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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lauram on June 28, 2004, at 15:13:12
I've been on Seroquel for two years. I am BPII and have been on Lamictal 300mg for six months. I've had great success with Lamictal in terms of mood, more stable
I feel like I am dependent on Seroquel to sleep, that I won't be able to sleep at all without it. I plan to decrease each dose by 10% every two weeks. Anyone had insomnia when stopping this med? How long before you began to sleep without Seroquel after stopping? Any other symptoms? Thanks for any input.
Laura
Posted by linkadge on June 29, 2004, at 12:57:39
In reply to Anyone discontinue Seroquel?, posted by lauram on June 28, 2004, at 15:13:12
I was on 100mg of seroquel, and did not have too much problem getting off of it. I used a little periactin (cyproheptadine over the counter in canada) now and again, but it was not the problem
I anticipated.Linkadge
Posted by lauram on June 29, 2004, at 14:43:56
In reply to Re: Anyone discontinue Seroquel?, posted by linkadge on June 29, 2004, at 12:57:39
Thanks Linkadge. I sure appreciate your input.
Laura
Posted by barbaracat on June 29, 2004, at 19:11:41
In reply to Anyone discontinue Seroquel?, posted by lauram on June 28, 2004, at 15:13:12
I'm thinking of going on it. What do you not like about it? Lamictal gave me Stevens Johnson although it did help for a while. I use Ambien to sleep and figure if I need a sleeper, I might as well get some antipsychotic benefit for my mixed states depressions.
Posted by platinumbride on June 29, 2004, at 23:36:59
In reply to Why discontinue Seroquel? » lauram, posted by barbaracat on June 29, 2004, at 19:11:41
> I'm thinking of going on it. What do you not like about it? Lamictal gave me Stevens Johnson although it did help for a while. I use Ambien to sleep and figure if I need a sleeper, I might as well get some antipsychotic benefit for my mixed states depressions.
Fwiw, seroquel kocks me out for at leat 15 hours, even at a tiny amount, and then I am renedered useless and depressed for another 8 hours after that!
I really only use it as an "escape" drug (which is of course, abuse) or if I haven't slept in several nights.
I know a lot of ppl swear by it...I guess I just can't handle it.
Diane
Posted by tepiaca on June 29, 2004, at 23:54:53
In reply to Anyone discontinue Seroquel?, posted by lauram on June 28, 2004, at 15:13:12
Hi lauram
I suffered temporary insomnia after discontinuing Seroquel
I had problems to sleep for about 2 weeks
Then everything went ok.
Posted by lauram on June 30, 2004, at 12:31:19
In reply to Why discontinue Seroquel? » lauram, posted by barbaracat on June 29, 2004, at 19:11:41
I've has great success with Seroquel in terms of sleeping. I take 75mgs at night and I am always guaranteed a good night sleep. Helpful in controlling my BPII in addition to Lamictal. I have never built up a tolerance, it works the same every night. If I take it on an empty stomach it works must faster.
I guess I'm going through my "I can live without meds" phase that I always go through when I feel very good about life. It is a pattern of mine. It will pass and I will glad I didn't mess up my med combo. So, there isn't anything I don't like about Seroquel. I would rather take it than Ambien and this med is being used for other things other than psychosis. If you try it, hope it works!.
Laura
Posted by lauram on June 30, 2004, at 12:33:39
In reply to Re: Anyone discontinue Seroquel? » lauram, posted by tepiaca on June 29, 2004, at 23:54:53
Thanks for all your input. Much appreciated!!
Posted by BarbaraCat on June 30, 2004, at 15:32:07
In reply to Re: Why discontinue Seroquel? » barbaracat, posted by lauram on June 30, 2004, at 12:31:19
Laura,
Thank you, thank you! I've cried Uncle once again in terms of meds. Got Stevens Johnson and can't take Lamictal any longer, have hypothyroid and stopped lithium because of it's antithyroid effect (bad idea! I'm back on it as of yesterday and already it's helping). I thought I could really do it this time since I've had so many 'awakenings' in terms of why I've come to this imbalanced state. Me and God and an arsenal of good living skills will handle it, yessiree. But I've come to realize I really don't know how to manage it, don't have a clue about God, and my life has been spiraling down into a living hell for me and everyone within target range - it has to stop.The truth is, even though I know exercising my butt off would help greatly, depression and fibromyalgia pain are huge obstacles to doing it. Meditation and yoga at this point seem ludicrous in halting the rampage. So it's back to medication and I've tried just about all of them with not much luck, except for lithium. I need a new drug!
