[HabitualQuitter]

So I had been having some *SERIOUS* side effects from the 1000mg (yes, that's 3 zeros) dose I was Rx'd in Feb this year.

I gained weight (45lbs now) & am still gaining. I became so *TMI* constipated that I used laxatives, mag citrate, enemas, and finally quit eating meat, started a colon cleanse (pills I take) and pretty much ended up gradually on a mostly liquid diet (SlimFast, smoothies, etc.).
I was Rx'd the whole dose at bedtime. Shortly after taking it swallowing became extremely difficult. And I felt like I was drowning. The best way I can explain it is that it's like that moment when you are vomitting violently and you aren't sure if you're going to breathe again. It felt like there was a cinderblock on my chest, shallow breaths, and then panic attacks because my body was reacting to my inability to breathe or swallow.

Sooooo I cut my dose down to 400mg at bed for a few days. Once it didn't put me to sleep I took 600mg at bed and when that quit working I went to 800mg. I was at 600mg for a few days and happy that dose worked. I made it one sleepless night with RLS at 800 and last night I jacked it back up to 1000mg. I didn't seem to have such intense side effects as before. Is it possible that starting out at 1000mg was just too much (even after 3months at that dose) and I just needed to up it in stages? Idk why it is better now, but it is. I still got weighted down and felt extremely tired but that's normal and it wasn't at all scary for me last night. I'll stay at 1000mg until I see this temp pdoc (5/14). Deep down Im hoping he takes me off the Seroquel and gives me something weight neutral. That, or he gives me Adipex or my ADD meds back, that would help counteract the excessive weight gain.

[Tamster]

i take 400 mg at night , 200 mg in the morning and 200 mg at 2pm and that has worked great for me except for the sleepiness. I am considering trying cutting down the daytime doses to 100 mg so I dont sleep so much. Good luck to you on your side effects.

[HabitualQuitter]

I tried taking 200mg in the morning. It ruined my whole day with tiredness :/

[~Christina]

I think the Pdoc your going to will need to figure all this out. 1000mg is a pretty hefty dose, and then all the weight gain very understandable. Please make sure you tell your doctor about the laxatives etc , he/she isnt going to flip out , they have heard it all. They need that kind of information to help you with the best treatment plan that will work for you.

[sugahorse1]

I don't know how you do it. I take 25mg at night and I sleep well. If I take 200mg at night, I feel like I have been knocked out. I also cannot even take my 25mg in the morning.
And on other tablets I need a high dose before anything happens.

[Snell]

I took between 400 and 800 for about three years and I just found out today that it made me diabetic. It did work pretty well, though.

[greylove]

I was put on 300 mgs of Seroquel to start with and over time the dosage was repeatedly halved. I'm now taking 25 mgs before bed. I was totally out of it when I was taking the original dose, especially when it was combined with Ambien. I was sleepwalking and sleepeating without realizing it. The 25 mgs makes it easy for me to fall asleep and I sleep solid throughout the night. I haven't taken Ambien for a very long time and don't anticipate any need to.

[dillpickle1983]

I am on 600mg of Seroquel IR. I have been on Seroquel for over a year. Yes you do get the munchies, but if you don't over eat, you don't gain weight. I dont even get the munchies anymore. Actually Seroquel looses the sedative effect after 400mg and the anti-psychotic features are stronger above 400mg. So essentially, 300mg is more sedating than 600mg, go figure. This is what my doctor and I got in a conversation about. Just my 2 cents. 1000mg is a large dose though. Must have some hefty hallucinations to be on that much.

[hamster-bamster]

You cannot go on like that, on a liquid diet etc. It is a recipe for disaster.

I had mild constipation on Seroquel and hated it. I also had horrible akathisia. I was taking up to 900 mg, do not remember whether extended release or not.

[hamster-bamster]

Are you taking it for sleep or for mood stabilization or as a pure AP? What is the purpose in taking it?

[Yoda]

I don't understand why you stopped eating meat. Meat is protein and fat but virtually no fiber. You need plenty of fiber and fluids to prevent constipation.

[southpole]

I'm currently on 300mg which I take at night. Slowly dropping down (was on 400mg before). It used to wipe me out but after a few months I felt normal sleepiness wise. I didn't put on any weight. I also got the constipation tho :-( thats getting a bit better now too though. I'm going to keep dropping the dose now too with my pdoc's supervision.

Interestingly, when I used to take 25mg as a prn it would calm me down/knowck me out ... now it does absolutely nothing.