Quetiapine and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 4)

• hah...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in a residential treatment center. I was dependent on 4 mg of Klonopin a day, and when I started to taper off, the panic attacks and lack of sleep were so unreal. My doctor put me on Seroquel 25 mg twice a day and 50 mg at nighttime. It makes me really tired, so it helps me sleep. I used to wake up groggy, but not anymore. Overall, great medication. I'm now on 50 mg a day as needed and 50 mg at nighttime. Seroquel really helps my panic attacks. The dose I'm at doesn't make me as tired as it used to. I'm on Remeron at nighttime, so the two really knock me out. Overall, great medication. Only side effects: bad dry mouth, sleepiness."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 4, 2022

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "This is an interesting medication. The first 2-4 weeks can be tricky. I found that it does have a sedative effect and was amazing for sleeping. It did also make me agitated/jumpy if I took a higher dose (weirdly, paracetamol or ibuprofen lowered this effect). Can be helpful to try a lower dose and see the difference. I did feel foggy and had trouble concentrating the first month. Your body does need to get used to it, then I saw major improvements in mood and reduction in depression and anxiety. It is good because it immediately reduces extreme anxiety (compared to SSRIs and SNRIs) and then kicks in to help over the longer time. I would use it in conjunction with working with a psychologist. If you're going through anxiety or depression, this medication is a much better option than benzos or SSRIs or SNRIs."

• Idk...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 31, 2019

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Struggling with a lot of insomnia due to OCD and anxiety, I oftentimes have trouble falling asleep. But this medication lets me get 8 hours of sleep every night, which allows me to cope with the anxiety and OCD. It really helps with unwanted OCD thoughts, lets thoughts come and go better. It doesn’t completely get rid of my very general daily anxiety, but it helps me sleep, which is very important to me!! Also, I’ve experienced no weight gain, the only side effect would be if I take it late, 12 am - 1 am, at night and have to get up early the next day. I do feel a little drowsy for a bit."

• Ted...
• December 24, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Prescribed by shrink for insomnia and anxiety when I was having a terrible time trying to get off benzos. Has worked very well, albeit I have stuck on the same dose of benzodiazepines on advice, i.e., not come down any more. It's great for going to sleep and not waking up at 4 a.m. worried about stuff. Yes, it makes you a bit drowsy, and you do eat more. It reminds me of the munchies. Best thing is just to go to bed. I wanted to say, though, that the dose is critical. For sleep, the dose is very low. I take 12.5 mg. I went up to 25 mg and was a zombie, it was horrible. If you have a shitty time, try halving the dose. I know it does different things at different levels, and maybe if you took a whole lot more, then it would work in a different way."

• My...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 20, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Seroquel gets rid of 95% of my anxiety and severe insomnia. I've tried everything else. I don't feel drugged. I just feel something like a normal person. It's amazing. It only got rid of about 30% of my depression, but together with Lamictal, they cover 80% of my depression as long as I make sure to stay social. I take 350 mg about 2 hours before bed. It was EXTREMELY sedating at first, but within a month (maybe 2 weeks), I adapted to each new dose increase. I do have to make sure to get 8-10 hours of sleep every night, but a big part of that is my CFS and sleep apnea. We slowly went up over the course of 3 months to get to 300 mg. And after being on it about 2 years, I had to raise it to 350 mg because it wasn't working as well."

• cou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2013

Quetiapine for Schizophrenia "I was prescribed this for paranoid psychosis and depression. At first, I was to take a half of a 100 mg tablet at night for a week, then raise to the whole pill. After taking the half the first night at eight and feeling drunk, I decided this might not be for me, so I cut the half in half and take a quarter pill a night. It has helped me sleep and seems to curve my overthinking things and thinking that every comment or conversation on social media is about me. I think also by getting off social media altogether, it also helped my situation. But overall good medication, it's the only thing I take."

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

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Bli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2019

Quetiapine for Major Depressive Disorder "Have had major depression and major depressive episodes over 45 years. Have tried various SSRIs. Seroquel is the best so far, it helped me significantly with one 25 mg dose. Where the SSRIs did not seem to help much at all after months of use: Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor. Side effects seem to be minor, except it does make me sleep a lot. A LOT. Up to 10 hours a day. Deep sleep, not just REM sleep. Works extremely well for me. Although I try to use it only when I need it. In short periods of 2 weeks or so, and then see if I still require it. Very effective. I can honestly say this drug saved me from the edge of desperation and suicide."

• jus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 24, 2012

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 1 about 8 months ago. My doctor put me on Seroquel 100 mg. I do have to take it at night due to the drowsiness it causes. It has made a dramatic change in the racing thoughts and negative self-image I felt. I've also had a marked change in my insomnia. I was misdiagnosed for a number of years and couldn't understand why the other meds didn't make a difference. I wake up feeling rested. I did have some vivid dreams when I first began taking it. I also get the munchies, but they have subsided considerably in the last month or two and have dropped almost 20 pounds. This is magical as far as I'm concerned! As well as the Seroquel, I also take 20 mg of Lexapro and 600 mg of Neurontin every night. Thanks!!"

