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Seroquel-Induced Akathesia & Withdrawal

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Posted 1/27/2013 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
I have no idea where to post this--I usually post on the anxiety forums. I'm 22 and I have had depression and GAD for about eight years that have not responded to treatment. I managed to come to terms with living with a low level of depression/anxiety but recently started having panic attacks in December.

A new psychiatrist figured out these panic attacks were caused by the combination of viibryd and seroquel. (I have never had a panic attack that was not first preceded by the seroquel.) Seroquel has also very recently caused akathisia, which is extreme restlessness and physical symptoms like being unable to stop moving your feet. This makes it really hard to function and especially sleep and is what the psychiatrist thinks has caused the increase in anxiety.

I have been off the viibryd for a month; it was replaced with Lexapro, which apparently aggravated the akathisia more. I now have to decrease Lexapro and completely go off of Seroquel.

It is the first day of withdrawals from Lexapro and it's extremely rough. My depression and anxiety are both worse, and I'm having a lot of flu-like symptoms and dizziness. This is not helped by the new beta blockers that were prescribed to help the akathisia, which make me feel dizzy and almost like I'm drunk.

Again, I'm not sure where to post this. I'm just having a hard time coping with Lexapro withdrawal and future withdrawals from the Seroquel. I was initially prescribed it for insomnia and depression and basically have never gotten off of it because the withdrawal is so bad.

Any support or advice about how to get through the withdrawals would be great.

Av
Posted 1/27/2013 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
hi avrielle,

i am coming of, slowly the seroquel as well. i am a severe insomniac. was initially on 1200mg and have come down to 600mg. i still barely sleep, well the past few days i have. seroquel is a hard medication to come off, so slow and steady is the way. i was on lexapro for only a short period whilst in hospital, thus i didn't have to bad symptoms of withdrawal. the brain zaps were too intense for me. it will take a little time to fully withdraw, i have been on seroquel for over 15 years, it was the only medication that in the past would out me to sleep. sorry i have rambled. i hope that things woek out for you. i send much healing compassion your way. jamie
Posted 1/27/2013 9:31 AM (GMT 0)
I too hope that things work out for you. Go slow like Jamie said. Slow and steady wins the race. Another one of Jamie's sayings.

Welcome to the forum. I am glad taht you have joined us, but sorry for the reason. Keep plugging along, you will get there. Medications can be so complicated. And changing them is hard, going off is hard too. Keep ya chin up and keep posting, we are here for you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 1/27/2013 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you both for the replies.

@jamiee: It's great to meet someone who is also going through the Seroquel withdrawals, even though I wish both of us didn't have to deal with this. I'm on 300 mg right now- I have been on 450 and went down to 300 by myself a couple years ago and it was terrible. My psychiatrist wants me to go down by 50. How much have you been going down at a time? I've been lucky not to have the brain zaps from Lexapro-fingers crossed they don't start suddenly. I hope things work out for you too. I wouldn't wish what we're going through on anybody.

@getting by: Thanks for the welcome. Slow and steady is the right way to go, as you said, even though I'm impatient and I wish I could go down faster. Thank you for the encouragement!

Av
Posted 1/28/2013 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
going down by 300mg. will talk to my shrink about it.
take care, and yes slow and steady wins the race.
jamie
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