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Seroquel (Quetiapine) Withdrawal Symptoms: How Long Do They Last?

Seroquel (Quetiapine) is a short-acting atypical anitpsychotic drug that is primarily used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In some cases it is also used as an antidepressant augmentation strategy to treat major depression. It is sometimes used to help manage Alzheimer’s disease and is used at low doses for the treatment of insomnia. Despite the fact that this medication has a variety of uses, it should really only be used for its intended purpose – to treat schizophrenia and possibly bipolar disorder.

Many people take it and it works great to help people manage the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. It also helps prevent major mood swings among individuals with bipolar disorder. With that said, not everyone responds well to this drug – in some cases the side effects become unbearable. Additionally, for some individuals this drug doesn’t work well enough to justify continued usage.

Although this is a drug that can be beneficial for some people, the long term effects are not very promising. In many cases, this drug actually worsens intellectual functioning – especially in elderly with dementia. It also tends to elicit a variety of unpleasant side effects for the person taking it including: weight gain, sexual dysfunction, drowsiness, and worsened motor functioning.

Factors that influence Seroquel withdrawal include…

When you withdraw from any medication, there are important factors that will influence your withdrawal. These factors include: time span, dosage, your physiology, and whether you tapered off of the drug or quit cold turkey.

1. Time Span

How long were you taking Seroquel? If you were taking it for an extended period of time (e.g. over a year), you are likely going to have a tougher time coming off of the drug than someone who only took it for a few months. If you were on this drug for many years, it may be extremely difficult to quit.

2. Dosage (150 mg to 800 mg)

What dosage were you taking? In general, it is hypothesized that the higher the dosage you take, the more it alters your brain functioning. If you take a high dose for a long term, it is going to take your brain a much longer time to normalize in regards to neurotransmitter functioning. The drug comes in doses ranging from 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg, and 400 mg.

For treatment of schizophrenia, most people take between 150 mg and 800 mg per day. If you are on the 800 mg dose, it may take longer for you to withdraw. Fortunately the dosing is nice if you need to conduct a gradual taper – you can keep cutting your dose in half.

3. Individual Physiology

A lot of withdrawal symptoms will be influence by your individual physiology. Despite the fact that many people experience the same symptoms when they quit taking this drug, some people don’t experience as many symptoms, while others experience more symptoms. Another thing to consider is whether you have a mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar. Withdrawal can trigger symptoms or a relapse of symptoms related to the illness for which you were taking it.

4. Cold Turkey vs. Tapering

How should you quit taking Seroquel? For most people, it is highly recommended to conduct a gradual taper. If you are on a higher dose and you quit cold turkey, you will likely be unable to function. By conducting a gradual taper (e.g. slowly reducing the dosage over time), you are allowing your body and brain to slowly adjust to changes.

If you have been on the drug for a long period of time, even tapering may be difficult. If you are someone that quit cold turkey and aren’t looking back, prepare yourself for a long recovery period and symptoms that feel as if they are never going to go away. If you haven’t yet quit this medication and want to taper, slowly reduce your dosage every few weeks. It may take months to taper off of your medication, but it will minimize the withdrawal symptoms.

Seroquel Withdrawal Symptoms: List of Possibilities

Below are a list of common symptoms that have been reported during Seroquel withdrawal. Keep these symptoms in mind when you come off of the medication so that you know what to expect. Although you may not experience every symptom on the list, it is likely that you will experience something when you quit taking this drug.

  • Agitation: If you feel especially agitated, it’s because you’re brain is no longer receiving the drug. This drug helps many people stay calm and reduces agitation. When a person quits taking it, they may become increasingly agitated and it may last for awhile.
  • Anxiety: In many cases this drug helps people with anxiety. When you stop taking it, your anxiety may skyrocket. Everything you do may provoke nervousness and intense anxiety. Try to realize that it is just from withdrawal and that you will recover.
  • Concentration problems: Although this drug can cause concentration problems while you take it, you may also experience poor concentration when you stop it. Some people call this “brain fog” or foggy thinking – it is due to the fact that your brain is trying to readjust itself.
  • Depression: When withdrawing from this antipsychotic you may spiral into deep depression. Any medication that affects neurotransmitters can result in depression when you withdraw – especially if it had a subtle antidepressant effect when you took it.
  • Dizziness: A common withdrawal symptom from any psychiatric medication is dizziness. This may be extreme when you quit taking Seroquel, but shouldn’t last longer than a few months. For most people, this sensation goes away after a few weeks, but for some, the dizziness persists for a long time. Don’t freak out if the dizziness lasts longer than you anticipated – realize that it is a result of post-acute withdrawal.
  • Fatigue: Feeling excessively lethargic, tired, and fatigued is common when quitting an antipsychotic. Although this medication tends to be sedating while you take it, the withdrawal takes a toll on overall energy levels. When your brain is trying to readjust, you may become extremely tired and feel like sleeping all day.
  • Headaches: It is common to experience headaches when you quit taking Seroquel. The headaches may be minor or may feel like full blown migraines. These will subside eventually, but may last weeks before they go away.
  • Heart rate changes: You may notice that your heart rate becomes excessive when you quit this drug. Some people notice that their heart beats excessively fast when they withdraw. You may also notice heart palpitations – these are caused by both withdrawal and anxiety.
  • Hypersensitivity: A person may become hypersensitive to sights and sounds when they come off of this medication. The person may not realize that it is from drug withdrawal and their neurotransmitters are not functioning properly. Therefore normal sounds may sound excessively loud and normal sights may appear excessively bright.
  • Insomnia: It is common to experience insomnia when you quit this drug. Insomnia is usually caused by anxiety and/or sleep disruptions. Your entire sleep cycle may be thrown off when you quit this drug and you may experience increased anxiety.
  • Irritability: Don’t be surprised if you become increasingly irritable and difficult when you stop this drug. In general the medication tends to calm people down almost to the point of a stupor. If you feel excessively irritable, know that it’s likely a result of withdrawal.
  • Itching: Some people notice when they quit this drug that they become itchy all over. If you are experiencing excessive itchiness when you stop Seroquel, just know that it’s a result of withdrawal. If it becomes too unbearable, you may want to conduct a slower taper.
  • Mood swings: It is common to experience mood swings when you quit this drug – even if you are not bipolar. The mood swings may be more pronounced and uncontrollable if you are bipolar, but even individuals that aren’t will notice that they may feel angry one minute and hopeful the next.
  • Nausea: One of the most common symptoms associated with withdrawal from Seroquel is that of nausea. You may feel nauseated for an extended period of time until your body becomes used to functioning without the drug.
  • Psychosis: It has been discovered that withdrawal from antipsychotics can cause psychosis. In other words, you may experience hallucinations, delusions, etc. when you are coming off of this medication. Most people don’t experience psychosis when they withdraw unless they have pre-existing schizophrenia – but it is still a possibility.
  • Sleep problems: A person may notice major changes in their sleep patterns and length when they quit taking this medication. One minute the person may have bouts of extreme insomnia and the next minute they may feel extremely tired.
  • Suicidal thoughts: Many people take this medication to help with suicidal thoughts and depression. When you quit taking it, you may feel more suicidal than you have ever felt. This is due to the fact that your neurotransmitter levels are out of balance and you are no longer receiving the drug to help.
  • Sweating: A very common symptom is that of profuse sweating when you stop taking Seroquel. This may be prevalent throughout the day and/or may occur while you are sleeping. You may wake up from sleep in a pool of sweat. Just know that this is your body’s response to withdrawing from the drug.
  • Vision changes: Some people experience pain in the eye and visual disturbances as a result of taking this medication. It has been hypothesized that this and other antipsychotics could lead a person to experience blurred vision even when withdrawing. Some even hypothesize potential “eye damage” as a result of taking this medication.
  • Vomiting: Unfortunately you may vomit a lot when you stop taking Seroquel. This can be a result of intense nausea and/or your body’s way of detoxifying itself. If you feel like vomiting, just know that many people experience this during withdrawal.

