Quetiapine and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Lit...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 18, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and have been on this med for about six years at 200 mg. I also take gabapentin, Xanax, and Remeron. It works well at getting me to sleep. I'm groggy most mornings for at least a few hours. It does help keep me in a fairly neutral emotional state most of the time, although it works on my anxiety more than my depression. It has not affected my blood work or appetite at all, but I've slowly gained maybe 20 pounds since I started it, which is baffling, as I eat very little. If I miss a dose, the withdrawal is intense and includes drenching hot flashes, itching everywhere, and rebound insomnia. Overall, I feel it is a worthy part of my medication regimen and will likely need to take it for the rest of my life."

• aku...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 13, 2024

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "IR tablets really helped me. Been on 100 mg for about 8 months, but some stressful events at the job and working too much made me burn out. So my doctor tried to add 50 mg XR version, but that gave me anxiety, couldn't sleep, tension in muscles. First day after taking it, I was feeling the best in my life, but the second and the third it was an awful experience. I will never take XR version again. Quetiapine only agrees with me once daily before bed, if I take it through the day, it makes me climb out of my skin. I am back to my original dose of IR, and I am feeling good again."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• January 26, 2018

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "This drug has changed my life. I'm on 300 mg and find it helps me sleep and stops me from becoming stupidly manic. I haven't gained any weight, but I go to the gym and walk every day, so I'm very active. My only complaint is it takes me quite a while to wake up in the mornings. I'm also on 300 mg of Lamictal."

• Vic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2018

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed Seroquel for treatment-resistant depression. I only took it for about 2 weeks. For every night I wasn't able to sleep, my doc upped my dose, which was most nights. In my opinion, it was upped too quickly. It literally made me feel like I was going crazy. I'm aware that this is a very subjective feeling, but I can't put it into words how bad it made me feel. I would still recommend it only if titrated very slowly."

• Anonymous
• August 2, 2009

Quetiapine for Insomnia "I have been taking 100 mg of Seroquel for about a year now. It does worry me some because when I do miss a dose, I don't sleep, but it does work well. I do have to eat before I go to bed or want to sleep well."

• Lem...
• August 21, 2018

For Insomnia "When I was in the mental hospital, they couldn't find what my problem was. 100 mg of quetiapine later, they could barely get me to sleep. This is an enormous dosage. Most take half of a 25 mg pill. As the drug began to clear my mind, it helped me sleep. Without the drug, I would get 2-4 hours of sleep a night and always had voices telling me to feel 100 different emotions. For a few months, I began to heal. Soon, I requested the dosage be dropped so I could learn to sleep without it. Although, to be honest, I don't think I am meant to not take it. I would say I need this medication for the rest of my life! Pretty expensive??? No, not at all. The real cost of this medication is negative. This will make you money, not cost money. After being on this medication for the past year, I have now had the ability to work on my life. At the age of 19 years old, I now own 6 apartments and continue to live out my passion for travel and real estate. I could not have done it without quetiapine."

• 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."

• Mis...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 18, 2017

For Insomnia "I've been on quetiapine for years for bipolar. I started having really bad problems with sleeping. They upped my dose a few times, now I'm on 600 mg and still having trouble getting to sleep. I've been on so many pills for sleep, and nothing has worked. I'm running out of choices, getting really irritated, I need sleep."

• 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."

• Aer...
• December 9, 2017

For Depression "I was prescribed Seroquel for PPD in early 2016 after having my 2nd child. I had a past history of severe postpartum depression with my 1st birth, and my 2nd birth was no different. I had the perfect storm for a mental breakdown. I had just had my baby 1 month early via emergency C-section after going into labor from a very close family member unexpectedly passing away. I had horrible symptoms: racing thoughts, no sleep, no appetite, increased heart rate, and worst of all, intrusive and disturbing thoughts. My psychiatrist prescribed me 50 mg of Seroquel to take only at night or as needed so I could sleep. Seroquel is the only medication that I have ever taken that can put me to sleep. Thank God for this medication!"

• CJm...
• September 23, 2013

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I have been taking quetiapine for 4 years now for bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, and I have found it very effective in my treatment. I have, however, also been taking lamotrigine, fluoxetine for my bulimia, and promethazine. I do struggle with sleep, etc., but the problems aren't as severe."

• MrA...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 1, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I truly think this medication may have saved my life. I'm 24, and I knew I had some mental issues since I was a teen. Until now, I never took them seriously, but looking back... I'm so glad I was diagnosed and treated with this medication. I suffered for so many years with little sleep, alcoholism, panic attacks, mood swings, ludicrous spending... you name it. Seroquel allows me to be the person I want to be. It slows me down and allows me to act more rationally and sleep properly. I'm so thankful this medication exists, I never want to live a day without it."

• tin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2013

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I have been taking quetiapine for four and a half months now after suffering with Borderline Personality Disorder for years. I was first diagnosed in '04 when I was 19, eight years later I received the same diagnosis, then six months later started receiving treatment when I started the medicine (100 mg at night). It made me sleep all night long but did not do very much for my mood, I was still in a very dark place. After a couple of months, I found it was not 'knocking me out' the way it had been, and I was starting to be up throughout the night, and now I don't sleep for more than an hour before waking up at night. My mood has lifted, it has only improved on a normal day, but I still find certain situations difficult, like dealing with people outside. Hopefully, it will improve."

