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.
Update at two months off Seroquel. The dizziness and nausea are much better now, but I still have daily anxiety, especially at the end of the day, as well as flu-like muscle aches. Tinnitus is bad as usual. Fatigue waves come and go, worse in the later half of the day.
Tinnitus is a side effect of Seroquel. Supposedly it is permanent. I have it too. Likely caused by being on Seroquel for 10 years at 100-350 mg/day.
Back with an update. Been three months or so now of zero Seroquel, and I think I tapered down for close to three months. Panic attacks, I think I mentioned; they were gone almost immediately once I realized they were chemically caused. I don’t think the itching went on much longer than my last post, or I may have mentioned it was going away already. Runny nose, that went on for about another month after last post. Seems to run on a cycle though; every week or two it comes back, a little less severe than before.
Still can’t sleep very well. Probably two nights out of three, I either lay awake for hours, or wake up after just one or two hours, and can’t fall back to sleep again. That does seem to be getting better, and maybe closer to two bad nights in four, and certainly the sleep periods are lengthening. But I am somewhat mildly depressed nearly all time. And have an extreme lack of energy. I’ve suffered from depression for most of my life, and usually it’s more extreme than this.
So I can handle it fairly well. But this has been going on for a long time, and coupled w the lack of energy; I don’t get hardly anything done. At all.
There are good days. Perhaps one in seven is decent, and one in 14 is great. But it’s rough the rest. I’m not suicidal. It sure would take a lot for me to get to that point. But I doubt that I will get much accomplished in the next three to even six months. But I do have dreams and goals, which if I don’t soon begin progress on, yes; life will look pretty bleak.
My head is a little clearer. A little. And, oddly since I was taking Seroquel largely for social anxiety, my confidence in self-value has gone up quite a bit! I think that’s because I believe people are interacting with who I am, instead of who a drug makes me become, so I have less to hide or be ashamed of. It is already worth it, getting that satanic crap out of my body. Probably in another three to six months, I can begin accomplishing all that I missed out on while being foggy for years! Be well everyone!
Seroquel was prescribed by my family doctor to help lower my anxiety, depression and OCD in combination with other drugs. But my Psychiatrist wants me off of it. Therefore I am weaning off, and it has been hellish. I feel suicidal and depressed. I maxed out at only 150mg daily, so I feel fortunate that I am on a low dose compared to other people. I feel empathy for people who are weaning off. I am down to 75mg and it is very hard to cope, but I am getting through it day by day.
I feel ya. I had the 150mg max dose to, and it’s been awful. I have no clue how higher dosed people do it. 75 to 50 was hardest for me. I don’t decrease more until I feel completely OK. 150 to 100, 100 to 75 was OK – took about a month each- 75-50 took almost 2 months. I just didnt want to decrease again when i was still feeling crappy. Im on day 7 of 25mg, the side effects are different & much more manageable. Good luck! Keep working on it. I feel like it’s a huge deal to go through this.
Hi, I have been on 150mg quetiapine for 8 years. I recently found out that I am pregnant and was told to reduce my tablet to 100mgs for 3 days, 50mgs for 3 days then nothing! I have not slept for 2 days, I have really bad itching, stomach cramps and headaches. My psychiatrist says that these are not symptoms of withdrawal – that the drug will be out of my system now after 8 days. She has made me feel worse, like it is all in my head – I am sick since stopping taking my meds, but she said that is because I’m pregnant… I wasn’t sick before. I am really struggling and feel no-one will help me. My psychiatrist also said that a quetiapine is not addictive.
Time to get another psyc. Before you see him or make an appointment ask if he is aware that Seroquel has severe withdrawal symptoms.
My friend was put on Seroquel and Celexa for anxiety, depression and insomnia. He felt slow and confused while on it. He tapered and than quit. First the side effects were irritability and moodiness, which he could cope with. Then came the extreme insomnia followed by mania and psychosis. He says he’s fine and just undergoing a transformation. I’m hoping it will eventually subside. I’m at a lost as to what to do. I’m anti-drug, but at first I thought it helped but after seeing the results, clearly this drug is being over prescribed for patients who have other avenues.
Nineteen years ago, as I went throughout menopause, I had a bout with run-of-the-mill depression. Had a bad reaction to first antidepressant – kept me awake for 2 weeks – no sleep at which resulted in sleep-deprived psychosis and my first hospitalization. Each new psych drug had a side effect so the doctors (I”m on my 6th psychiatrist) would add a drug for the side effect. Of course that drug had a side effect so we just added another one. At one time I was on 10 psych meds in addition to monthly electroshock treatments.
Yes, just like in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. 10 years on Seroquel – gained 100+ pounds which I consider excessive. No amount of diet, exercise would stop the gain. Was constantly sleepy – can fall asleep from just sitting for less that 15 minutes – after sleeping 8-10 hours per night. Have reduced Seroquel from 400 to 300 to 200 but now have quit cold turkey. Using Ambien for sleeping and Benedril for itching. Had only one headache, used Tylenol.
Biggest problem in horrible diarrhea; my bottom is sore and I’ve had a couple of accidents. I’ve had some brain zaps but they have not been as bad as from quitting Cymbalta. And the dizziest I ever was was with quitting Paxil. Been exercising daily, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, meditating and spending lots of time cuddling with my kitty cat. Best part of all after being zonked out for all those years is the feeling of being wide awake – all day long. And after only 4 days I’ve lost 6 pounds. I am going to do this. All of these drugs are bad.
I have been taking Seroquel for over 12 years. I am 64 years old and feel the need to get off this drug ASAP. I have tried a few times only going back because the symptoms were too much. (Withdrawal symptoms and not Psychiatric symptoms) I have had a few drug dependencies in my years including, Valium, Heroin, Alcohol to name the difficult ones to quit and having “true addiction” qualities. Seroquel was and is a very difficult drug to quit with so many withdrawal symptoms… making it one of the worst experiences I have had with getting off drugs, and meds.
I an still trying. I am now tapering 0-20 mg/month with my goal of off Seroquel by the end of 2015. It is now February 7 and I am at about 120mg/month now and feel I need all of that time to minimize the pain of “Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome”, or Post-Acute-Withdrawal Syndrome aka- PAWS. I tell anybody I know who is taking Seroquel to get off it as soon as you can. It is not a good medication for what many Psychiatrists and MD are prescribing it for. It is not a sleep aid. Well I suppose it is but should not be used for so many off label symptoms.
I have found that most proscribing doctors are not sufficiently informed about what it takes to get stop this med and are prescribing too easily. I am mad as hell about not having “informed consent” back 12 years ago. The informed consent process is becoming more prevalent as time goes on. I was trying to get off addicting drugs not start a long term relationship with another miserable drug to quit down the road. Anyway my advice is get off it if you can, lower the dose if you can. You can either resign yourself to taking this med forever, or begin the fight to get off it. It is your choice. Good luck.
