Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dayandnight on November 27, 2008, at 13:59:41
Seroquel 50mg with 20mg of Lexapro. I have been on this combination for almost two years. Seems like the meds are not working like they did at one time. As I was drifting off to sleep last night more than ever just seems like my brain is empty, I am alone with myself and I can only think in the moment. No past no future just the bed, covers and the pillow. Perhaps this is better than it used to be but it seems like the Seroquel has erased me. The emptiness is comforting and alarming at times. I used to have trouble keeping on any med, think that is why the p doc added the Seroquel. It takes away most of the fear I used to have and keeps me compliant. The reason I think the meds are not working is I am getting the urge to stop the meds again after a long time of just following. Anybody else have this internal battle, especially with Seroquel?
Posted by Justherself54 on November 27, 2008, at 16:23:25
In reply to Seroquel Compliant, posted by dayandnight on November 27, 2008, at 13:59:41
It may not be the seroquel. Some people find Lexapro to be very numbing emotionally.
Posted by obsidian on November 27, 2008, at 19:48:06
In reply to Seroquel Compliant, posted by dayandnight on November 27, 2008, at 13:59:41
> Seroquel 50mg with 20mg of Lexapro. I have been on this combination for almost two years. Seems like the meds are not working like they did at one time. As I was drifting off to sleep last night more than ever just seems like my brain is empty, I am alone with myself and I can only think in the moment. No past no future just the bed, covers and the pillow. Perhaps this is better than it used to be but it seems like the Seroquel has erased me. The emptiness is comforting and alarming at times. I used to have trouble keeping on any med, think that is why the p doc added the Seroquel. It takes away most of the fear I used to have and keeps me compliant. The reason I think the meds are not working is I am getting the urge to stop the meds again after a long time of just following. Anybody else have this internal battle, especially with Seroquel?
can you say more about what you think is making you want to stop the meds?
you sound conflicted
-sid
Posted by obsidian on November 27, 2008, at 22:25:11
In reply to Seroquel Compliant, posted by dayandnight on November 27, 2008, at 13:59:41
the problem with seroquel for me is that it is so freaking sedating and secondly, I don't even remember who I am without medications. I take 50mgs of seroquel too, although somewhat irregularly as of late.
One thing I know it does is keep me from ruminating. At night was the time I remember I would think and think and think, and it seemed to get bigger and bigger, and it was so hard to calm my mind down.
If I am really depressed then I don't question the medication too much, because I just want to feel ok, and/or if I am irritable and sensitive to every little freaking thing then I don't mind the medication either. Sometimes though I just want to be "me" whoever that is supposed to be. I look back now and I can see times before I got on medication that I really, really could have used it, and that's too bad.
Somebody said to me once in reaction to some desire I had to get off medication that I should give myself 6 months of doing really well in order to think about going off something.
There are so many things I have difficulty dealing with...it takes all my strength really. I wish it wasn't the way it is. The medication comes with its own problems...sometimes I just feel "dull".
So, the answer in short is yes, I do struggle with being on the medication- especially seroquel!
Posted by Racer on November 27, 2008, at 22:31:01
In reply to Seroquel Compliant, posted by dayandnight on November 27, 2008, at 13:59:41
I agree with JustHerself -- it may not be the Seroquel.
SSRIs can cause some people to experience apathy. (I'm one of those people, and can tell you in some ways it's worse than depression.) My psychopharmacologist admitted to me that psychiatrists sometimes prescribe SSRIs *because* they can cause apathy -- they use the apathy for therapeutic purposes. (I'm not quite sure how I feel about that...) I'd wonder about the Lexapro, honestly -- that could be the problem. 20 mg sounds like a high dose to me -- then again, I didn't do well at all on Lexapro, and only stayed on it a couple of weeks. For some people, the apathy may start soon after starting the drug; for others, it takes months or years before the apathy starts. SSRIs are also known for "pooping out" after a while. You could be experiencing diminishing returns, in which case switching to another drug is likely to improve your condition.
I understand the urge to quit drugs, when they don't seem to be working for you. It's worth staying on the meds, but talking to your doctor about switching out one or the other. My vote would be the Lexapro, but that's just me.
Best luck.
Posted by Phillipa on November 27, 2008, at 23:42:54
In reply to Re: Seroquel Compliant » dayandnight, posted by Racer on November 27, 2008, at 22:31:01
Seems to me that it would be the seroquel as just didn't care when on it and immediately taken off in hospital. Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on November 28, 2008, at 9:18:56
In reply to Seroquel Compliant, posted by dayandnight on November 27, 2008, at 13:59:41
I think Racer said it the best. It is either longterm serotonin potentiation, or it is poopout beginning to be noticeable. SSRI induced apathy is, I think, much more common than literature talks about. I think the reason may be that it usually shows up many months or even a couple years after starting the medication, and it shows up in such a gradual subtle fashion that you don't notice it until it is quite prominent. For a lot of us it shows up almost immediately or within a few weeks. It is a horrible life to be in depression, but it is also a very strange crippled life to be in a state of emotional numbness.
