clumsycrawling Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 My pdoc prescribed Seroquel today as a sleep aid. I was waking up around 2 a.m. each night, and two nights ago a voice told me to get off meds and kill myself. So he wants me to take 25-50 mg prn for sleep. From what I've read on the Seroquel threads, this is a typical dosage for sedation. What I didn't get a clear picture of from the other threads is how long before bedtime to take it. The pdoc recommended half an hour, but I've seen people say it takes anywhere from half an hour to 5 hours. What's the most typical? Also, I saw someone say that when she didn't go to sleep when the Seroquel kicked in, she got a paradoxical effect from it. Any feedback on this? One last question: If you stay awake past the time it kicks in, is it possible to have hallucinations? I thought I saw someone say that, but it wasn't clear what dosage they were on. Thanks for any help you can give, clumsycrawling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 An hour is typical. What's more important is reserving enough time to sleep. Make sure you reserve ten hours at first, ie, don't take it at 11pm if you need to be up at 7AM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiona Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 It's also important that you try to keep a regular schedule, go to be about the same time every night and get up around the same time every morning. And try to make sure there's enough sleep time in the middle. You'll especially want to do this when you start the Seroquel to give yourself a chance to see how you respond to it. I'd suggest setting aside the time after you take it for quiet droppable activities -- so that when you start feeling sleeping you can lay down and go to sleep. Don't fight the sleepiness, take advantage of it. And after a bit you'll know how long it takes for it to put you to sleep. Fiona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 when i was on seroquel it worked fairly fast. 30-45 mins for it to knock me out. if i stayed awake i could hardly walk and would see things. it was sorta fun tho i had a huge headache Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grousemouse Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 hiya cc, it's about an hour to hour and a half for me. and yeah, if i try to stay awake beyond that my words are slurring bigtime. i've tried caffeine (yeah, i know, great idea) and it helped me to stay awake for a bit but only for a bit. and i'm on 75 mg. and watch out for the dreams. or at least be prepared for them. the most vivid ones i experienced was when i was starting on the med. i still get fairly vivid dreams on occasion, but nothing like the ones when i was just starting on seroquel. take care, grouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geekstreak Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 grouse is right. The dreams I had were very weird, and some people have nightmares. When I took 25 mg of Seroquel, it kicked in after 45-60 minutes and I slept for 12 hours or so and still felt groggy. The grogginess started to wane after a little while. (I wish I could tell you that it went away in a week, but I stopped taking it regularly - now my pnurse says to take half of the 25 mg if needed so I'm not sleeping 12 hours.) I also had the experience that if I fought off the initial sleepiness, then it was a little harder to fall asleep. Let us know how it goes for you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBF Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Takes an hour and a half for the full effect of seroquel to be felt. However, effects can be felt after about 45 mins to an hour after taking it. PBF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigrre Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 it takes about an hour for me to get sleepy. I've never had dreams on any dose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 I'm not sure if this is typical, but it took several days before it built up in my system. The first few nights I felt calmer but still didn't sleep well. Now I sleep like a baby. I take 50 mg a day. I take 25 mg after work so I have a calm evening and another 25 mg at bedtime. I hope it helps you. I think it's a great medication for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loon-A-TiK Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 hmmm...about Seroquel... when it used to make me sleep it took 30 mins to knock me out, but with bad side effects- I took it in March, quit in May, and have been taking it again since about a month ago. The intent for me was that it would help me sleep, prevent mania, and help me with the noise in my head. I have to take it with a beta blocker (Inderal) otherwise I get BAD EPS. I'd watch out for the EPS. The other thing I'd watch out for, as others have mentioned, is the "vivid dreams", which for me are nightmares. Bad ones that I really feel are real, until I wake up in a nasty, dead sweat and start sobbing. Now Seroquel is hardly sedating. I am probably the only person in the universe who is more awake taking it. I take all my 500mg in the day. I think this just shows that there are always exceptions. It used to take 30mins to knock me out, then I'd get the EPS and be up all night. Now I take it with Inderal and can function all day with no issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clumsycrawling Posted December 12, 2005 Author Share Posted December 12, 2005 Seroquel is good so far. The first night it hit me about 45 min after taking 25 mg. I slept 10 hours, waking up only to pee. The second night, 25 mg hadn't kicked in yet an hour after taking it, so I took another 25 mg and was able to sleep within 45 min, for 10 hrs. Today I was a bit groggy, vs. not so much yesterday. It doesn't sound right that I should build up a tolerance that quickly -- I don't think that's even an issue with Seroquel -- so tonight I am again starting out with 25 mg early enough so that I will have enough sleep time even if I have to take another 25 mg (I have to wake up at 5:15 every morning). Thanks for all your responses. It's really valuable for me to have the different feedback you all have to offer. clumsycrawling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatsgoingon Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 I don't find Seroquel particularly sedating, either. If I take 50mgs after a long time off it, it makes me drunk, but if I carry on taking it, no effect. I've found I've been able to take it during the day when I'm panicking and need some calm, rather like one may take a benzo (though benzos do nothing for me). It does make my head clear, though, which is nice. Wierd or what. