Do you take Seroquel or Seroquel XR for Insomnia?

[Evey]

Hi, I was wondering how many people take Seroquel or Seroquel XR for insomnia. Which one, which dose and do some of you prefer XR over regular and vice versa? I have been taking it for years now for insomnia. My fiance hates that I take it because he thinks doctors are over-prescribing it for insomnia and it isn't approved for insomnia and hasn't been studied well for insomnia. What are people's feelings on this? Thank you

[bpladybug]

Regular seroquel for insomnia

you want that strong effect when it kicks in

[malachite]

I take 50 mg. of regular Seroquel for sleep.

[Fromsmurf]

I take 50mg regular seroquel. it helps me fall asleep and stay asleep. the first time around I took it for over 2 years and it worked great then mysteriously stopped working. I tried a bunch of stuff over a few months time and nothing worked, I was getting no sleep. Now back on seroquel and while it's not perfect it's still better than anything else I've used in the 30 years I've been trying to treat my insomnia and ptsd nightmares.

[susanlynn]

50 mg currently, don't like the "hangover."

[tryp]

150 mg of IR, and 300 mg of XR in the morning to round it out to a mood stabilization dose. XR at night would just prevent me from getting out of bed in the morning and it wouldn't have enough kick to put me out.

[Evey]

Seroquel is the only thing that helps me sleep. I've tried ambien, lunesta, sonata, all the different benzos and trazodone. Trazodone worked for awhile, but doesn't work at all anymore. I just wish I didn't feel so tired during the day. I think it must be from the Seroquel.

[Gearhead]

IR for sleep, as an adjunct to Ambien. XR does not make me drowsy-I take that, too.

[enlightened_plutonian]

I take 600mg of the XR at night for my psychosis, but I get sedation as a side effect (and a side effect that I love!). I used to have insomnia, but haven't had any since starting the Seroquel.

But as the others have said I would imagine that if you are only using it for sleep then the IR is probably better as you don't need the all day coverage. A lot of people also find the lower doses more sedating, but I cannot speak for myself here as I have always been on a higher dose (I even started at 300mg).

[seamonkey]

I take 200mgs of IR to sleep. We tried the XR and I was up all night. I can't take anything in the ambien family because it makes me hyper and pretty much all of the sedating antidepressants do nothing for me. We tried trileptal for sleep, but it didn't work that great and i started getting double vision and body aches

[Evey]

I wonder if the 25 mg of regular Seroquel is too sedating. I wonder if I wouldn't be as tired during the day if I went back up to 50 mg.

Edited March 11, 2012 by Evey

[Ferdy]

Actually, Seroquel should not be prescribed as a sleep inducing agent at all---it is an atypical antipsychcotic, regardless of the dose----not a sleeping pill that happens to be sedating at low dosages. It is not approved for this, even off-label. There are risks involved with using a powerful drug like Seroquel for such use. I would persue other options, maybe OTC antihistamines, which are approved for sleeping aids-----

Edited March 11, 2012 by Ferdy

[terrydrives1979]

--it is an atypical antipsychcotic, regardless of the dose----not a sleeping pill that happens to be sedating at low dosages.

It " acts " like a different drug at different doses.

This has been discussed before A LOT but I'll go with you through it again.

It's a sedative at low doses

It's an antidepressant at moderate doses

It's an antipsychotic at high doses

[Ferdy]

--it is an atypical antipsychcotic, regardless of the dose----not a sleeping pill that happens to be sedating at low dosages.

It " acts " like a different drug at different doses.

This has been discussed before A LOT but I'll go with you through it again.

It's a sedative at low doses

It's an antidepressant at moderate doses

It's an antipsychotic at high doses

I am not arguing the fact that it is a different drug at different doses---there is no question about it. What I am saying is that it is not approved---EVEN OFF-LABEL---as a sleeping pill at ANY dose----sedative effect or not----please show me where this is incorrect on my part----

[rowan77]

I take Seroquel 400mg XR for Bipolar but it also helps me sleep. In fact it works better than any of the hypnotics for helping me sleep.

[Evey]

--it is an atypical antipsychcotic, regardless of the dose----not a sleeping pill that happens to be sedating at low dosages.

It " acts " like a different drug at different doses.

This has been discussed before A LOT but I'll go with you through it again.

