I have recently been prescribed seroquel for bipolar. One of my symptoms was being tired a lot then hyper. Now, I just seem tired and out of it. Will I get my energy back? I prefer my mania to this...
2007-03-01 03:28:01 · 8 answers · asked by Melissa F 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
not as long as you are on it
2007-03-01 03:32:37 · answer #1 · answered by iroc 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Depends how long you've been on it, and what strength you're on. If you email me I can talk with you further about it.
When I first took it I slept for a day and a half! I told the Dr no way I could stay on this. She said that's just the sleep you are catching up on.
I assume you are taking it at night! It is sometimes called a tranquilzer as much as a sleeping pill, so it is powerful. It does help mood greatly also. I sleep an average of 8-9hrs now; good REM sleep.
I don't like sleeping that much and wish I could be an early riser, but I've always needed at least 7-8hrs, and hadn't slept well for years, so I have to face I am not a 4-5hr a night sleeper and perky morning person!
I have fibromyalgia, and no antidepressants or sleeping meds helped me with mood or sleep. Seroquel has helped a lot, but I don't like depending on it.
This is just my experience:
I was on 200mg, then 150mg, now 100mg. It's good sleep, but I could not function whatsoever if woken up and had to do anything, drive, or even a conversation.
It would compare to someone drunk and trying to shake them out of it; can't do it. That is getting better. No other side effects I can think of.
I make sure to take it around 9:30-10:30PM so I don't sleep too late. It takes 30-60mins or so to kick in for me.
Overall, it has helped a lot. I do worry about my liver, and you should get your liver functions checked periodically while on this.
** Ask you Dr to CHECK your Thyroid. Mine was always borderline and I was always tired. This can be related to Bipolar and to bipolar meds.
Get a Dr who's up to date!!
The old lab standards for hypothyroid - which means yours in not working well and you are tired and gain weight easily and your LABWORK IS HIGH. Abnormal WAS above 10.
Now abnormal IS above 5.
If you have hypothyroid, and your labwork is around 5 borderline or above, the Dr will start you on lowdose Synthroid and check your labs every month or so to monitor this and probably increase your does slowly.
I take 100mg Seroquel at night. She, the psychiatrist, combined a low dose of Adderall in the AM. 200 mg Lamictal in the AM helps the fibromyalgia pain as I can't live on pain pills. That helps mood greatly also.
I get good sleep, my thyroid is now regulating all the hormones in my body well and increased my energy, and I can focus better. These must all be monitored closely. The psychiatrist and my Internal medicine Dr work together on this and monitor the bloodwork. Also a mental health therapist has been a huge help; someone besides the prescription writing people, you know? :)
Best of luck to you, and I've had to search for Drs that fit well, so find some that answers your questions and are thorough.
You are not alone!
I am still looking for online support groups, so if anyone knows any to recommend, I'd love to know! Thanks.
Take care.
2007-03-01 03:50:31 · answer #2 · answered by Marie123 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand why you would be given Seroquel for 'bipolar disorder' ... Seroquel is usually used for people who have PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Seroquel is also used as a 'sleeping medication' but even then should be used only in people who have PTSD. You 'feel tired' because the dosage you are on is 'just enough' to make you sleepy ... if your dosage was 'increased' you wouldn't be as sleepy for some reason ... and if you 'don't like' the medication in another 6 weeks (it could 'level out' and be just fine for your condition) then tell your doctor that you MUST HAVE a 'different prescripiton' and if s/he doesn't give you one, and won't help you 'get off the Seroquel' then you need to see a different doctor ... either 'forever' or as a 'consult' on your condition and the medication you are on. GOOD LUCK.
2007-03-01 04:12:52 · answer #3 · answered by Kris L 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Please let your doctor know your symptoms...
but in the meantime, as someone who took seroquel for awhile,
yes it does make you tired. my doctor told me to start taking it at 6pm so it would hopefully wear off by the time i woke up. I still was sluggish till noon!
There is a nother drug called respidol which is the same thing.
There are other mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder. What sort of doctor are you seeing??
2007-03-01 03:34:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
drugs act differently for everyone. we all have different chemistries. The symptoms that are bothering you may go away after 3 weeks. You owe it to yourself to go that long. One more thing... if serequel ends up not working, then there are other drugs. Trust me... the rest of the world does not prefer the mania! lol
2007-03-01 03:33:31 · answer #5 · answered by Lisa A 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As people have said, you must speak with your doctor about side effects.
But also I wonder if you are on the right dosage amount, perhaps that's what is making you overly tired.
2007-03-01 03:40:58 · answer #6 · answered by mandy4034 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since you are having side effects from the med you need to call and report this to your doctor. The doc is NOT a mind reader and doesn't know you are having side effects if you don't call and tell him.
2007-03-01 03:32:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
do a search for this drug on-line silly...all the info is there!
2007-03-01 03:33:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