Note: It is documented that Seroquel stays in your system for around 1.6 days after you stop taking it.  Once the drug is out of your system, it can take a long time for your neurophysiology to recalibrate itself back to homeostatic functioning.

Seroquel Withdrawal Timeline: How long does it take?

The withdrawal process tends to affect everyone differently – therefore there is no predictable timeline for withdrawal. Some people may fully recover from symptoms within a month or two, while others may struggle with symptoms for months after they take their last dose. There is really no telling how long you will experience symptoms, but as a general rule of thumb, I recommend waiting 90 days before expecting any sort of recovery.

If you have been taking a powerful psychiatric antipsychotic drug for an extended period of time, it is going to take your brain and body quite some time before they fully recover back to homeostatic functioning. Your neurotransmitters and receptors have been altered by the long term drug usage, and your brain will need some time to reset its functioning.

In order to ensure the fastest possible recovery, you can make sure that you are eating healthy, getting plenty of sleep, staying productive, and getting some exercise throughout the day. Exercise helps stimulate functioning in the brain and rids toxins from the body. If you are getting some exercise (even if its light), it will go a long way towards helping you cope with recovery symptoms and recover quicker.

If you have been on Seroquel and would like to share your experience, feel free to do so in the comments section below. By sharing your experience, it helps other people realize that they are not alone and not going crazy.

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862 thoughts on “Seroquel (Quetiapine) Withdrawal Symptoms: How Long Do They Last?”

  1. Seroquel sucks, yes I sleep like crazy, however I wake up in such a fog it take 2-4 hrs to clear, then I go through a good period for 2-4 hrs and I get very nauseous (sick) until I can not stand it and the take the Seroquel to go back to sleep. Now I am on a trial of Belsomra which so far I wake up every hour and at about 4am can not take it any more so I just get up.

    (I just started but feel sick in the morning, we will see what happens later today). My point is do not even start on Seroquel. I am so sick of DR’s telling me that every paient is different!!!! I have owned some large business and if I told them every client is different when there is a problem we would get show the door.

    I also have RA and while pain killers are bad, bad, bad (Which is a flat out lie, not counting fentnal or all the illegal stuff), they are nothing compared to alot of drugs Doctors have put me on. ??????? I am 69 and can not wait to go. The medical profession is full of !!!!!! and all the CEO’s care about is stocks, money and what ever else the get.

    Reply
  2. Been on Seroquel for 2 years now, 150mg. It was prescribed to me for ptsd. I tried to taper down slowly a few months ago as directed by my physician and had a few of the above mentioned side effects. 2 of them unbearable: agitation and inability to sleep.

    I was finally giving up on trying to fall asleep and was awake for 78 hours straight. Then I couldn’t take it anymore and went back on my original dosage. I feel like a failure, scared I will never be able to come off this drug.

    During tapering off I tried a high dosage of melatonin, magnesium, CBD oil and different teas that are supposed to help you sleep, darkness, binaural beats… I also exercised myself to absolute exhaustion but I could NOT FALL ASLEEP. Any other suggestions?

    Reply
  3. A new doctor put me on Seroquel approx 5-weeks ago. A low dose of 25mg, which I increased with her instruction to 150mg. Headaches (severe, debilitating, make you cry, headaches), muscle jerks, nausea and exhaustion. Anyway, doc told me to toughen up.

    After a few weeks, I decided that toughening up & riding it out would not work for me. Quality of life is horrible. So here I am, I stopped taking it Friday. The nausea and headache is awful, but I hope that will pass quickly. Please tell me it will. I’m crying now feeling so freaking frustrated.

    Reply
  4. Didn’t take my dose last night, went on a walk and vomited my guts out. To those going cold turkey like me be ready to puke! Sweet release of that goddamn drug.

    Reply
  5. I’m having really bad Seroquel withdrawal symptoms. I took 600mg for years and I stopped too quickly. Great combination.

    If my Dr. wants to put me back on the drug to help with these symptoms how long will it take for the symptoms to stop?

    Please don’t say months.

    Reply
    • You got to taper slowly. 25 mg per month is what I did. Everyone is different, but it does take “months” for the majority. It took me 9 months of horrible side effects! And I have never been able to sleep right again one year later.

      One year later and I still only get 4 hours max sleep at night. So I watch diet / nutrition really well, lost 72 pounds, drink natural catnip tea at bedtime, take melatonin, and several times a week – over-the-counter sleep pills.

      I overdosed on natural Valerian, so stopped as those side effects of overdosing are bad too. I would suggest everyone read all these posts. All 870 plus of them for the helpful ideas if you can. I did during 6 solid months of 2-3 hours max sleep each night I got. Some nights only 1 hour or none.

      Reply
      • I think I read almost all of the comments and I update fairly often. I should have added “Don’t tell me any really bad news”.

        Maybe passing a law requiring information on side effects and the details of withdrawal issues when starting a new drug. I would have NEVER have gone near this stuff had I known.

        Reply
        • It’s worse because prescribing doctors still do not know about these horrible side effects either! In fact there was a NY Times article about the fact that psych meds are only tested to be used for a maximum of two years total! There is no data on long term use of psych meds. Let alone the long-term residual side effects, some of which now are proclaimed to last years.

          Reply
  6. I’ve been on this drug for five years I think. I started at 800 and am now down to 400. I’m trying to get completely off of it. I try dropping 50 mg every few weeks. So far I still sleep good and have no side effects. I’m 65 and I just want my life back to before going on this drug. Wish me luck. Sounds like I’m going to need it.

    Reply
    • Really really check into how long it should take to stop completely. I stopped too fast and the side effects are really awful… feel like I’m on my deathbed. Some sources say that a high dose for a long time takes a matter of years to stop. I wish I knew that before, oh well. Good Luck.

      Reply
  7. I started tapering off of Seroquel in February. I was on 200mg at night and 200 XR during supper. I am now only on 50 mg of Seroquel XR. My question is – how do you taper from this dosage since this is the lowest? There isn’t a smaller dose so that it would make it easy to taper. I’m afraid of the negative side effects if I stop taking it. I also take .5 mg of clonazepam twice a day. Has anyone successfully tapered from Seroquel XR?

    Reply
    • I bought a pill cutter and, at about that dose, I removed about an eighth of the remaining dose every week to two weeks – depending on how I felt. Hope this helps, best of luck for your success. Also, I’ve left several posts on this page about how I’ve dealt with the withdrawal.

      Reply
    • Seroquel XR means slow release Seroquel tablet, the coating dissolves in the gut over the day 24 hrs. So you will need to taper that amount with normal Seroquel.

      See a Dr. to work out an individual withdrawal plan and back up (plan B) carefully and very slowly. Challenging, but we are all doing it with you, your not alone.

