[Ghostkrumpet]

I'm curious if others here are on seroquel and how it is working for them. At first I felt like it was fine and I was getting better, buuttttt....lately I've had manic episodes close together and it really hurts my relationship. Also I would like to start taking Trazodone as well as I used to be on it for sleep, but it helps with my anxiety nicely. Anyone taking both?

Also do most of you find that stress causes manic episodes? I am hoping that is what made me have two so very close together. I've moved in with two roommates one being my boyfriend (of not very long) and quit smoking. I wouldn't have moved in with him so quickly, but I was living in a dangerous situation before.

Any experience with the above mentioned, or thoughts and opinions all welcomed.

[MusicLover82]

I just wanted to let you know that stress can cause really any kind of bipolar symptom to worsen, from my experience. Stress usually makes me either have a mixed episode or depression. It's usually mixed for me, which is a heightened state that includes hypomanic symptoms mixed with depression/agitation.

I wasn't on Seroquel for long when I took it. I think it was because of the difficulty I had waking up because it made me so sleepy.

So far, I'm having really good luck with Abilify (my main problems were mixed states with anxiety and obsessive thoughts). I just started it a few weeks ago, so I'll let you know how it goes. Latuda has been awesome for me, too. My worst and most prevailing problem with my MI is anxiety and mixed states (my psychiatrist thinks my anxiety is a mixed state). These two antipsychotics have helped me the most to prevent my anxiety and mixed states.

I don't know if any of this helps, but I just thought I'd share.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by Ghostkrumpet

I'm curious if others here are on seroquel and how it is working for them. At first I felt like it was fine and I was getting better, buuttttt....lately I've had manic episodes close together and it really hurts my relationship. Also I would like to start taking Trazodone as well as I used to be on it for sleep, but it helps with my anxiety nicely. Anyone taking both?

Also do most of you find that stress causes manic episodes? I am hoping that is what made me have two so very close together. I've moved in with two roommates one being my boyfriend (of not very long) and quit smoking. I wouldn't have moved in with him so quickly, but I was living in a dangerous situation before.

Any experience with the above mentioned, or thoughts and opinions all welcomed.

My pdoc seems to be a fan of increasing my Seroquel for mania, rather than my current mood stabilizer (Lamictal) for some reason. It has helped with mania in my case. I remember my doc saying Seroquel can be a strong anti-manic when combined with other meds. I do find that stressors can induce mania. Perhaps your situation was a "trigger" for mania. All of us with Bipolar are vulnerable when it comes to the way stress affects us.

I've never been on Seroquel as my only mood stabilizer, but I have read that it can be successful in treating mania without a traditional mood stabilizer at a high dose. It's good for sleep, and I do notice a slight reduction in my anxiety level. If I do not take it early, however, I do feel a little bit "foggy" during the day. Some tolerate Seroquel, some don't. I have been able to hold my full-time job, so I am functioning, although I still have symptoms that I must deal with daily. Some days are better than others. As far as Trazadone goes, I hear it working very nicely in some people for sleep and lowering anxiety. However, my pdoc's opinion is that it can still induce mania in some people with Bipolar....namely, Bipolar 1 patients. Therefore, she refuses to put me on Trazadone. I'm fine with the Seroquel though. Recently, it was increased, and I notice no significant difference in side effects except for the first few days where I was really tired.

[Crazy Hitch]

Yeah Seroquel was pretty good for my last manic episode. I think I went on about 600mg or there about.

But.

It did make me put on a lot of weight which I got rid of when I went off it.

I would recommend it for mania but I don't know so much that I'd recommend it for long term use from my personal experience.

[Ghostkrumpet]

Thanks everyone. Yes, all this information is helpful. I think another medication in conjunction with Seroquel is something I'd like to try. I am a bit afraid of the weight gain as well. I'm watching it closely as of now.

[franz kafka]

Seroquel works very well for me as an anti-manic drug. My doctor raises it whenever I'm starting to get a bit hypomanic, and that usually stops the elevation within a few days.

[Ghostkrumpet]

Good to know. I have one of those clinic doctors that I get to see once a month if I am lucky, so I don't get to talk to her much and ask these sorts of questions. Is everyone doomed to gain weight on seroguel? I'm at a really good weight and would like to stay that way. Also is fluxotine any good in conjunction with seroquel?

[Gabyunbound]

During my last full blown mania it helped a lot to bring me down to a human level.

My understanding is that it can also be useful for depression and even anxiety for some people. A useful med with horrible side effects.

My pdoc refuses to prescribe AD's because of the possibility that they might lead to hypo/mania, so I don't know about the combination with fluxotine, but I suspect you would need some sort of mood stabilizer at the same time. Ask your pdoc about the combination, he/she would know best. Best of luck to you!

[BipolarMama31]

Seroquel works great for me. Ive been on it since i was IP 4 years ago.
I started at 800mg and weaned down to 50mg over the years. Now that im in a phase again im up to 200mg.
If i am paranoid or destructive manic i take it and it will bring me back or knock me out. Like a reset button my husband says.
I havent gained weight on it.
I started it for post pardum depression and ive lost all the baby weight and kept it off.

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[Tucson]

I do know a couple things. Seroquel only approach for mania can work for some, but not for others. Seroquel can enhance the effect of an AD. I have not heard that it has AD effects itself. I also know that ADs may not work well for Bipolars. Many can take them without starting a manic episode. Most of my pdoc bipolar patients are on some form of AD. But for some it simply does not work. They can trigger a manic episode. The ADs can also simply have no theraputice effect on a BP person. This is where other approaches may work that do not use ADs.

Personally, ADs do not help me much. I have been through several of them, and some combinations that work for many if not most people. ADs either peter out for me, sometimes quickly, or have no effect on my whatsoever. So my pdoc has determined that due to my BP, they are just not working for me. So I am on a Rhisperidone and Lamotragine combination. Rhisperidone I believe does have AD effects. So can Lamotragine. I have been fairly stable.

BTW Olanzapine is one powerful antimanic drug that can also enhance the effects of an AD. But there is a long term risk of diabetes.

JMO FWIW

[cincidak]

Seroquel got rid of my mania, and some of my anxiety, but I gained 60 pounds and became
Emotionally flat. I couldn't laugh, couldn't have a normal cry. Just zombie like. No sedation though
I was taking 800mg

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[Ghostkrumpet]

I've noticed some flattening out. I don't feel as emotional as I used to, but I'm not really sure that's a bad thing. I do think I'm going to have to go off Seroquel as I get restless leg syndrome and my kicky legs are driving me nuts. Even with taking it in the morning, I still have them at night.

Yes, but my pdoc said that 800 mg is the typical dose of Seroquel to control mania. I found that too sedating so I take Geodon for bipolar 1 mania.