It increased my appetite, especially for sugary foods. This side effect slowly decreased.

But it's very VERY sedating, and when I was taking therapeutic doses (in the 100's), I was useless; I used to fall asleep at work (this was years ago, now). I hated it for that reason, but it also got me out of a manic episode and helped with my anxiety (I mean, if you're a zombie and falling asleep all the time, of course you can't be very anxious).

Personally, I think it should be used -TEMPORARILY- to get people out of manic episodes, but I don't think it should be used long-term. I finally got off of it, and it was replaced by Abilify. Abilify has its side effects (including the shakes, which I propranolol for), dizziness and some food cravings of its own, but I'd take it over Seroquel any day. And it's been very effective.

Also, I've taken it for sleep, at 25mg. When I was doing that, I needed some 9-10 hours of sleep to be useful the next day and would go to bed super early, which would cut short my day a great deal. I would still be hungover the next day, but not as badly as if I had gotten less sleep.

Then I started taking other meds for sleep after I told my pdoc NO MORE SEROQUEL. I tried a couple that didn't help at all, and then Klonopin did. As I was slipping into a manic episode, it stopped working for sleep, and I starting taking Zzzquil (Nyquil now puts out a med just for sleep) and have stayed on that even though my pdoc doesn't like it.

(A higher dose of Abilify got me out of the looming manic episode, which had started with hearing and seeing things and having trouble sleeping).

Point is, since my pdoc didn't want me on Zzzquil (I think because it's OTC and she doesn't know anything about it, not because it's known to be dangerous or anything) she put me back on 25mg of Seroquel (that's the dose for sleep). Well I took it and had the hangover of the century the next day and decided NO MORE. Went back on the Zzzquil which helps me sleep and doesn't give me a hangover.

All and all, I hate Seroquel. I would only take it, temporarily, if I needed to get myself out of a manic episode Iw as already deeply in. I've seen that taking more Abilify helps get me out of the beginnings of a manic episode.

Good luck!