Quetiapine/Saroquel?

Phells · 04-03-2013, 11:19 PM

If you don't mind, can anyone share their experiences with Quetiapine? I'm on Aripiprazole at the moment but I can't handle the jittery feelings so my Psychiatrist suggested switching me to it. I can't get in to see her for a while so I'll be starting it without a visit to her first. What should I expect?
Is there a difference between Saroquel and Saroquel XR?

Thanks in advance.

Daydream · 05-03-2013, 12:56 AM

I've been on quetiapine xr for almost two weeks now. It has a sedative effect (but I'm on 600mg/day) and makes my mouth damn dry; people must have thought I was detoxing with the amount of water I was drinking.
It has helped level out my moods but almost too much so which is a good thing and a bad thing in one, it's given me an almost constant flatness which I find boring. I've been enouraged to persevere with it though.
April x

MissAnonymous · 05-03-2013, 11:13 AM

Seroquel and Seroquel XL are different. They are the same medicine, but in different forms; the normal Seroquel is shorter release [works more quickly, and thus sometimes needs to be given in split doses across the day]. Seroquel XL is a long-release version, and can be taken once a day, yet the medicine will have its effects throughout the day.

Most people find the shorter release gives them more side effects, particularly tiredness.

I am on both long and short release because I need the long release throughout the day, but the short release gives me the side effects of sleepiness so I take a small dose of that in the evening to help me sleep.

I can't really say what you should expect, but I hope it helps. It is one of the newer drugs, so side effects are less likely than some of the older alturnatives. It can make people have a faster than normal heart rate; this is something my partner experiances, but she is on a very high dose, so that could be why.

In all I have found it helpful, as has my partner.

Good luck with it :)

Ktulu · 05-03-2013, 04:19 PM

I take Seroquel and have been on every dose from 100mg to 800mg. I've taken it for mania and depression and as an anti psychotic. I'm currently just on 100mg at night to sleep. I've found it to be very good. A lot of dry mouth at the beginning but that wears off. It has increased my appetite but it is manageable (apparently). The only bad thing I'd say about it is for me, I can't seem to come off it. I've tried it and by the third night of not being able to sleep I go back to it. But at least it means I have fairly reliable sleep patterns which is a big plus for me. I've also noticed that its more sedating at smaller doses, like when I was taking 800mg I still sometimes needed a sleeper. In short - I like it and prefer is to Zyprexa which made my appetite uncontrollable.

Ballerina123 · 05-03-2013, 04:22 PM

It helpped to control the psychosis and mania assosiated with my illness but I had dangerous side effects and had to come off it.

Makes you pretty sleepy and can cause weight gain.

Anti psychotic meds can be dangerous. Make sure you know the risks by asking your doctor and weigh it up with the benifits.

K8EB · 05-03-2013, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

I take Seroquel and have been on every dose from 100mg to 800mg. I've taken it for mania and depression and as an anti psychotic. I'm currently just on 100mg at night to sleep. ...............The only bad thing I'd say about it is for me, I can't seem to come off it. I've tried it and by the third night of not being able to sleep I go back to it.

I also take 75mg for exactly the same reason. There has never been question of my stopping taking it as I really need to sleep as I have a serious heart problem. I find it very helpful, but then as my psych keeps telling me I'm on a tiny dose!
Good luck with sorting your meds out.

DannieGirl · 05-03-2013, 10:49 PM

its been a real life saver for me.
brilliant stuff...only problem is the slight weight gain, but its worth it for not getting manic! the lower doses are quite sedating but the higher the dose the less sedating.
xxx

MissAnonymous · 05-03-2013, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannieGirl

the lower doses are quite sedating but the higher the dose the less sedating.

This is true, it may seem bizzare but doses of up to 100mg of the slow release are used for the sedative effect, some people only need 25mg. Doses over 300mg tend to be used for bipolar/mood swings and psychosis.

I am on 100mg for sedation, and 150mg of XL for the anti anxiety and antidepressant properties in combination with another medication.

Phells · 06-03-2013, 07:05 PM

Thanks again for all your replies. I've decided to switch from Aripiprazole to Quetiapine. I'm off of medication this week and starting it on Friday, (Incase it's really sedative). Abilify helped with my visual hallucinations but nothing more.
Unfortunately I can't see my psychiatrist before I start taking it, so I've had to research on my own. The nurse just talked about the sleepiness. I can't take pills in the mornings, so this might work into my schedule better. But your feedback was really helpful.

Bellatrix · 06-03-2013, 08:03 PM

My 600mg still sedates me sometimes. Not every night, but most nights. It's not as strong sedation than when I was on lower doses, and i find if I take my up to 100mg prn in the day I get tired.

Def reccomend you taking it at night!

I was given the extended release when I was in hospital and it really didn't react well with me. Some people get on well with it though, so it's worth a try if it may benefit you.

Ami · 08-03-2013, 12:12 AM

I found it made me so drowsy that I used to fall asleep at work. It sort ot helped with voices but thats because I was too tired to think about them. Mood wise.. well when I was on quetiapine and fluoxetine my dad had to come and find me as I was about to kill myself in a firest.. so you can gather it didnt help me that much x

HopeRises · 10-03-2013, 10:51 PM

I am on the XL. I've found it really helpful.