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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JohnSky on September 10, 2007, at 11:31:21
Hello. I posted this early and didn't get any replies so I thought I would try again as this is very important to me.
Last Thursday my dr reduced my Seroquel from 300mg to 200mg. I am struggling mainly with insomnia and increased anxiety. Can I get some input on how long these symptoms could last?
Any thing I can do to quiet things down?Thanks
John
Posted by Meagan on September 10, 2007, at 12:42:55
In reply to Need Help with Seroquel, posted by JohnSky on September 10, 2007, at 11:31:21
Are you taking anything like ativan to help with the insomnia or anxiety? In the short term, it can really help.
Meagan
Posted by JohnSky on September 10, 2007, at 12:53:36
In reply to Re: Need Help with Seroquel, posted by Meagan on September 10, 2007, at 12:42:55
Hello Meagan. Yes I am taking ativan. Probably becaue I take it on a daily basis it is not helping as much. If I was taking it on a as needed basis then I think it would really help, as I could take it specifically to help now.
My body is so used to the daily dosing it doesn't help alot. The dose I take at night probably is helping some... but I just can't get to sleep.> Are you taking anything like ativan to help with the insomnia or anxiety? In the short term, it can really help.
>
> Meagan
Posted by Justherself54 on September 10, 2007, at 16:19:03
In reply to Re: Need Help with Seroquel, posted by JohnSky on September 10, 2007, at 12:53:36
What about a hypnotic like Zopiclone for a couple of weeks at bed to help you sleep..works great for me..I don't have much experience with Ativan but I take Clonazapam also at bed or as needed during the day if I'm going through a particularly bad spell..
Posted by success_maker on September 10, 2007, at 16:32:20
In reply to Need Help with Seroquel, posted by JohnSky on September 10, 2007, at 11:31:21
John,
man that is a heavy dose of seroquel without it having the desired effect. Maybe it's not the right med for you. Also, suggest you augment with hypnosis/meditation CDs if you're not already.
-Peter
Posted by success_maker on September 10, 2007, at 16:38:44
In reply to Need Help with Seroquel, posted by JohnSky on September 10, 2007, at 11:31:21
John,
Sorry, didn't read your message carefully enough. I think you meant that your anxiety is caused by the reduction in dose.I think that maybe the answer is to go back up to 250 or 275 and reduce more slowly, by 25mg a week. I was on just 125 but I remember that seroquel is very difficult to get off of. The super-anxiety I had during the dose reduction only lasted a 1/2 day or so if I reduced by 25 mg at a time.
-Peter
Posted by JohnSky on September 10, 2007, at 16:40:10
In reply to Re: Need Help with Seroquel, posted by success_maker on September 10, 2007, at 16:32:20
Peter, It is a moderate to heavy dose they tried as a mood stabilizer for me for Bi-polar. All I noticed is it helped me sleep for awhile and then that effect faded away. Did not help depression, etc. Eventually I will be off the med and hopefully just on Lithium.
I do meditate daily and listen to some relaxation CDs. They aren't working as well now as this dose adjustment has me out of sorts.
What I'm trying to find out is how long this adjustment should take before things settle down.
What is strange is I decreased my dose by 50mg a couple months back with no problems at all. That said going from 300mg to 200mg is a big jump. Tonight I will use Lunesta to help me sleep. Getting good sleep makes all the difference as we all know.> John,
> man that is a heavy dose of seroquel without it having the desired effect. Maybe it's not the right med for you. Also, suggest you augment with hypnosis/meditation CDs if you're not already.
> -Peter
Posted by JohnSky on September 10, 2007, at 16:45:04
In reply to Re: Need Help with Seroquel, posted by success_maker on September 10, 2007, at 16:38:44
Thank you Peter. Sounds like good advice.
Wow... that is pretty impressive to only have the
intense anxiety for 1/2 day if you reduced by 25mg. That I can handle. Did you reduce 25mg per day... or 25mg per week. Just curious how you spaced it out.Thanks
John
> John,
> Sorry, didn't read your message carefully enough. I think you meant that your anxiety is caused by the reduction in dose.
>
> I think that maybe the answer is to go back up to 250 or 275 and reduce more slowly, by 25mg a week. I was on just 125 but I remember that seroquel is very difficult to get off of. The super-anxiety I had during the dose reduction only lasted a 1/2 day or so if I reduced by 25 mg at a time.
>
> -Peter
Posted by success_maker on September 10, 2007, at 16:57:39
In reply to Re: Need Help with Seroquel, posted by JohnSky on September 10, 2007, at 16:45:04
Hey John, I think I reduced by 25mg every 4 or 5 days or so. Also, I remember that some of the 25mg reductions didn't seem to have much effect. I think that going from 75 to 50 wasn't a big deal for me but that going from 50 to 25 was. Whatever mood I was in might have influenced it also, I guess. The reason I was getting off of it was weight gain.