      Reply
  8. Hello everyone. I’ve only been using Seroquel for 7 days because mirtazapine was no longer effective. It has given me the opportunity to sleep for the first time in quite a long while. I appreciate the information I’ve read here and will be looking for new ways to continue medication-free in response. I wish you all well and thank you for your honesty.

    Reply
  9. I was put on 150mg of Quetiapine in Feb for insomnia. I feel awful & want to get off. I’m now down to 75mg & am experiencing nasty effects. High anxiety, blurry vision, brain fog, feel trapped. Please help! How should I get off this evil drug. I’m suffering.

    Also have dental issues caused by this nasty drug. I read doctors should not prescribe Quetiapine for insomnia. I never had the mental issues it is supposed to be prescribed for. Please I need some advice on how to get off & stop these horrible side effects.

    Reply
    • My advice is, slowly. I tapered slowly and quit almost a month ago. There are still withdrawal symptoms that way and it’s very uncomfortable but at least it’s safe and manageable. The slower you taper the less painful and horrible it will be, but it won’t eliminate them by any means.

      It’s seriously dangerous to quit this drug too fast and I’ve heard that the withdrawal symptoms are not only much worse but last for a much longer period if you don’t. Some say they could even be permanent. The things that have been helping me are: Clean diet as much as possible… juicing helps.

      Melatonin at night along with a high dose of Magnesium and an antihistamine. High dose vitamin D3, C, B, multi, fish oil. Also vitamin E. And stay as hydrated as you can. Your body needs all the support it can get and these things target specific problems from the withdrawal.

      The thing that has helped me the most is Cannabis. I make Canna Caps with decarboxylated Cannabis and organic coconut oil in gel caps and take them at night as needed. This is the only way I’ve been able to get through the unrelenting insomnia this withdrawal produces.

      It doesn’t help that that was the reason I was prescribed in the first place. The Cannabis is also an anti inflammatory which helps with a lot of the symptoms. Best of luck. I hope you find this helps. Nothing will make it easy but getting through it is the goal and managing the symptoms is key. So is patience!

      Reply
      • Hey Corrine.

        My name is also Corrine and I’ve started my tapering journey. I’ve gone from 300mg, then I cut some of my pill my by 0.2 (the tablet weighed 0.7) for a week and now I’m on 250mg. I’m seeing your name as a sign I’m on the right track and tapering is the best decision I’ve made.
        It says not to use cannabis when coming off Quetiapine. Did it not affect your withdrawal.

        Reply
  10. Does anyone have extreme fatigue and sleepiness? I have been on it for 11 years at 100mg per night and a week ago cut down to 50mg for the next month. I am sleeping fine during the night, but during the day I am EXHAUSTED. I feel like I didn’t sleep in a few days. Any feedback?

    Reply
  11. Thanks to everyone here for sharing your stories. We all get stronger when we share.

    My Seroquel (quetiapine) story has been difficult but ultimately successful. Following a manic episode that landed me in the hospital nearly a year ago, the doctors put me on 800mg Seroquel XR supplemented with lithium and fish oil.

    I was too incapacitated to participate in that decision, but my family knew that I already hated Zyprexa (olanzapine) from the previous hospitalization (that’s another rant), and were told that this was a better option for the short term.

    I remained at 800mg until January when my regular doc and I decided I was ready to start tapering, which I did at 50mg intervals every 2 weeks. The final two weeks I went to 25mg and now I haven’t taken Seroquel for one week and am so relieved. Throughout the process I’ve experienced huge losses in cognitive and social functioning, horrible acne, bouts of depression, gained 65lbs, and have daily questioned if I’m even still me inside.

    I’ve been feeling nauseous and weepy all week but so far, so good otherwise; but only time will tell if the other side effects resolve. After reading all of your comments, this whole experience is validated and not just in my head. I can’t believe how much it’s altered my life in just one year!

    I’m still taking lithium for the next few months, and started tapering up on Lamictal (lamotrigine) a couple months ago and am now at 200mg and tolerating it well. My fresh Bipolar diagnosis means a lifetime of medication, and I’ve learned that it’s likely that the efficacy of medications on my body will change.

    I’m certainly not looking forward to going through something like this again, but I’m happy to have found relative stability for now. A friend recommended the book, “Bipolar, Not So Much” by Aiken and Phelps which was super informative, even for people with other non-Bipolar mood disorders. Take care everyone.

    Reply
  12. I’m currently in Seroquel withdrawal and have been Googling ways to fight this intense itchiness. I’m even getting itchy like inside my joints! It’s so tempting to just go back on the meds. I read through this forum about those who abstained from taking antihistamines and just letting the itchiness run its course until all the Seroquel is out.

    I decided to go that route but needed SOME kind of relief. I’ve found that ice packs actually help. When I need to scratch, applying ice to the areas is a relief. There’s also a body oil I’ve been using that surprisingly helps tremendously.

    It’s olive oil based and the molecules in the oil are a similar size to the ones in our skin, so this oil actually gets into my blood stream through my skin and has anti-inflammatory properties or something. It seriously helps the itch!

    I just wanted to reach out and mention this to anyone suffering and in need of some options for relief. Try olive oil, or more specifically the oil I’ve been using is called Body Oil by Olive + M. It has some other ingredients that I think help a lot.

    Seriously saving my sanity through this itchy withdrawal period. Good luck and keep pushing through.

    Reply
  13. Just an update: I posted a comment back in June about my Seroquel tapering and withdrawals. I was on it for maybe 9 years, I tapered from 300 mg originally very slowly, even going from 25mg to 12.5 mg but after 3 days, I felt horrible.

    I alternated days at that dose and finally got off it altogether. I’ve been off completely for 4 weeks but the headaches are a nightmare. I got a migraine one day and was laying down for 3 days, I couldn’t do anything. Got no relief! My psychiatrist was no help and my PCP gave me Motrin 400mg but that upsets my stomach.

    I’ve taken Excedrin Migraine but my doctor said you can get rebound headaches when the caffeine wears off. The second my body temperature rises I get a pounder immediately so I can’t deal with the heat at all! That includes if I’m indoors too.

    I’ve been taking Trazodone 50mg for a long time for insomnia. I do have Xanax .5 if I need it plus I take Valerian root capsules that help with sleep. I drink Chamomile tea which helps with different things, helps to relax, digestion for upset stomach etc.

    I’m really hoping this headache problem gets better SOON!! It’s very debilitating at times. I’ve had to sit in a dark quiet cool room with AC on and a fan blowing on me and cold rag on my head. My eyes hurt most of the time.

    If anyone has any other ideas about this or any comments, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks everyone!!

    Reply
  14. I was taking 600mg Seroquel for at least ten years. For no good reason, really, I was given 25mg for a panic attack and convinced the doctor to increase it to 600 for reasons I don’t remember and he went along with it. I wish he hadn’t.

    My big problem with Seroquel was decreased intellectual function, I had a problem finding a credit card that was in my wallet, that really did it. I thought I was tapering when I went down 100mg every few days, since I didn’t have any issues (at the time) so that seemed reasonable.

    Now it seems that I should have gone down by that amount every few weeks, so many this counts as cold turkey. I wish I had clarified that in advance. So I stopped three weeks ago. Felt much smarter right away, which was great.

