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seroquel for chronic depression???????????

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Posted 7/16/2009 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
idea  hi I was wondering if anyone could help. My psychiatrist has told me that I need to be taking seroquel. Im coming off effexor (not very successfully - though thanks for the comments on my previous post - there be light at the end of the tunnel yeah lol. I am taking mertazipine and the darling shrink has said to take these tabs as well. I could be wrong but im sure, and even the info states that they are for bi-polar and schizophrenia. Does anybody else take these for what has been diagnosed as chronic depression?????????
Posted 7/16/2009 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi i2, I don't have experience with Seroquel, but I am sure someone on here must have some comments on it. I wanted to stop by and say welcome, and offer my support to you. All I know about Seroquel is that it is a mood stabilizer. Did your psychiatrist give you any info beyond the fact that he/she thinks you need it? Was an explanation given to you as to why you need it? I hope you can find some answers soon. Best wishes.
Posted 7/17/2009 12:04 AM (GMT 0)

Hello i2,

I have known quite a few people here and in person that have been on Seroquel to help with Depression that were not dx with Bipolar.  My sister was one and she was being treated for depression only.  I would discuss your concerns with your physician and if you trust this person and feel comfortable then give the Seroquel a try.

Take care and keep on talking to us.

I wish you peace,

Kitt

Posted 7/17/2009 2:44 AM (GMT 0)

Well this is an interesting one, but I thought I'd put my two-cents worth in anyway.  I have chronic moderate depression and panic/anxiety disorder which I take other meds for, but I take seroquel to treat my migraine headaches.  I take 300mg every time I feel one coming on.  It basically just knocks me out and I sleep for a long time...long enough for the lining of my brain to stop swelling and go down.  How that would translate for depression puzzles me?  I don't know what a theraputic dose for depression would be, thus don't know how it would work.

Also, seroquel is ungodly expensive, so depending on your insurance, affording this drug may be difficult.  I'm on disability so I have a limited income, and after spending 3% of my yearly gross in prescription costs, I qualify for a program through the drug manufacturer, Astra-Zeneca, called AZ&me.  It gets me a 90 supply of the drug for $37.50, saving me about $900.  You can't beat that, but if I didn't qualify for that program, there's no way I could afford to take the medication. 

i2wkd4blu, I would be interested in finding out how this med works for you if you try it out.  Please keep posting and let us know how you are doing.  Welcome to the board.

Leigh Ann cool

Posted 7/17/2009 6:35 AM (GMT 0)
seroquel is a antisychotic for the treatment of schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorders and for severe and borderline personality disorders. jamie. ps, it is used for people with chronic insomnia as well, this is partly why i am on it, and becuse i have a dx of severe borderline personality disorder as well. i take 950-1200mg at night. for the depression, pristiq 200mg. yes i have had the other dx's mentioned. jamie
Posted 7/17/2009 9:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hummm I'm going to ask my mental health counselor about that ......OMG!!!! my son just came out of his room and scare the crap out of me.... I think I'm going to bed now.

HARA

Posted 7/18/2009 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
I2-
Like Jamiee says, Seroquel is often prescribed for insomnia & insomnia-related depression. My mom is on it. I looked into it & it is the most common off-label prescription for insomnia/sleep disorders. She has been sleeping so much better now & her depression has improved.

My neurologist says that about half of people with depression had insomnia first. His view is that insomnia can cause depressive symptoms. Others think that depression first shows as insomnia. Either way, they often seem to be linked (I know in my case they are), so it doesn't seem unreasonable to me that they would prescribe that as a treatment.

The psych I saw in the hospital wanted me on Seroquel. At that point, I was refusing meds, but I share that with you to say that it is not unheard of to recommend Seroquel to treat depression. There are often off-label uses for many prescription medications. They also prescribe anxiety meds to treat depression even for people who don't have anxiety problems; it's just that the chemical mechanisms are similar enough that they work for multiple disorders. It is really expensive for pharmaceutical companies to get their meds FDA-approved for additional diagnoses, so that is why the labels may not list all problems that the meds can help.

feel better,
Frances
Posted 7/19/2009 7:29 AM (GMT 0)
yep frances, remember guys that what i have said about seroquel is australia specific. and yes doctors may prescribe it for other reasons, of which is very hard here as it is an authority script. need to be dx with schizophrenia to get it. otherwise you are up for a whole stack of $ to get it!! all the best. jamie smilewinkgrin
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