SEROQUEL QUESTION-AGAIN

Hi again--Past January i posted a question re: Seroquel.   At the time--I also was on Effexor--which---Thank God---I'm off now over 6 weeks.

Here's my question. An hour before bed--I take 5 mg of Valium.  (Have been on Valium many years--it's good--no problem--only take 10 mg/day)

BUT---I've been on Seroquel since last Aug (little over 6 months)--50mg.

Past Jan. noted a strange thing---tho it RARELY happens----that---RIGHT BEFORE falling off to sleep---i AWAKE in a panic---(NOT a "panic attack")---feels like i am GOING to DIE!!!   Like---strange feeling w breathing & in my head---my heart is pounding.    As long as I stay awake---it's OK---as I FEAR trying to go to sleep again----in Jan---one nite it happened 2 or 3 times--BEFORE i finally got to sleep---once asleep--I'm OK.

Told my pdoc---he seem baffled--as did my therapist.   THEN---LAST NITE--happened AGAIN!   about to fall off--then jerk awake--TERRIFIED!  My wife in different room---I felt SO helpless--i nearly picked up my phone to CALL her --to call 911.    THAT is my "state of mind" is----it's so SCARY!

 I stayed up---had radio on--changed position---then---went back to sleep--thankfully--with no further problems.  I did a search today on this--& found ANOTHER "Forum" where a guy taking Seroquel--described---EXACT SAME THING--to a TEE!!  His seemed more frequent than mine (like i said----mine--just has happened 2 or 3 times in 6 months)

ANYONE---have this experience.  Please---this is NOT: 1) A "panic attack"---or #2) A "sleep jerk"....I'm talking about awakening & actually feeling IMMINENT DEATH!!      I left a message w my pdoc today--to call me.     ONE last question----anyone ever wean off Seroquel?   Does it have to be done VERY gradually (not like Effexor--Thank God)---again--I'm on 50 mg---would i go to 25mg for --like 2 weeks or so--then 12.5mg for another week.   PLEASE--someone---ANYONE get back.

I had my SSD Hearing this past Friday--it went well---my atty feels it's not a question of IF....I'm disabled...but--as of WHEN (My "onset date)----One last thing----i was thinking MAYBE its something i take WITH the Seroquel----some nites I take a lot of this "Ginger Candy" ---ALTOIDS---Strong Ginger---COULD the "ginger" be interacting WITH the Seroquel?  Who knows---Ginger can be strong stuff---Get back--Thanks--

 

Thanks Ellie---So kind of you to respond.   Talked w my pdoc yesterday-& my pharmacist.  Both say it's nothing to worry about. Last nite-i slept fine.  I have theory---it's only happened twice over 6 months---both times---i went to much too late--AFTER taking my meds.     Would be interstering to read any other people.   Robert

Thanks--Yes, I'm on the Seroquel simply for sleep.  I'm on Neurontin for mood stabilization.    I'm aware of the Seroquel doses as an "anti-psychotic" ---Thanks---I'm trying to wean off of it.     I guess it's not like weaning off ant-depressants (EffexorXR)----I can just cut the dose in half -for--a week----then half again---& stop,    Thanks again--Robert  

 Hi Fredschik-      How much Seroquel are you taking?

hello will this open this thread again as i realise its old.
i too am on quietipine was on 300 then 200 as i asked my doc to reduce cos i was sleeping too much .i also have awake mare's ( my invented word ) and been told that i talk in sleep and also when was on a working holiday my collegue said i woke up sat up and started shouting "get off" and punching outwards she said she said my name and i grunted and went back to sleep.
i've often wondered if it sleep apnea i'm in the process of been accessed as not doing that good at mo but getting it sorted hopefully. is there any other anti pychotic which i can try ?? as i've been on olanzapine for couple of yerars then rispiridone for bout 5 years then ambilify for few months i'd say and been on quitepine about a year and half now

Hi...

Last December I had this right when I fell asleep, waking up, sitting up, sometimes screaming, but always terrified.  I too got scared to go to sleep.  I was on 400mg of seroquel, plus  some other tried and true meds...klonopin being one of them that I had been on for years.  Well, everyone was baffled, because nothing had really changed in my meds except a prescrition antihistomine that my primary doc put me on.  I was taken off the antihistimine and within 3 days I was "normal", so look at all your drugs, over the counter, other than pysch drugs and see if you can come up with anything.  Good luck.  I know what you are going thru is horrible.  I hope you get relief soon.

Hi Peace! Welcome to HW! We're (I'm) only a little bit crazy here. LOLOL Isn't that a REALLY high dose for Seroquel. My pdoc said dose is 200 - 300 mg.

horse crazy said...

Hi...

Last December I had this right when I fell asleep, waking up, sitting up, sometimes screaming, but always terrified.  I too got scared to go to sleep.  I was on 400mg of seroquel, plus  some other tried and true meds...klonopin being one of them that I had been on for years.  Well, everyone was baffled, because nothing had really changed in my meds except a prescrition antihistomine that my primary doc put me on.  I was taken off the antihistimine and within 3 days I was "normal", so look at all your drugs, over the counter, other than pysch drugs and see if you can come up with anything.  Good luck.  I know what you are going thru is horrible.  I hope you get relief soon.

I agree to check OTC meds - all meds - for interactions!  I'm on Lamictal, Klonopin, and starting Seroquel.

I can't take:

• Benadryl  (Loratidine is OK)
• Tylenol (Ibuprofen is OK)
• ANY cough/cold medicine (Loratidine helps for runny nose/post-nasal drip
• Grapefruit juice
• Alcohol

I can't even remember the last of the list.  I always think of benadrul and tylenol as "safe" and "benign" OTC meds.  Well if you ever combine Lamictal and Benadryl, you'll never forget being curled up in a fetal position in a black room with a killer migraine.

That's a crazy-high dose of Seroquel! Then again, I'm on a crazy-low dose of Seroquel.

Also, I can't tolerate regular Seroquel, but the XR version works great.

Hm, taking Seroquel for sleep, and anxiety and it seems to be causing anxiety.

What about Trazadone? Some people have said that the "new" meds have more side effects than the old ones.

Just a thought, I'm not a doc.

Googled "side effects of Ginger" and did not find drug interactions with Seroquel or psych drugs, and side effects are usually GI in nature with high doses.

I was on 600 mg for a few months a couple of years ago. I slept like a stone, but it did nothing to help with the depression. (That I could tell, any way.) I had been on 25 mg for a while, before sleep, and it was wonderful, because I woke up clear-headed and no matter what, I couldn't cry. So my doc increased it when I got sick last time. I went from about 50 mg to 600 mg and stayed there for several months. Then over the last year, our purpose was to reduce my seroquel, and we did, by 50 mg every months. It worked out okay, I still take 100 mg of Seroquel. I'm afraid to go off it.

I take 200 mg of Trazodone, and together with the 100 of Seroquel, it's a great goodnight cocktail.