I wanted something for insomnia, so my doc gave me this at 150 mg. When I started sleeping way better, months and months later, I wanted to decrease to 100 mg. He said no, because I was on it for insomnia and MOOD STABILIZING. What? He never even told me that. I feel so mislead. (Did it on my own time and now down to 25 mg – feeling great).
I’m trying to come off seroquel now after almost ten years. It’s really bad. I can’t stop throwing up, can’t eat, can’t sleep, and I feel like I’m going to die. I don’t know if I can handle this for 3 months. I kill myself by then. I don’t know what to do. Detox facilities won’t accept me. I never thought I would have to go to the streets for this medicine.
I know exactly what you mean. My comments follow. I tried to get into a Detox facilities too but the only ones who would address it were “cash only” and a whole lot of it. Keep the faith and keep in contact with medical professionals. Good luck. It can be done. Keep trying to get some kind of help with it. I know it really sucks, I have tried and failed. Felt awful, like you described. I am starting a long term tapering of 5-10 mg/month. I think that may have to be lowered so as not to feel too sick and function day to day. Again, good luck.
Interesting to read all the issues people are having withdrawing from Seroquel (quetiapine). I work with a population of addicts and mental health clients. I have been on Seroquel XR for a number of years with a max dose at one time of 900 mg. I gained a horrific amount of weight, have trouble swallowing to the point of not being able to unless I drink something and things go down with a great deal of discomfort.
I finally reduced that over time to 200mg. I again went down to 150mg. I would like to further reduce that and eventually get off the stuff. Recently I had the discomfort of finding out what happens when you quit cold turkey but in my case it was missed doses for 48 hrs. I should by now recognize those symptoms as they will occur if I am late taking it as I have to vary the times because of working graveyard shifts. I started with shivering, then sweating profusely and eventually the nausea started.
I know I will have to go at this over a period of time for sure because of work, something I can ill afford to miss. The other realization is that the withdrawal symptoms are the same as what my clients experience when withdrawing from any street drug. Made me realize just how much this poison is really affecting my system to experience a hard core drug addicts withdrawal symptoms. Please, if you are trying to quit, do it slowly!
Has anyone experienced extreme hunger? I’ve had the nausea, vomiting, insomnia, exhaustion and now today I’m starving. I’ve been eating well all day and still my stomach is growling. I have been tapering down from 600mg for about a year because I couldn’t take the exhaustion. I also experience memory loss and decreased cognitive function, but the fatigue was the worst. Anyway, I have been doing some searching online and I can’t find anything about extreme hunger but going off of the Seroquel is the only thing I can link it to. Thanks in advance for any input.
I quit Seroquel years ago, and I experienced the extreme hunger you described. It also came along with a whole host of stomach/digestion problems but the hunger thing was the weirdest part. I had upper GI workup done and they couldn’t find anything to explain the symptoms I was having. What I think now is that it is linked to overall increased anxiety.
After coming off seroquel my anxiety skyrocketed for years, only just now (8 years later) getting somewhat under control. My stomach is doing much better. My advice is to try not to listen to the hunger. Put yourself on a very regular eating schedule (3 healthy meals of breakfast, lunch, dinner at set daily times) and don’t snack in between. It will be hard since you are feeling hungry, but I think giving into that sensation makes the feedback loop worse.
Make sure if you can to get enough sleep as I notice the less sleep I get the more fake-hungry (hungry even after eating) I feel. Only when I started scheduling my eating and not giving into to snacks and cravings did the constant hunger abate. Also try to do relaxing things to distract yourself when feeling hunger, whether it’s reading, watching your favorite movie, talking to someone you love, doing some art, taking a bath, whatever. Hope you’re not still having that issue but if you are, try some of those suggestions. Can’t hurt, might help!
Psychiatrists keep delivering Seroquel simply because… they don’t use it on themselves. Also because, Seroquel does help on certain major conditions (schizophrenia). Side effects? Shrinks are not interested: “it fluctuates from a person to the other”… Which is right, but also closes any debate. I have been on Seroquel for 8 years now and I have decided to taper off. I have been up to 300 mg then 200 mg for two years (in the evening) and I have now reached 175 mg.
I will stick to that for a month and then reach 150 mg. Then I’ll stop for a further 2 monthes and hopefully I’ll look for 125 mg. The golden rule is 25 mg as a unit. I don’t think I will ever be capable of withdrawing totally from the drug because of sleep deprivation. Anyway NEVER quit cold turkey especially if you’ve been on it for many years. Your brain might never heal itself properly. Watch out for this beast…
Have you suffered any muscle spasms? I have been on Seroquel for 8 years myself. Frankly, I am emotionally numb. I want to get off of it.
What makes you think your brain won’t heal properly if you go cold turkey? Do you have some good professional advice for this view, or is it just a hunch off the top of your head?
I have been on Seroquel for 4 years. I was up to 400mg and wanted to slowly go off but then I got a new insurance policy and its been a week and they haven’t approved it yet so I’m going through horrible withdrawal and lost 5lbs in a week. Not that I’m complaining of weight loss, but it’s the nausea and the lack of sleep that’s horrible. I wouldn’t wish this withdrawal on my worst enemy. My dr just gave me two meds so I can sleep so last night was the first night I had a few hours of sleep. But as the day goes on I feel like I still haven’t slept. I want this feeling to go away so bad.
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Dave’s 2nd Video Update:
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Three Months off Antidepressants and Antipsychotics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Sx7RPtPMg
First Video Link is in the Description.
Wishing you all well in whatever challengers you chose to take on.
Dave.
I was on 600mg of Seroquel and we decided to switch me to Latuda hoping this would work better. I have been very slowly tapering down the seroquel while increasing the Latuda. Since the last decrease from 200mg to 100mg I can’t stand to be in my own body. I am agitated and anxious all the time. My sleep is erratic. Noises and lights bother me like nails on a chalk board. My heart is racing and I feel like things are surreal sometimes.
I got so anxious one evening I ended up having to take anxiety meds twice and I rarely have to take them. I’m shaking and I can’t stand to be around anyone. I live with my daughter and son-in-law so that’s not really possible most of the time. I see my pdoc in a few days but does anyone have experience with how long this lasts or anything that has helped. This feeling of wanting to crawl out of my skin is just intolerable.
Hello again, I posted some time ago regarding tapering off Quetiapine. About two weeks ago i finally finished my last 50mg tablet (down from a peak dosage of 800mg I believe). Although I had already read about it, I wasn’t ready for the weird stuff this has done to my sleep. Not only has it done what it says above, disrupted sleep pattern, but I am starting to remember all of my dreams again.