    Withdrawal symptoms started about a weeks and a half later and have gotten worse since then. Not dizzy, but I’ve been unsteady on my feet. I’ll be walking a straight line and will veer off maybe 20 degrees without intending to and not feel anything different, it just happens.

    I was maneuvering by a two step little stairway on a bus and suddenly felt I was going to fall, still no dizziness. Bad case of insomnia started right away, am taking trazodone 200mg which helps some. Someone mentioned benzos, my doctors absolutely won’t do anything remotely like that, probably backlash from the oxycontin problem.

    I want whatever works best, but, oh well. Not nausea except when brushing my teeth, I have to split the job into two sessions. Weird. Can’t walk very far with without getting really tired and having to stop. I was doing 2.5 to 4 miles to various places around town, no more. And generally fatigued all the time, it’s hard to get out of bed… I surf the internet on my iPad for exercise.

    Heart rate has been going bonkers, too, I was out and about and my watch says it went from 147 down to 50 in the space of a few minutes. Seeing my cardiologist Monday. And my brain hasn’t been working as well as it had been at first, I REALLY hope that stops.

    Reading this article and these comments has been very reassuring, as in it’s not just me. Also discouraging… this is going to be going on for months?!?!?! Mostly encouraging, though ;)

    Reply
  15. I’m so glad this page is here. Hearing everyone else’s story let’s me know I’m not alone in this. And it’s not fun. Not as bad as benzo withdrawal was for me but it’s in that comparison segment. It’s been 19 days since I stopped 150 mg a day.

    I had some taper by taking it every other and every three or four days before the all-stop 19 days ago. I’m starting to actually get some sleep. The stupidness is still there. I still can’t solve complicated problems. I hope that comes back. The electric head brain zaps keep coming and going.

    They’ve been back for a few days now. And I get itchy all over every night. Sometimes all I can say is I’m so uncomfortable! Muscle aches and stiffness and itchy and restless legs and brain zaps and feeling like I’m a holographic projection sort of dissociated.

    And other times it’s like none of that is a problem and I’m okay. It is definitely the strangest withdrawal I’ve ever experienced second only to benzos. I wish I’d never heard of this medication. I wish I could still think straight.

    Reply
  16. I was put on Seroquel 400mg 15 years ago for insomnia. It used to put me to sleep but no longer does because my body has built up a resistance to it. When Seroquel stopped working, I was put on other meds for sleep like Zopiclone (horrible zombie drug) and Temazepam (better as far as side effects but very addictive when coming off it).

    Anyhow, I discovered a couple years ago that my cortisol levels were too high at night and that was keeping me in a very alert state causing the insomnia. I started looking into herbs that lower cortisol.

    I started drinking Korean Ginseng Tea which I get at Superstore, 2 bags per day and felt weirdly sleepy and yawning at night which was completely foreign to me. I was able to gradually get off all sleeping pills and sleep naturally. What a gift!!!

    I am still working my way off Seroquel but its a very very gradual taper in order to prevent the rebound insomnia and minimize side effects. I still get some nausea, agitation, lack of focus and concentration, itchy skin, and of course fatigue and lethargy. It is manageable because of the very slow taper.

    I do a 25 mg decrease once a week for two weeks, then twice a week for two weeks, then three times a week for two weeks until I get down to seven days. Then I stay at that dose for a month before starting tapering again. I have found coffee enemas (natural way to detox – see Gerson Therapy) to be the best thing for recharging my energy and mood and getting the meds out of my liver effectively.

    I do one per day for the past couple of years. It has been a saving grace for me! Thank God! I hope this info helps anyone who is suffering because of this horrible medication. It really should not be on the market.

    It has affected my memory and concentration horribly and I’m wondering if the brain damage is permanent or if my brain can recover from it. God bless.

    Reply
  17. Stopped 50 mg nightly dose cold turkey 2 weeks ago. Using natural supplements, magnesium, calcium, etc. – also added CBD oil at 16mg bedtime. No withdrawal effect except for return of morning depression that was buried under seroquel.

    Willing to take that in for a while and see if my brain can repair. Do not trust any meds. Sleeping pattern is 10 to 2:30 then 3 to 5… So I guess hoping for 6:30 hours and more later. Realize sleep is the key. Exercise, make sleep a ritual.

    Reply
  18. Don’t think I’ll be taking this again. Not even for a short period. While it does make my bipolar life better, I’ve been on it for about a year and get prostate problems from it (age 37). Trying to get off them isn’t easy and I’ve tapered off for months coming down from 300 to 50mg and it’s triggered my mania now, but I’m not starting up again.

    Don’t even think about going cold turkey. I’ve quit drugs and smoking before and that wasn’t anything close to as uncomfortable as this.

    Reply
  19. I’ve been on Seroquel for 4 and a half years. Insurance got cut so can no longer be on it. I missed my dose and now I feel like complete garbage. Nauseous and trying not to throw up. Sweating like a dog and it’s only 70 degrees out. This drug does not have good side effects either. I have gained over 100 pounds since I’ve been on it.

    Reply
    • I gained 90 lbs on this medication. My life was great for awhile. No depression or mood swings but then you add 90lbs! I cut from 400 to 200 and my head hurts a lot. I cramp all the time my body feels sore every-time I try to get off. This medication is a nightmare to get off. It’s like this: be fat and control symptoms OR get off and try to lose the weight. Either way you’re screwed.

      Reply
  20. Yesterday I quit taking seroquel cold turkey. I wish I never ever started taking any prescriptions. Not only did I get fat, as I was 105 as a normal weight, I now weigh a whopping 175, 1 year later. I even ate very little, went on numerous extended military diets throughout the year and did work outs, I STILL GOT FAT.

    So yesterday I called the clinic and said y’all’s pills made me fat, I’m done. Stupid me, today I feel like total s***. I’m sweating, shake, feel horrible. Luckily for me I’ve withdrawn from meth, but this is SO MUCH WORSE!!! Yesterday I learned how bad seroquel is for you.

    I was forced to get on medication only so I could get disability checks. And even with my contagious skin and blood disease and schizophrenia and depression and ADHD and anxiety and all the others, I got denied over and over.

    I am praying to god for a way to earn money so I don’t have to rely on my family. I’ve been hallucinating my entire life. I wish I was someone else. Don’t take seroquel. I didn’t know how bad this would be. This seriously sucks. :(

    Whatever you’re going through, I hope you’re doing okay and know that you can get through anything. This just really sucks.

    Reply
    • I’m so sorry to hear what you’ve been through Tara. Going cold turkey of any medication is never a good idea. I was on Seroquel XR 200mg per day (morning and evening) for two months and it just didn’t agree with me and I’ve tapered off it now for over a week. I still feel shocking.

      I either sleep 10 hours or just 4 or hours per night. Suffer from daily nausea and headaches and since today I keep crying and then I’m fine again. In the last 10 months I had 6 medication changes for my Bipolar 2 to get the right combination as my original medication (Zeldox) gave me face muscle spasm, after using it for 5 years successfully.

      Nothing seemed to work so now I’m back on Zeldox 20mg and Cipramil 20mg. I’d rather have the odd muscle spasm than the extreme mood swings, nausea, 15 kgs weight gain I got from Seroquel, Epilim, Seroquel XR.