It's a sedative at low doses

It's an antidepressant at moderate doses

It's an antipsychotic at high doses

I am not arguing the fact that it is a different drug at different doses---there is no question about it. What I am saying is that it is not approved---EVEN OFF-LABEL---as a sleeping pill at ANY dose----sedative effect or not----please show me where this is incorrect on my part----

I aree with you and that is why I worry that I take it for that reason. Doctors are prescribing it like crazy for insomnia.

[Evey]

Actually, Seroquel should not be prescribed as a sleep inducing agent at all---it is an atypical antipsychcotic, regardless of the dose----not a sleeping pill that happens to be sedating at low dosages. It is not approved for this, even off-label. There are risks involved with using a powerful drug like Seroquel for such use. I would persue other options, maybe OTC antihistamines, which are approved for sleeping aids-----

With your research, what are the risks? I personally have pursued many options and nothing works.

[Ferdy]

Actually, Seroquel should not be prescribed as a sleep inducing agent at all---it is an atypical antipsychcotic, regardless of the dose----not a sleeping pill that happens to be sedating at low dosages. It is not approved for this, even off-label. There are risks involved with using a powerful drug like Seroquel for such use. I would persue other options, maybe OTC antihistamines, which are approved for sleeping aids-----

With your research, what are the risks? I personally have pursued many options and nothing works.

Well, chances are probable that the risks are minimal, especially at very low doses, say, under 50mg or 25mg/day---but that is not the point that I am trying to make. Like others have said, Seroquel in being misprescribed/overprescribed off-label as a sleeping pill which should not be. Some of the physical risks, although probably extremely slight at these doses, are metabolic changes such as increases in blood glucose (and increased risk of pre-diabetes or diabetes itself) and changes to lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) profiles, and possible QTc prolongation. The other risks are you are being prescribed an antipsychotic drug when you may not have any features that warrant such. Seroquel is not a perfectly OK drug to take off-label like, say, a vitamin---it is a serious drug developed for serious mental illnesses. Go ahead, others that disagree can flame away. My pdoc has told me as much.

Another drug that gets prescribed off-label for insomnia that should not be is Remeron (mirtazapine). It is EXTREMELY sedating, ESPECIALLY at low doses, say 15mg or 7.5mg/day. Here again, this drug is an atypical antidepressant, that has a completely different mechanism of action than the SSRI's---but it is still an antidepressant, not a sleeping pill, although it certainly does that job well. All of this from my doctor---not me.

One that he says he will prescribe off-label for sleep is Trazadone (at very low doses---50mg/day or less---25mg should put you to sleep till next week). His reason for this is that you have to get to VERY high doses before it even begins acting like an AD, and even then it's not a very good one.

Other than these, you're only choices are the "true" sleep aid meds like Ambien and Sonesta, the hypnotic minor tranquilizers (benzodiazepines---Valium, Xanax, Klonopin and about 10 others). After that, you're down to the OTC sleep aids like Nytol, Sominex, etc. which all have the same active ingredient, Benadryl---an antihistamine. Then the "natural" supplement like stuff, melatonin and some others.

Hope this helps you out---I know that insomnia is a bear and can make you desperate for a good nights sleep---just use your better judgement, know that there are potential side effects, and always follow your doctor's advice-----

Awaiting the flames------------------------------

Edited March 12, 2012 by Ferdy

[Evey]

Actually, Seroquel should not be prescribed as a sleep inducing agent at all---it is an atypical antipsychcotic, regardless of the dose----not a sleeping pill that happens to be sedating at low dosages. It is not approved for this, even off-label. There are risks involved with using a powerful drug like Seroquel for such use. I would persue other options, maybe OTC antihistamines, which are approved for sleeping aids-----

With your research, what are the risks? I personally have pursued many options and nothing works.

Well, chances are probable that the risks are minimal, especially at very low doses, say, under 50mg or 25mg/day---but that is not the point that I am trying to make. Like others have said, Seroquel in being misprescribed/overprescribed off-label as a sleeping pill which should not be. Some of the physical risks, although probably extremely slight at these doses, are metabolic changes such as increases in blood glucose (and increased risk of pre-diabetes or diabetes itself) and changes to lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) profiles, and possible QTc prolongation. The other risks are you are being prescribed an antipsychotic drug when you may not have any features that warrant such. Seroquel is not a perfectly OK drug to take off-label like, say, a vitamin---it is a serious drug devoloped for serious mental illnesses. Go ahead, others that disagree can flame away. My pdoc has told me as much.

