Stopping and restarting meds - Seroquel

[bluqanary]

I've read in various places that sometimes stopping a drug that you were on and then restarting it might cause it to act "differently" the next time around. Is there any truth to this? I've stopped taking Seroquel twice, for various (stupid) reasons. This is my third time on it and I feel that it is working a little differently.

Actually, in some ways it is good. I used to have crazy angry rage on this med (one of the reasons I stopped taking it). This time around, I do not. This may or may not have to do with the fact that my doctor has me on a few other meds as well. In particular, he put me on Prozac to see if that might fight off the anger symptom. I have no idea if that is what's happening or not, or if it's just because I've stopped and restarted the Seroquel and it's working differently now.

It also doesn't seem to be working quite as well for my anxiety this time around (the reason I've been on it before). It is working, just...not as strongly as before. This may have to do with the fact that I had a complete anxious breakdown after going off of it the last time, which landed me in the psych ward. I almost feel like I blew a fuse in my brain or something. I feel like I'm permanently doomed to be anxious at least a good percentage of the time

I'm thinking of asking my doctor to up my dosage, but I just wanted to hear your guys opinions about stopping and restarting a drug several times over. Is it normal for meds to not work as well/work better/work differently?

[jt07]

Yes, I've had meds not work the same the second time around. Risperidone did not work the same the last time I took it much to my chagrin because it really helped me. On the other hand, I've taken citalopram at various times in my life, and it has always worked the same for me. My advice would be to go in to talk to your pdoc.

[bpladybug]

I think you should talk to your doctor about your dose.

[rowan77]

I have stopped and restarted Seroquel a number of times and it works the same for me every time I restart it. Of course things may be different for you, but I had no problem restarting it

[kittyloaf]

I've also restarted Seroquel twice but it worked for me again. I don't take it for anxiety so I can't speak to that.

I have had antidepressants not work the second time around though.

It is possible for meds to just stop working or not work as well. I've found that Seroquel doesn't sedate me like it used to lately so I probably will have to take a sleep med soon.

[terrydrives1979]

I've read in various places that sometimes stopping a drug that you were on and then restarting it might cause it to act "differently" the next time around.

Is there any truth to this?

I've stopped taking Seroquel twice, for various (stupid) reasons. This is my third time on it and I feel that it is working a little differently.

Yes, I had this with Zyprexa. 10 years ago the first time I took just 5mg GREAT 110% better then went off it due to weight gain,

I tried to take it a couple of years back and it doesn't do squat even at 40mg.

This is sooo true. So IF you find a med to work great I'd stick to it.

[gizmo]

I've had meds (ability) that never worked for me/caused akathesia on multiple trials. But I've had other meds (seroquel) that had side effects the first time around that worked the second time around. I do believe that at least part of this is due to the other meds I'm taking at the time.

[AnxietyGirl74]

^{I just got put back on Seroquel IR today by my psychiatrist and it is working like it did before.}