      I hope one day the scientists will find a way to treat bipolar and schizophrenia with another method rather than medications – which make our lives quite tough due to the side effects. Stay strong everyone and try using additional therapies and methods to meds, such as mindfulness, meditation, healthy and balanced diet, exercise, being kind to yourself and lots of love.

      Reply
  21. I stopped cold turkey a week ago after taking 50mg-100mg for sleep for the past 2 years. I’ve had a headache every day, random brief episodes of double vision, irritability, worsening allergies and major trouble sleeping. I read that Seroquel effects histamine, so that’s why a lot of people experience itching and allergies.

    I’ve been taking Claritin and Benadryl for the allergies, Tylenol for the headaches, and as far as sleep goes- that’s the toughest part for me. I’ve been alternating Restoril (it’s a benzo and I definitely don’t want to get used to taking it), Clonidine (a blood pressure medication that is sedating), Valerian extract, and some other natural sleep aids from Whole Foods that don’t really work.

    The first 3 nights I didn’t sleep at all. Then I slept a few hours on the fourth, fifth, and sixth nights. Last night was the first night that I got 6 hours. My mood is definitely off and I feel exhausted, but I’m terrified of the long-term effects of Seroquel. So I’m gonna tough it out.

    Reply
  22. I have been on seroquel 200mg for 12 years. I have tried 3 times to come off of it. It’s a nightmare. I work in mental health – I do sleep ins at work. This weekend was bank holiday. I missed picking up my tablets on Friday as I was at work I haven’t had them now for 3 days. Yesterday I felt like I had a cold coming on.

    Today I feel really nauseous. I really am thinking of lowering the dose now and try to come off of it again. I think I can handle my mental health now. But it’s the withdrawal that worries me. Feeling ill. This is something I’m not looking forward to.

    I haven’t slept for 3 nights. I do think that this medication has helped me with my negative thoughts, but I also think that I have learnt how to deal with my mental health. Let’s see if I can do this. I am hoping that I can manage without them.

    Reply
  23. Seroquel 125 mg was given to me for anxiety and worsening insomnia as I age… am 50 years old. From the beginning, I noticed that if I got up to pee just before sleeping, after about an hour of taking seroquel, well my heart would race! It was crazy! Also it would make me extremely tired, but I got restless limbs so bad, I could not relax.

    It felt like all my muscles were wound up really tight even though I was like a zombie with seroquel. I had to take Xanax many times over the last 2 years to sleep. I did some research and found that magnesium supplements can help with muscle tightness.

    I figured seroquel was messing with my ability to take up and utilize magnesium. Anyway, the heart racing was unbearable. Finally I thought to myself “I’ve had enough” and I wanted to taper off the seroquel, but am too afraid of the heart racing, and believe you me, now I can get up at night without my heart racing – and it’s been 3 days off of seroquel.

    What a demon drug. No natural sleep yet, but thank god I have some Xanax, and I took .5mg last night and the anxiety stopped and I slept. Oh by the way, I told the psychiatrist that I was getting restless limbs a couple days after he introduced me to this demon drug, and I got the blank stare – what a **** – these guys just like to dump poisons into people for big pharma.

    Reply
  24. Hi all, reading your comments was super helpful. I’ve been on quetiapine for 1 year at 100mg dose at night. I’ve been struggling with weight gain, night terrors, fatigue and a patchy memory. I can’t believe Ive gained so much weight. I want to stop taking it ASAP!

    I’ve reduced down to 75mg for the past two nights and I’m experiencing small headaches, stabbing chest pains, high heart-rate and blood pressure and extreme fatigue. Your comments have put my mind at ease. I thought I was having a heart attack..

    Reply
  25. I am slowly coming off Seroquel for depression. I was I’m 300mg rapid release. I am going off very slowly. My side effects are what I call brain zaps. These zaps make it hard to sleep and I am itching like crazy. The brain “zaps” occur as I am going to bed to sleep.

    The only thing I have found to reduce them is taking a Xanax. This past week I went down one more 50 mg and was off for two nights then the brain zaps came back with a vengeance. I am going to slowly continue to come off this, but may wind up alternating between 250mg and 200 mg to see if that will work for a while and then try again at 200mg.

    I am also having extreme fatigue. Any suggestions, words of advice of words of wisdom would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks!

    Reply
  26. I have recently been experiencing muscle rigidity, anxiety, and what I can only describe as sleep paralysis from (I believe) 75 mg of Seroquel daily. My doctor is on board with me discontinuing the Seroquel… but I feel like it needs to be done NOW!

    I was actually in the ER last night because I felt so strange. My question is this: Has anyone been removed from Seroquel immediately (with no tapering) and if so, how was it done and how miserable were you? I’m just as afraid of discontinuing the medicine as I am of continuing it!

    Reply
    • It’s very dangerous to quickly stop taking Seroquel. I tapered off my 25 mg daily dose over one complete full month. I felt strange symptoms for 2 solid months and serious sleep disturbances even to this day, nearly a full year later.

      Reply
    • I have been taken off of seroquel once suddenly. I take it for bipolar disorder and I take 300 mg a day. I experienced insomnia, agitation, I felt shaky and had nausea. If I had to do it again, I would rather wean off so the withdrawals don’t hit all at once.

      Reply
    • This drug should be illegal to give to anyone! I was on 50mg only at night and dropped down to 25mg because I was having blurry vision and gaining weight. I then decided, after about a month, to stop the 25mg. I was awake for 2 days and could not stop vomiting! I was only taking 25mg!! Bad drug!

      Reply
  27. I have been struggling with a “brain fog” and stupidness all year. I am in danger of losing my job. I’m barely able to continue with advance math which is a component of my job. I’ve been taking seroquel for about 4 years. 300/daily at some points. 150/daily lately.

    My question is, will the brain damage (?) get better? Will I be able to think again some day? Or is it time for a career in Congress?

    Reply
    • I was taking 50 mg for 10 months. I cut my dose to 25mg 2 weeks ago. I don’t know how fast your tapering but the first 1 week my brain fog was so bad. I couldn’t remember what I just did… almost confused. It has cleared up 80%, but it was scary.

      Here were my other symptoms for the first: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness (could not sit still… had to tap feet most of the time and rock back and forth to be comfortable), neuropathy in my feet, a total body feeling of rolling around on fiber glass like I had glass chards in my skin, increased anxiety, excess urination, continually burping, itching and hives.

      I have used items that helped: CBD oil helps with anxiety and alertness, stomach – Gas X, TUMS, Xantac, and Compazine (prescription) for nausea vomiting. Kratom 2 capsules for restlessness when I just couldn’t hold still, also taking Xyzal for itchiness and hives. Tryptophan 1500mg for sleep every night.

      I am waiting another week and will drop to 12mg and repost. The above symptoms started to improve after about 10 days… it has been 14 days since I started, 80% of my symptoms are better but I’m giving myself another week before the next drop.

      Reply
      • I’d been on this for over 16 years and for me its was a question of if the ever increasing side effects were worth the hell that was. If you look at the whole picture, that definitely made it worth going through the hell of withdrawal.

        At least with that there’s at least the possibility that hell will be over eventually. I’ve been off it close to a month and I’m still experiencing withdrawal. Some symptoms are improving but the insomnia is getting worse. I can deal with that, knowing it will gradually get better after it peaks.

