[PsychoPhil]

After a break of 7 months, some updates. I've been seen by a PDoc and we decided to try Seroquel as a monotherapy. Questions remain on a proper diagnosis. ASD/Aspergers seems to hold and I surely had very bad depressive episodes that may have had psychotic traits mixed in. Less certainty about manic episodes. The one w/ psychosis wasn't initially triggered by drug use, just worsened whilst ongoing but still it therefore doesn't qualify. Other episodes happened on SSRI.

That said, I started on Seroquel XR 50mg 5 months ago and am now on 50-100mg. Nothing else apart from the occasional glass of alcohol. I often fall asleep before finishing them

The drug felt a bit debilitating at start, but soon resulted in a) much better sleep patterns increased to normal from crappy 4-5 hours b) the nagging thoughts much reduced c) less paranoia d) hard to explain but I see things differently.

I've been messing bits and pieces but going off I sleep less, am more energetic and able to do stuff like driving 1000km+ per day by car on bad roads. Paranoia and thoughts then creep back, but as long as I remain active and don't try to sleep too much, I am fine.

Getting back on feels very sedating but that aside I'm much more balanced. Forgot to mention, I also eat better as normally I am borderline eating disorder.

Side effects some RLS. Not sure if 50 or 100mg are better. One feels little too less, the other too much.

However, reading med lists of others, my case seems quite unusual? Anyone else on low level monotherapy? Am seeing PDoc every 3 months.

[bpcyclist]

Wow, good for you. I am quite jealous. I couldn't even imagine doing monotherapy.

No monotherapy here, but that would be my dream situation. I have heard about people who take only one medication.

What is right, in my view, is the least amount of medication needed, with the least or most tolerable side effects, that also keeps you stable. The size of a dose or cocktail does not always correlate with the severity of an illness. Other factors also contribute to a smaller needed cocktail, such as coping skills mastery, healthy lifestyle, and stress control.

I'll say this about Seroquel XR. If its benefit in providing good sleep helps with stability, then it is positive. It is known to be helpful for all types of episodes for many people, and even anxiety and agitation. Some people do need much higher doses for these issues, even with other meds, but if you don't, that would be great.

[Sometimes psychotic]

I’m on abilify only...stable see the pdoc every six months......

[Victoria'smom]

Up until 7 weeks ago I was just on abilify.

[PsychoPhil]

Thanks for your replies. Has anyone tried both Seroquel and Abilify as a monotherapy and would be in a position to say which worked better? What worries me a bit are the dreaded long term side effects with possible movement disorders, though Abilify lists pretty much the same risks. Also, anyone an opinion on reduced irritability with Abilify as a treatment for ASD?

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by PsychoPhil

Thanks for your replies. Has anyone tried both Seroquel and Abilify as a monotherapy and would be in a position to say which worked better? What worries me a bit are the dreaded long term side effects with possible movement disorders, though Abilify lists pretty much the same risks. Also, anyone an opinion on reduced irritability with Abilify as a treatment for ASD?

Seroquel I had a bad reaction to, it was my first med but I almost passed out on it. Abilify and seroquel are virtually the same because they are both antipsychotics but seroquel makes you sleepier in theory at least....seroquel couldn’t touch my mania.

[Victoria'smom]

I can't take serioquel because it makes me turn my head to the left. My son was on abilify for ASD.

[Shaula]

I've been on both Seroquel and Abilify. Seroquel worked like a dream but made me eat so much that I wanted to stop it. No depression while I was on it, only one mild hypomanic episode.
Abilify didn't help the depressive side of my illness but neither did it cause the excessive hunger like Seroquel did.

I think the only way to find out which one is best for you is to try it yourself. Everyone is different. But unfortunately switching medications can be a long and hard journey.

[PsychoPhil]

Thanks, @Shaula. The Seroquel helps w/ my depression and eating some more is good for me. And yes, may not be easy to convince my PDoc she should prescribe something else that's moreover more expensive...