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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by NewHampshireGuy on May 29, 2008, at 15:02:59
Hello,
I am on day 12 of Seroquel, just 25 mg because I have been EXTREMELY sensitive to most meds in the past including: elavil, effexor, dilatin and neurotin
I was first diagnosed as depressed, then bipolar NOS then additionally general anxiety disorder. effexor at won't point worked, but then had opposite affect years later
All seem to give the opposite affect, I get notibably more depressed, more anxious, more racing thoughts/songs stuck in head, more irritable than I was to begin with. These and many more side effects get worse each day I am on the meds
My questions:
1) On day 12 of Seroquel 25 mg, should I be noticing it helping by now for my racing thoughts/songs getting stuck in head? it just seems its only knocking me out and making more irritable, slightly more depressed, less social.
It seems to have made it worse as far as the noise goes in my head/racing thoughts/songs. probably not a good thing if the songs and racing thoughts have gotten worse right?
2) Should I continue this med? I don't want it to get progressivly worse, but I don't want to give up on the med if it could kick in a few weeks later?
3) I really think my problems have to do with unfortunatley the use of the drug exstacy, experimenting in college. stupid. but I know it does damage at the serotonin levels and more. is there a med I might be able to try?
it seems like the so called "balancing" affect I need is the same thing that Effexor did when it first worked. my pdoc is hesitant to try me on any other SSRI EVER again as I had a really bad, horrible experience last time I tried Effexor for 3 weeks. it actually induced suicidal thoughts where I had NEVER had them before in my life
any help is appreciated with what you think I should do! I don't have a pdoc appointment until June 5th and I am not sure I want to wait til then to see if it continues to make me slowley, but progressivly worse
thank you
Posted by torachan on May 29, 2008, at 23:16:10
In reply to Please help! Seroquel day 12, posted by NewHampshireGuy on May 29, 2008, at 15:02:59
Seroquel seems to do the same to me at low doses. The doctor would probably recommend going higher in dose, but to me, if a drug is having negative effects at low doses, especially a drug like Seroquel where onset of action if much quicker than AD's, it's wise to consider other options.
I have GAD, and Effexor is the only AD so far that I've tried that works to some degree. I still need to augment with what has become twin brother, clonazepam--a benzodiazepine--, but I'm considering trying a Tricyclic Antidepressant with the Effexor. Keep the dose of Effexor at only 75mgs.
Posted by Phillipa on May 30, 2008, at 0:23:31
In reply to Re: Please help! Seroquel day 12, posted by torachan on May 29, 2008, at 23:16:10
I'd get ahold of my doctor now and not wait and not add a thing til you talk to him or her. Sounds like you get a paradoxical effect from meds. Good luck. Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on May 30, 2008, at 2:03:43
In reply to Please help! Seroquel day 12, posted by NewHampshireGuy on May 29, 2008, at 15:02:59
> Hello,
>
> I am on day 12 of Seroquel, just 25 mg because I have been EXTREMELY sensitive to most meds in the past including: elavil, effexor, dilatin and neurotin
>
> I was first diagnosed as depressed, then bipolar NOS then additionally general anxiety disorder. effexor at won't point worked, but then had opposite affect years later
>
> All seem to give the opposite affect, I get notibably more depressed, more anxious, more racing thoughts/songs stuck in head, more irritable than I was to begin with. These and many more side effects get worse each day I am on the meds
>
> My questions:
>
> 1) On day 12 of Seroquel 25 mg, should I be noticing it helping by now for my racing thoughts/songs getting stuck in head? it just seems its only knocking me out and making more irritable, slightly more depressed, less social.
>
> It seems to have made it worse as far as the noise goes in my head/racing thoughts/songs. probably not a good thing if the songs and racing thoughts have gotten worse right?
>
> 2) Should I continue this med? I don't want it to get progressivly worse, but I don't want to give up on the med if it could kick in a few weeks later?
>
> 3) I really think my problems have to do with unfortunatley the use of the drug exstacy, experimenting in college. stupid. but I know it does damage at the serotonin levels and more. is there a med I might be able to try?
>
> it seems like the so called "balancing" affect I need is the same thing that Effexor did when it first worked. my pdoc is hesitant to try me on any other SSRI EVER again as I had a really bad, horrible experience last time I tried Effexor for 3 weeks. it actually induced suicidal thoughts where I had NEVER had them before in my life
>
> any help is appreciated with what you think I should do! I don't have a pdoc appointment until June 5th and I am not sure I want to wait til then to see if it continues to make me slowley, but progressivly worse
>
> thank you
I'm also sensitive to more medication side effects although some medications I am a high metabolizer.Effexor although sometimes referred to as an SSRI is really an SNRI and can be very harsh for some, much more than Cymbalta. There are many other SSRIs out there that are cleaner (lexapro) or more sedating (like paxil and luvox).
Past use of street drugs may or may not be a part of your situation, only your doctor could tell you that, I assume you have disclosed that because it points to treatment.
As pointed out by others this could be a paradoxical effect, but racing songs and thoughts are a common thing for everyone, its just the severity. I have it and it is triggered with greater anxiety situations, it is colloquially referred to as "Pure O", as in OCD, as there is little compulsion other than the irritability against the thoughts which may be counter productive.
25mg is a really small dose of Seroquel and is usually a starting dose -- but as you said, you are sensitive to medications. Anafranil and Luvox are good solutions for hard OCD cases, but then again I am realizing that I could be reading into things probably as you have been diagnosed with other conditions.
If you do believe this is due to the medication, then yes, contact your doctor if you can. Discontinuation of 25mg of Seroquel with your doctor's okay should not cause undue symptoms as it doesn't come any lower anyhow.
-- hope you feel better
Posted by NewHampshireGuy on May 30, 2008, at 8:08:25
In reply to Please help! Seroquel day 12, posted by NewHampshireGuy on May 29, 2008, at 15:02:59
Thanks all!
I definitely think the thoughts are more of a OCD or chemical imbalance at the serotonin level from possibly drug usuage than mania, but who am I too know right?! I trust my instincts though...even though I do very much admit I have bipolar tendencies
I think that Seroquel is not the one and an SSRI might be because:
1) this exact same problem happened years ago and Effexor "shut" the noise off and made me sleep normally. that tells me that they noise is not really mania, as mania comes and goes, I have had these racing thoughts/songs pretty much constantly for 5 years or more
2) the fact that the Seroquel made the noise LOUDER makes me think it's not mania related
I really think it is going to take an SSRI or SNRI to "fix" this problem, but unfortunately my doctor says she does not think I should ever try those again givin my past reactions.
although I would like to give Luvox or Paxil a try, because I really think the noise/sleepleness can be controlled with the re-uptake type SSRI meds in my specific case
I am going to bump myself up to 50mg and see what happens with that after a week. to see if the noise gets louder or I get more depressed. if it gets louder, that will definitely tell me it's either NOT the med for me or that I am having a paradoxil affect
then in a week I will meet with my pdoc and get her recommendation.
thoughts?! I am off on vacation, hopefully it's not a zombified Seroquel Vacation. thanks everyone
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