[jlock4507]

went for a follow up appt with pdoc today, but I had to take my son with, so I was super distracted and forgot to ask her some questions about my meds.

She had me on seroquel 25-50 mgs every night at bedtime. The effectiveness was going away, so she increased to 100-200 mgs per night at bedtime. She wants to get me up to 300 mgs because that is the therapeutic dose. My questions are:

1. How can it be therapeutic if it's only working while I am sleeping? (It's not the XR version) If it's not helping my daytime symptoms, then what about that is therapeutic?

2. Does taking seroquel at night, help for symptoms the next day?

3. Is it common for you to take seroquel at night? why isn't she giving me something to help during the day?

[zbmom]

I would ask in the psych med forum, see if the med expert guy can answer

[mel80]

Well I take 300mgs at mo at bedtime that is meant to help sedate me but also calm my mind down and help me sleep.I also thake an extra 50mgs during the day to help with the "anxieties" i struggle with.Maybe you could have a split dose morning and night ? just an idea.Good luck

[unaluna]

1. "Therapeutic" just means a high enough dosage to have an effect. Many psych medications stay in your bloodstream for a long time, though not at full strength of course. I tried to google the "half-life" of seroquel, but couldn't find it. You should have received a pamphlet with your med, there is a lot you should be looking out for, like drinking a full glass of water when you take the pill, etc.

2. & 3. From what I saw on the google, yes it is common to take it at night.

[Anneinside]

The elimination half-life of seroquel is 6 hours which means it isn't completely out of your system for 30 hours. There is some effect during the day, just a smaller amount of the dosage so first six hours 300mg, beginning of next six 150mg, beginning of the 13th hour - 75mg; and so forth. At least that is my understanding of half-life of a medication. It takes five times the half-life for any medication to leave your system completely. That is why some drugs don't have to be tapered, because their half-life is long.

[jlock4507]

Thank you guys for your answers! I will be posting in the meds forum too, that's a good idea!

[Miss Laura]

Hey Jlock4507,

Ye I take 125mg at night and I have 25mg-50mg during the day to help with my anxieties. 125mg usually knocks me out for sleeping but am finding it is not as effective now I have been on it for nearly a year. The 25-50mg does help my anxieties during the day though

[SunAngel]

I am on the maximum dose (800 mg) at bedtime and it does help me the next day.

The XR version made me numb, lose my creativity and my personality.