This is really odd for me since it’s normally a rarity, or has been whilst on the drug. The trouble is that I’m tired, really tired, but when I sleep, I wake up roughly every hour to hour and a half. It’s REALLY annoying. I’m hoping it will pass. And despite having two other drugs helping with anxiety and mood stabilizing, I have this weird feeling of feeling ‘exposed’, I suppose it’s a combination of extra anxiety and the effect above of being more sensitive to light.
Another effect which I didn’t quite expect was that my period has suddenly re-started, for context I hadn’t had one for over two years. Annoyingly, it’s been going on for nearly 3 weeks now, which hasn’t helped my general mood, and after not having one for so long, I don’t quite know how to deal with it! I guess this means my body is trying to start functioning again, lol.
I am so glad to have found this. I was on Seroquel (100 mg) for 1.5 years. I was diagnosed with major depression and anxiety after learning some thing about my now ex-husband. I did have a breakdown and spent two weeks hospitalized. The Seroquel was given for insomnia, in addition to Celexa and Xanax. I stopped taking the Seroquel gradually over a two week period and could not understand where my symptoms were coming from. I have muscle pains, a constant runny nose, and a low grade headache that won’t go away.
I have had these since stopping the Seroquel completely and am wondering how long they are going to last. I was working out on a regular basis but stopped a week ago because I thought I was getting sick. It appears I am not sick, I am withdrawing. Wow, I had no idea the power this drug had. While I may have needed it for a while, I am glad I am off and will continue to put up with these symptoms until they let up. Thank you for this forum.
I’ve been taking Seroquel consistently for 4 months, started at 150 mg due to bad insomnia and depression. Went as high as 225mg. My psychiatrist now has me on a gradual taper since I’m a whole lot better. I went from 75 mg to 25 mg in a month. I tapered about every week to two weeks in 10 to 12 mg increments. The withdrawal symptoms were intense but I avoided the more serious withdrawal symptoms because I didn’t rush my taper. You have to take it slow. My psychiatrist reminded me that there is no rush.
The symptoms I experience are extreme fatigue, stomach pain, diarrhea, heart palpitations, and tiredness. That’s about it, I avoided all the other withdrawal symptoms. Just do your best to be productive, eat very healthy, whole foods only, and drink lots of water. Pray a lot, and get support. I’m so excited I’m finally on my last dose. I should be med free in a couple weeks. So the med should be out of my system by the 2 1/2 month mark. Try to keep your head up. We are a lot stronger than we think :)
Hi everyone! I quit cold turkey ten days ago, after about 12 months of taking 400mg a night in conjunction with venlaflaxine for major depression and personality disorder. I feel physically well for the most part, more energized and positive about quitting (even though it’s against the advice of my GP). The thing that I am struggling with the most is nausea and being unable to eat much. This is a symptom that at the moment, isn’t too bad to cope with.
I am also feeling as if I am getting a cold and am really itchy EVERYWHERE. If you are thinking of quitting then I suppose it’s important to remember that our bodies are all different. But I hope it brings someone some comfort in knowing that I am not struggling too much and the withdrawal symptoms so far, are manageable.
I was on 50mg Seroquel for a year for insomnia, then reduced it to 25mg a few months ago, then quit it entirely two weeks ago. I switched to taking Lunesta to sleep, but I still only get about 6 hours before I wake up. I really need closer to 8 most nights to feel ok. I felt ok for three days after quitting, then got hit with dizziness and nausea, with occasional body aches and chills. The dizziness is the worst, it has lasted non-stop for two weeks. I have an inner ear condition that causes dizziness, but I was pretty stable until two weeks ago.
I don’t know if cedar season has triggered the dizziness, or if it was triggered by the Seroquel. I was never on more than 50mg, and was down to 25mg for a few months before quitting, so I’m not sure if even coming off a low dose can cause these ongoing symptoms for weeks. I was on it for a pretty long time though. I hope this clears up in a few weeks, I really don’t want to feel this way for three months like the article says above.
I have been on seroquel for 4 years. Originally prescribed XR, and switched to non-extended about 9 months into treatment. Holy weight gain Batman. Also, although I enjoyed the sleep benefit of the med, I felt like I had a small window in every day when I wasn’t negatively impacted by the drug. (Nighttime and morning blurs from the sedation). I was on 100 mg for awhile and then decided (on my own) to cut the 100 in half and take 50. I wasn’t doing that to ween myself off. I did that BC I found that I got some of the sleep benefit, and didn’t have such a difficult time waking up (physically and mentally) in the morning. 2 weeks ago, I decided I didn’t want to take the drug anymore so I stopped.
Again, I was only taking 50mg at night so my Dr insisted I was not receiving any therapeutic benefit from the med, and was only getting the benefit of its side effect, sleep. 2 weeks in, and I feel great. I told my wife I was stopping and to please be upfront and honest with me regarding any moods changes or negative impact, and we both agree fortunately I’ve had none except for the insomnia. I cannot sleep. I can’t fall asleep. I cannot day asleep. All day long I’m completely fine. My wife is in the field, so if I was struggling with anything mental she would call me out on it, so I’m pretty confident when I say I’m fine, I’m fine. The only problem is the lack of sleep.
Additionally, my allergy symptoms (runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes) are present now at night only. No itching as others have mentioned, just the name and eyes. I can’t take my normal allergy med zyrtec-d at night BC that would contribute to my insomnia. I tried taking a sleep aid, zzzquil and it hasn’t helped.. I don’t want to go on another prescription that I could get dependant on just to help me be less dependent on another drug. I am not a guy that wants to remove drugs and go holistic or anything. I just don’t like Seroquel. Can anyone offer insight? I know anything is possible, but could my onset of allergies which were pretty controlled while on seroquel be related to discontinuing? Again, it’s only at night, no sneezing or anything during the day. Thanks!
I’ve stopped less than 4 days. I was on 50mg on seroquel and I thought I was going through menopause. My withdrawls at this time are vomiting, stomach pains, dizziness, lots of night and day sweats! Thank you all for this information.
Tonight is my last 25mg of Seroquel, down over a few months from 300mg. I don’t have nausea or itchiness. But def insomnia and depression – however I have some reasons to be legit depressed. My daughters have had the flu the past 6 days. I don’t have the resources or $$ for any more pills, so I am kind of forced into dealing with whatever comes my way. I have herbs, support of friends, etc. But wondering if I am kidding myself that this is as bad as it will get?
I have been taking Seroquel for about 5 years. I was on 50 mg for some time and then decided to drop to 25. I didn’t have any horrible withdrawal symptoms. Then I tried cutting down to 12.5 mg twice and both times I had such horrible nausea and difficulty concentrating that I went back to 25 mg. I am a college professor and feel that I can’t go through withdrawal until I have some time off like this summer. It is so good to know that others have experienced withdrawal symptoms similar to mine. I REALLY want to be off of this drug! Thanks to everyone who has shared experiences with Seroquel withdrawal. You really encouraged me!!
