Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 904949

Shown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Why am I tapering Seroquel

Posted by Zana on July 4, 2009, at 17:13:02

I have embarked on a program to taper off the 150mgs of seroquel that I take in addition to remeron, pristiq, provigil, gabapentin, klonopin and resperidone. Now I am wondering why I am doing this. I have it in my head that the seroquel may be downing me out. That and my old pdoc, the one who dumped me, was big on seroquel and part of me wants to prove her wrong! Not a very good reason.
Has anyone had the experience of feeling better when they got off seroquel? If not, what's the point of doing it?
Yours confused,
Zana

 

Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel

Posted by bleauberry on July 4, 2009, at 19:14:22

In reply to Why am I tapering Seroquel, posted by Zana on July 4, 2009, at 17:13:02

I could name off several reasons, as well as expand on issues with some of the other meds, a couple of which are either worthless or doing harm instead of good. But to keep it simple, it is actually pretty simple...unless you are totally frieked out psychosis, which obviously you aren't, there is no justifiable reason on the planet to be taking two antipsychotics at the same time. Choose risperdal or seroquel and get rid of the other. That simple. If you are looking for a reasoning, that is a huge one.

 

Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel

Posted by Zana on July 4, 2009, at 19:52:55

In reply to Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel, posted by bleauberry on July 4, 2009, at 19:14:22

What other meds do you think are worthless or harmful. Please expand!
Thanks.
Zana

 

Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel » Zana

Posted by Phillipa on July 5, 2009, at 0:19:52

In reply to Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel, posted by Zana on July 4, 2009, at 19:52:55

Zana I think that also decide between either seroquel or resperidol. Which do you feel helps more? Love Phillipa

 

Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel » Zana

Posted by floatingbridge on July 5, 2009, at 3:12:32

In reply to Why am I tapering Seroquel, posted by Zana on July 4, 2009, at 17:13:02

O.K. Zana, you know my lack of experience. Is remeron just for sleep? Or does it work with your AD? (I know some use it that way.) Was seroquel the last med on board? Beauberry's answer was good....

best thoughts,

fb

 

Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel » Zana

Posted by yxibow on July 6, 2009, at 6:19:40

In reply to Why am I tapering Seroquel, posted by Zana on July 4, 2009, at 17:13:02

> I have embarked on a program to taper off the 150mgs of seroquel that I take in addition to remeron, pristiq, provigil, gabapentin, klonopin and resperidone. Now I am wondering why I am doing this. I have it in my head that the seroquel may be downing me out. That and my old pdoc, the one who dumped me, was big on seroquel and part of me wants to prove her wrong! Not a very good reason.
> Has anyone had the experience of feeling better when they got off seroquel? If not, what's the point of doing it?
> Yours confused,
> Zana


I'm not sure but knowing my combination of medications, it tends to be a rather "sleepy" set that should be pared but its hard to...

So if I counted right, that's 5 sedating / CNS depressant agents and two stimulating ones. And a fair amount of serotonin going on.

I don't know... there are some reasons for having two antipsychotics on board, but generally its preferable not to... the outcome can be completely unpredictable as they may touch similar receptors but in utterly different ways.

What's the strength of the Risperdal ?

Risperdal carries a higher risk of EPS spectrum effects, however, if the dose is low and it works for you I don't see that as a reason for not taking it.

If the Seroquel is not aiding the Risperdal, its probably not necessary to have two on board -- unless they work equally well and you prefer to have a lower potency agent. But you said you weren't feeling so hot on the Seroquel.


But are you doing this tapering and all these medications on board with a (new) pdoc ? --- don't do this alone, this is way too complicated a set of medications and you don't want withdrawal dyskinesia (relatively harmless at that dose but unpleasant).

It seems there's a lot of sleepy-awake things countering each other, but of course that's up to your doctor... just an observation, especially with the Provigil and Remeron together.

