Seroquel and Sleep

[Libby]

It ain't workin'. I was taking 25mg of Seroquel at night, now I'm taking 50mg. I can't sleep on 25 or 50. I've been taking 5 or 6 benadryl at the same time.

It takes HOURS for the Seroquel to kick in, even with the Benadryl. I am so tired of falling asleep at 3 or 4 or 5am, after having taken sleep meds at 11pm. What is wrong with me? Other people talk about being knocked out with a sledgehammer after taking Seroquel. Not me.

Will a higher dose make me sleepier?

I'm going to try taking it now at 7:45 pm, so that MAYBE just MAYBE I'll be asleep before 3am.

[ehygon]

I used to take seroquel for sleep, and I became accustomed to the knock out effects too.

I haven't tried it myself, but perhaps the ritalin kid dosing would help recover it? Where you take it only on weekdays, and avoid the weekends? This is assuming that your weekends aren't as demanding as your weekdays.

Also, the range people use seroquel as a sleep aid is 25-100mg, I do believe.

[Libby]

I used to take seroquel for sleep, and I became accustomed to the knock out effects too.

Actually, it never has knocked me out!

OK, I just took 50mg, and it's 8:03pm.

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Now it's only 9:29 and I'm already feeling a little bit drugged. Interesting.

[Libby]

I used to take seroquel for sleep, and I became accustomed to the knock out effects too.

Actually, it never has knocked me out!

OK, I just took 50mg, and it's 8:03pm.

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Now it's only 9:29 and I'm already feeling a little bit drugged. Interesting.

Welp, here's what happened. I finally fell asleep around midnight, four hours after taking the Seroquel. I didn't take any benadryl. I awoke around 6 am, fell back to sleep, awoke around 9am, fell back asleep, and finally got up at noon because the phone rang. At noon I was in a DEEP sleep. What the hell does this say about my sleep cycle?

I slept for 12 hrs again, dammit.

Why does it take me 4-5 hours to fall asleep after taking Seroquel? Is that normal? Do I need a higher dose? I'm on 50mg.

[Loon-A-TiK]

I've talked a lot about my horrifying experiences on the lower levels of Seroquel. The side effects only went away when I started Inderal with it and upped my dose as high as 800mg.

I used to take Seroquel during the day too. Sure, I looked drunk all the time (and with my personality people probably thought I was actually drunk!), but if you can take it during the day and need it for reasons other than sleep, ask your pdoc about it.

If you're only using it for sleep, I'd really, really be careful with it. The Atypicals (and any antipsychotic) are VERY strong medications that are handed out like candy to anyone with a hang nail. Watch them carefully.

I hope you enjoy sweet dreams soon-

Loon

[Velvet Elvis]

100mgs was the magic dose for me.

Sleep. OCD. Anxiety. Everything.

You might want to try increasing it just a bit more. I'd give it at least to 200 before giving up on it.

What size pill are you getting? The 100 and 200 mg pills aren't as far apart in cost as they logically should be and can be split without much trouble if you have a pill cutter.

[CuteButDumb]

Hi Libby

I've been on Seroquel for months and I have that long lag time, too. It can be up to four hours. The only thing that I've noted can change it is if I take it with food. Small doses like 25-50 mg didn't do anything for me but I was/am on Tegretol, too, and that is notorious for "eating up" other meds so I have to take a good healthy dose to feel it. But I take it for keeping manic feelings at bay as well as sleep.

But the lag time, yeah...not strange for me.

Teri

[scream_phoenix]

you might have built up a tolerance to the antihistamine effect by taking benadryl ( seroquel is a histamine antagonist and that's what puts you to sleep)

also its pretty normal for it to knock you out for a LONG time the first time you take it. i just took some last night after not taking any since november and i probably slept 12 hours last night (with the waking up and giong back to sleep thing too) the more you take it, the more this will probably wear off.

also, benadryl can act as a weak ssri - so its probably counteracting some of the serotonin antagonism of the seroquel. how long have you been taking the benadryl? i'd just stick to the seroquel, and not try adding any benadryl for awhile. for me i think i need seroquel if i'm on an ssri (or TCA like now) because all the serotonin reuptake inhibition suppresses deep REM sleep. that's what the seroquel is good for. but it doesn't always put you to sleep in a snap - it just makes you drowsy (because of the anti-histamine effect, but probably also because of the dopamine antagonism too. basically its an antagonist for a whole bunch of neurotransmitters) it was never the magic go to sleep pill for me - but i think its the only thing that gives me quality sleep.

[Libby]

I've been on Seroquel for months and I have that long lag time, too. It can be up to four hours. The only thing that I've noted can change it is if I take it with food.

What changes when you take it with food? Fall asleep sooner? Fall asleep later?

Last night I took 6 advil with the Seroquel, and I fell fast asleep about two hours later. So weird and unpredictable.

[CuteButDumb]

Hi Libby

If I take the Seroquel with something hefty like, say, ice cream, I will fall asleep sooner. Why? I wish I knew.

One other thing, and this one may be purely in my head (and what's not these days?), is that I find if I don't heed those first woozy feelings that I sense, if I ignore those very first little glimpses of Seroquel la-la land in the distance and busy myself with a book or the computer or TV or something, it passes and it will take longer....BUT if I do pay attention and jump into bed at that point, I pass out.

Coincidence? Maybe. My wacked brain? Probably.

Good luck!

[Libby]

One night I fell asleep after about an hour and a half, instead of the usual 4-5 hour wait. I wonder if I took it with food that night. hmm..

[realitytest]

Sorry if I'm repeating anything.

Usual dose of Seroquel; for sleep is at least 100 mg, sometimes 200 mg.

Make sure you take it on an empty stomach espcially avoiding fatty food.

Skip the Benadryl - could well be messing with the effect and increases anticholinergic effects (=not good).

If you don't HAVE to get up bright and early, have you tried Trazadone? Really socks it to some people - yes, for my son but didn't touch me. For some, though, it is way too strong.

Likewise (watching the weight gain effect like heck), Remeron is supposed to be a wonder for sleep.. Can (rarely) cause agranulocytosis (or some other serious blood disorder. Too rushed to Google). L-tryptophan at bedtime (also in some simple food - forget which. Maybe bananas? ) - is also supposed to help. Need to watch for excessive serotonin, tho, if something else you're on ups it.

And of course, melatonin can help a lot especially if your Circadien rhythm has gotten wonky (sounds so) . Contrary to popular thought, it is best taken at twilight to help your brain (pineal gland) get in synch with the real world. - um, in this context referring to diurnal light cycle. Likewise, Rozerem (quite new) is a melatonin reuptake inhibtor. Might really do the trick for you.

Good luck, Libby. Oh, how I sympathize with insomniacs...

rt

[Velvet Elvis]

Remeron + cymbalta would be a serotonin sydrome risk though. I'd think traz would be safe at the smallest doses used for sleep but not at higher ones.