I have been on 300mg of Seroquel for about 5 years. For the last three months I have been tapering from 200mg to 100mg to 50mg down t0 25mg the last two weeks. I have begun feeling withdrawal already and have two 25mg left to take. The worst is ahead of me. I was put on this horrible drug because I was “depressed” and had insomnia — I had two babies, worked full time, my then-husband was having affairs and he physically and verbally abused me. My two daughters and I have been stuck home with the flu, and I hope people just think I keep having the flu.
I am scared, but enjoy seeing my thoughts more in color already. I never put on weight with this but my feelings were cut off. I am losing weight already, and probably shouldn’t much more. But I can’t eat. Dave, your posts have inspired me. I work for a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncturist so I have been given a full arsenal of herbs and healing. I hope I am one of the lucky ones and with the help I have don’t feel so horrible over the next few weeks to months. I’ll keep you posted. It’s with gratitude for all who posted.
Best of luck. I’m down to 12.5 mg. It’s tough.
ITCHING YES! – I believe you – some doctors won’t. My doctor refused to believe that seroquel had anything to do with the itchiness. I knew better – His refusal to hear me out and or regard my own research on the internet as pointless was why I never told him when I decided to come off it. I think some doctors are just plain lazy and or rutted in their ways. At lease I find the majority of them within the welfare system to be very much this way. Itching was a major pain with this drug for me.
I have been taking Seroquel 150mg at night for about 6 months. I decided to get off it cold turkey not remembering that you are supposed to taper off antipsychotics because they’re so strong. After the second night, the following morning I started feeling nauseous and like I had a cold, and about an hour layer felt do miserable I had to lie down. I had had insomnia the whole night before, and I realized I had to take half for the horrible feeling of nausea to go away.
I took half and felt better in a half hour and them slept for four hours. I decided to take 75mg a night for the following week and then stop again, which was a few days ago. I have had nonstop nausea since then, which I have been relieving with pepto bus mom chewables throughout the day, but I am weary of overusing them. Does anyone know how to deal with the nausea?
I’m joining the fight! I’ve been on quetiapine for 1.5 years. First, I was on 100 mg. Then, 600 mg for a few weeks. I have been on 100 – 200 mg for a few months. I have attempted to leave off this drug cold turkey a few times, but the itchiness is INSANE and also insomnia. I have taken 50 mg for two nights. Bit harder to sleep, but feeling OK. I want to avoid the itchiness. I think sleep will be a difficulty for me. I will go down to 25 mg soon. Good luck everyone.
I have now been on 25 mg for 4 or 5 days. I am doing OK. I feel physically quite bad; a bit like I have a cold coming on. My brain also feels a bit odd, attributable to a general “I feel slightly ill” feeling. However, I can think quite clearly about things. Like others here, I have been trying to exercise every day since dropping, to give myself the best chances of survival (and of sleeping). On 25, my sleep has been a bit dodgy sometimes, but I force myself to go to the bed at a similar time every night (usually 11:30 – 12).
This morning, actually I woke up at 7:50 and then went back to sleep until 9 AM; I think I went to bed at 11 PM… I think this might be attributable to my “I feel slightly ill” feeling, as I tend to try to sleep off colds. However, I was also walking outside for an unusual amount of time yesterday, so might have been more tired. I managed to get hold of a prescription for 14 more days of 25 mg. I do not feel ready to come off just yet, as I have important commitments coming up and I do not feel secure in my sleeping habits on 25 mg yet. When I do, I will drop to 0 mg and update. No itchiness. Head hurts, but think it is a cold coming on a bit. Trying to eat regularly, exercise every day and stay healthy. We can do it!
I was on 300 mg Seroquel XR for about a month and hated the way it made me feel; irritated, sad, and I had no sex drive along with gaining 10 pounds within the first two weeks. Last weekend I stopped taking it altogether and suddenly I’ve been constantly nauseous and I just want to cry all the time because it’s so bad. I went to the hospital and they said I had the flu and did blood work, so I know I’m not pregnant. But I didn’t mention I had been on the Seroquel at all. Is it possible I am having withdrawal symptoms even though I wasn’t on it long? If so, how long is this going to last? I feel like hell
Yes, you have to titrate off it and very slowly if you don’t have doctor supervision. I was on 600mg/day and a different psychiatrist titrated me down to 300mg/day. I have cut a third off and will take 200mg/day for three weeks. Then cut another third off and do 100mg/day for three weeks, then taking 50mg/day until it runs out (I’d say a month). Slower is better and yes, the crying and insomnia is most likely withdrawal. These pills are dangerous and they have our brains and bodies hooked so to deny them these chemicals suddenly, is not a good idea. Take your time. No rush.
They thought you had the flu???? Wow! What’s wrong with those people! Of course you were withdrawing! Those are classic symptoms of Seroquel withdrawal, especially the constant nausea! You were on a really high dose so it probably doesn’t take long to get to a point where withdrawal becomes terrible.
I’ve been on 200mg for a couple years and I came off it for 4 days and wanted to die! I had most all of the symptoms except itching. Nausea seems to be the most common complaint, I had that so bad, couldn’t even look at food. Had bad sinus problems (evidently Seroquel is a great antihistamine!), slept all day and night with bad sweating, vomited, etc.
So, don’t even question if it was Seroquel withdrawal, it was! What is amazing is that you can have the same terrible withdrawal with 25mg as you do with 400mg! And all the terrible symptoms can last a year after quitting! I don’t see myself ever coming off this drug. I hope it doesn’t kill me! I am going to try to taper off, although that seems kind of hopeless, too.
One thing I would like to add to the discussion is that I noticed one thing. After being off the drug for 4 days, and going through all that hell of sleeping all day and night, and then getting where I couldn’t sleep I took a third of my regular dose of what I usually take and I was out like a light! Seroquel was losing it’s effect at helping me sleep, and this was like when I first took Seroquel and would be out like a light 10 minutes after taking it at night and would basically sleep through the night 8 hours (in this case it was more like 10-11 because I was depleted).
Everyone’s comments have really given me hope that I can get off these meds. I have been taking seroquel for probably about 9 or 10 years, and Zoloft on and off during that time period. I’m currently taking 400 mg of seroquel. I have been down to 300mg but am more comfortable on 400. The last time my doctor tried to stop the meds it didn’t turn out well at all.
I felt awful and my bipolar symptoms came back right away so I went right back on the meds. I really think I was weaned off way to fast. I’m willing to take a year or two to get off them if that would be easier on my body. Will I still have as bad of withdraw symptoms if I do it very slowly? I’ve been having a lot of side affects. I just turned 23 and I really am afraid this medicine will kill me. I want my life back!
