sky25 Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Hello, I wanted to ask some questions about titrating up with Seroquel IR(can't take the XR), considering a starting dose of 25mgx2 daily. Even if this looks a small dose, is that normal to get massive sedation on the first days of taking it? Does the sedation go away, in your experience, with days of taking it or will it multiply as you go up with the dose(+25 every 2 days)? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shesellsseashells Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) I experienced the sedation side effect when first taking Seroquel. Apparently people often have that side effect at lower doses but not higher ones. It went away for me after a couple of weeks (at a low dose). Edited June 30, 2014 by shesellsseashells Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I've seen most (not all) posters here report heavy sedation on starting the med that dissipates dramatically as they reach higher doses. This was not my personal experience (25mg may as well have been candy), but you are certainly not alone in what you're saying. Given the sedation, I'm not sure why your doc has you taking it twice a day - if you're going to be knocked out for 12 hours or whatever initially, then it's honestly best to take it all in the evening. However, I'm not a doctor and there may be a reason for this prescribing routine, so I'd suggest chatting with him/her about that. If it works, it's a great drug, so good luck with it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sky25 Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 I've seen most (not all) posters here report heavy sedation on starting the med that dissipates dramatically as they reach higher doses. This was not my personal experience (25mg may as well have been candy), but you are certainly not alone in what you're saying. Given the sedation, I'm not sure why your doc has you taking it twice a day - if you're going to be knocked out for 12 hours or whatever initially, then it's honestly best to take it all in the evening. However, I'm not a doctor and there may be a reason for this prescribing routine, so I'd suggest chatting with him/her about that. If it works, it's a great drug, so good luck with it! Shouldn't the IR(without taking XR) be given twice a day considering the shorter half life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I always took mine in the evening, and at one stage was up to 1,000mg of the IR a day. As to the mechanics of the short life, I'm not sure; I was just suggesting that if the sedation is a problem, you discuss this further with your psychiatrist. You don't want your life completely derailed because of a dosing decision which may actually not prove to be that critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sky25 Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) I always took mine in the evening, and at one stage was up to 1,000mg of the IR a day. As to the mechanics of the short life, I'm not sure; I was just suggesting that if the sedation is a problem, you discuss this further with your psychiatrist. You don't want your life completely derailed because of a dosing decision which may actually not prove to be that critical. Thanks for sharing your experience. I have been reading on your signature that you now also take the XR. Can I ask you, if I'm not too indiscreet, why did you switch from the IR only to the IR+XR? When you were on the IR only taken at night, did you feel the efficacy also during the day? Edited June 30, 2014 by sky25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I was on the IR for years (I can't recall how many; I have a terrible memory for these things) and eventually it just stopping doing what it was supposed to. The XR basically turned my life around - it is a VERY different drug, and for various reasons the slow release made better sense for me. Unfortunately, my bipolar is complex (whose isn't?), and I still need small top-up doses of the IR to completely round things off. When you were on the IR only taken at night, did you feel the efficacy also during the day? It was not working for a long time after it was working, so it's hard to recall. I do think I did feel the efficacy during the day, since no pdoc ever suggested splitting the IR dose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savannah Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I take 500mg at sleep. When I started it, I thinking started at100 and slowly since then. I did a try with XL but it was no different and was more expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjimjam Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I found the sedation went away eventually. It took a long time to go completely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjimjam Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I also felt the efficacy during the day when I was only taking night doses and it was IR. In fact I never took any kind of Seroquel during the day. Always bedtime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wonderful.Cheese Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I take seroquel 3 times a day, for a total of 700mg. I recently tried coming off of it but my brain just needs it to function even somewhat. I take 200mg AM then 100mg afternoon then 400mg at bedtime. It doesn't make me tired at any of those doses. I have gained weight but I'm working to lose or at least maintain my current weight. It can be done with diet and exercise. It's definitely not hopeless. And the sedation varies. A lot of people here find higher doses to be less sedating. Good luck with it and I hope it works well for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddest Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Yup same here ... both times I've been on seroquel it's knocked me out only at initial/low doses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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