• Wre...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2016

Quetiapine for Major Depressive Disorder "I have suffered from major depression since early adolescence and have been exposed to over two dozen different antidepressants in the last 30 years. Expensive, ineffective, grossly negative side effects to skin and chronic fatigue daily. Trying another high-cost drug, a desperate last resort. Each dirty little pill failed, with an accumulated cost of more than $15,000 to the patient asking for help. Negligent dispensation of Seroquel XR also resulted in a near-fatal car wreck for the patient. Aside from losing my car and job, I was privileged to gain 40 pounds... and counting. Chronic insomnia kills drivers, truckers, pilots, and boat captains every day. Drug companies need to try a lot harder to promote healing rather than just bankroll profits."

• ins...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 1, 2017

For Insomnia "Had insomnia for years due to anxiety and mild panic attacks, also complicated by dystonic tremor in my neck, my head constantly twitches, even when lying down. On a good night, I was getting 5 or 6 hours of broken sleep. Tried several meds, nothing helped. Doctor suggested quetiapine, I was a bit reluctant as it's such a strong drug, but desperate enough to give it a try. I'm finally sleeping through every night! Very constipated when I first started, but it came right after a few weeks. Also, I wake up feeling groggy, but am fine once I'm up. No problems with weight gain. Using 25 mg, but thinking about cutting down to 12.5 mg. Love being able to sleep!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 15, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "The medicine works better than any other medicine I've tried. Specifically, it keeps my background thoughts away, making it be a more conscious effort to feed either negative or positive emotion. It also seems to combat chronic insomnia as often experienced with bipolar during stressful times, meaning it keeps mania in check too by increasing sleep times. Here's the bad sides in my case. 150 mg was too much for me and made me sleep 2-3 hours too long (10-11 h), also making it virtually impossible to feel rested at an early hour. Slow release is also troublesome with its day-long release. Taking 100 mg going 2 hours before sleep is perfect for me - helps sound sleep and waking into an alarm early is not just possible but doable now. I would advise experimentation with dose and time taken before bed to find the best trade-off. Another really annoying side is that quetiapine takes away ALL thoughts, not just the bad ones. You can tend to feel a bit braindead on it, because thinking takes effort."

• Cat...
• May 20, 2016

For Insomnia "I have been taking quetiapine for a few years, it worked fine at first. However, now I have to take it 6 hours at least ahead of when I want to go to bed. I take 150 mg a day, and I still have problems sleeping."

• Jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 3, 2017

For Depression "My doctor prescribed this for depression. Mood-wise, it helped, and I also slept like a rock. BUT in a matter of 8 months, I managed to gain 25 lbs... which my doctor did NOT tell me was a huge side effect. I stopped taking the medication, and now I cannot sleep at all. I have been off of it for three weeks and still no luck."

• 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."

• REH...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 17, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was put on Seroquel when I was 13 for depression. Stopped having periods but was told by my mom that other people in the family have had that and not to worry. Starting in high school, I began having issues with falling asleep in the mornings during school. While in college, I began to sleep even more often. I used to drink a little (2-3 drinks) after I turned 21, and perhaps this might have exacerbated the problem. I am now 29, have gotten off of this medication, but still fall asleep randomly. I have even started falling asleep when driving. Do not take this medication for depression. Do not start your patients on this medication before trying something more mild. I’m afraid that I will never be alright again from this med."

• Anonymous
• May 26, 2011

For Insomnia "I have severe insomnia, which causes sleep deprivation, hallucinations, and so was prescribed quetiapine. I took it for 3 nights until I passed out on my kitchen floor the fourth day and ended up in the emergency room, where they discovered my blood sugar was 9 (162). I've stopped taking quetiapine, but it has left me with type 2 diabetes, which I did not have before. I'd been recently checked for several things, including diabetes, as part of my normal health care."

• Anonymous
• May 26, 2011

For Insomnia "I have severe insomnia, which causes sleep deprivation, hallucinations, and so was prescribed quetiapine. I took it for 3 nights until I passed out on my kitchen floor the fourth day and ended up in the emergency room, where they discovered my blood sugar was 9 (162). I've stopped taking quetiapine, but it has left me with type 2 diabetes, which I did not have before. I'd been recently checked for several things, including diabetes, as part of my normal health care."

• cox...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2016

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Worked on the symptoms for the most part, felt a lot calmer, but sometimes almost brain dead, which made university work very difficult. Put me to sleep like a baby, though, the only problem was, like risperidone, getting up in the morning was extremely hard even if I took it at like 8 pm. Side effects were unbearable. I gained over a stone (and I'm only 5 ft 2) in the space of 3-4 months when only on 25 mg (bi-daily) despite watching what I ate! I always felt like I was sweaty even in the winter and after climbing 2 flights of stairs, and I kept feeling my heart skip a beat. Also worth mentioning, alcohol is a no-go, I could only have 1 or 2 drinks before feeling completely out of it. Bottom line: works but not worth it in my opinion!"