        Reply
  28. Hi everyone I’m Chris. I have been taking 1200mg of seroquel since January 3rd of 2009. I’ve been diagnosed with many different disabilities over the years and I’m 28 years old. I’ve been diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, ODD schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, manic depression and intermittent explosive disorder.

    I’ve been on around 30-40 medications previous to seroquel and the only medication that has leveled me out has been the seroquel. What happens to me if I’m forced to go off the seroquel cold turkey is not fun at all. I’ve only been forced to go off of it 3 times since January 2009 because of my doctor having family emergencies.

    What I went through was extreme insomnia which lasted 120 hours straight with not a single second of sleep no matter how hard I tried. But luckily I was able to get back on it after 120 hours. I have intense hallucinations. I experienced extreme irritability. I experienced extreme depression to the point of being suicidal.

    I experienced mood swings to the point of being violent. I puke everything I eat and drink and I become severely dehydrated. I experience hardcore nausea and fatigue and my insides make me feel like I’m going to die. I get to the point where I’m so screwed up so bad that I can’t even walk on my own and I wind up in the fetal position on the floor.

    I experience my heart racing and heart palpitations. I also experience my heart rate dropping below 45 beats a minute and I know because the heart machine in the hospital said so. I literally feel like I’m almost dead. The hospital took my blood and the results came back saying that my liver was starting to give up due to constant physical and mental stress I was dealing with from the withdrawals and sleep deprivation.

    So they helped me get back on the seroquel and everything went back to normal. Seroquel is a very effective medication, but there are lots of bad withdrawal symptoms to think about before you decide to start taking it. If you’re thinking about starting Seroquel, I recommend it, but keep in mind of everything I have told you today because it’s very addictive – but also very effective. Good luck everybody.

    Reply
  29. Hi. I have recently stopped seroquel. I was on 150ml for 2 years due to depression caused by bipolar disorder. While on 150ml I could not stay awake, so work was near impossible. I decreased my dose to 75ml only at night for last year and struggled with anxiety hugely.

    Over last 3 months lowered it again to 50ml…then 25ml. And no side effects aside from constant weight gain. I have quit completely cold turkey last 3 weeks and have had a headache every day, blurred vision and been very agitated along with stiff muscles.

    The most difficult things to deal with have been painful eyes all the time, headaches and not being able to sleep without zoloft. I have changed my diet, increased my exercise and started using detox tea from the Chinese market which is helping a lot.

    I am now overweight from using this medication and so far haven’t lost a pound since I quit meds and changed diet – which is very depressing, but I am hopeful and will never take this drug again.

    I don’t know when side affects will stop, but I will post a small note when they do! Good luck to everyone.

    Reply
  30. I also gained weight. 35 pounds to be exact. My hair began falling out as well. I’m weaning off of it now. Going from 200 mg to 100 mg down to 50 mg. I have no energy, major fatigue everyday. This medication should be illegal. Wouldn’t give this to my worst enemy!!!

    Reply
  31. I have been on seroquel XR 50 mg for over 4 years, as an adjunct therapy to mirtazapine, for depression with insomnia. In those 4 years I have gained over 4 stones in weight. I feel that I am a different person than who I used to be. I wish the psychiatrist had discussed with me the weight gain before I went on it.

    Without it, I really struggle to sleep, and I mean no sleep for nights, then maybe a night with a few hours. I am so fed up of being this heavy, and I am trying again to come off it. I know it will be difficult, but I can’t go on like this. At 17 stone and counting I need to do something. So wish me luck!

    Reply
    • Hi, Laura! What helped me a lot is to take a (natural) appetite suppressant with the drug and going to sleep as soon as possible after taking the drug. I gained a lot of weight during my first year on the drug because of the change in appetite, but with a healthy diet and using it correctly, I lost about 10kg. Good luck!

      Reply
    • Laura, I feel for you. I started Seroquel for insomnia and anxiety. I do fall asleep, but feel awfully weak and sedated the next day. I started walking a mile a day, ate healthier, and should be going down more quickly, as far as losing weight is concerned.

      I did lose 20 lbs. in the last few months, but it isn’t coming off like it did when I was taking Wellbutrin before. In 2005, I lost 115 lbs. on Wellbutrin. My hair also fell out. That is a side effect. It’s a beautiful Oklahoma evening and I’m too ashamed to walk to my car. My depression isn’t lifting much.

      Reply
      • I took myself off Seroquel. Nausea for last three days, and not sleeping. But it’s better than the daytime sedation when I was on it! I joined a gym and work out. And I can walk to my car. ?

        Reply
        • Hi Sharon, brilliant to hear you have stopped taking it, u seem to have the right attitude re exercise etc, it will eventually lead to better sleep. I have had a few false starts with coming off it, I was getting very anxious and overly irritable, and I wasn’t getting any sleep.

          So I just reduced it by a quarter til I am ready to try again. The thing is when I don’t sleep it doesn’t take long for my depression and almost psychotic episode to start, but I am remembering that I survived for years without this drug, when I didn’t have it, and I can fit again.

          No matter how much I exercise and diet absolutely no weight shifts when I am on seroquel, so in order for me to get back some semblance of my old physical self I must come off it.

          Reply
  32. I am currently tapering off of seroquel. I’ve come off of a lot of different psych drugs before and this is by far the worst. I was taking 200 mg at night since 2013. It has taken me 4 weeks to go from 200 to 50 mg. I feel like I have the flu, I have been vomiting and I’m extremely tired and out of it.

    I also have had little tremors in my hands. I don’t feel like myself. I am so mad I was ever put on this drug not knowing how hard it is to get off of it. I am not working right now, but if I was, I don’t know if I would be able to do this and still function. Also my heart has been racing and almost like skipping beats. I hope this stops soon.

    Reply
  33. It is 10th months since I quit Quetiapine and I still have trouble sleeping. After 3 months I started to sleep about 4-5 hours of interrupted sleep but sometimes I still have nights with zero sleep. And I took only 35 pills of 100mg. This drug just killed me.

    Reply
      • I suffer from unknown illness which gives me some pain and difficulty falling asleep thats why I started to use Ambien (Zolpidem) but after a year my doc didn’t want to prescribe me more Ambien and I had to quit. After one month of sleepless nights I started to get better and my Pdoc gave me Quetiapine to recover faster after Ambien – and that was biggest mistake in my life.

        I was taking Quetiapine every second day and I was sleeping 8-10 hours a day, but after 2 months I realized I can’t sleep. I’m not on Quetiapine so I started to read the internet and I found this site. Before I had difficulty falling asleep, but when I did fall asleep I slept 8 hours.

        Now I have difficulty staying asleep. I’m lucky when I sleep 4 hours without waking up and I’s been 11 months since I stopped Quetiapine. I don’t use anything now except paracetamol and melatonin.

        Reply
  34. I took 25 mg of seroquel to help me sleep at night. I’ve been taking it for about 4 years now. I recently quit with the help of CBD oil capsules. I highly recommend this natural product! It’s been extremely helpful in getting me off seroquel. I slept decent last night and I took no seroquel just 50 mg of CBD oil. ?

    Reply
  35. I’ve been on Seroquel for about 6 months and stopped cold turkey 3 days ago. I was originally prescribed 100mg at night and 100 mg in the morning but dropped the morning dose after 2 weeks due to extreme fatigue. During the last 2 months, I have tried to quit 2 times and started taking it again after two days because the withdrawal was hell.

