Amy Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 I've been taking 187.5 mg of Effexor, 20 mg Celexa, 1 mg of Klonopin and Ambien at night, and Xanax 0.25 4x a day. I dropped the Celexa yesterday, dropped the Klonopin and Ambien, and just took the Effexor and 50 measly mg of Seroquel and within a half hour I was stumbling, slurring my speech, seeing things, drop down-dead tired, and out for 12 hours. I felt like I was highhhhhh more than anything else. I was put on it for anxiety, to help my racing thoughts, with her wnating me to go up to 100 mg "if it didn't work." Oh yeah, it worked for the rambling thoughts. I didn't have racing thoughts OR ANY thoughts for that matter! I was out! I am really scared to take it again tonight and not sure I want to. Why the hell did it hit me so hard? She also told me I didn't need to wean off the Klonopin because it's such a small dose but I'm leery of that. Advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Didn't you take it at bedtime? Just take it and go to bed. It becomes less sedating over time. I can take 50 mg during the day now if I feel like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthetic Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Seroquel will probably knock you out cold for awhile, but eventually your body will adjust. Seroquel is a little different in that the higher you go, the less sedating it is. I'm on 800mg and, while it is still fairly sedating, it's a lot less so than at the lower doses. As far as the Klonopin, it kind of depends on what you were taking it for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GroovyGwen Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Did you stop all those other meds under doctor's advice? Seems like a lot to cut out all at once. And yes, seroquel will knock the shit out of you. The first time I took it I thought I was going to pass out just driving home. I won't take it anymore. Abilify is better for me. Just saw that you took 50 - I only took 25 and it knocked me out. I used to take 12.5 to sleep and it would still make me groggy for the next day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirMarshall Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Yeah it does knock you down at first. Sometimes that can be a real blessing. I found that the effect wore off pretty quickly, decreaseing noticeably within a week by the end of 2 weeks, I was able to be pretty functional without taking it at bed time. My doc prescribed it for anxiety too. As I recall the tabs are pretty small. You might try splitting them. I highly recommend taking them either late evening when you are safely at home, or at bed time. Don't panic the first few days of any med are usually the worst. best, a.m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2utopian2 Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Amy, I just started 25mg of Seroquel about two weeks ago and my experience and reaction were the same as yours. After the first day I told my pdoc that it was much too strong of a medication for me. He said it was up to me whether I wanted to continue it which I have only in a slightly different manner. I take the 25mg at about 8:30 PM Sunday through Thursday and this arrangement seems to be effective. Like you I am also on Efferox 150mg, Klonopin 3mg. & Ambien. Dropped the Ambien and cut the Klonopin in half. I do not feel nearly as drugged as I did on the first few nights but plan on staying at 25mg. rather than up it to 50mg which was the original plan. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Libby Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Definitely take Seroquel at bedtime, and get into bed! The lower doses are more sedating than the higher doses, so you'd probably be less sedated on more. I can't belive your doc didn't tell you to take it at bedtime! Postpartum depression (major depressive disorder), AvPD, OCPD, Agoraphobia with PD, GAD, BED, PTSD.what's BED? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 Ditto to what Dee said - take it at bedtime, and it WILL become less sedating over time. It really is the best drug I've been on for shutting down intrusive thoughts. Doses lower than 600mg do nothing for me now in terms of helping me sleep, but they do help keep my head quiet. I need up 900mg to actually sleep - the theory that lower doses are more sedating doesn't apply to all of us (unfortunately). Good luck, M PS for these initial stages, you may just have to resign yourself to planning to spend 10 - 12 hours a night in bed. If that becomes a major issue with your having children, then I think you need to rediscuss this with your pdoc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sallie21 Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 Hi Nothing has helped my anxiety, nothing has quieted my poor head more than Seroquel. Nothing has knocked me out more than Seroquel. I, too, have felt totally high on this drug. I completely second all the advice to take the drug at bedtime, make sure you give yourself time to get a long night's sleep...and keep in mind that, generally, the sedation goes down quite a bit after you've been on the drug for a week or so and that the higher doses are easier--I'm on 150-200 mg and yeah, it's weird, but it's easier to be on than the 25-50 mg. Good luck. If you're looking for anxiety relief, I hope you'll give