so hours. The withdrawal was horrible, I felt sick, then tried to sleep and couldn't due to severe spins/vertigo."

• MLe...
• May 3, 2016

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "So I started this yesterday after being on trazodone that wasn't working anymore. I'm on it for PTSD and chronic anxiety. I took my first one last night and it took about 10 mins to fall asleep. I am on 150 mg. I woke up today and I have never felt so terrible. I felt like a zombie, I could barely string a sentence together. The day went on and I was still feeling terrible with dizzy spells. Then I had a major hot flush, felt violently sick, and could barely stand. I decided to lie down, after what felt like a few seconds, I passed out and was having extremely vivid dreams (very creepy). I woke up a few hours later and felt slightly better. I know it takes a while to get used to them, but I wasn't expecting that. Hopefully, tomorrow won't be as bad."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 31, 2024

For Bipolar Disorder "I have had bipolar 1 for about 30 years. The first 15 were hell. Had a successful remission on Latuda, but it became too expensive. I switched to Seroquel and I have been stable. Currently on 400 mg at night and 100 mg every day. I have had to increase my dose a few times when I felt that I was slipping into depression, and mood improved within days. I used to have at least two sleepless nights a week. Now I fall asleep quickly and sleep through the night. Try to take it when you are ready for bed - I have found that combined with some of my other meds, I am a bit unsteady if I have to get up in the night. Love this med."

• Nee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 16, 2019

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "Has done nothing to curb my problems: lack of self-care, vertigo, hypersexuality, suicidal thoughts round the clock. UK resident, so cost not part of assessment."

• Ser...
• May 24, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "How much time does it take to get used to it and stop feeling drowsy? It's my first day, and I feel so drowsy, even dizzy. I take 1/2 before going to bed, and 1/4 in the morning."