    Now, I’m attempting it again after knowing what to expect. I was actually able to sleep 5 hours after the 2nd day. I’ve been taking Benadryl to help sleep but it does nothing for that. I think it helps reduce the itchiness, though. I feel warm for awhile, then I get chills. My eyes will ache and I basically feel like I have a mild case of the flu.

    Apparently withdrawal can take about 90 days? I hope that doesn’t include all the withdrawal symptoms. Seroquel was not doing enough to justify staying on it, but it sure is hard to stop taking it. Worse than any other medication that I’ve taken. Good luck to everyone.

    Reply
  36. I have been taking 200mg Seroquel at night since around January of 2016. I started taking it as a sleep aid and as a mood stabilizer after experiencing an episode of substance-induced hypomania (from Paxil). My doctor finally wanted to try decreasing the Seroquel since it can be so harsh on your mind and body and we don’t think I really need it as a mood stabilizer.

    I decreased 12.5 mg every 7 days and am now down to 137.5 mg. Over the first 4 weeks I did not notice many side effects. I still continued to sleep the same amount of time every night (almost 10 hours) and still do in this 5th week. But starting the 5th week I started to experience insane itching all over my body!!

    It is so dreadful and painful and nothing much has seemed to help it. I’ve read that there are two possible causes stemming from Seroquel withdrawal: 1. Since it acts as an anti-histamine my body is now freaking out 2. Since it messes with your nerves my nerve endings are now freaking out. The itching is so incredibly uncomfortable, but on the bright side I feel SO much better after decreasing the Seroquel.

    I really felt like it was dulling my emotions and all the time I would find something to be funny in my head but I couldn’t laugh. I would have to fake laugh all of the time because my body wouldn’t experience real laughter.

    I am now conflicted because I am not sure if I want to continue decreasing the dose by 12.5 mg until I am completely off of it (I am in school and currently am on summer break). Or if it would be better to stop decreasing it when I return to school in order to hopefully have some relief from symptoms of withdrawal. Despite the withdrawal symptoms, I am really starting to feel more normal and like myself. Anybody have advice or opinions?

    Reply
    • You should decrease at a much slower rate if possible. Perhaps bump up the dose to adjust for the reaction. I would take 2 weeks on one does and then taper that down. Or three weeks before tapering down to a lower dose.

      I was on only 25 mg of Seroquel per day but for 18 years. It took me 1.5 months to taper down and I still had side effects. This is the first month where I have had a few nights of natural sleep w/o resorting to over the counter sleep aids or herbal remedies.

      I quit Seroquel 10 months ago!!! My depression is noticeable. I miss the Seroquel, but I also do not miss the 65 pounds I lost after quitting it and Paxil.

      Reply
      • Thank you for your advice! I am a little anxious about decreasing it in the future. We decided to keep me where I am until winter break or next summer break so it interferes with my education as little as possible.

        I look forward to coming off of it, but I realize I still have a decent journey ahead of me. What OTC/herbal remedies helped you the most?

        Reply
  37. I have taken quetiapine for 4 years together with mirtazapine. I was on 300 mg initially. Slowly tapered down to 50 mg – 2 x 25 doses AM and nightly. I then started cutting the 25 tablet in half and missed a day for at least 2 weeks. Then missed 2 days and so on, until it was 12.5 nightly dosage.

    The mirtazapine tablet is a great help in sleeping and sometimes I take half a tablet at 6 PM to rid me of bad headaches and anxiety – I would not know how to cope without this marvelous tablet, even though I shall have to come off it too. I learnt the withdrawal effects take place after 2 weeks.

    I had these 2 weeks ago, the following week was great, but this week bad headaches, depression, feeling weepy have surfaced which scared me. I am searching the withdrawal sites and see the symptoms can go on randomly. I know from past withdrawal, these last 7 days.

    I will stay on this dosage for a month to get me through my holidays and to have a stable mind. I will not reduce per week but go with my last dosing of missing 12.5 per week, and stabilize a couple weeks until it all ends.

    I know this will take ages, but I will have milder symptoms. For those people who have trouble sleeping, migraine headaches – Mirtazapine is great. I even halve the dosage when feeling well.

    Reply
    • I loved Mirtazapine as well. Slept like a baby, but I had to give it up because I was gaining so much weight. Did you know they give Mirtazapine to dogs when they have a bad appetite?

      Reply
  38. I’ve been taking Seroquel for insomnia since 2004. I took a break from the drug in 2011 and after not getting much sleep for months, went back on at a lower dose of 25mg. I found it made me feel like a zombie during the day, but at least I got sleep.

    Since 2014 I’ve been taking half a 25mg pill and that seemed to work, but I’ve developed horrible tinnitus in my left ear, am leery of the long term side effects, and so I’ve been tapering off for the past month. I finally stopped taking the incredibly low dose I have had, but now I can barely sleep and usually don’t fall asleep until 4 AM.

    Valerian root, melatonin, etc have never helped me sleep. I exercise daily, do yoga, meditate, and practice good sleep habits, like shutting down all my screens before 9 PM. Still no luck. It looks like there are a lot of questions on this forum but not a lot of answers.

    It would be nice if the manufacturers of this drug or psychiatrists would take an interest in the suffering of their patients and offer some advice. Good luck everyone!

    Reply
  39. Ok, so how come nobody is talking about sneezing, excessive runny nose, mucus? This is my main w/d symptom. No websites list this w/d symptom. After researching, I have found that Seroquel is a powerful antihistamine. It totally messed with my histamine receptors. I have been taking 300mg for many years.

    I am now slowly tapering and bam, runny nose, sneezing in the afternoon, I guess when the level gets lower in the blood. A few years ago, I went cold turkey for a month and my nose would not stop running. It was so bad I had to plug up my nose with tissues. And I had to go back on this drug. Am I the only one with this symptom!!!??

    Reply
    • The same thing I’ve experienced. I’ve tried to stopping taking it, and I’ve had the same experience as yours. It only stopped when I started taking seroquel again.

      Reply
    • This is because Seroquel acts as an antihistamine, so it’s actually passively relieving your allergy symptoms. Try a 24 hour allergy pill like Claritin or Zyrtec. It’s important to take these medications every day, and you probably won’t notice relief for a few days. If the itching becomes unbearable, try taking 1-2 Benadryl. Benadryl is also an antihistamine, and is available over-the-counter.

      Reply
    • No, you aren’t the only one. I too, suffer with runny nose, bad headaches, weak heart rate, and so many other negative side effects. I truly feel like suing the company who makes this demon medicine. I have lost 3 years of my life by being on this terrible drug!

      Reply
    • Me, too. Lots of violent sneezing, constantly running nose and very bad all over itching. I tapered down gradually and still had this and many more symptoms. I’ve been off it totally for four days and the symptoms continue especially the bad insomnia which is much worse than during the tapering off period.

      The only way I can sleep at all is dosing through the night with cannabis. Showers help some with the itching and decongestants with antihistamines are helping me with the sneezing and runny nose. I have so much congestion I can’t breathe at night without a decongestant. I’ll be so glad when this is over. Best of luck.

      Reply
    • You definitely are not alone in this. I’ve been on 300mg for the past 3 years, but lower doses for about 7 years prior. About a month ago, I decided to quit cold turkey and have been MISERABLE since; shockingly my bipolar disorder with extreme manic episodes is the least bothersome of my symptoms!