the Seroquel a fair shot...unless it's really making you sick. Most drugs really "get you" up front and then the side effects wear down after the first week or so. I sure hope this works out for you. Take care... Sallie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loon-A-TiK Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 you're hearing from seroquel fans. now it's my turn. i was literally unable to walk. my legs fell like jello from under me. crawling was a major difficulty. i sat down on the floor, against the cabinet, and tried to eat. i flung cereal at myself and got it all over, missing my mouth. when i had to use the bathroom, my mom had to practically carry me and lift me up. it was so embarrassing. she begged me not to take another dose (i was at 100mg), but i had just gotten out of the hospital and wasn't about to go back, and was following dr's orders, so i took it again. i couldn't speak. i couldn't walk. i couldn't do anything. i had an internet job where people had to see me and hear me via webcam (NO, i was NOT a porn star! though, i'm so sexy i could be one! ), and i couldn't sit in the chair to do it or type for people without sound. i had to take a week off of work. finally my mom dragged me to my pdoc's office. i had a different pdoc at the time. when he saw me, he pulled the seroquel right away and put me on abilify. i liked abilify and have tried it on and off ever since. sometimes it has its moments, but treats me so well compared to that seroquel garbage. some people love it and it is their savior. i shook on the outside and inside, couldn't stop twitching on the outside and inside, and felt electricity flicker in my brain. in short, i had every side effect you could think of. i hope it treats you better than it treated me! don't worry, i've never heard of anyone having such extreme experiences like i did. loon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Posted February 22, 2007 Author Share Posted February 22, 2007 It got a little better the second and third days. I broke it into quarters and took 12.5 mg and it still knocked me out but over a few days, had to go up to 25 mg because I was waking up at night. I went to the pdoc today and asked if there was anything that would stop the racing thoughts but not drug me out - she suggested Abilify so now I'm switching to that and took 2.5 mg. We'll see how it goes. The Seroquel did help with the racing thoughts, thank God. That was just plain magnificent to be able to focus on one thing at a time. Upped the Xanax to a milligram and got Rozerem for sleep. Weaning off Effexor and back onto Prozac. I'm so sick of the roller coaster. Damn trial and error. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Posted February 22, 2007 Author Share Posted February 22, 2007 Definitely take Seroquel at bedtime, and get into bed! The lower doses are more sedating than the higher doses, so you'd probably be less sedated on more. I can't belive your doc didn't tell you to take it at bedtime! Postpartum depression (major depressive disorder), AvPD, OCPD, Agoraphobia with PD, GAD, BED, PTSD.what's BED? Binge eating disorder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToxicAngel Posted April 21, 2007 Share Posted April 21, 2007 Hi There, Wow, you sound like me. I just saw a new pdoc yesterday, and she gave me a Seroquel starter pack, and wants to switch me from Risperdal. (Have been on 4mgs of Risperdal.) The starter pack gets me up to 300mgs of Seroquel in 4 days. The first day is only 50mgs. She told me to take it at bedtime, because it would make me drowsy. Well, when I got home, I didn't care, and took it in the middle of the day any way, because I was desperate to feel better NOW. Within what seemed like just an hour or so, it started to become a struggle to keep my eyes open. And I conked out flat, and slept for 14 hours! Tonight I am supposed to take the 100mg pill, and I'm kind of scared to. I, too, take Klonopin and Ambien (CR) to sleep. Debating as to whether I should take all 3, or just not take the Ambien CR and night time Klonopin, and see if the Seroquel knocks me out again. Good to know that does tend to go away as you go up. 'Cuz yikes, I haven't slept like that in I don't know how long. And I have serious insomnia, too, so you know how wacko that was for me. Maybe it's a good thing, as long as I'm a good girl and take it at bedtime like I was told. Well anyway, you're not alone, good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angeljasmine Posted April 21, 2007 Share Posted April 21, 2007 I was originally given seroquel to help counteract the sky high levels of anxiety I had from taking 300 mg WB for about 2 months. I was bouncing all over the place jumping at every sudden noise, couldn't drive as things flashing past in my vision would startle me. Seroquel was meant to take care of that. First pill I took after I got home from work one evening. Went to have a long bath, and at a certain moment when I couldn't hold onto my book anymore in the bath (I was nodding off) I said to myself you'd better get out of the bath NOW before you pass out. Struggled to even stand and couldn't even dry myself, just plonked myself down on top of the bed and slept for about 12 hours. I was meant to take 150mg spread out in 3 doses each day. Well after that first pill I was afraid to take it again. I mean, I had to