Another drug that gets prescribed off-label for insomnia is Remeron (mirtazapine). It is EXTREMELY sedating, ESPECIALLY at low doses, say 15mg or 7.5mg/day. Here again, this drug is an atypical antidepressant, that has a completely different mechanism of action than the SSRI's---but it is still an antidepressant, not a sleeping pill, although it certainly does that job well. All of this from my doctor---not me.

One that he says he will prescribe off-label for sleep is Trazadone (at very low doses---50mg/day or less---25mg should put you to sleep till next week). His reason for this is that you have to get to VERY high doses before it even begins acting like an AD, and even then it's not a very good one.

Other than these, you're only choices are the "true" sleep aid meds like Ambien and Sonesta, the hypnotic minor tranquilizers (benzodiazepines---Valium, Xanax, Klonopin and about 10 others). After that, you're down to the OTC sleep aids like Nytol, Sominex, etc. which all have the same active ingredient, Benedryl---an antihystamine. Then the "natural" supplement like stuff, melatonin and some others.

Hope this helps you out---I know that insomnia is a bear and can make you desperate for a good nights sleep---just use your better judgement and your doctor's advice-----

Awaiting the flames------------------------------

You shouldn't get flames, because technically you are right. I'm prescribed it for insomnia but I know its not approved for it, but doctors are prescribing it like candy. With me, I tried all the pills that are approved and they don't work me. I used to take Trazodone for it, but it stopped working. Benadryl will only work here and there for maybe 2 hours and makes me feel weird when I wake up. Benzos don't make me tired. Tried the ones that are supposed to help with sleep, didn't help. I've tried OTC except for Melatonin. I can't seem to get a straight answer on how much to try with Melatonin.

[Ferdy]

Actually, Seroquel should not be prescribed as a sleep inducing agent at all---it is an atypical antipsychcotic, regardless of the dose----not a sleeping pill that happens to be sedating at low dosages. It is not approved for this, even off-label. There are risks involved with using a powerful drug like Seroquel for such use. I would persue other options, maybe OTC antihistamines, which are approved for sleeping aids-----

With your research, what are the risks? I personally have pursued many options and nothing works.

Well, chances are probable that the risks are minimal, especially at very low doses, say, under 50mg or 25mg/day---but that is not the point that I am trying to make. Like others have said, Seroquel in being misprescribed/overprescribed off-label as a sleeping pill which should not be. Some of the physical risks, although probably extremely slight at these doses, are metabolic changes such as increases in blood glucose (and increased risk of pre-diabetes or diabetes itself) and changes to lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) profiles, and possible QTc prolongation. The other risks are you are being prescribed an antipsychotic drug when you may not have any features that warrant such. Seroquel is not a perfectly OK drug to take off-label like, say, a vitamin---it is a serious drug devoloped for serious mental illnesses. Go ahead, others that disagree can flame away. My pdoc has told me as much.

Another drug that gets prescribed off-label for insomnia is Remeron (mirtazapine). It is EXTREMELY sedating, ESPECIALLY at low doses, say 15mg or 7.5mg/day. Here again, this drug is an atypical antidepressant, that has a completely different mechanism of action than the SSRI's---but it is still an antidepressant, not a sleeping pill, although it certainly does that job well. All of this from my doctor---not me.

One that he says he will prescribe off-label for sleep is Trazadone (at very low doses---50mg/day or less---25mg should put you to sleep till next week). His reason for this is that you have to get to VERY high doses before it even begins acting like an AD, and even then it's not a very good one.

Other than these, you're only choices are the "true" sleep aid meds like Ambien and Sonesta, the hypnotic minor tranquilizers (benzodiazepines---Valium, Xanax, Klonopin and about 10 others). After that, you're down to the OTC sleep aids like Nytol, Sominex, etc. which all have the same active ingredient, Benedryl---an antihystamine. Then the "natural" supplement like stuff, melatonin and some others.

