Quetiapine and Restless Leg Syndrome: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Fel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2018

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "Tried Seroquel ten years ago. Ended up driving when my body went into SEVERE convulsions. Was barely able to turn around and drive back home. Then, recently, ten years later, I was prescribed Seroquel XR. Again. I didn’t make the connection to the first time. Took the 100 mg dosage two nights ago. Uncontrollable convulsions and seizures. I have restless leg syndrome and my legs were flying all around. No way to lie down and sleep, so I walked around the house for four hours, occasionally sitting at my desk for a bit. No sleep. Then, the next day, I suffered the entire day suffering from cognitive dissonance. I kept going in and out of “the moment.” And I would spend about thirty seconds in this state, then return for a minute or two. This cycle went on all day long. Third day now and back to “normal.” Not taking anything now."

• Gom...
• July 22, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "This has been a horrible experience. I have gained too much weight. I am more depressed than ever. This medicine says it is prescribed for me for sleep. First few nights, absolutely true. Now all I get is restless legs, intense food cravings, and it is physically hard to get up. Terrible constipation, which leads to feeling extremely bloated. No drive or motivation whatsoever. My doctor thinks I should stay on this poison. I am going on a vacation in a couple of months, this 40 lb weight gain is really stressing me out. I will see if she will prescribe Adderall, which I used before, quit cold turkey, and felt no withdrawals. The only reason I give it a 2 is that it has helped insomnia."

• Val...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Was diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar disorder and was first prescribed to take half of a 25 mg quetiapine at night (I’m very sensitive to meds). It knocked me out fast, and I’d have great sleeps with vivid dreams but could not for the life of me get out of bed in the morning. The next-day grogginess subsided when I was prescribed to take 15 mg Adderall in the morning. But after a week, I started waking up in the night gasping for air (usually after a dream of drowning or being crushed) and sometimes restless leg syndrome so bad I’d cry from anger. Not sure if it was a bad mix or what, but it did not work for me, unfortunately."

• Bar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 1, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "It helps me feel calm and be able to sleep. I have a tendency to stay up too late at night, and when I do, my legs get restless, and I have to go to bed, and I sleep well. I have occasional abnormal dreams and a small problem emptying my bladder completely. All in all, though, it is improving my life. I also take Strattera and Lamotrigine."

• wcf...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "Quetiapine is supposed to have antidepressant effects, but personally, I take bupropion, clonazepam, and lamotrigine for that and use quetiapine for sleep primarily. But just a note to those who find this drug aggravates their RLS (and likely so does Benadryl, as they function the same at low doses) - try adding 300 - 600 mg of gabapentin. It should stop the RLS altogether and is likely safer than an NSAID for pain (check with your doctor, of course). It also gives me heartburn, and a 150 or 300 mg generic ranitidine (Zantac) takes care of that."

• Ril...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 28, 2021

Quetiapine "I have CPTSD, GAD, dissociative disorder. I've been on 50 mg XR for a few months now, and it's helped so much with my motivation. I was on 200-300 mg immediate release for sleep, and it did nothing apart from give me the worst restless legs. I'm able to tolerate this a lot better, and while I still struggle with anxiety and sleep, I am grateful to have some motivation and drive back in my day. So far, I haven't experienced any side effects or weight gain."

• 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."

• Wil...
• March 12, 2018

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I was originally prescribed quetiapine 25mg for sleep as an add-on to my other meds when I was in the hospital. My understanding is that under about 100mg it has no effect other than as an alpha-histamine blocker, which is essentially the same as Benadryl. For antipsychotic effect, a larger dose is needed, and for sleep, the side effects seem to outweigh the benefit vs. for example, Benadryl itself. Having said that, since there has been some benefit shown at higher doses for BDP, someone with this condition likely has nothing to lose by taking it at 25 or 50mg. Others have mentioned that it aggravates their restless legs syndrome, and it does the same for me - but 300mg of gabapentin easily takes care of that, and 300 or 600 works great for RLS regardless. The other issue I have with quetiapine is heartburn, but for that I have an Rx for generic Zantac, which works like a charm. I can't speak to the benefits of 'therapeutic level' doses of quetiapine as I have never been on more than 50mg."

• poo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 30, 2014

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "I was on Seroquel for a year. I was fat, no energy, restless leg syndrome, and elevated glucose. Seroquel has too many serious side effects."

• srr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 28, 2013

Quetiapine for Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel is fantastic. I've been taking it for bipolar and inability to sleep. The only problem I've had is severe restless leg syndrome. That side effect is knocked out by 2 mg of Requip."

• LRa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2022

For Insomnia "Anyone experience extreme restless legs after starting quetiapine? I just started it tonight, and yes, it makes me drowsy, but also awful restless legs!"

• Kri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2016

For Insomnia "Started with 50 mg, now up to 300. About 40 min after taking it, I get restless legs. Sleep good for about 3 hours, then wake."

• jax...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 12, 2020

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I gained a bunch of weight on quetiapine, another side effect was really bad restless legs after my dose. When I do finally fall asleep, I'm out cold!"

• Rea...
• January 10, 2010

Quetiapine for Insomnia "I use it to sleep at night. Love it. Works like a charm, haven't noticed any side effects with the exception of having RLS every once in a while."

• dro...
• October 22, 2009

Quetiapine "Worked well except for the side effects... orthostatic hypotension caused me to faint, restless legs, and overeating."