• Sle...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 13, 2014

For Insomnia "I have been taking this since it was prescribed in detox three years ago. It has worked wonders for me. I only take 1/4 of a 50 mg pill and sleep through the night. I don't take it on the weekends to avoid building a tolerance. Sometimes, if I am under stress, I will take a 1/2 pill. The only thing I notice is that I need to take it when I have at least 7 hours to sleep, or I may be groggy in the morning."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 5, 2016

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel has been very helpful with sleep, and I also noticed some mood stabilization in combination with Lamictal and sometimes Klonopin. Sometimes it is overly sedating, but taking it a couple of hours before normally going to sleep is important for me so that I don't feel drowsy the next day. I did not notice any weight gain on it. My doctor started me on 50 mg, which was good for sedation, but no major difference in mood. 100 mg does make a difference in lowering my anxiety and some mood stabilization with my other medications, but sometimes she recommends me to take 200 mg to reduce mania from flaring up when it starts. Overall, this med has been useful for Bipolar 1 for me."

• Kat...
• May 8, 2012

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel helps both manic and depressive symptoms, however, it is much better when combined with other mood-stabilizing medications. Good for providing sleep, but it can be too sedating until you get used to it (just take it consistently and stick with it). Slight raise in appetite for carbs but nothing a healthy diet and exercise can't counteract, which is what you should be doing if you have a serious mental illness anyway. A good first medicine to try, because it's a mood stabilizer (for both types of episodes), antipsychotic, sleep medication, and anxiolytic! It's great for controlling anxiety and making you feel calmer and means you don't have to take Valium or sleeping pills, which can be addictive-whereas Seroquel is NOT addictive."

• JND...
• February 22, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have bipolar type 2 for 20 years now. I'm also a registered nurse. I take Depakote for my mood stabilizer and Lexapro, and for about 6 years was on 25 mg of Seroquel for sleep. It put me to sleep, a very deep, restful sleep, but I found come morning when it was time to wake for work I was soooooo groggy throughout the day, it was awful... UNTIL when I had to come off my Depakote to get pregnant, and my doctor said we could increase my Seroquel to take its place, that the higher the dose of Seroquel, 200+, the LESS daytime sleepiness I would have and I wake up feeling refreshed. Most sedating drugs, the reverse is true, like for example, Valium, take a tiny dose okay, but bigger doses and you're asleep. Not true of Seroquel. Look it up or ask your psych."

• yor...
• September 29, 2008

Quetiapine for Borderline Personality Disorder "I'm three weeks into taking 200 mg of Seroquel along with my usual Effexor. I was prescribed it off-label to help with the mood swings I get from being borderline. For the first time in years, I am not full of anxiety. I sleep longer, am able to exercise in public without feeling self-conscious, am eating more healthy foods, although still too much of them. The drowsiness was awful initially but has mostly disappeared now."

• Tya...
• September 26, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I've struggled with severe anxiety for most of my life (leading me to being physically sick and suicidal at its worst), and recently was diagnosed with bipolar 1. I'm generally a big advocate for natural healing, but things have gotten so intense that I needed more help. My psychiatrist is amazing and wanted to go slow! He said he doesn't want my first experience with big pharma to be traumatic. I noticed at 300 mg I was really groggy, irritable, and had a slight hand tremor. Mind you, I'm 5'2 and 115 lbs, so I'm a light weight with most substances! 150 mg has been my sweet spot! Overall, I'm super optimistic! But I'm also working hard to be consistent in all aspects of my life. That's key for bipolar/anxiety! I meditate, exercise, eat right, spend time in nature, journal, go to therapy, go to bed and wake up at the same time, etc. No medicine will be a cure-all on its own! Peace and happiness is a constant practice. Coming from a suicide survivor, I promise it gets better!"

• dev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2019

For Depression "I went on Seroquel for psychotic depression. I also suffer from ADHD, and I'm on stimulants. I've been on it for a few months now, and I've just started school, and the brain fog has really been screwing me over academically. Other than that, it's helpful, but far too sedating. I've done horribly in all my assessments despite studying because it's like my brain isn't working. My teachers are all concerned about my performance. I take a dose of 300 mg. I haven't had much weight gain, but I feel really stiff all the time. I've constantly been late to school and passing out because of this med, so I can't even show up to school. It works pretty well, but it's way too sedating and neutralizes all my thoughts. Switching from XR to IR somewhat helped, but I'm still having a ton of issues."