Hope this helps you out---I know that insomnia is a bear and can make you desperate for a good nights sleep---just use your better judgement and your doctor's advice-----

Awaiting the flames------------------------------

You shouldn't get flames, because technically you are right. I'm prescribed it for insomnia but I know its not approved for it, but doctors are prescribing it like candy. With me, I tried all the pills that are approved and they don't work me. I used to take Trazodone for it, but it stopped working. Benadryl will only work here and there for maybe 2 hours and makes me feel weird when I wake up. Benzos don't make me tired. Tried the ones that are supposed to help with sleep, didn't help. I've tried OTC except for Melatonin. I can't seem to get a straight answer on how much to try with Melatonin.

Well, another sedating AAP is Zyprexa, again be off-label, but it comes with the same risks as Seroquel, probably more so in the metabolic realm----

A good search of the internet should give you some idea of what dose melatonin to start out with; but, to be honest, if all of the aforementioned don't put you to sleep, I highly doubt melatonin will help you any atoll---

Edited March 12, 2012 by Ferdy

[Ferdy]

Had another thought---have you tried Gabapentin? I took it for a short time for anxiety (didn't work), but I do seem to remember that it made me sleep well---I think the dose was around 125mg/night----again, another off-label, but Gabapentin is pretty safe from my research and my doc----

[terrydrives1979]

Seroquel is also off-label for date rapists.

Interesting. Google and local newspaper.

Can anyone here verify that?

Edited March 12, 2012 by terrydrives1979

[Evey]

Actually, Seroquel should not be prescribed as a sleep inducing agent at all---it is an atypical antipsychcotic, regardless of the dose----not a sleeping pill that happens to be sedating at low dosages. It is not approved for this, even off-label. There are risks involved with using a powerful drug like Seroquel for such use. I would persue other options, maybe OTC antihistamines, which are approved for sleeping aids-----

With your research, what are the risks? I personally have pursued many options and nothing works.

Well, chances are probable that the risks are minimal, especially at very low doses, say, under 50mg or 25mg/day---but that is not the point that I am trying to make. Like others have said, Seroquel in being misprescribed/overprescribed off-label as a sleeping pill which should not be. Some of the physical risks, although probably extremely slight at these doses, are metabolic changes such as increases in blood glucose (and increased risk of pre-diabetes or diabetes itself) and changes to lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) profiles, and possible QTc prolongation. The other risks are you are being prescribed an antipsychotic drug when you may not have any features that warrant such. Seroquel is not a perfectly OK drug to take off-label like, say, a vitamin---it is a serious drug devoloped for serious mental illnesses. Go ahead, others that disagree can flame away. My pdoc has told me as much.

Another drug that gets prescribed off-label for insomnia is Remeron (mirtazapine). It is EXTREMELY sedating, ESPECIALLY at low doses, say 15mg or 7.5mg/day. Here again, this drug is an atypical antidepressant, that has a completely different mechanism of action than the SSRI's---but it is still an antidepressant, not a sleeping pill, although it certainly does that job well. All of this from my doctor---not me.

One that he says he will prescribe off-label for sleep is Trazadone (at very low doses---50mg/day or less---25mg should put you to sleep till next week). His reason for this is that you have to get to VERY high doses before it even begins acting like an AD, and even then it's not a very good one.

Other than these, you're only choices are the "true" sleep aid meds like Ambien and Sonesta, the hypnotic minor tranquilizers (benzodiazepines---Valium, Xanax, Klonopin and about 10 others). After that, you're down to the OTC sleep aids like Nytol, Sominex, etc. which all have the same active ingredient, Benedryl---an antihystamine. Then the "natural" supplement like stuff, melatonin and some others.

Hope this helps you out---I know that insomnia is a bear and can make you desperate for a good nights sleep---just use your better judgement and your doctor's advice-----

Awaiting the flames------------------------------

You shouldn't get flames, because technically you are right. I'm prescribed it for insomnia but I know its not approved for it, but doctors are prescribing it like candy. With me, I tried all the pills that are approved and they don't work me. I used to take Trazodone for it, but it stopped working. Benadryl will only work here and there for maybe 2 hours and makes me feel weird when I wake up. Benzos don't make me tired. Tried the ones that are supposed to help with sleep, didn't help. I've tried OTC except for Melatonin. I can't seem to get a straight answer on how much to try with Melatonin.