Hi Lynn, I am no doctor, and by the sounds of it you might understand that whilst many people will advise “Check with your doctor first”, that not every thing these professional say or do it correct and or guaranteed. Coming off anything that has been relied on heavily for years will often require a few attempts, so please don’t be disheartened with less than favorable results.
MY ADVICE – 1st … Make a determined decision that sets like concrete. That way if you do decide something, you will not be so easily put off with the stigma often faced by those who are used to being seen in one light. Often Doctors and those closet to us are not as supporting as we would like when making such changes. Letting others know that you have thought long and hard about your decision to choose another method may ease the concerns of those whom may be resistant to the changes you may wish to make.
Explain to them that you are aware of the dangers and wish to tapper off or whatever it is that you feel comfortable with trying various other copping strategies that you have researched and so on. Provide an Outline and present a plan to anyone wondering what you are doing and or thinking. Tapering off is pretty much the wise way to go. “HOW MUCH & HOW FAST” I guess your looking to that already. Things to consider are your own past experiences. No one knows your body better than you.
You mentioned you struggled going from 400 to 300 … so why not just drop it to 350 … and see how that feels for starters. You can even drop in to 375 and go down on 25 lots. Remain proactive in your approach by keeping a small record/diary/journal … I have been using this place as well as another. Understanding the physical symptoms that can occur when coming off takes away fear of not knowing what it happening – when withdrawals and resultant side effects take place.
Adopt the alternative strategies that you have read about: Outdoor Exposure, Exercise, Healthy Eating, Supplements, Self Hypnosis, Music, Hobbies, Creating & Regulating Routine, Psychotherapy/Therapist. Make a list of what works for you … include these in your place so when asked “Then what is your alternative?” Refer to your list – Take it with you to whatever appointments and sell your plan to those who are less encouraging as others – show them that it’s not an easy route, but that you are more than prepared to take it on and that you will in all likelyhood be the better for it.
Just be careful of replacing one medication for another – in all likely hood you may very well end up in the same position. There is nothing wrong with taking something to assist coming off, however what you choose to take or are “recommended” (even the doctors) is not always explained very well in terms of underlying complication and “other People” rarely care to take all the variable that relate to you personally into consideration.
Sorry for the long winded reply – I just wanted to encourage you that whilst it sounds like a huge effort … well … IT IS … the fact remain that you and other like yourself CAN DO IT! Just be sure to make the decision yours! Set is in concrete and Have a Plan! – learn your plan and learn it well … so that you can tell others. Be prepared to be met with resistance but gravitate towards those who encourage. Understand that you are not your label!
Understanding that provides a wealth of insight, however its something that only comes from after taking the first few steps into the unknown; but KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO IT, and you will soon begin to grow in confidence and embrace whatever follows … mania becomes more your passion, instead of what others may term as negative … you will begin to see yourself in a new light and others who thought only one way existed, will also be more open to seeing in a new light as well. Wishing you all the best. -Dave.
Hello, thought I would share my experience, which fortunately for me is not so bad. Perhaps encouragement that it isn’t always awful coming off Quetiapine? I am bipolar. I was on 800mg of Quetiapine for around 18 months or so. I’ve been coming off it for some time – I went down to 300mg, I think early this year? Then in the summer I was told by my psych Dr that I could come off it, reducing by 50mg each month. I’m now on the penultimate month, on my 50mg.
I’m definitely feeling better, but the reason I was on it was because I was manic, and I’m scared I’ll end up there again and back in the hospital again. I think I’m doing OK though. I am kind of irritable, but I put it down to the fact my energy levels are going back up! I don’t feel nearly as tired in the daytime any more. Obviously, I still have to come off it altogether, but I’m quite big and weighty, so I figure this dosage is like having nothing anyway.
What I would say is that I am also having Pregabalin (for general anxiety) and Lithium. So I do have that safety net of a mood stabilizer and something to help anxiety. I do find that I have the desire to stay up late again, which could be tricky as that’s what got me manic in the first place, but I just have to remind myself that I’m still on something to help. If you are considering coming off something cold turkey, don’t! I’ve done that with a few things, a long time ago, and it NEVER ends well, trust me!
Hey guys, I’m not on 12 weeks “Off” yet, but wanted to encourage some of you and also reiterate what Kathie said about coming off of this Cold Turkey. “Don’t do it.”
-Hi Julia – I was too was taking Seroquel for extreme anxiety and depression. The obesity that followed for me has been quite debilitating. I did have to up my dose as I too, tried coming off abruptly, but without success. I wish you the very best and hope your able to record some of your efforts in coming off.
-Hi Herbie – Was good reading your experiences there. I hope you are getting or at least will find some restful moments soon enough. I did a bit of reading online in relation to hive like symptoms and Seroquel/quitpine. There defiantly seems to be an issue with histamine imbalances which varies from person to person based on this or that variable. I was majorly one of them. I avoided taking 50mg when weaning down, as I found the online text quite evident about low doses of quitipine triggering hive like symptom for some users. Double edge sword for dropping the last dose in order to avoid the nightmare of itching as it was for me. I preferred the headaches and found avoiding the low does towards the end of my tapper effective in “reducing” the amount of itching considerably. (This may not be the case for everyone)
Headaches – I’m still yet to end my second month, since taking my last pill of quitipine. The headaches seem common and something I am learning to deal with. Drinking more water helps. (I don’t like to overload my kidneys – so drink in small amounts and often) Stress – Dealing with stress is quite the task when not so pacified.
“Dealing with the Stigma of Being Medicated for Mental Instability.” This one can be hard and I’m hoping some of you might be able to identify. I’m speaking more of the behavioral patterns of others with regard to coming off your medication and having to live with others whom are so used to “having” you medicated, that when you struggle – you are greeted with words like -> “Time to go back on your meds again.” This aspect of coming off medication can sure be disheartening. I think for many people, such attitudes are yet another nail in the coffin – so to speak.
I do my best to simply encourage myself. The first thought that comes to my mind when hearing comments like that is “like no way in hell am I going back on those damn pills gain!!!” I’d rather embrace the anxiety and deal with that as best I can as opposed to the alternative of screwing up my body’s chemical process long term. Like take antacids, use moisturizers, and whatever else I can to assist with the side effects of anxiety whatever they may be, instead of taking meds that numb my brain and give me twenty more Sid effects that will lead me to actually stepping off a chair.
Forgive the macabre nature of that last sentence. I’m all for living – which is why I had to come off quitipine. Fatigue is definitely something I am continuing to battle. Have tried the doctor and all my bloods seem fine. It’s like some kind of mystery illness that has me wondering whether I have lime disease or not – or something that is not so easily picked up. I’m even wondering if the simply act of sleeping next to my wife as she deals with her own depression and illness of MS is having some kind of residual affect.