go to work and what if I passed out on the way to work, or at my desk, I didn't dare to take it again. * I did and do still use seroquel as a sleeping pill now though. Just have to make sure I've got the time to sleep 12 hrs on it. Don't try and get up any sooner until the drowsiness has worn off. I've fallen over in the shower in the morning trying to get up and get ready for work when I was still groggy. Seroquel is my saviour if I need a break from "life" when I'm suffering too much and need time out. Even half a pill (12.5mg) Knocks me out 12 hrs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peeej Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 i've found that both seroquel and zyprexa have worked in terms of making me sleep and cutting down intrusive thoughts and ruminations, but a couple of things really didn't work for me with these drugs. - i had trouble with mental functioning during the day. didn't matter when i took it, i would still feel after-effects the next day. people admitted to me that i didn't seem like myself. i seemed zombie like. i felt impaired. i didn't like that. it was basically impossible to do work as a graduate student on these meds. - at higher doses (and i'm talking 50 mg of seroquel and 5 mg of zyprexa) i would start getting restless legs/akathesia. eventually even the lower doses of 25 and 1.75 respectively were doing that to me. that kind of made it hard to sleep. dammit. - another thing that has me wary of anti-psychotics is how they change brain structure. mrah, not the best link, because it's actually not clear to me whether the healthy controls were given APs or just used to compare brains against schizophrenic patients switched from typicals to atypicals. but if atypicals change the brain structure of people with schizophrenia, then how would it not change the brain structure for people without schizophrenia? (it's not like APs are the only things that do this, but like.. jelly!) APs are useful drugs in some contexts. yes, they shut off brain noise. but it's a little scary for me because they not only shut off the bad brain noise, they seem to shut off my intuition, and other important higher- and even lower-order functioning. pj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit37 Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 I'm taking 200mg of seroquel, and it has really helped me. First with sleep... I was having bad racing thoughts and outside noises. It cured that for the most part. sometimes when I feel that I'm out of control, I take 400mg, and really knock myself out. I've been taking it for about... 3 months now? Can't remember, but the grogginess does subside after a while. I only typically sleep about 7 hours a night, and am able to wake up, and within an hour be functional. Coffee helps. I always take it at bedtime (not before). Last night I took it at the usual time and fell alseep on the couch, Husband and daughter came home from out of town, and woke me up. Oh my god, I couldn't stand up straight! I was stumbling around, brain was complete fuzz. So yeah, the effects are pretty strong, but as long as you take it at night, and *not* during the day, you might find it'll help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthetic Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 - another thing that has me wary of anti-psychotics is how they change brain structure. Did you read that whole thing? I got through a paragraph and a half and my brain said, "No more! Please!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peeej Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 - another thing that has me wary of anti-psychotics is how they change brain structure. Did you read that whole thing? I got through a paragraph and a half and my brain said, "No more! Please!" i used the highly specialized graduate student skill of skimming. i suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiredoftherapy21 Posted May 5, 2007 Share Posted May 5, 2007 well I have to say, after awhile the knocking you out factor kinda wears off, and your body gets used to it, at least for me, bc I started out on 50 mg of seroquel, and then after awhile I kept taking 100 mg, and was upped and it didnt knock me out at all, and it used to at just 50 mg, but after a few weeks, it was lik emy body got immune to it.. Personally the drug didnt do anything for my real reason of takin git, so I had to quit anyways..just my 2 cents.. so dont give up on it, already, your body probably will get used to it, and you wont be knocked out.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Born2BcraZ Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 There is honestly nothing that I've ever taken that will shut down my head noise. It is there 24/7, 365 days per year. Even taking 10 mgs of Zyprexa for my first time didn't do it, but it sure as HELL knocked me out for 12 days!! Well, maybe more like 16 hours, but still; nothing found yet to calm internal noise, with the exception of a strong dose of a stimulant. Unfortunately, I cannot tolerate any stimulants of any kind for longer than 3 days or so. First, the hypomania comes. After about the 3 days, I crash into an intensely unbearable suicidal depression. I'd give anything to be able to use Adderall =/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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