My pdoc wants me on Seroquel XR and off Abilify (Abilify isn't working anymore). What are your experiences with Seroquel XR?

My pdoc insists the XR version is less sedating than regular Seroquel. Is this true? Apparently the XR is also good for treatment-resistant depression (which I think I have!).

I just HATE the regular Seroquel because it's sooo sedating. The sedation is a deal breaker for me.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

XR made a world of difference for me. I was able to get to work at a much better time, was overall more focused and was able to gradually wean off high-dose depakote (which I hated). When I had to be on very high doses I was sedated again but at normal doses I did great with it.

When XR came out and was rumored to be less sedating I begged to be put on it. My pdoc usually doesn't let me try new meds because I have had too many bad reactions but she gave in and I started when it was so new that I had to go to 3 pharmacies to even find it.

[Nene873]

I did great on Seroquel XR and found it to be much less sedating than the regular Seroquel. I was on 800 mg of Seroquel XR and able to get up in the morning with my daughter for school and get her ready to go on time and function without a problem. I was able to function normally on vacation at Disney World without sleepiness or being tired. I just took it every night before I went to bed. I found it was good for my depression, too. Besides, Latuda, I was the most stable on Seroquel XR than any other meds - as far as mood stabilizer or AP. I did take it with a combination of other meds, too. Of course, everyone reacts to meds differently but that was my experience with it. I hope you have good results.

[VanGore28]

I was on olanzapine for three years then I switched to the Seroquel extended release and it was more effective on my mood. I would just say you have to stick with it for a while, i.e. try and get used to the sedation (within reason of course) so time off work may be needed.
when I was sectioned for suicidal ideation, the doc took me off Seroquel to try a different drug. I tried abilify on its own and it didn't work for me, risperidone didn't either, and chlozopine nearly put me six feet under.
Eventually I was put back on quetiapine yay! But I still need more for my mood than it alone. I think it works best on my mania and concentration.

[bizi]

It sounds good!
definitely worth a try.
It sounds like it could help with your sleep issues as well.
bizi

[still_crazy]

I forget...can you take stimulants? I have an acquaintance who continues to do well on a seroquel at night and an adderall xr in the morning. Just a thought.

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

XR made a world of difference for me. I was able to get to work at a much better time, was overall more focused and was able to gradually wean off high-dose depakote (which I hated). When I had to be on very high doses I was sedated again but at normal doses I did great with it.

When XR came out and was rumored to be less sedating I begged to be put on it. My pdoc usually doesn't let me try new meds because I have had too many bad reactions but she gave in and I started when it was so new that I had to go to 3 pharmacies to even find it.

Are you still on XR? I don't see it in your signature.

If you're not on it anymore, why is that? Just curious :-)

Thank you for your response

Originally Posted by still_crazy

I forget...can you take stimulants? I have an acquaintance who continues to do well on a seroquel at night and an adderall xr in the morning. Just a thought.

No, can't take Adderall XR. It made me full-blown manic. I literally got 0 hrs of sleep in a span of 3 days, going on 4. Then I hallucinated a lot. I had to be sedated.

[VanGore28]

Oh yeah its great for sleep also when you get dose right

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Are you still on XR? I don't see it in your signature.

If you're not on it anymore, why is that? Just curious :-)

Thank you for your response

I needed a higher and higher dose over time and eventually even 1500 mg (nearly double the FDA approved amount) did not work anymore. My body processes meds weirdly and I really was doing well to get 9 years out of Seroquel. I don't think that is a normal issue with it.

Oddly enough, my husband found the XR version more sedating during the day and less helpful with sleep at night, so he went back to regular seroquel. I suppose that's the definition of a paradoxical reaction to a medication.

[VanGore28]

1500mg of quetiapine, really!? I'm on a third of that. When I was first put on 300mg I was struggling to get up for work and had to stand outside in the freezing cold in the morning because I was so dizzy every single morning. I didn't come to till about noon. Now I'm on 500mg but I could tolerate more prob another 200-300. But double that, and my friends say I have a high tolerance wow. You must have a fast metabolism or something

[BeyondtheRainbow]

My body hates meds. I either need a ton or a tiny bit of everything. I'm actually on a normal dose of clozaril and that's been a pleasant surprise.

But 1500 was an emergency, last hope attempt to get it to keep working because I had few other options and Seroquel had been the only AP to work for me that I wasn't allergic to or had a dangerous reaction to. It didn't work so I had to change meds to something that caused a dangerous reaction and ultimately to clozaril which my body likes so far (it's been a year).

[Musician1980]

Originally Posted by VanGore28

1500mg of quetiapine, really!? I'm on a third of that. When I was first put on 300mg I was struggling to get up for work and had to stand outside in the freezing cold in the morning because I was so dizzy every single morning. I didn't come to till about noon. Now I'm on 500mg but I could tolerate more prob another 200-300. But double that, and my friends say I have a high tolerance wow. You must have a fast metabolism or something

I've heard that Seroquel is more sedating at lower doses and that the higher doses don't have as much of the sedation effect.

Interesting responses

Yes -- Seroquel is more sedating at lower doses because it acts like an antihistamine, such as Benadryl, but it's an AP at higher doses

Does anyone else have a lack of appetite as a side effect? Or maybe my depression is getting worse

[zijax]

Nooooooooooooooo. Seroquel xr gave me a hangover all the next day, sleep, drowsy, out of it, couldn't stand it. Much prefer regular. However I'm coming off this med-made me a fatty-gained 30 lbs-even with topamax. Yes it works but I want my body back dang it!!! I was looking at some old pics of me in a bikini and I was hot-now I don't even own one but I'm changing all that-even if I have to starve. Bad seroquel

[xRavenx]

I've been on the XR version of Seroquel and on Seroquel (immediate release).

The XR version helped me stay asleep rather than the "knock out" effect that immediate release Seroquel had when I first started taking it. However, Seroquel XR made me pretty woozy throughout the day. I even felt drunk when I first started it. It is something that faded with time, but I still felt more fatigued during the day than with IR Seroquel.

I think there's pros and cons to each version. Currently, I'm on immediate release, which is a much better fit for me. Personally, I don't ever want to go back to XR. The immediate release still makes me a little dizzy on certain mornings where I don't take it early enough, but that feeling doesn't last. I also like how it is more powerful when it comes to getting to sleep compared to the XR for me.

I don't think it's a matter of better or worse. There's just some differences.

[wildflowerchild25]

I've never tried regular seroquel but I was super sedated on the xr. It got me out of a severe depression in like four days but I would be falling asleep at the wheel driving to work and I was just in a fog until about 11am, which wasn't good since school started at 8am. I gave it a couple of weeks and then had to ditch it. But I'm very sensitive to anything sedating. So it might work ok for you. Might as well try it.