Seroquel and somnolence

[Guest CCBerry]

New here but have found a lot of great topics and advice.

I was just placed on seroquel yesterday for BP1. I took 50 mgs last night. Woke up 10 hours later in a complete fog - my toddler had already woken up and was playing in the living room. No idea how long she had been up. the next few hours are a fog to me - I recall my husband calling me on his lunch break and telling me he was on his way home because apparently I couldn't finsh my words. I couldn't move I was so tired. I don't remember much of anything until I woke up from a well needed sleep this evening.

I'm a mom to a baby and a toddler. I can't BE that out of it. its not safe for me let alone for my kids. should I take another dose tonight? I've heard that sometimes it takes a few days to break through side effects like this but I'm really scared to.

[AirMarshall]

Congratulations, you found an effective sleep med!

Seroquel IS a great sleep med. Since you are on other meds, you should know that effects are usually worst at the beginning.

Typicallly Seroquel is rx'd at 25mg for sleep initially. I suggest that you get a pill splitter and try halving or even quartering it and start at a much lower dose. From my experience it is much less sedating after a week or so.

Happy wakefulness, a.m.

[carmex]

seroquel doesn't do squat for me with regards to getting me to fall asleep, but once im asleep im out like a light.

[Guest ccberry]

I guess my biggest worry is that even though my doc specializes in PPD and things like bi-polar I don't think she was quite hearing me at our appt. I was telling her I'm so TIRED and so drained, trying to wrangle 2 kids, that maybe she thought I needed help with sleep. I don't! I'm too tired and worn out and sleep way too much as it is, I really don't need anything that makes me more tired. I can barely get out of bed normally, so the fear of taking a medication that makes me pass out cold and not hear the kids waking in the morning is a really scary thing for me.

I honestly don't even know if a AAP is for me. I don't need anything to mellow me out more so as I need something to help me pull myself up by the boot straps and be able to function.

and now that its worn off I feel like I'm crawling out of my skin, I have a headache and I feel more depressed and worse then I did before I even tried the silly drug.

[Guest Guest]

ack sorry about the cynical looking face in my post - these forums are slightly different from what I'm used to!

[tryp]

Hey,

If I read your post right, you're using Seroquel for bipolar, right? Well, are you eventually going to a higher dose? Because higher doses can be less sedating. Just a thought.

[BIMBO]

Hi. I'm on Seroquel for BP2, I take 200mg of a night. It still works for sending me to sleep, but I have no drowsiness the next day. Actually, I wake up early and full of beans.

I think if Seroquel is the drug for you, once you get the right dosage it will pull you up by the boot straps. It definitely does with me. Sometimes I wish it wouldn't so much, so I could have sleepy days occasionally like I used to.

[Guest ccberry]

I've heard that in higher doses it stops being so.. zombie making and can be a great drug, but even a week of time to build up to a higher dose is out of the question for me since I'm in charge of taking care of the kids during the day. I sent the pdoc an email last night and she replied with "don't take any more medication. will call you in the am" so I'm just waiting for her call.

I'm not as tired now, but couldn't sleep last night and now I'm on my last nerve and feel panicy and jumpy. It just seems so ironic to me that it's a crazy cycle - for me at least, trying to find the right medication, medication doesn't work or gives me some crazy side effect, which in turn makes me more depressed and agressive/angry.

thank you all for the advice btw. I spent all night reading the forums here and think I've found a great place with support and advice. I was dx with BPD over 12 years ago but have finally taken it seriously enough to get help and its a rather overwhelming feeling for me.

[BIMBO]

I know what you mean. I fought against my diagnosis for a long time too. Then, unfortunately, have had a nightmare ride with different meds. It's a shame people hardly ever find the right meds quickly, without going through all the crap to get there. I'm lucky I don't have kids to worry about, I can't imagine how hard that would be. Good luck with it all.