AND I need my sleep. My mixed states depressions are truly horrifying and psychotic. Seroquel seems like a really good idea at this point -- if it makes one slow and dopey, great! I can truly use some chilling out in the anxiety department. Oh, my TSH level was high at 8.5, meaning my thyroid is low again. I've been reading about the relation thyroid has to bipolar. So maybe it's 'just' my thyroid. Not likely, but it would be a nice easy answer. Sorry to rant, but I need to hear my voice in the wilderness.
So thanks again for the Seroquel vote of confidence. It always helps to have someone's positive experience to relate to during the wait and see stage. It may not work for me, but it gives me hope that something is working for someone and to keep plugging until I get it right. - Barbara
> I've has great success with Seroquel in terms of sleeping. I take 75mgs at night and I am always guaranteed a good night sleep. Helpful in controlling my BPII in addition to Lamictal. I have never built up a tolerance, it works the same every night. If I take it on an empty stomach it works must faster.
>
> I guess I'm going through my "I can live without meds" phase that I always go through when I feel very good about life. It is a pattern of mine. It will pass and I will glad I didn't mess up my med combo. So, there isn't anything I don't like about Seroquel. I would rather take it than Ambien and this med is being used for other things other than psychosis. If you try it, hope it works!.
>
> Laura
>
>
Posted by Emme on June 30, 2004, at 18:35:43
In reply to Re: Why discontinue Seroquel? » lauram, posted by BarbaraCat on June 30, 2004, at 15:32:07
BarbaraCat,
I'll throw in my 2 cents about seroquel. I've used it from time to time to help with sleep and to settle down retractable anxiety or agitation. Very effective. I only need a dash (12.5 mg or less), so I don't know what it would feel like at a higher dose. But the only side effect I've noticed from it is being sedated if I'm not careful to take a small enough dose.
I have a friend who's doing pretty well on it as monotherapy for BP1!
I'm sorry you're feeling miserable. I understand the desire to not take prescription meds, especially with some of the problems you've had. I hope you find a good med combo that lets you get back to the things you love.
Posted by Emme on June 30, 2004, at 21:02:14
In reply to Re: Why discontinue Seroquel? » BarbaraCat, posted by Emme on June 30, 2004, at 18:35:43
> to settle down retractable anxiety or agitation.
Retractable?? Good grief. I don't make sense anymore. I meant recalcitrant. Or intractable. Sheesh. I was just talking to my pdoc today about my concentration problems.
Posted by barbaracat on July 1, 2004, at 12:19:17
In reply to Did I say that???, posted by Emme on June 30, 2004, at 21:02:14
Thanks Emme for your input and support. It really helps to be forarmed (is that the right word?) with suggestions when I go see my pdoc. Today is a better day already since getting back to lithium. But oh, the thought of having something I can safely use to zone out when I need it and get some rest!
> Retractable?? Good grief. I don't make sense anymore. I meant recalcitrant. Or intractable. Sheesh. I was just talking to my pdoc today about my concentration problems.**I think you've just come up with a beautiful word to describe the coming and going of these mood disorders. So much more hopeful than those other adjectives. The moods do come and go, although we forget the 'go' part when we're in the midst of our little hells. 'Retractable' is a good way to remind ourselves that the misery does retreat eventually. Maybe not permanently, but it's important to keep in sight that life is not always terrible and there's always hope. A 'retractable mood disorder'. I like it!!
>
>
>
Posted by Emme on July 1, 2004, at 14:40:15
In reply to Re: Did I say that??? » Emme, posted by barbaracat on July 1, 2004, at 12:19:17
> > Retractable?? Good grief. I don't make sense anymore. I meant recalcitrant. Or intractable. Sheesh. I was just talking to my pdoc today about my concentration problems.
>
> **I think you've just come up with a beautiful word to describe the coming and going of these mood disorders. So much more hopeful than those other adjectives. The moods do come and go, although we forget the 'go' part when we're in the midst of our little hells. 'Retractable' is a good way to remind ourselves that the misery does retreat eventually. Maybe not permanently, but it's important to keep in sight that life is not always terrible and there's always hope. A 'retractable mood disorder'. I like it!!You know, I hadn't thought about it that way, but now that you point it out, I like it! Retractable is more optimistic than "recurrent". Thanks for the positive spin.
Emme
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