seroquel and do u know about it?

Question

my doc prescribed me this. i take lithium,effexor, and xanax. i had taken respidal and almost went insane and i have heard that these drugs are in the same category...what do i do?

Answer 1

Seroquel is an atypical antisychotic, in addition to being used to treat schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders, these medications are being pushed as monotherapy for bipolar disorder. There's a big push to prescribe the atypicals for anxiety/panic to avoid the nasty addiction & abuse problems associated with benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, etc). While less effective for most people than SSRIs ( Effexor) or benzodiazepines in combating anxiety & panic (but more effective than meds that don't work at all), sudden withdrawal from long-term use of an atypical antipsychotic can be weird but not really that big a deal. Other than the return of the symptoms it's treating, of course. That can really suck.

The atypicals work with the receptors of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, histamine and muscarine (and to a lesser extent GABA) in really selective parts of the brain to block hyperactive input. They all work pretty much the same way, except for the first one, Clozaril (clozapine), which is pretty much in a class by itself.

To use a stereo analogy, let's assume all the crap in your head is like having a radio tuned to a station you don't like that's turned up too loud. Both anticonvulsants and antipsychotics work to tune the radio to a preferable station, but they work on the volume in a different manner. The anticonvulsants actually turn down the volume. The antipsychotics work like earplugs, the volume is still turned up, but you can't hear it so it doesn't make a difference. This is why they work for bipolar in addition to dealing with anxiety, irrational thoughts, hallucinations and maybe even depression in some cases. This might also be why, with too high a dose, which for some people could be any amount, they can cause horrendous depression.

If it's bad enough where you need to take an antipsychotic, there's usually no question that you need to be taking meds. Plus you need to be seeing a therapist or a counselor. If you're nuts, you need to see a therapist, and that's that. The meds are just not enough. If you're taking these meds for a sleep disorder or any other off-label uses, you should see a counselor to get a better idea of how you need to live your life with whatever disorder you have, because your doctor sure as hell isn't going to tell you everything you need to know. And regardless of the affliction, you need to belong to a support group to learn what it's really all about to have whatever you have.

Answer 2

Yeah, I have been on seroquel on and off for about two and a half years. It does help with sleep, but just be aware that each persons reaction to it is different. I found that I got dizzy spells throughout the day, and at times, had a hard time keeping my eyes open. I definitely recommend taking it about an hour or so before you're ready to go to bed, not in the morning like I had to. Good luck.

Answer 3

I was prescribed this for night terrors and a (thank god now recovered!) eating disorder.
honestly medication affects everyone differently, I was also on effexor for postpartum.
(im not these medications anymore as I am pregnant) but when i did take them, it was like being over druggedd. and the next day only feeling awake come 4 or 5pm.
and considering the meds you're already on. I really cant understand why they would give you such a cocktail.

Answer 4

Hi I call a pharmacy for you to find out what these meds would do to you. Because I know you'er scard. So here it is. If you have to take then in the day time your going to be very sleepy. But if you have to only take them at night then you will get the best night sleep you've had in a long time. Those meds all will make you want to sleep. I don't know why you have so many meds but they need to give you something that won't put you a sleep. talk to your doc

Answer 5

I don't want to tell you not to take it but if I could go back 6 months I wouldn't have taken it. I am taking 100mg right now at night and I can't seem to get off of it. I absolutely cannot sleep without it so they can't say this stuff is non-habit forming because it is. It makes me tired and groggy until about 10:00 am. so i sit at my desk at work like a zombie. I have also gained 20 pounds on it. I put my foot down Saturday and said i would never take it again and i was up the entire night on Saturday so Sunday night i took it. I just can't seem to get away from it but i don't want to take it anymore. My weight just keeps going up and of course that doesn't help my depression problems. Good luck on your decision.

Answer 6

It made me really tired, so tired that the doctor had me cut the pill in half. But it relieved my symptoms still and made me less tired. I took it with depakote and zoloft and the combo worked for me being diagnosed as bipolar. Take it for a few doses and see how it makes you feel, and the side effects may go away with time. There are always other drugs out there in this category that you can take if this doesn't work for you.
Good luck!

Answer 7

If your doctor prescribed them, and a pharmacist didn't say anything then it should be okay...however, everyone reacts differently to medications especially when taking more than one. I have taken care of people on this same combo and some are fine...others it is too much or not enough........You and your doctor must work well together to find what is right for you.

Answer 8

i take xanax alone and works fine..seroquel i heard to not take it but thats not from a professional i know that people in jail love seroquel because they sleep there days away ..i was ina homeless shelter w/ a girl who was on seroquel and her 3 month old baby cried all night so finally me and another girl started walkin in her room changeing and feeding the baby and putting the lil guy back to sleep and the girl never heard anything we didnt even tell her we wqs walking in her room doing all that until 3 weeks later and all she had to say was wow i was wondering how he was all clean and sleeping when i woke up i just thought he was a easy baby...and then my theropist tried to add seroquel to my xanax and i tolsd them they could perscrib it to me all they want to but im not takeing it

Answer 9

I take Seroquel to help me sleep, and it does a fair job. I also take Lithium & Lamictal which have been successful.

Answer 10

Risperdal and Seroquel are similar but not exactly the same. My fiance took Seroquel and did VERY well on it. Trust your doctor unless you have reason not to.