      My constant runny nose had turned in a severe sinus infection, and my tissues have retained so much fluid that I’m 2 sizes bigger than I was a month ago, as if the 150lbs I’ve gained in the past 3 years wasn’t bad enough. But I I’m determined to NOT go back on any daily prescriptions, unless it’s an herbal supplement.

      I an 43 years old and survived my ex-husband trying to kill me, putting 2 boys through college as well as myself, I’ll be damned if Seroquel will win this one. It was my decision to quit cold turkey, I never even asked my doctor.

      My first year and a half back in school I was straight A’s (even Statistics) but the past 3 semesters I have failed the same class twice and dropped it this last semester so as not to fail a third time.

      Seroquel slowly takes away your personality as well as intellect. I don’t know how long my withdrawal symptoms are going to last, but I’m hoping not longer than 3 months.

      Reply
  40. I am 23 days off 100mg Seroquel (Quetiapine) and 75mg Fluoxetine after being diagnosed with OCD 4 years ago. In the last few days I have had a rough time with suicidal thoughts and quickly getting agitated with myself and others.

    In the list above and under Suicidal Thoughts it doesn’t say how long this symptom will last. Can anyone please help me with the answer, will these thoughts eventually subside?

    Reply
    • Hi Mike, I wonder how you feel now. I’m experiencing the same for 4 days now. I only took the seroquel for 2/5 weeks. The only symptoms that are hard are the insomnia & the thoughts for me. Maybe it’s because they were there already before I took it, but have now become worse. I’m now so paranoid.

      Reply
  41. At the end off the day, we were given this drug for a reason! Personally it has helped block thoughts that I had no control over or FELT I had no control over. When you read long-term side effects of this drug you do panic.

    I think that is why I am willing to try and wean myself of the 75mg I take nightly, having been to CBT, trying to practice mindfulness – well that’s a laugh ? in itself. Guys – do what you feel is right for you, when you feel the time is right to do it.

    Good luck everyone who is in on this battle. I believe we all need each other’s help, support and kind words, and hopefully a reply when it’s needed. Cheers guys.

    Reply
  42. I tapered to 12.5 mg for several weeks and then actually to 6.25 for several weeks. I was fine doing this however it has been 2 months or more since I stopped and I still have symptoms.

    I sleep like a baby but I still have the bizarre dreams every night, ringing in my ears, weight gain and excessive hunger, excessive yawning, mild but not debilitating memory and confusion issues and muscle tightness which I relate to the Seroquel.

    Reading info confirms the psychological effects can take months to stop. Now to get off Zoloft!

    Reply
  43. I’m female, 53 years old. I’ve been an insomniac my entire life. My Mom said even as a baby I didn’t sleep and functioned just fine. It was Mom that had a hard time being awake with a baby for what seemed like 15-20 hours per day. The doctor tried Benadryl and the like.

    Fast forward to 2001 when I herniated a disc in my neck at work. My once happy, outgoing, non-sleeping mood plummeted. I was depressed being in such pain and unable to do much of anything. My insomnia was like torture then. It was pain 20 hours per day, and horrible bits and pieces of light sleep.

    My psychiatry journey began. The high dose of 800mg of seroquel climbed each year. Any lower dose and still no sleep. I’m only five feet tall and weigh 95 pounds. Other doctors didn’t believe I was honest about the dose I took each night.

    Yesterday my husband forgot to pick up my refill of Seroquel. Just one damn night without it and not a minute of sleep. I could deal with that, but this morning I am a total wreck. Fifteen years of taking 800 mg every single night is not worth missing one dose ever again.

    I’ll have to take this medicine for the rest of my life if I want any normalcy. Best of luck to those getting off this drug. Take care…

    Reply
  44. Hi! I was originally prescribed Seroquel to help with a major depression about 2 years ago. I was on 100 mg for quite a while and then tapered down to 75 mg. I tapered down to 50 mg about 2 weeks ago and the anxiety is intense.

    I have frequent panic attacks and my left arm goes completely numb. I’ve read several accounts stating that tapering low doses is much harder/more intense than tapering high doses. Any truth to this?

    I am willing to taper very slowly, but I want to be done with this drug completely! Advice or personal experiences are much appreciated!

    Reply
  45. Hello. I have been taking Seroquel for 4 years and I had variation of dosages. Varying dosages never caused me any problem, but I decided to cold quit from 75mg. I could not sleep for two nights and I am having insomnia, anxiety, nausea and excess agitation.

    Nausea was so bad that I could not exercise as I used to. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to feel like this, but I hope to get over it in time.

    Reply
  46. Today is day 3 of me not taking Seroquel. I have been prescribed to it for 10 years. My dosage started at 200 mg/daily. I cut myself down to 100 mg/ daily and at times I would only take 50 mg/daily. Would only take before bedtime in order to fall asleep and stay asleep.

    I have gotten absolutely no sleep these past 3 days. I have had a headache all day for the past 2 days and excedrin has given me no relief (when excedrin is my go-to for headaches). I am a full time mom of 2 boys under 5 and have a full time job, so I’m always on the go.

    I hope I will eventually be able to fall asleep on my own. I don’t feel “tired” yet. I have had a lot more energy lately, but I’m going crazy not being able to sleep at night! I try to get comfortable but just toss and turn and never fall asleep!

    I can only watch so much TV until I am just sick of laying there. I’m hoping it’ll just catch up with me and my sleeping schedule will go back to normal without having to take anything. Will follow up with my doctor if this continues…

    Reply
  47. Hi all I have taken Quetiapine 200mg for 3 years, the weight gain and night time terrors were too much for me, not to mention it has made shift work really hard. I have done a really gradual taper, by reducing one of the 200mg doses to 175mg for 2 weeks, then 2 doses to 175mg and so on.

    I haven’t had any side effects from doing this and am now at 75mg per day. I am hoping to come off them completely and for me the secret was to allow time, patience for my brain to adjust and to not beat myself up if I needed to go back a step.

    It has taken months to get down to the dose I am on, but doing it this way has made it so much easier. I really hope this helps someone who needs help to taper their dose.

    Reply
  48. I’ve never commented on here before but really appreciate everyone’s input. I’ve been on Seroquel for years, was taking 300 mg. I started tapering April 10th and now I’ve been at 25 msg for 2 weeks. I did experience nausea at beginning of tapering but not now.

    I’ve been taking Trazodone 50mgs for sleep for a few years. Plus I’ve been taking Valerian root capsules they help with sleep. My main issue is the headaches they’re horrible! I feel like I live on Tylenol. I do drink Chamomile tea that helps.

    I’m leary about tapering to 12.5 and then quit all together. Are my headaches going to get worse? How long will they last? I feel like I’m tapering slowly enough, but how should I proceed with tapering from here? Ideas anyone, I’d appreciate it.

    Reply
  49. I have been taking Seroquel for about 3 years and have been on the same dosage of 300 mg due bipolar 2 disorder. I must say that missing one day of my meds I feel the worse the nausea, cold sweats and insomnia kills me. Without taking this medicine I can stay awake for days. I plan on talking to my doctor.

    Reply
    • I’ve been at 800 mg for 15 years. Missed last night’s dose because no one picked up my refill. I feel your pain… I could stay up for days, but feel horrible and being awake gives me no respite. Take good care of yourself. XoXo

      Reply

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