"All nighters" or staying awake on Seroquel

Hey guys, I'm an art school student with several jobs that are particularly demanding this semester. It's all good!

The issue I'm having is that since everything is going so fast-paced, it's hard for me to get the usual 8/9 hours of sleep. Personally, I don't mind sacrificing some sleep time because I have some great opportunities going. What I noticed, however, is that I can't stay up too late because I have to take Seroquel, Lamictal and Buspirone at night, which of course, makes me tired. Skipping the doses makes me feel awful, as expected.

I just had a meeting where I only turned out partial work, and let's just say they weren't too happy about it. Can't really come to them saying "I was tired..." So, I want to turn in the finished product early to make up for it.

My question is does anyone have a similar experience or maybe some advice on how to stay awake for long periods of time while taking medication that typically makes you drowsy?

The risk of cutting back on sleep is that bipolar episodes can be triggered. Having extreme work loads can also trigger bipolar episodes. Generally, it's a really good idea to get 8 hours of sleep. If you can handle "several jobs" then how about "several jobs" minus one of those jobs, to better finish the work that was only "partial" recently. I'm assuming the "partial" was related to your art school work? If it was related to one of your jobs, how about cutting down or eliminating that job or one of the others, instead?

We all want to be super humans and do EVERYTHING, all of the time, but it just isn't possible.

Let's say your doctor cut down your dose of Seroquel, or put you on a different medication that wasn't as sleep-inducing. Could it possibly de-stabilize you? If it did, then it's possible you wouldn't get anything done at all, let alone "partial work".

I strongly encourage you to discuss the issue you brought up with your psychiatrist and/or therapist. Are they fully aware of your workload?

"Rien ne sert de courir ; il faut partir à point."
- Jean de la Fontaine (Le Lièvre et la Tortue)

I think it's really difficult to fight Seroquel sedation! Sure, I'd rather be on a smaller dose than I am, but if I was, at this point, it would likely send me to the moon.

Oh, didn't specify! Partial was related to my job, which is why I was nervous.

My therapist just let me go, so I'm still looking for a new one. Was asking ere in the meantime.

Thanks for the advice! Appreciate it.

Is there any chance you could wake an hour earlier? I also agree with BirdDancer that 8 hours of sleep is important for bipolar patients. I'm sorry you're being pulled in so many directions. I know that feeling and it can be stressful when you want to excel at everything.

It sounds like you are struggling. This is a problem with having BP - finding meds that allow one to function. From your description, it seems you are burning the candle at both ends. Seroquel was the worst drug I ever took. I could sleep for hours and hours on it and then was still groggy in the morning. I simply could not tolerate it. I talked to my psychiatrist and we discontinued the med and subbed in something else.

But, as BirdDancer points out, you don't know how a new med will work or if you will find it more difficult to be productive.

It is possible you might be trying to do too much. I consider myself stable. I am stable because I take the meds as prescribed. I have about 8 good productive hours in me each day. I know my limits. There's no way I could work a second job, let alone go back to school. Good luck to you as you get this all figured out.

I work full time and also a full time student. I am also on Seroquel it's like miracle in a bottle for me; but because I spend most of my time at work; I'm stuck doing school work well into the night; sometimes staying up as late as 2:30am and waking up at 6:30am to get up for work. I take my bed medication right as I am crawling into the sheets for the night. I have honestly never noticed a hangover on my medication or felt drowsy in the morning. I don't know if I am an odd breed or what. I totally understand what you are going through, it's sometimes hard balancing everything on my plate. Work; School; and Boyfriend tends to keep me pretty busy.

I’ve been taking Seroquel for a few years now. I started out on three a night in order to sleep. Now I am down to one. Missing sleep on its own is not too bad for me. Getting broken unrestful sleep is far worse. I had been trying some other non prescription medications for a few weeks but it has been bad news for sleep quality. When I get good sleep I wake up rested after 7 hours, bad sleep and I wake up after 10 hours still wanting more sleep.

I'm glad it works for you! It's definitely been good for regulating my mood and helping sleep even if it's only for a few hours. How many mg are you on? I'm on 600mg, don't know if that makes a difference... Or it could be a combo with the Lamictal and buspirone, both which make me tired. Then again, it could be just me...

Yeah, it works for certain projects! Woke up at 6 the other day and went to bed at 1, but I was able to finish things. It kind of feels like taking a nap. I don't know if that's sustainable though because it's so stressful haha. But, every once in a while that does help.

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Originally Posted by clydeblack I'm glad it works for you! It's definitely been good for regulating my mood and helping sleep even if it's only for a few hours. How many mg are you on? I'm on 600mg, don't know if that makes a difference... Or it could be a combo with the Lamictal and buspirone, both which make me tired. Then again, it could be just me...

I am on 300MG at the extended release dosage; I have been told that at lower dosages which is what I am on that it is more sedating than at higher dosages. Maybe I'm just good when it comes to sleep; I really do not know. I am also on Buspirone which I take three times a day; that doesn't really sedate me as helps turn the worry/anxiety off in my brain. I honestly really don't know why I am able to do what I do. I'd say Seroquel isn't that sedating but I'm typically out in 15 minutes and sleep the entire time; so it's doing something right? I guess the medication could be affecting me differently and I just don't get that traditional med hangover. I also have been told by a few other members that the XR version is less sedating than the IR version so that might be something to ask your provider about see if you can tell the difference.

They only provide XR in the country where I get my medication...I'll just deal with it ha.