Have you tried Dr. J's "Headcleaner" hypnosis tapes? He's pretty awesome I think. I really like "Healing_Tree_2" although there are others more directly related to insomnia and anxiety. Here's a link to a sample. fyi, the right and left text changes toward the end of the audio sample.
http://www.logicallyhow.com/htree2excerpt.html
-Peter
Posted by Phillipa on September 10, 2007, at 21:43:09
In reply to Need Help with Seroquel, posted by JohnSky on September 10, 2007, at 11:31:21
John that's a big reduction I'd up it more first and start a slower taper. Any reason the doc is doing it so fast? Phillipa
Posted by JohnSky on September 11, 2007, at 8:58:28
In reply to Re: Need Help with Seroquel » JohnSky, posted by Phillipa on September 10, 2007, at 21:43:09
Hello Phillipa.
I agree. I need a slower reduction which I plan today. I have some 50mgs I can split to make the reduction easier. The doc didn't think I'd react to such a big change. Docs just don't seem to understand withdrawal of many drugs very well at all.
John
> John that's a big reduction I'd up it more first and start a slower taper. Any reason the doc is doing it so fast? Phillipa
Posted by JohnSky on September 12, 2007, at 15:38:00
In reply to Re: Need Help with Seroquel, posted by JohnSky on September 11, 2007, at 8:58:28
This anxiety from reducing the dose is really hanging on. I've been on the reduced dose for 6 days... I would think the adjustment would be ending soon? Any input? On the other hand I was at the high dose of Seroquel for 8 months so maybe this withdrawal effect as I work down from 300mg to 200mg will take a couple weeks?
John
> Hello Phillipa.
>
> I agree. I need a slower reduction which I plan today. I have some 50mgs I can split to make the reduction easier. The doc didn't think I'd react to such a big change. Docs just don't seem to understand withdrawal of many drugs very well at all.
>
> John
>
> > John that's a big reduction I'd up it more first and start a slower taper. Any reason the doc is doing it so fast? Phillipa
>
>
Posted by rina on September 17, 2007, at 14:50:32
In reply to Re: Need Help with Seroquel - how long anxiety?, posted by JohnSky on September 12, 2007, at 15:38:00
Hi John,
Sorry your having such a hard time. I was on seroquel but a a lower dosage. When I stopped my doctor gave me a medicine called zopiclone brand name imovane. I don't know if he'll let you take it but it's worth a try. It helped with insomnia and anxiety during the withdrawal stage of seroquel. It can't be taken for more than 1-2 weeks and it's at a dosage of 3-7mg in a tablet form at bedtime. Zopiclone is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic. It helped for me so I just wanted to pass the information along. Take care and I hope you feel better
Posted by JohnSky on September 17, 2007, at 15:09:55
In reply to Re: Need Help with Seroquel - how long anxiety?, posted by rina on September 17, 2007, at 14:50:32
Thanks for suggestion. I will see what my doc has to say. The goal is to get off seroquel all together so this info will come in handy. I'm happy to say that my anxiety is lower today and I slept a night without a sleep aid... So I think I am nearly done with the worst of the med change... I hope.
> Hi John,
>
> Sorry your having such a hard time. I was on seroquel but a a lower dosage. When I stopped my doctor gave me a medicine called zopiclone brand name imovane. I don't know if he'll let you take it but it's worth a try. It helped with insomnia and anxiety during the withdrawal stage of seroquel. It can't be taken for more than 1-2 weeks and it's at a dosage of 3-7mg in a tablet form at bedtime. Zopiclone is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic. It helped for me so I just wanted to pass the information along. Take care and I hope you feel better
Posted by rina on September 17, 2007, at 15:33:19
In reply to Re: Need Help with Seroquel - how long anxiety?, posted by JohnSky on September 17, 2007, at 15:09:55
Good to hear that John!! Well if that's the case I wouoldn't add this to the mix, especially since you can only take it for one to two weeks. take care and glad your feeling better!
Posted by JohnSky on September 17, 2007, at 15:44:52
In reply to Re: Need Help with Seroquel - how long anxiety? » JohnSky, posted by rina on September 17, 2007, at 15:33:19
Thanks! I still have a ways to go to completely adjust but I think I am through the worst.
Now if my Lithium would start to work on my depression I would be delighted. 3 and 1/2 months and waiting. I think it has helped me some but I still haven't had a "I feel good" day yet.
John
> Good to hear that John!! Well if that's the case I wouoldn't add this to the mix, especially since you can only take it for one to two weeks. take care and glad your feeling better!
This is the end of the thread.
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