-- tidings

Jay

 

Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow

Posted by Zana on July 6, 2009, at 8:25:22

In reply to Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel » Zana, posted by yxibow on July 6, 2009, at 6:19:40

Thanks for your response. I got on this particular stew the usual way: one isn't working- remeron- add another- seroquel than pristiq, provigil, gaba, resperidone etc. I was already on klonopin. So, yeah, the seroquel did get me out of bed but I still felt very depressed until I started on pristiq. That pooped at 50, went up to 100mg. You never know if it's the combination of meds or one med. that's doing the job. I am doing this with a pdoc who thinks it's fine to try tapering the seroquel. It was my idea and I ended up being unsure what I am trying to accomplish except for fewer meds for the sake of fewer meds and I'm not sure that, in itself, is necessarily a good thing.
Zana

 

Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow » Zana

Posted by floatingbridge on July 6, 2009, at 14:04:11

In reply to Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow, posted by Zana on July 6, 2009, at 8:25:22

Zana,

I thought you initially suspected the seroquel of cognitive dulling.

I'm glad you're doing this with your pdoc.

How's the pristiq in the mix? Or can you tell?

warmly,

fb

 

Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow

Posted by Zana on July 6, 2009, at 14:10:27

In reply to Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow » Zana, posted by floatingbridge on July 6, 2009, at 14:04:11

Hi FB,
The pristiq was added after the seroquel and was the turn around med. I had been on the seroquel for a few months and was a little less depressed while I was on it but not much. I don't know if it is dulling for sure but I sure felt dull as dirt on it before I added the pristiq. Maybe that was just my depression. Maybe it is a side effect of the med. My pdoc says most people don't like it, don't feel like themselves on it and that it is not a great AD. So I figured why not drop it. Maybe I'd feel better off it. I am, however, worried that it is doing something to stave off the depression and that I will find that out by decreasing it. As Larry Hoover pointed out, there is no untreated Zana out there to compare myself to. So I think we are left with trial and error. I don't want to destabilze myself but I also don't want to be taking something that I don't need and that may be downing me out.
Love.

 

Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow

Posted by floatingbridge on July 6, 2009, at 14:16:12

In reply to Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow, posted by Zana on July 6, 2009, at 14:10:27

Zana,

Something I picked up from reading Scott's posts--sometimes a small dose of a med is better than a large dose--I don't want you to destabilize yourself either!

Where are you on your seroquel dosage? And how are you feeling?

fb

 

Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow

Posted by Zana on July 6, 2009, at 14:37:33

In reply to Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow, posted by floatingbridge on July 6, 2009, at 14:16:12

Oh, thank you FB. I am on 125mgs, down from a high of 300mgs. I think I can handle trying to notch it down another 25mgs and see what happens. If only life itself weren't so stressful. But it is mainly myself which is stressful. Sometimes, like now, when I am trying to get out to the house and go to the gym, I feel like I have myself in a strangle hold. The minute any opportunity to get out into the world comes up it is met with this killing feeling of wanting to be left alone. It's like I'm shouting "NO! I won't do it and you can't make me." I am so sick of being myself.
Thank you for your concern. I hope you are well. How are you?
Zana

 

Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow » Zana

Posted by floatingbridge on July 6, 2009, at 14:55:44

In reply to Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow, posted by Zana on July 6, 2009, at 14:37:33

Have you heard that country song line, "If you leave me, can I come, too?"

fb, trying to get herself out of the house as well....

 

Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow

Posted by Phillipa on July 6, 2009, at 20:20:52

In reply to Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow » Zana, posted by floatingbridge on July 6, 2009, at 14:55:44

Hummm can leave the house but not alone. Zana was the seroquel enabaling you to leave the house and hit the gym? Before the taper? Love Phillipa

 

Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow

Posted by Zana on July 6, 2009, at 21:10:16

In reply to Re: Why am I tapering Seroquel )) yxibow, posted by Phillipa on July 6, 2009, at 20:20:52

No. I honestly didn't get a lot of benefit from the seroquel when I was taking it alone with the remeron. My concern is that it may be helping the pristiq/remeron in some way...
Thanks for your interest. Hope you're well.
Zana


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