[CaptainYaaar]

I was just curious, what exactly makes Seroquel a mood booster? I have been adding it to the mix lately to help me sleep, and I have noticed an improvement in my mood. Is there a connection? How does Seroquel function as a mood booster? Has anyone else noticed this?

[sorrel]

One of its FDA indications is to treat depression, so yes, this is a known effect.

[tryp]

I think one of its metabolites is an SNRI. But I don't know that anyone is 100% sure

[Velvet Elvis]

I googled around for a while and I think the best available answer is that "it just does." It's not been approved as a primary treatment for unipolar depression but has been for bipolar depression, FWIW.

[inspaces]

I'm on 100mg/nightly for sleep and also my pdoc said it's for anxiety. I can't speak a whole lot for the anxiety angle, but it sure has given me sleep i've not had in 2 years...

6-8 hours straight most nights

[CaptainYaaar]

Interesting......I have an appt with pdoc tomorrow, I have to switch out the Risperdone because of Prolactin issues, Im hoping he will put me back on Seroquel. *crossed fingers*

tryp, on 19 November 2009 - 08:12 PM, said:

I think one of its metabolites is an SNRI. But I don't know that anyone is 100% sure

[SashaSue]

According to the official seroquel site, it's norepinephrine reuptake inhibition. At least one study I looked at suggested seroquel's also a serotonin agonist.

[CaptainYaaar]

Ive also been hearing that Seroquel can raise prolactin as well, which is not good for me. Oh well it should be an interesting appointment.

SashaSue, on 19 November 2009 - 10:53 PM, said:

According to the official seroquel site, it's norepinephrine reuptake inhibition. At least one study I looked at suggested seroquel's also a serotonin agonist.

[SashaSue]

I think any of the AP's can raise prolactin, as that's a potential side effect of lowered dopamine, but only Risperal and Invega are really very likely to.

[Anna]

Seroquel is not very likely to raise prolactin, though it can happen once in a blue moon, supposedly.

So many people get the risperdal side effect that it doesn't really make it any more likely that seroquel would make that happen, most likely.

I'd think your doc would have to be REALLY cautious not to let you give it a shot. Worst case scenario, he might want to let your prolactin levels get back to normal before giving it a trial....

Anna

[CaptainYaaar]

Turns out you were right, he was fine with putting me on Seroquel. I did have another question about it's antidepression affects.......at what dose does it begin to have antidepression affects? My pdoc is having me work towards 400 mg (which Im nervous about).

Thanks so much!

Anna, on 20 November 2009 - 05:06 PM, said:

Seroquel is not very likely to raise prolactin, though it can happen once in a blue moon, supposedly.

So many people get the risperdal side effect that it doesn't really make it any more likely that seroquel would make that happen, most likely.

I'd think your doc would have to be REALLY cautious not to let you give it a shot. Worst case scenario, he might want to let your prolactin levels get back to normal before giving it a trial....

Anna

[SashaSue]

I think 400mg is about where the AD effects start to kick in.

[Anna]

Yeah, 300-400 m.g. or so. Some people need to go a bit higher.

Anna

[CaptainYaaar]

Ive also heard that the sedation wears off at that dosage too. Im on 100mg, and Im not getting sleepy from it, a bit groggy in the morning though.