[BNLsMOM]

When I don't take Seroquel, I don't sleep. When i take it i sleep too much and can't get up in the morning.

When I don't sleep, I get manicy/mixed. When I sleep too much I get
depressed/mixed.

I am so unstable and getting really tired of it. (no pun intended)

I'm sorry your sleeping patterns are messed up.

How much seroquel are you on? Could it be that maybe you require a smaller dosage of seroquel? Also, could it be that seroquel might not be the medication for you? Perhaps another medication might be right for you.

I wish you the best of luck in getting your sleeping back to normal.

[BNLsMOM]

I am on 25 to 50mg as needed for sleep. I was able to go without it for a short period of time and I was sleeping normally, but then I started not being able to sleep, so I sterted taking it again. I have already tried Trazodone, and I can't take benzo's because they mess me up.

Maybe one of the more traditional sleep meds? I'll have to ask my p-nurse.

[thinker22]

I agree with Melissa. Seroquel was not the right atypical for me. It made me want to sleep all day long and sucked away my will to live. I went off of it on my own and tripped into a manic episode. However, if you got switched to another, better atypical, you would probably feel more normal. Not too sleepy and down and not too hyper and up. Tell your p-doc exactly what you told us. I'm sure he/she would want to know if the meds were not only not helping, but making you experience the episodes it is supposed to prevent.

[BNLsMOM]

Good idea. I also get the feeling that Seroquel does help with my symptoms in terms of the ones bordering on psychosis, so maybe I do need a different atypical...

Something has to change soon. School is starting soon and I need to be there for the kids and able to drive them around to school/activities.

[Anneinside]

Serequel made me so groggy that I couldn't function. I switched to Ambien, which comes in generic, and my sleep/wake is much better. It keeps me out for about 8 hours with no hangover but I can get up earlier if I really need to.

[BNLsMOM]

I feel like I should be able to get up in the morning and function. It almost feels like I am lazy. I feel stupid that I know that this is a problem and I can't just power my way through and get up in the morning.

Hi there, I also thought of something else.

Are you on the Seroquel instant release, or extended release? I used to be on the IR and felt too sleepy, so I switched to the XR, which extends over 24 hours, and I felt A LOT better. I'm currently on 500mg of Seroquel XR, and it works great for many of my symptoms. Once again, good luck to you!

[Amandas256]

was on 200mg of Seroquel and I did fine with it. I think that it may not be the med for you. I would go to my p-doc and try something else. Good luck to you!

[sanityseeker]

I hope your sleep gets better soon.

[Amazonmom]

Bad sleep messes with us bipolars so much!

I know I am in trouble when I start waking up every 90 minutes. Lunesta smashes that down well. Ambien didn't do anything, not even the CR version.

So I pay 60 dollars for 20 pills, even with insurance.

It's not fair that your Insurance company is doing this to you BNLSMOM. And you are not lazy. I know you are trying hard.

[potter137]

Originally Posted by BNLsMOM

When I don't take Seroquel, I don't sleep. When i take it i sleep too much and can't get up in the morning.

When I don't sleep, I get manicy/mixed. When I sleep too much I get
depressed/mixed.

I am so unstable and getting really tired of it. (no pun intended)

I know how you feel. I have the same problem when I don't sleep I get manic and although for me being high is much better than being low it have a detrimental effect on my life.
I have stopped my seroquel (my p-doc was on leave so I couldn't check in with him) but now I am having a lot of trouble sleeping, I got a prescription of Zopiclone from my GP to help. I am not looking forward to my next appointment with p-doc he is going to want me back on it.

[BNLsMOM]

My family is getting frustrated with me. My parents came today to take the kids out, and I know they are concerned, but I feel like they are pressuring me to call the p-nurse for a magic pill. I do plan to call. It is hard for me to do that and takes a lot of psyching myself up to make calls like that. I know there is no magic pill. I don't think my parents understand that. I am afraid they think I can't take care of the kids. I hate feeling incapable.

[sanityseeker]

My brother put some pressure on me last week to call the doctor to see about some meds. He and the rest of my family are really worried about me and though they know there is no cure or a magic pill they think I could be doing better with meds.

It took me all week to psych myself up to make the call. Picked up the phone a dozen times but hung up before I could dial the number. Finally on Friday, 5 minutes before the office closed I called and scored an appointment for today. It was as though some devine intervention was operating because I usually have to wait a week or more for an appointment unless it is an emergency. The short turn around time meant I would be less likely to cancel because I would have less time to psych myself out of going.

I left with a script for some seroquel. A mild dose to start. I am nervous about taking it but it worked once before so I know what to expect. If I didn't take it in bed and fall asleep within 10 minute the rapid leg action is pretty aweful but if I did get to sleep right away I slept well and woke refreshed. Its just the rapid leg action that I worry about.

Like you I hate feeling incapable of things and maybe I am finally desperate enough to want functionality more then I want to continue catering to my fears. My stubborn refusal of treatment hasn't worked for me so I guess it is time to take the plunge and see what happens. I figure it can't be worse then what I have been dealing with up till now.

I would suggest picking up the phone sooner rather than later. Don't think. Just do. Just get it done.

I think our families are as desperate as we are to see us well. It pains them to see us suffer. I figure the least I can do is accommodate their requests even if I don't think it will make any difference. Who am I do argue given the limited success my self care has been up till now. If it makes my family feel better that I am working with the doc and accepting the meds then it makes me feel better to do that for them. Who knows maybe it will even work.

Wishing you well Mom. You are an awesome person and a wonderful mother. Feel the love and embrace the care your family gives to you. Breath deep and give yourself a big hug for courage. You are not alone.

Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone in the phone thing. And not just the harder ones(!) Psyching, sitting down, breathing... trying not to pass out... yeah. It seems such an anomaly with the proliferation of everyone on their phones constantly, but there ya have it. It's ok. Someone's got to show restraint, right?

Try if you can not to be afraid of what they might be thinking. Might is a pretty big word there, and it also might not be the case at all. I'd also be willing to bet that you are more capable than you are giving yourself credit for. Beware the Beastie of Should. He's can be unrealistic, but he's not unreal.

[BNLsMOM]

I sent an email to p-nurse and t-doc and then I took a shower.

[sanityseeker]

Way to go!! How does it feel? Does it feel better to have it done? I usually feel relieved and proud of myself for pushing through the fears.

I love showers. They help me destress. I had a second one when I got home from the docs just to let the water wash away some of the stress of the appointment.

Wishing you a good day. Take care.

[lonegael]

Hang in there, dear. good for you that you got the ball rolling. there might not be a magic pill, but you shouldn't (in a good way) have to feel so badly. the solutio might be very simple. HUGGSS