Hard to know – so many factors actually … Age is getting up on me. Pushing 46 and whilst no doubt considered quite young – trying to live in a world that’s seemingly set to be young has me forgetting about the limitations of being human, or what drives me to feel like I do – somewhat fully depleted. Sigh – Anyways – I think given my background in clinical depression and anxiety … I’ve pretty much worn out my tread an in great need of an overhaul with much more insights yet to come.
WHAT I AM DOING NOW TO HELP MY UNSETTLING SITUATION:
TIME – Being real about the damage done to my brain. Not just the past abuse, but also the long term effect of having been on the meds – all of them. – I need to set myself up with a time period of two years off, before I can make any real judgments to how messed up I may be. So I’m giving the process of resetting my brain the time it needs. No expectation on how I should be by this of that date.
FOOD – Have now reduced the amount of food I eat. It’s an art form that requires its own research. I’m basically eating small meals that are wholesome. Due to the extent of my weight, current fatigue issues and all else coming off and my brain adjusting – Food is by far that most important way to address my health. I’m glad I can see this now, as otherwise I’d easily have a heart attack with the way things currently be.
OUTDOOR EXSPOSURE: This one in hard, although I do have a back yard. I seem to be very light sensitive and also UV sensitive as well. Yet more imbalance attributed to the meds. None the less – My body – especially my brain … seems to thank me if I am able to give the right mix of sunlight as it be. There is also the fresh air (if you lucky to have any … lol macabre again, but also funny) … I live by the ocean so have no excuse not to get any. It goes without saying, learning to deal with anxiety is quite the lesson with the outdoors … but I pretty much just keep to myself and accept that better than others. I think most time; it’s more about learning to accept others than myself. Hehe.
I’m definitely looking to do another video update and will link that when done. I am aiming to make that a hopeful outing with good things to share. I guess in all of this – there is much to expect in the way of hardships coming of whatever mood stabilizing meds as dealing with life itself is generally hard enough. I certainly wish everyone the very best in learning to deal with life as best they can and most of all with at least some form of peace. As unfortunate as it may be, I don’t think peace comes without at least some form of stress. So it is that I now get up off my but and go make push myself as little (and a touch more – just a touch) as need be.
I went from taking 1200 mg, going to sleep at night and then back to sleep to 300 mg. Yes, I went through 2 terrible weeks and thought I was OK. Then after 4 weeks became confused. That was followed with a seizure. Lost my freaking license. Bad drug, sorry I was ever on it.
Here’s another issue I’m having that may or may not be related. Above article lists Heart Palpitations as possible withdrawal effect. I’ve got some heart issues at the moment. Nothing I’m too worried about, right now. I mentioned I’m in college classes. Emergency Medical Technician. Been in for as long as I’ve been tapering off Seroquel. In the class, I’ve been dinking around w listening to my heart beat. Speed varies a lot. You can usually tell multiple rate changes w/in any 15 second measuring window. I never noticed that before, but then again, I never paid attention.
In and of itself, not a big deal. I noticed the same thing on another student, mentioned it, and the teacher said it’s not an issue as long as a person doesn’t feel anxious. The other student didn’t feel anxious. While I do, I think the heart rate is an effect of the issue we are discussing here, not a cause of anxiety. The heart rate would be a brother to anxiety, not a father. But this is a little more worrisome. Yesterday I was moving my stethoscope from one place to another, paused to listen to my heart. Got a random, intermittent, double ventricular contraction.
Lub, dub.. Lub, dup.. Lub dupdup.. I listened for a while to make sure I didn’t imagine it, and I heard it multiple times. Still assumed I was imagining it. Didn’t notice any rate variations though. Then, of course, last night, I read this page. Breezed past heart issues w/o notice. But this morning, I remembered. Went to grab stethoscope and have another listen. Didn’t hear any double ventricular beats, but did hear a constant variation of rate, including speed/power of individual contractions, and spacing between pairs.
I went online to check a video we saw in class on Cardiac DisRhythmias, but didn’t notice anything that directly related to the double beat, unless maybe it was a “Sinus Rhythm w Intermittent Unifocular Premature Ventricular Contraction.” But I remember mine more as an added minor double secondary contraction. I’m very active. If mood allows I’m in the gym 2-3 times a week, ride my bicycle to get there, and a 40 minute each way ride to church on Sundays.
I can recall a few times of lightheadedness in the gym a month or more ago, but overall I feel about normal, physical energy wise. I go to the hospital today for clinical rotations, if I run into a Cardiologist I’ll talk to them. But an update to last night’s post. After reading the page, recent events in my life made sense. I was relaxed and happy. These crazy mood swings are indeed a result of a temporary external force, and not just a forgotten aspect of normal life! I returned to bed, and fell asleep fast, sleeping most of the way thru till my alarm rang. Things will get better. In time, things will get better.
I’m so glad I found this page! Incredibly reassuring; that all this weirdness is normal! I’ve been on Seroquel for 8-10 years. Initially for a psychotic reaction to Ritalin. Might have been up to 800mg of Seroquel, I know I was on 500mg for a long time. Maybe down to 150 for about the past year. But I got tired of being tired all the time. I decided to stop, dropped by 50mg every three weeks. Got down to 50mg, stayed on that for about a month, quit. Couldn’t sleep. Cut 50mgs up into halves for two weeks, then halved them again but took larger of each half and halved them.
That for about three weeks, quit. Couldn’t sleep, and I mean for about five days straight. I remember wondering where the headaches were coming from. And itching, oh the itching! But I didn’t know where it was coming from, thought maybe a reaction to new tea I started drinking. Some nausea, but again I didn’t know what to attribute it to. Doc gave me some 25mgs, I took them for a few weeks, then did the 40/30/30 cut again. I’m taking college classes. Started fearing the other students. I’m scared in the gym, I wonder what people in the other cars going by think of me. The suicidal thoughts are awful!
Thank God I have a family and believe in a spiritual destiny with Him, or I’d have done myself in! Five days ago I stopped the tiny little sections of the 25mg. Fine for a few days. “Great! That was the way to do it! I’m fine now!” Two days ago I started itching again, today it’s back in earnest. Could hardly sleep last night, can’t sleep at all tonight. So this stuff creeps up on you, huh? Crazy. I’m definitely staying off it. Pharmakia, or spelled some such, is the Greek word for witchcraft, and you can see what word we turn it into once it’s English.
Chemically caused depression, once I know where it comes from, I’ve been able to handle it much better in the past. Now that I know that these weird withdrawals are from stopped Seroquel, I’ll be much more able to deal. I’ve got a month? Maybe three of them? I sure hope it’s only bad for a month, and then gradually goes away. Maybe up to a year? Well, beats a lifetime of foggy headed stupor.