Well, another sedating AAP is Zyprexa, again be off-label, but it comes with the same risks as Seroquel, probably more so in the metabolic realm----

A good search of the internet should give you some idea of what dose melatonin to start out with; but, to be honest, if all of the aforementioned don't put you to sleep, I highly doubt melatonin will help you any atoll---

I've been on Zyprexa in the past. Wasn't a fan. Thats the reason I havent tried melatonin. I doubt it will help.

[g8orgirl]

I've been on Seroquel for a long time, (13 years) and I absolutely cannot sleep without it. My pdoc says he does not prescribe Seroquel for sleep, in my case I am on it for it's anti-psychotic properties. I did know of quite a few people in the hospital who were being prescribed it for sleep, almost everyone there was on some kind of anti-psychotic but mainly for sleep.

[terrydrives1979]

I've been on Seroquel for a long time, (13 years)

You are the Guiness world record holder for staying on an atypical the longest.

Plz share the cash with your fellow crazy posters.

[g8orgirl]

You think so Terry? I've heard of others being on medication for longer than I. As for the cash, I have very little I get my Seroquel through Astra Zeneca's patient assistance program.

[gizmo]

I'm gonna wade into this as a person who has been on every sleeping medication of all types over the years. My current sleeping med is seroquel IR - I've tried doses from 25 mg to 400 mg to sleep. I am a natural insomniac and have a hard time sleeping with the assistance of almost any medication. If I don't take anything, I barely sleep, which aggrevates my BP.

however, I must strongly disagree with something Ferdy said. It is not recommended that you take benzodiazepines long term for sleeping due to their mental and physical addictive abilities. They can be some of the most difficult medications to discontinue - i know, i'm weaning off a 7 year high dose of various benzos. I now take the seroquel as a medication for its anti-anxiety properties.

Almost every medication is prescribed to mental patients for off-label reasons. And almost all of them have some significant side effects. It doesn't mean 1) that we can't take them and 2) that they are going to give us said side effects.

[amy5820]

Are you taking regular seroquel or the XR? Im starting Xr and am curious if I'm going to be tired tomorrow.

[amy5820]

I have been taking seroquel regular and am starting seroquel xr (50mg) now. I'm wondering if im going to be tired tomorrow like I am on reg seroquel. I also take effexor, so this is an add on for me. Any thoughts?

[Wooster]

Is the slurroquel xr *in addition* to your regular slurroquel or is it a replacement?

[Energizerhoney]

A lot of meds are prescribed off label because they are not FDA approved. Seroquel been around so long they are not going to put in the money just to have it on label for insomnia.

Dr's give it out because for a lot of ppl, it's the only thing that does work (myself included).

It's label as am antipsychotic is an archaic label imo. It only works at an antipsychotic at higher doses.

Here's a good link on how Seroquel works at different levels:

http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2007/07/the_most_important_article_on.html

[jiwa]

On Friday, March 09, 2012 at 11:30 AM, Evey said:

Hi, I was wondering how many people take Seroquel or Seroquel XR for insomnia. Which one, which dose and do some of you prefer XR over regular and vice versa? I have been taking it for years now for insomnia. My fiance hates that I take it because he thinks doctors are over-prescribing it for insomnia and it isn't approved for insomnia and hasn't been studied well for insomnia. What are people's feelings on this? Thank you

 

[jiwa]

I know sequel better than beBnzo . Benzo can deplete your GABA receptor but it's side effect is live drowning.  I aspires have depleted mitochondria besides my main Complete Inability To Sleep. I Ann need ridden and no more sleep.  The following day. I am drowsy but can't sleep. Whole nervous and spines feel like electrically vacuumed and torture for hours. 

[notloki]

Benzos go not deplete GABA, unless you have a source for that. Seroquel is a weak AAP that has little antipsychotic activity at lower doses. It does have high affinity for the H1 receptor, making it a big antihistamine and a sleep inducing one at that. Lots of sedating antihistamines are used off label for sedation and sleep. Doxepin, amitriptyline, benadryl to name a few. Nothing wrong with that. 

[Ash19]

I used to take it for psychotic symptoms but it killed two birds with one stone as it also helped with my insomnia. It actually helped a little too much - I could barely get up in the morning and I was drowsy throughout the day. If I missed a dose I couldn't sleep at all and the withdrawal was awful; headaches, stomach aches, dizziness. I was on it for just over two years, tried regular and XR, and I'm glad to be off it.