I need advice in how to get off Seroquel for sleep!

[GrayEyes777]

Just some quick background - I started off with Seroquel at 12.5 mg and ended up at 50 mg two months later. I always had the feeling that this drug was NOT for me, but the pdoc kept ignoring my feelings about it.

Anyway, I've decided to get myself off it - I told my pdoc that I went down to 37.5 mg and have already been having some major withdrawals, and she insists that there ARE no withdrawals from being on this drug. ????

Okay, so I'm on my own obviously. How do I do this? Do I taper slowly? Do I get myself down to 25 mg and then jump to zero?

I feel like absolute shit, and told my husband just this morning that I swear I should be in a detox center.

Would appreciate any ideas on how to go about doing this. My initial thought was to wean down very slowly, but then again, I don't want to "prolong the agony". OTOH, I'm petrified of the absolutely "no sleep" and panic attacks (not to menion the creepy-crawly skin feeling and nausea).

Is there any "easier" way around this?

Thanks.

Terri

[jarn]

I have always had discontinuation symptoms, which are not the same as actual withdrawal.

That said, I've gone off Seroquel twice - once cold turkey from 500mg (which I'd reduced to without telling my p-doc; the cold turkey from there was with his knowledge). Some serious puke going on and fucked up sleeping. Second time - gradually over months reduced from 500mg to 100mg than to nothing from there. Had the morning pukes/nausea for about 6 weeks, then I was okay.

I always felt shaky too. Flu-ish. The sleep thing got better for me though.

[GrayEyes777]

Okay, so basically you did the "jump to nothing" at 100 mg - so I've been 3 days at 37.5 mg so I guess I could certainly take the jump now then, right?

My husband says I'm feeling miserable anyway, why wait any longer - I guess I'm just afraid I'll feel even worse than I do right now!

Terri

I have always had discontinuation symptoms, which are not the same as actual withdrawal.

That said, I've gone off Seroquel twice - once cold turkey from 500mg (which I'd reduced to without telling my p-doc; the cold turkey from there was with his knowledge). Some serious puke going on and fucked up sleeping. Second time - gradually over months reduced from 500mg to 100mg than to nothing from there. Had the morning pukes/nausea for about 6 weeks, then I was okay.

I always felt shaky too. Flu-ish. The sleep thing got better for me though.

[jarn]

I'm going to start going off Seroquel again next week and though I wanted to go off cold turkey since I'll be sick anyways, my p-doc said no because of the possibility of rebound symptoms (psychotic stuff or whatever). That said, I would think 37.5 is low enough - is your p-doc okay with you going off it entirely from this point?

I know it sucks....hope you feel better!

[Guest]

I imagine that good sleep hygiene and any relaxation techniques you know might help a little with the insomnia. also use the acupressure travel sickness bands for med related nausea, which works for me.

[GrayEyes777]

I imagine that good sleep hygiene and any relaxation techniques you know might help a little with the insomnia. also use the acupressure travel sickness bands for med related nausea, which works for me.

Oooh, I didn't think about those travel sickness bands - good idea! Thank you!

Terri

[Guest]

I discovered them a year or two ago, perfect for when anti emetics will interfere with psych meds, and easy to wear at work or wherever you need them. Ginger tea or biscuits also help with alleviating nausea.

[DKnight]

Why do you guys want to go off seroquel.

I find it to be a nice warm blanket.

I've been off it before and sleep becomes and issue, but admittingly it was an issue before I took it as well.

My only advice is to try switching over to another temporary sleep aid that's not as powerful.

I took tylenol pm and exercised a lot more and I managed to get to sleep ok....