FAQ/Help |
Calendar |
Search |
Grand Member
Member Since Nov 2019
Location: In my head, mostly
Posts: 754
4 31 hugs
given |
#1
Has anybody else noticed an anti-depressant effect with low-dosage Seroquel XR, with dosages around 100mg? It's lower than the known therapeutic dosage, so I'm wondering whether the effect is real, but every time I start the stuff I do seem to notice this mild but distinct effect. Maybe I'm just sensitive to Seroquel? I can't really tolerate higher dosages because I start to get akathisia even at 150mg. I don't think it's a placebo effect because I don't have this from other meds, and I never really had any special expectations from Seroquel.
|
Reply With Quote |
Soupe du jour
|
catches the flowers
Member Since Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
Posts: 15,701
(SuperPoster!)
5 23.7k hugs
given |
#2
As far as I know, Seroquel is supposed to have an off-label antidepressant effect for bipolar depression. I take only 25mg for sleep, but I used to be on a higher dose, and was for a number of years. It's difficult for me to discern whether Seroquel gave me an AD effect, or whether it would have been another med (definitely a downside of a medication "cocktail"- I often don't know which med is doing what).
I will say that I've been taking the nightly 25mg every night for a short time and have felt noticeably less depressed. I thought it was a decrease in Lamictal, but maybe it's the Seroquel! Bottom line, if it's helping your depression, that is fantastic! __________________ |
Reply With Quote |
Soupe du jour
|
Elder
Member Since Jun 2015
Location: Czechia
Posts: 5,156
9 13.4k hugs
given |
#3
I've never taken that low of a dose of the XR, but I have taken low dose iR for various purposes. I'm not sure if it was helpful with depression as much as helpful with anxiety, but for me depression and anxiety often go together, so relief of anxiety flat out gives me relief. If that makes sense.
I take 650 mg of the XR right now. I need higher doses for mania relief or prevention. I've gone as high as 800 mg. However, if I find my mood dipping, my psychiatrist usually always lowers my Seroquel XR dose for relief. The only exception is when in mixed states. Usually, again, raising the dose helps. |
Reply With Quote |
Grand Member
Member Since Nov 2019
Location: In my head, mostly
Posts: 754
4 31 hugs
given |
#4
Thank you both! You're right that Seroquel is commonly used for bipolar depression, in fact I believe it's one of the best-researched drugs for that purpose. At least for me it seems to be one of the more effective ones, although with the low dosage I was wondering whether that was just in my mind. I don't really know how I respond to higher dosages because I can't tolerate them.
You may be right that it helps mainly with anxiety. I'm the same way in that depression and anxiety often go hand in hand for me, and sometimes it's hard to keep them apart. The Seroquel has mostly helped reduce the feelings of despair, which now that you mention it might be anxiety-related. It doesn't really fix the anhedonia, the lack of motivation, the inability to concentrate, the fatigue, and so on. So in my mind it kind of partially suppresses some of the symptoms without really "fixing" the episode. Still, it at least provides a bit of temporary relief. Thanks for sharing your insights! |
Reply With Quote |
Soupe du jour
|
Reply |
|