Damn straight bud! Power on through! I’ve done 6 weeks now and the symptoms are letting up, still kinda hard but it does get better =]
My doctor, psychiatrist, and pharmacist ALL say NOT TO QUIT SEROQUEL COLD TURKEY. It is too much of a shock to your body unless you were on 50mg or less. The same goes for when dropping the seroquel and weening off of it slowly, dont do it too fast. The max I was on was 200mg, slow release and I have to drop it by 50mg as thats as slow as I can do it. I was on seroquel for just barely over 2 years and decided to come off of it because I’m starting to get a lot of the bad side effects like chest pain and muscle spasms/twitching. So please, if your doctor tries to tell you that you can drop it cold turkey or drop you down in dose too fast, DONT DO IT.
Hi Everyone. I am also glad I came across this. I have been a Seroquel, Velanfaxine and Epitec since May after a nervous breakdown. I have been taking ivedal for sleep. So 2 weeks ago I ran out of sleeping tablets so went off them cold turkey which I was fine with but then I ran out of Seroquel. (Didn’t have cash to get my script). So I have been off it for a week now. Last week I thought I picked up a bug with vomiting froth like stuff and gastric stomach. Since Saturday I have been itching and couldn’t understand why.
It just dawned on me that it may be withdrawals so fortunately found this site and I think that’s whats happening to me. Also feeling headachy and cant concentrate (almost a bored feeling). So what does everyone reckon. Should I go back on a taper off or just carry on like I have been? I feel OK but I don’t want to have another breakdown. Hopefully I will also lose a bit of weight in the process as well. I don’t want to take any drugs anymore. I’m sick of it. I wish everyone the best of health.
I’m on day two of my cold turkey quit of 300mg a seroquel and it’s a living and sleeping nightmare. I was taking it for my extreme anxiety and major depression but I just couldn’t stand it anymore. Now I wish that I had weaned off of it. The shaking, the night sweats, the vomiting, the uncontrollable muscle movements, the loss of appetite, the agitation, it’s almost too much it’s really awful. I wish my doctor had never put me on this drug in the first place.
I originally got put on it for Borderline Personality Disorder and Insomnia, but was misdiagnosed and have chronic anxiety and PTSD. They put me on it 8 years ago. I was on 100-150mg. I quit cold turkey 3 weeks ago. Been taking Benadryl and Ativan for sleep. Had flu-like symptoms and dizziness but it went away… but now? I’m a psychotic mess. I lost my partner, I’m about to lose my job, and I’m going to end up hospitalized if I can’t calm down.
If I get hospitalized they’ll just put me on something else. The anxiety is awful, I can’t stop crying, and I so desperately want to run away…or worse. Now so many of you are telling me that this could last a year, and I just can’t do it anymore. I refuse to go back on it, but I can’t live like this.
I’m so alone and so afraid.
Nearing 6 weeks off the drug now. I seem to be suffering fatigue – have been for a few weeks now. Will Check back at the 12 week mark – If I remember. Perhaps summer is not the best time to be coming off it. :)
Heya folks, coming all the way from Northern Ireland here. I suffered what they’re calling a drug-induced psychosis about 11 months ago, Christmas last year – I have to say it felt more like a spiritual awakening to me, it was beautiful =] unfortunately some of my behavior began to alarm those around me and so I agreed to see the doctors, for my mother’s sake. They put me on 600mg seroquel and 250mg depakote. I had awful fogginess, lethargy, reduced willpower and motivation, slept for 12 hours a night with crazy vivid dreams, movie-script dreams – and all of this I had to suffer in silence, get on with my life as best I could.
I eventually started to acclimatize to all of this and then after a few months began to reduce my dosage…without medical assistance. You see, the doctors wanted me to do a minimum of 2 years. I said to myself ‘no way, I can’t go on living like this for that long’. Anyway, I cut from 600 to 450, 450 to 300, 300 to 150, a month or two between each time, and actually began to feel great on the last cut, hadn’t felt so happy in a long time, though the same lethargy and awful sleeping remained; so, I made the Final Cut about 3 and a half weeks ago.
Good lord, I was not prepared for this hardship. I thought 2 weeks at the most and I’d be fine. But no, I’m in hell haha. It’s not so bad though, I’m coping well, considering. I’m a spiritual kind of guy so that’s helping me through the difficult times. Main symptoms for me are messed up sleeping pattern, I wake about 3pm, can’t operate for a few hours, don’t feel like going outside so I’m pretty much alone until I sleep at 7am. I stick that for a few days then decide to try and reset the pattern which never works lol.
Ehh, nausea, tiredness, sore eyes, headaches, some depression, appetite’s affected slightly. But look, all that said, I’m coping grand. I’m sitting in a packed library computer room as I type this, a little freaked out, I should be asleep but I had to get out. All I can say is good luck to anybody coming off it. Be strong and persevere. I know I’m not out of the woods yet, or anywhere near it probably, but it’s helped to read this information and all of your comments. Just some good old-fashioned willpower and strength from your higher power, whatever you wanna call it, can get you through this =] Will check back in after a couple of weeks and let you know how things have improved.
I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 a while back… which, in hindsight, I find was a misdiagnoses. I was prescribed Cymbalta 60mg, Lamotrigine 200mg and Seroquel 150mg daily. After the first few weeks I experienced extreme side effects and because all of the medication was started at the same time, they couldn’t pinpoint which was causing the side effects. Blood pressure was 165/109 as a baseline while extreme fluctuations on my pulse ranging from 80 to 140+.
I decided to quit all my medication cold turkey, and to be blunt, IT’S BEEN HELL! Unrelenting nausea (no vomiting), headaches, severe insomnia. I can’t believe that doctors (psychiatrists) so easily prescribe medication with such horrendous side effects and withdrawal symptoms that will bring you to your knees. My deepest sympathies for anyone and everyone that’s going through to same hell as I am.
I’ve been taking quetiapine for roughly 5-7 yrs with another drug the doctor said it went well together. I’ve gotten myself off that other drug completely (Tapered off) and it wasn’t easy, took 5 months. Now it’s time for quetiapine. I tapered it from 100mg to 25mg in the past year without much problems other than not sleeping as long. I’ve been taking half the 25mg (12.5) for about 2 months and just starting to cut in quarters (6.25) now. The doctor said that if I was taking 12.5 a day, there isn’t much use to taper any more and just skip a day instead.
But contrary to some reports I’ve read, this drug helps you sleep and have been relying on it for sleep for years. It was my decision to get off the drug as the doctor seems to want me to stay on it at the same dose she put me on even though I’m feeling fine. I’ve read that it isn’t recommended for long periods unless in severe cases, which I was given for anxiety, not schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Since I’ve gotten off that second drug (can’t recall name, but it’s a bad one too), I’ve started to exercise again. I used to run alot before I started getting anxiety. This anxiety was just a phase in a life changing experience and needed something to cope till it subsided, but kept taking the drugs while waiting for the doctor to say it’s time to come off them, but that wasn’t going to happen.
