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Posted 8/4/2012 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hmmmm...where to start? After reading sooooo many of the posts today, I,m not quite sure if thius is the right place for me? The doses of meds seem way too high for my mere dose :s

In a nut shell....have suffered depression on and off since the birth of my second daughter (16years ago), and have had years in between bouts where i'm ok (this is my ok). This year however seems very different from all the other times ive been low/down/depressed, so many ways the docs put it :s I was sectioned, and was put onto Quetiapine 50mg (low dose?), but the docs aren't really telling me whats wrong with me? I guess whatb I'm asking is.... is Quetiapine only prescribed for bipolar, or depression, I've tried reading as much as I can, and came across this site with some amazing honesty and responses to others, that i felt hearing from someone in the same situation a real help? I hope I havent gone on and on.....this is difficult for me : (

Appreciate any help please : )

Many thanks

Posted 8/4/2012 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Seroquel (quetiapine) is FDA approved for the treatment of mania and psychosis (at low to moderate doses) and depression at high doses. It is also prescribed at low doses as a sleep aid, and sometimes for seniors with dementia.

Sometimes people with a history of depression develop bipolar disorder. It is possible that your Dr. has not been clear with your diagnosis because it is changing as new symptoms become apparent. Some Dr.s will diagnose on a history of symptoms. Others use the diagnosis "Mood Disorder NOS" (NOS means Not Otherwise Specified) until they observe the diagnostic criteria (symptoms) for a more specific mood disorder diagnosis.

If confirming a diagnosis will bring closure and help you move forward, be direct with your Dr. and ask about it. For some people, the diagnosis brings upsetting emotion and increased symptoms. (For me it was just relief to finally know what was wrong and be able to start working on solutions!)

You can find drug information at drugs.com. They publish information for consumers - easy to read - and for doctors - harder reading, but all the information you could ever want. They also have a drug interaction checker. Please use it since Seroquel has drug interactions with OTC medications and food.

Seroquel can be a tough medication to start on. The side effects are reduced at higher doses. Be sure you take it at the same time every evening or night. If you take it later you will experience the extremely unpleasant "seroquel hangover."

We have quite a few members using seroquel including some that are on a 50 mg dose, you should get more advice and personal stories about it. :)
Posted 8/5/2012 10:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Tortiose, that has helped me a lot : ))
The Seroquel I feel isn't helping as much as it did in the beggining, as it used to help me sleep within 30/60 minutes so i was taking it at around 10pm,now however i take it around 6/7ish pm as it seems to be taking longer to help sleep arrive.
On that basis to you think its doing its job? Still have little motivation to get up in the mornings, and have been signed off work AGAIN, as just can't cope with it? "Seroquel hangover" what a fantastic term, i thought it was just me feeling even more rubbish than i do now....no matter what time i take them i have that hangover feeling....which doesnt help to get moving in the morning : (( Once again Tortoise thank you
Posted 8/5/2012 11:38 AM (GMT 0)
I despise Seraquel!, It gave me nightmares and yes I well remember that drugged feeling. If your diagnosis is depression why are they giving you this? Are they going to up the dose, this is supposed to kick in the anti-depressant effects but the only people i know who tolerate this drug are on it for mania. They take another drug for the depression and Seraquel is used to balance it out. Is this your MD prescribing for you because they know absolutely nothing about psych meds except what the pharmacutical reps tell them. thats what I know, hope it helps
Posted 8/5/2012 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your input, I was originally on Prozac, but then found myself in a place in which i was sectioned, not knowing whether that was "me" putting myself in a bad situation or whether it was a side effect of the prozac? (i hope that makes sense?)
So when i found myself where i shouldnt have been i was sectioned, and then a psychiatrist prescibed me the Seroquel? I really dont know whats going on and feel absolutely helpless???
Sometimes i go to my gp (not sure if that is what you mean by md, im from england?), last week he referred me back to the psychiatrist, but couldnt attend the appointment, as i was having a low day? I just cant take it anymore, my mind feels like it wants to explode, i just want to know whats wrong? everthing is just so confusing when i look through website pages, and find that i have symptoms for a few mental health disorders : ((
Thank you for taking the time to reply to me also : ))
Posted 8/5/2012 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Exercise will help reduce your need for sleep, and the hangover effect does fade over time and with higher doses.

Are you on the regular or XR version?
Posted 8/5/2012 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on the XR version?
Posted 8/5/2012 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
Extended release. It is taken a couple hours earlier than the non-XR version.
Posted 8/6/2012 8:46 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry there must be some kind of confusion, I'm on the Seroquel, they took me off the prozac and swapped for the Seroquel which is 50mg once an evening, no other meds at all.
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