Seroquel could be at fault, but at 50mg I don't think it is blocking dopamine enough to do that. 20mg Lexapro on the other hand is very significant power.
So what to do? If Lex has you non-depressed, then the safest option would be to augment it with something specifically geared towards your symptoms. Such as Provigil, Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, Wellbutrin, and possibly replace Seroquel with Abilify.
If Lex is not working well, however, then it might make more sense to ditch it completely, with a slow careful weaning strategy, and replace it with a different antidepressant.
Posted by dayandnight on November 28, 2008, at 11:45:55
In reply to Re: Seroquel Compliant » dayandnight, posted by obsidian on November 27, 2008, at 22:25:11
Yes I am conflicted, very much so at this point. I am the same as you when it is very bad then I dont question the meds, just run to them for a safe place. The six month idea is probably not a bad rule but I have never been able to wait six months once my mind is made up.. That was probably why the Seroquel worked for some time now. It moderated or eliminated the urge to run the other way. Thank you for the detailed response and thoughts. Last night, took additional 25mg Seroquel. More calm today, also more empty headed. Good thing for the moment, I guess ?
Why am I conflicted? For a while was not aware of how much the meds were modifying me as a person. It seems not that I see myself from a distance and how just plain compliant, empty and for the lack of a better word controlled I am. Good thing when distressed and if you can stay in that zone but now I seem to be in between somehow.
Posted by dayandnight on November 28, 2008, at 11:56:17
In reply to Re: Seroquel Compliant, posted by bleauberry on November 28, 2008, at 9:18:56
> I think Racer said it the best. It is either longterm serotonin potentiation, or it is poopout beginning to be noticeable. SSRI induced apathy is, I think, much more common than literature talks about. I think the reason may be that it usually shows up many months or even a couple years after starting the medication, and it shows up in such a gradual subtle fashion that you don't notice it until it is quite prominent. For a lot of us it shows up almost immediately or within a few weeks. It is a horrible life to be in depression, but it is also a very strange crippled life to be in a state of emotional numbness.
>
> Seroquel could be at fault, but at 50mg I don't think it is blocking dopamine enough to do that. 20mg Lexapro on the other hand is very significant power.
>
> So what to do? If Lex has you non-depressed, then the safest option would be to augment it with something specifically geared towards your symptoms. Such as Provigil, Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, Wellbutrin, and possibly replace Seroquel with Abilify.
>
> If Lex is not working well, however, then it might make more sense to ditch it completely, with a slow careful weaning strategy, and replace it with a different antidepressant.Seroquel always seemed much stonger than Lexapro. At this point today I am very much reduced to the day in front of me, slow thoughts and empty head. Seemed like it took forever to write these thoughts. Thank you everybody for your words. What do you hang onto?
Posted by dayandnight on November 28, 2008, at 12:02:15
In reply to Re: Seroquel Compliant, posted by Justherself54 on November 27, 2008, at 16:23:25
> It may not be the seroquel. Some people find Lexapro to be very numbing emotionally.
Add the Seroquel and I am numb and very empty headed today. Don't care much now as It is early in the day, it is cold outside and inside.
Posted by JadeKelly on December 2, 2008, at 16:37:30
In reply to Re: Seroquel Compliant, posted by dayandnight on November 28, 2008, at 11:56:17
> > I think Racer said it the best. It is either longterm serotonin potentiation, or it is poopout beginning to be noticeable. SSRI induced apathy is, I think, much more common than literature talks about. I think the reason may be that it usually shows up many months or even a couple years after starting the medication, and it shows up in such a gradual subtle fashion that you don't notice it until it is quite prominent. For a lot of us it shows up almost immediately or within a few weeks. It is a horrible life to be in depression, but it is also a very strange crippled life to be in a state of emotional numbness.
> >
> > Seroquel could be at fault, but at 50mg I don't think it is blocking dopamine enough to do that. 20mg Lexapro on the other hand is very significant power.
> >
> > So what to do? If Lex has you non-depressed, then the safest option would be to augment it with something specifically geared towards your symptoms. Such as Provigil, Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, Wellbutrin, and possibly replace Seroquel with Abilify.
> >
> > If Lex is not working well, however, then it might make more sense to ditch it completely, with a slow careful weaning strategy, and replace it with a different antidepressant.
>
> Seroquel always seemed much stonger than Lexapro. At this point today I am very much reduced to the day in front of me, slow thoughts and empty head. Seemed like it took forever to write these thoughts. Thank you everybody for your words. What do you hang onto?
You hang onto the hope that if this trial doesn't work, you find someone with your symptoms that went into remission. Copy them!About you and your meds, I agree with justherself and Racer. Lexapro put me in a coma. I would have slept all day if I could have. My son takes Seroqel, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, I think it makes him need more sleep. But he takes 300mg daily. So the dose you're on is relatively small. In addition, even at the dose he's at, after it took care of his symptoms, he's more himself than I've seen in a long time. He's been on it a while, but certainly is not apathetic, shows his feelings, and even his crazy, witty side. I think there was a little apathy in the beginning, definately a side effect that went away!
Good luck,
~Jade
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