I feel I’ve been cheated 7 yrs of my life. I haven’t been working and living at home during this time. While taking these drugs, I’ve felt in a cloudy state without any motivation or drive to get out there. Given proper treatment, I probably would have been ok after a year. To sum up, tapering off was better than cold turkey for me, the withdrawal symptoms were too severe.
Quick comment. I have only been on seroquel for a little over a month and low dosage. Quit cold turkey as I have seen no benefit and put on 10 lbs. all the bad stuff is happening to me. If a drug does that to a person taking it for a short time… Only thing to say BAD DRUG.
I totally relate to what you have said. I am on my second day cold turkey from just 25mg taking approx 3 months and I have been violently sick both days, major migraine headache, and generally feel weak and ill. Thought it was a bug but after reading these posts I assume it’s withdrawal, thought I would be OK on such a small amount.
I quit seroquel 600mg/day by cutting back from 600 to 300 to 105 to nothing. I am experiencing heavy withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, sleeplessness, upset stomach, and headaches. I do not recommend a fast taper like I did. Trust me it’s very unpleasant.
Hi guys, Nice to see others sharing. Unfortunately we live in a world that sells drugs to the wider community. Words like Reliance and Trap comes to mind when thinking of prescriptions based drugs. ANYWAYS – it almost one month now! I am walking twice a day and now my wife comes along. :) We are going to both start eating healthier – although I am now contracted to giving a massage once a day. LOL. Also now lifting some light dumbbells in my house and actually feeling much better around my waist. My core has become so slack and greatly has affected how lethargic I feel. I can only attribute my ability to even try – because I have weaned myself and stopped that horrific drug. I still find it hard to deal with reality outside my home – but I am getting there. I am learning to deal with that as much as I am attempting to regain my strength and mind. Look forward to reading more as people take up the challenge of coming of this terrible drug. Take care -Dave.
I took 100mg Seroquel for 10 years for Depression. I ceased it on my 5th attempt. The first 4 times the effects were intolerable. The last time I took 2 years to cease the drug. At a dose of 25mg, I started having symptoms of tardive dystonia and gastroparesis. I was hospitalised with dystonic storms on cessation of the poison. I am utterly disabled and have gone from a high functioning Emergency Nurse to begin unable to live alone or work. I have lost 7kg in weight and the medical profession has little to offer. I believe this drug should be taken off the market except for psychosis unable to be treated by anything else. :) Peace and love to anyone who is suffering.
Very sorry to hear that you were put on an antipsychotic for depression. The general public has become confused (including doctors) thinking that it is acceptable (and safe) to treat patients with AP drugs for depression. I’m in total agreement with your sentiments that APs should be reserved for psychosis. Hope you are doing better now.
My heart goes out to you. I too was a high functioning professional and psych drugs put me on disability. Love to you. Zel
I’ve been on Seroquel for almost two years now, and for most of that time I’ve taken 50mg. I take it for insomnia. Since I’ve been on it, I’ve run out twice —once last November when I was off for thanksgiving break and once this past summer — and haven’t been able to get my prescription refilled until the next day. I am still alarmed by what’s happened when I’m without it. I’ve always had issues sleeping, even as a baby; it can take hours to fall asleep and once I do I wake up constantly, sometimes every ten minutes.
On Seroquel, I can usually sleep well, waking up only once or twice a night (I also take Adderall for ADD on weekdays and my Seroquel dosage isn’t enough to guarantee a full night when combined with Adderall; I sleep all night on the weekends). When I ran out, oddly enough, both times, I had not been on Adderall for a week or so, but I could not sleep for moment for 36 hours. I don’t mean I had a lot of trouble sleeping — I couldn’t fall asleep, period.
Around the 36-hour mark, my body gave up and I passed out for about twenty minutes (I say “gave up” because my heart was racing constantly, I was sweaty and anxious and shaking, my breathing was slightly shallow; I felt like I was going to collapse and/or die). When I came to again, I was back to being awake and absolutely wired until I got the next dose. Is this normal? Will I be permanently dependent upon it?
I can’t foresee weening off of it if I cannot sleep for a moment without it. I’m 17, but I’ve been seeing a psychiatrist for three years now and am very informed about my medication. I’m worried nonetheless. I don’t know if this makes a difference, but I take 20 to 30mg of Adderall and 200mg of Lamictal (for major depression). Can anyone offer advice or insight?
24 DAYS OFF – No added medications to buff the process. I’m experiencing Headaches and Fatigue. I am however sleeping OK. I also need to start watching my diet more and only have just now started walking. Other factors include not getting enough fresh air into my house.
I’m currently 8 months pregnant and have been on seroquel for about 9 months. When I found out I was having a child I wanted to stop taking it but was advised not to because of the withdrawals my body would face and the harm it could put on my unborn child. I didn’t take it last night and was really nauseous all day and for the last hour have been severely itchy.
My OBGYN told me to take it tonight so she can consult with another doctor about what to do. If you are a woman who wants to have children one day DO NOT start this medication. My newborn is going to have to face these disgusting withdrawals. She’ll have to spend WEEKS in the NICU once I give birth to her. This medication does more harm then good. I haven’t been on it for long but it’s tormenting me.
Hai all. More then a month ago I quit the Seroquel. Its all way better now. No more insomnia, exhaustion and all that.
What worked for me:
-Taper off from (in my case) 100 to 25 mg. Tapering off is in my case not the worst, its quitting totally.
-Mirtazepine (remeron) helped me coping with the withdrawal effects. It did wonders for me, even a small dose helped me to get my sleep back and helped me to function during the day. It did nothing for me when I tried to quit at a 100 mg level.
After three weeks of insomnia, I took remeron instead of sleeping pills and muscle relaxants. That made the list of symptoms even longer. It seriously helped me to overcome all the nasty withdrawal effects and it is a non addictive, easy to quit drug when you use it for a short term. So be patient and with a little help it can be even bearable to come off that nasty drug. Hope it helps for someone. Good luck all.
I have been taking Seroquel for over 15 years. I am starting to show the side effect of Tardive dyskinesia (TD), look it up, it’s really nasty. I am starting to reduce my Seroquel from 100mg.
I believe ya. 17 Days of the Seroquel Now – I even picked up some WORK! Not that it means I am now Saved. But it goes to show just how complacent the professionals by placing so much emphasis on being long term medicate for the masses when it comes to mental instability – AKA “The By Product. “Take a pill and chill!” We as victims, also become complacent as well. I am still having a little hard time adjusting, but over all – I am still getting psychotherapy and accept using medication for PRN – but no longer interested in poisoning myself long term. I’m starting to live again, and doing things I like to do.