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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Seroquel
        
(Message started by: Gator on Feb 14^th, 2005, 4:30pm)

Title: Seroquel
Post by Gator on Feb 14^th, 2005, 4:30pm

Tegretol was a bust. After two weeks of not taking it, I still have a ringing in my ears.

Now, my doc has put me on Seroquel. Seroquel is an anti-psychotic used in the treatment of schitzophrenia and bipolar disorder. He says if nothing else, this should help me sleep. So far he is right. I have actually slept through most of the night for the last 4 nights. Still getting the daytime hits, but I am still ramping up on the med, so this may change.

I've done some research on the drug, it's uses and it's potential side effects. What I would like to know is does anyone have any experience with this medication?

Title: Re: Seroquel
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Feb 14^th, 2005, 7:48pm

No answers here, Gator. It sounds like Lithium in its actions. If so, it might work. Let us know.

Meantime, at least you're sleeping - as long as you don't start sleeping all the time, that is.

Hugs and good wishes, my friend,

Kris

Title: Re: Seroquel
Post by debs on Feb 14^th, 2005, 10:09pm

Gator,

I have been taking 25 mg seroquel at night for about 2 weeks now. I'm sorry I don't know much about this med, I have been remiss in not researching it more... but my neuro prescribed this because I couldn't sleep while on prednisone, and it is now part of my preventative cocktail.

Since I have been taking it, I have not had a wake me up hit... I am also taking melatonin (3 mg) at nght. I have had 12 nights of uninterupted sleep, and CH hit on ~24 intervals, luckily in late evening while I am still awake. This has been very welcome.

But how to know which med to credit for this -verapamil? steroids? Seroquel? Probably no way to know.

I think my 25 mg is a pretty low dose. It knocks me out about 30 minutes after I take it. I don't remember any dreams, perhaps its suppresses REM sleep? Again, it could be the melatonin. I do have a bit of a seroquel hangover if I get less than 6 hours of sleep, but it's not too bad, feel kind of slow and stupid for an hour or so, a big cup of coffee helps. I don't know that I could take this stuff during the day though.

Anyway it seems to be helping, without too many horrible side effects.

How are you finding it? Tolerable? Is it helping your CH yet? I too have been curious if anyone else here has experience with this drug, I haven't seen many references to it.

PF and be well,
Debbie

Title: Re: Seroquel
Post by JJA on Feb 15^th, 2005, 9:06am

No experience. I did see this research regarding migraine. Of course there's no research on its effect on clusters.
Quote:

Brandeset al. conducted an open label study of quetiapine in migraine. Twenty-four patients were recruited, and quetiapine was elevated over a 3-month period. Twenty-one patients reported substantial improvement in either frequency or severity of attacks, or both. The average dose was 75 mg of quetiapine per day. One patient withdrew because of sedation; there was no evidence of extrapyramidal symptoms.

Brandes J, Robertson S, Starr H, Abu-Shakra S. Quetiapine for migraine prophylaxis. Neurology
2002; 58 (Suppl. 3): A470.

Hope it helps you.

Jesse

Title: Re: Seroquel
Post by Gator on Feb 15^th, 2005, 11:53pm

Up to 100mg and so far no major side effects other than feeling a bit woozy first in the morning. Why didn't someone tell me sleep felt this good. Bastages. I see how you are - hogging it all to yourselves. ;;D Still having the daytime hits, though they don't seem as bad. Not going to get my hopes up yet. May just be a normal low cycle within the cycle thing. Time will tell.

Title: Re: Seroquel
Post by Mr. Happy on Feb 17^th, 2005, 8:31am

No CH experience. Got a kid on seroquel (bi-polar). Stuff seems to work, but it's got a real 1-2 punch. At 50 mg, she goes to sleeps fast. At 75 mg, she's asleep before she can find the bed. It can have some serious side effects. Have to wait and see on the long term. Warned to get her on the pill, and No Pregnancy while taking it. Bad juju.

Gator.........check out the 5-HT activity in Kudzu thread. Recruits needed.

Title: Re: Seroquel
Post by Gator on Feb 17^th, 2005, 10:33am

on 02/17/05 at 08:31:40, Mr. Happy wrote:

From what I have read, seroquel is one of the milder anti-psychotics, but yes, it defintely makes you sleep. I take 100 mg 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime. I'm usually out within 30 minutes of hitting the bed. No major side effects on me that I can tell yet, but I've only been taking it for a week. The head is starting to ramp up again, though. So it looks like I will have to see what 200mg does for me. The doc mentioned taking me up to 400mg so I still have some room for trial and error.

I've been keeping an eye on the kudsu thread. Tomorrow is payday. I think I'll pay a visit to the local health food store.