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basket-Case Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I just started taking Seroquel too not long ago. The Dr. is prescribing it for the main purpose of sleep and it's a 100mg Dose. I found the best way for me to take this is to splice the pill in half, wait about 30-45 minutes and take the other half until I get used to the effect. It takes about only about 30-45 minutes to feel the effect for me. I have to say my main problem with this Drug is the HUNGER side effect. I don't get visuals and I think it is a great med for relaxation as well for sleep because it lasts so freaking long. I also have been given it and addition to Effexor XR 225mg, and Xanax 1mg 3 times a day although I don't take the Xanax when I really don't need to. I am being treated for GAD, Panic Disorder, OCD, and Major Depression. I got to say I am not sure about this Seroquel, it is a bit odd of a med to be honest. The closest thing I can relate this med to is the years ago when I was a pot head smoking Marijuana in my late teens (something I am not proud of) and I am 30 now. Does anyone else feel this way? I apologize if I went a little off topic giving all my diagnoses and meds to go along with them I just think it's great not to be alone with all these bs disorders. Great site BTW! Peace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMF Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Yes, when first starting this med, daughter felt very spacey and light headed. That goes away with time. I just started taking Seroquel too not long ago. The Dr. is prescribing it for the main purpose of sleep and it's a 100mg Dose. I found the best way for me to take this is to splice the pill in half, wait about 30-45 minutes and take the other half until I get used to the effect. It takes about only about 30-45 minutes to feel the effect for me. I have to say my main problem with this Drug is the HUNGER side effect. I don't get visuals and I think it is a great med for relaxation as well for sleep because it lasts so freaking long. I also have been given it and addition to Effexor XR 225mg, and Xanax 1mg 3 times a day although I don't take the Xanax when I really don't need to. I am being treated for GAD, Panic Disorder, OCD, and Major Depression. I got to say I am not sure about this Seroquel, it is a bit odd of a med to be honest. The closest thing I can relate this med to is the years ago when I was a pot head smoking Marijuana in my late teens (something I am not proud of) and I am 30 now. Does anyone else feel this way? I apologize if I went a little off topic giving all my diagnoses and meds to go along with them I just think it's great not to be alone with all these bs disorders. Great site BTW! Peace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Maria Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 This drug was recommended by a fill in PCP for sleep. I told her I had a problem with sleep. I took seroquel one night and got up the next morning, got dressed, got in my car, drove to the place I usually go on Saturdays and recked my car. woke up in the hospital and had no recollection of the entire event. Seroquel is not recommended by the FDA for sleep. It is an antipsychotic. I would not recommend this for sleep. Bad medication at least for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 45 mins to an hour and a half. Don't forget that you will need more if you smoke, and less if you drink grapefruit juice! And higher doses can be less sedating than lower ones. I am tired, man, should take quel fairly soon probably... sigh. Tapering it, not fun at all. Down to 100 m.g. and 300 was my usual and customary sleep dose although 150 makes me sleepy enough to not see motorcycle cops and speed cameras. Anna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow-white Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 I usually take it an hour before bed because it knocks me out within an hour. I'm currently having issues with my dose because I'm taking 50/75 mg depending on how much sleep I plan on getting because it makes it hard for me to get up in the morning. But now I've been taking 75 because I don't have early classes and I can't sleep through the night. There's no winning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 I just started taking this drug as I have been diagnosed with bipolar 2. I have been told to start 25 mg and then increase when I'm feeling okay the next day.... The first day of taking it I took it with my effoxor as I normally do but I didn't take it right before bed (probably about 45 min. Before bedtime) and it made me feel so high! It was crazy I had to lay down as I feared I would fall over if I walked anywhere! I would say it takes about 45 min to an hour to kick in! Hope this helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjimjam Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 I used to take it at 9PM, going to bed at 10:30. I never had hallucinations from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjimjam Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Seroquel is good so far. The first night it hit me about 45 min after taking 25 mg. I slept 10 hours, waking up only to pee. The second night, 25 mg hadn't kicked in yet an hour after taking it, so I took another 25 mg and was able to sleep within 45 min, for 10 hrs. Today I was a bit groggy, vs. not so much yesterday. It doesn't sound right that I should build up a tolerance that quickly -- I don't think that's even an issue with Seroquel -- so tonight I am again starting out with 25 mg early enough so that I will have enough sleep time even if I have to take another 25 mg (I have to wake up at 5:15 every morning). Thanks for all your responses. It's really valuable for me to have the different feedback you all have to offer. clumsycrawling. Tolerance to the lower doses built up extremely quickly for me. I needed 200mg a night pretty much right from the start. That dose stayed effective for a long time, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirazh Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 (edited) The length of time is different for everyone. Starting off with a short estimate like half an hour is best, then if it turns out it takes longer for you, you can gradually extend the time further back based upon your particular needs. For me it takes about an hour, half-hour to an hour to kick in. I have had it not work for me, both the first time I was trialled on it (but I was in a rather horrible mixed state at the time,) and a couple times with it as a current PRN for hypomania/extreme agitation or anxiety. On two occasions it did not work at all. Not paradoxical, really -- it didn't make me keep awake, it just didn't calm me down or help me sleep. I have found this though, with extreme anxiety/agitation/etc. that various sedative medications don't work as well for me, like I need more of it to even be effective (I've had this with extreme anxiety/agitation and clonazepam too -- usually I take 2mg, but sometimes I need to go up to 4mg to get even a somewhat similar effect.) Edit: I don't take it nightly, so tolerance doesn't come up as an issue in my case. Edited February 24, 2014 by Mirazh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyGirlAUS Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Sleeping regime: 2 x Imrest 2 x Mersyndol Night 1 x sequet 25mg two hours later no sleep. I'm seriously going nuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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