• Sno...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 18, 2021

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I started off taking 25 mg of Seroquel with Lamictal, 450 mg of bupropion XL, risperidone, and 9 mg of melatonin to aid the sleep effect of the Seroquel. I slept great and gained no weight on it. I began having trouble falling asleep. My pdoc upped the dosage to 50 mg without changing anything else. At first, I was a little groggy in the morning. That went away, and now I sleep well every night for a little over 8 hours, which is normal for me. So I've had a very good experience with it."

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2011

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I've had bad reactions to every mood stabilizer I've tried, but this was truly the scariest. I had to withdraw from college because I was sleeping constantly, crying for 8 hours at a time, and hallucinating. I eventually became suicidal and landed myself in the hospital for 2 weeks. I know that everyone reacts differently, and finding the bipolar cocktail is a painful trial-and-error process, but if you have this experience, I wanted you to know you are not alone."

• Que...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 24, 2017

For Depression "I was diagnosed with delusional jealousy in November 2016. I was utterly convinced my wife was cheating on me despite no evidence to support this irrational belief. The lack of evidence just made me even more suspicious. I was out of control. Taking Prozac and Lorazepam to try and control the anxiety was making things worse. A private psychiatrist diagnosed me and prescribed quetiapine 300 mg. The first 2 weeks were a bit groggy, but I kept fit, ate healthily, and went to bed early. The results were astonishing. I was immediately so much calmer and rational. At the very least, this drug saved my marriage and, at best, it has probably saved my life. Yes, I'm hungry all the time and have to be careful with food, but it's a small price to pay."

• Sle...
• April 8, 2016

For Insomnia "I do not have depression, anxiety, etc. But I do have occasional insomnia. Someone told me to try Seroquel, and I did. Best stuff ever for insomnia. I've tried the XR 25 mg and 50 mg. Both work, but I have to take it early enough because the drowsy effect is long-lasting. But best sleep ever!!"

• San...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 17, 2022

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I’m 61 and was diagnosed bipolar NOS, meaning I don’t fit into any category, but I have elements of bipolar. I used to be very impulsive and have made some bad decisions. I was high energy, but I also had a lot of depression. I had bad reactions to antidepressants. I would get very irritable. I've been on a low dose of lithium and 25 mg of Seroquel for several years. The Seroquel makes me a little groggy in the morning, but it has really helped with irritability. I’ve gained some weight because I’m not as hyper as I used to be. Hope this helps. I’m not ashamed to admit I need meds. Some people resist when they should be on them."

• fre...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 27, 2013

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "Took for bipolar disorder (for the depression). In small doses, this caused me to be too sleepy to function. When I took a large dose at night, however, it knocked me out, and I was good the next day. This really did help with the depression and mood swings. However, it caused significant weight gain. I had to stop taking this when a job had ended and I no longer had insurance. I fought insomnia for around 6 months, but after that time, was finally able to sleep again, and the weight came out. I would recommend this for someone who really needs it, but not until other medicines have been tried first with no success."

• Yoy...
• May 8, 2017

For Insomnia "I take quetiapine for my insomnia. Within the first 30 mins of taking it, my body starts to tingle like a warning that I'm about to sleep. I climb into bed, get really groggy, and sleep. The next day is always horrible after taking the pill. I'm tired all day, it's hard to wake up for school. I don't want to do anything but sleep. I recommend you take this pill when you know you don't have to wake up too early."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 28, 2024

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been taking quetiapine long term for about 7 years. I was prescribed it for anxiety and insomnia. I began on a high dose but now only take 25 - 50 mg at night. Once I started taking this drug, there was no need for the doctors to try any more antidepressants or other pills. It helps me sleep at night, calms my anxiety, and therefore I am able to tackle my day. I find it quite sedating, so the smaller the dose I can manage, the better. I have tried going off it once, but ended up with horrible side effects such as no sleep for days and itching, crawling skin, intense nausea, and feeling very mentally fragile. Overall, this drug has helped me a lot over the years, and I am able to function quite well on it with minimal side effects - sometimes can feel quite drowsy the next day. I have had restless legs and muscle aches as side effects too, but I have been taking it long term. I would recommend a low dose to someone also struggling with anxiety and sleep."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 28, 2024

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been taking quetiapine long term for about 7 years. I was prescribed it for anxiety and insomnia. I began on a high dose but now only take 25 - 50 mg at night. Once I started taking this drug, there was no need for the doctors to try any more antidepressants or other pills. It helps me sleep at night, calms my anxiety, and therefore I am able to tackle my day. I find it quite sedating, so the smaller the dose I can manage, the better. I have tried going off it once, but ended up with horrible side effects such as no sleep for days and itching, crawling skin, intense nausea, and feeling very mentally fragile. Overall, this drug has helped me a lot over the years, and I am able to function quite well on it with minimal side effects - sometimes can feel quite drowsy the next day. I have had restless legs and muscle aches as side effects too, but I have been taking it long term. I would recommend a low dose to someone also struggling with anxiety and sleep."