Seroquel Compared to Alternatives

For Bipolar Disorder: Took for bipolar. Good side effects: more or less consistently put me to sleep every night. Bad side effects: gained roughly 20 lbs 6 months in, had a difficult time getting up every day, needed more sleep than usual. It helped for awhile, but it mostly made my episodes less severe, did not effectively stop or prevent them.

For Bipolar Disorder: I've been on seroquel 100mg for about a month. My psychiatrist said I had some of bi-polar 2 and signs of depression. I couldn't get out of bed and I had suicidal thoughts. I began on 50mg the first two days then bumped up my dosage to 100mg. The first couple of days were pretty scary.. the side affects kicked in a bit. I had an anxiety attack while driving and had to get off my car (has never happened before.) One night I woke up in the middle of the night..couldn't breath felt like like I was about to vomit and pass out. About a week later, I began to feel better. Normal! Except for struggling to wake up in the morning. I am on my last week of the month and I'm starting to feel depressed again.. I jump in my sleep and get startled quickly. I have vivid dreams and sometimes I don't know if It happened in real life or not. Don't know why.. not sure if I need to change medication or dosage?

For Bipolar Disorder: First I want to thank you all for your helpful reviews. It helped me to do my own research so I can suggest my choice of treatment to my psychiatrist, rather than just trusting the one he suggests. After being diagnosed bipolar 2, he suggested another med. I strongly advocated for Lamictal. I tapered up to 200mg, on a conservative schedule. I've had good results over the past 9 months. It definitely has lowered the instances of hypomania, or at least deescalated the intensity. It's done little to address the depression or anxiety, so we've agreed to add anti-depressant. Again, he suggested Cymbalta, which I opposed due to the all the information regarding withdrawal syndrome. We agreed on a low dose of Prozac which is going well so far.

For Bipolar Disorder: I am bipolar 2 and take 300mg per day. Has changed my life so much. Helped me kick my alcohol addiction and impulsiveness. The last two years have been great. No drug is perfect however, and the withdrawals can be bad. Make sure you take it every day. So I gave it an 8 because I feel great if I keep up with it. I take it right after I wake up because it helps wake me up and gives me energy. Also makes me very patient with myself, other people and just life in general throughout the day. At my current dosage I wouldn't hesitate to call it a smart drug for me because it lessons my impulsive tendencies and quickness to anger. If this doesn't work for you, don't fret, I study medicine, and there is usually always something available to help.

For Bipolar Disorder: I have been fighting mood swings and depression for years and have tried all the antidepressants which for the most part didn't work and sometimes made me worse and more crazy, so I went to clinic and was lucky enough to tell this to a random doctor, she said it common for doctors to prescribe antidepressants for bipolar by mistake, I took a questionnaire that basically suggested I was Bipolar. I saw my regular doctor after this and he agreed and put me on Lamotigrine and it was like the lights went on, I am three days in and so amazed how I feel with no noticeable side effects I am stable and not constantly self talking and feel bad weak and discouraged , it works for what it was made for, keep looking and get diagnosed for the right thing because you can spend years taking the wrong medicine. Wow

For Bipolar Disorder: First let me say thank you to all who have posted. I have been hoping to find a forum like this. Having suffered from depression and rapid mood swings (hypo mania) for more than 37 years it is a relief and very validating to hear other people's experiences if even if all of them are not applicable to mine . I experienced a severe depression with a suicide attempt 36 years ago. Since then a variety of medications have treated my depression quite well. I also found a loving husband and have a job I really like. Those external things can make a big difference too. I started lamictal 15 years ago and it helped take away the rapid mood swings & lessened some of the stronger depressive moods.Thanks to all for sharing. Now I don't feel as alone