[xRavenx]

I am already on Seroquel and my pdoc recently prescribed an extra dose that I can take in addition to what I am already on as a PRN for "breakthrough mood instability" (as stated on the label). I am wondering if anyone else has Seroquel at a PRN dose and wonder if you've found any benefit?

I didn't know it could be used in that way. Hopefully it helps. I was prescribed it since I did not feel comfortable increasing my dose just yet, so she gave me an extra dose that I can take when I do feel comfortable (still in the PM). If it turns out I like taking the extra dose more and more, then I would consider going up on the dose daily. I have been on a much larger dose before, but it did not work for me due to side effects, such as low blood pressure problems and feeling too lethargic.

My mood has been shifting a lot. I will have a few days where I am at baseline, but my bad days are very, very bad, and they are becoming more frequent. It's like I lose control completely and have a very hard time pulling myself out of it when I get to that point. I'm hoping this helps.

[*Beth*]

Yes, Seroquel can definitely be used prn. In my situation, I was using it prn for sleep.

[FluffyDinosaur]

I keep Seroquel on hand as a PRN, mostly as an emergency med when my depression gets really severe. In that case I'll take it until things get a little better again and I feel like I can manage without it, typically up to a few months. I'm hesitant to take a high dosage of Seroquel, but relatively low dosages of 150 mg have worked for me in the past.It doesn't fix the depression but it definitely takes it from severe to manageable.

I've also used low dosages (50 mg) for sleep when I'm having bad insomnia and I have to take a break from my lorazepam to prevent dependence. I don't like doing that, and in that case I don't take the Seroquel for more than a few days, then I go back to lorazepam. That works for me because I never take lorazepam for extended periods of time. Typically just 3 mg a week or so, spread over 3-4 days. I never use it for longer than one week in a row, or maybe two in exceptional circumstances. Then I quit for a while (at least a few days but preferably longer), even though it's hard sometimes. As a result I never get bad withdrawal and I only need the Seroquel as a PRN in times when the insomnia is at its absolute worst.

[Soupe du jour]

Yes, I've had supplies of regular generic Seroquel, prescribed for that purpose by my psychiatrists, for years. I do already take 550 mg generic Seroquel XR as part of my regular cocktail. Honestly, I think it's great for me in both cases.

I haven't needed the prn regular Seroquel for a while, but when I take it it is usually because of breakthrough hypomania or even mania. My old psychiatrist said I could take anywhere between 25 mg to up to 150 mg as a prn, so I keep some 25 mg pills and even more 50 mg pills. I have also taken small doses for anxiety. Though I do lean towards taking Ativan prn, the Seroquel does indeed help. My old psychiatrist's rule was that if after taking the higher end of the prn doses for three days, I should call him. In such cases he would usually raise my base generic Seroquel XR, sometimes just more in the evening, or sometimes he'd add some small amount of it for the morning. Eventually, as my moods stabilized, I'd go back to just the evening dosing.

If the prns do their job, I then just wean off the prn. Truth is, sometimes I just need that prn Seroquel to "take the edge off" or to "extinguish the rise".

[neverending]

I also take it prn. My normal dose is at night. But usually if I am going to have a mood shift I wake up with it. When those symptoms hit I take 25 mg prn and normally half an hour later I am fine.

[xRavenx]

I ended up taking the PRN with my regular Seroquel dose last night, and I noticed some improvement. I am going through a new depressive episode though and still feel pretty terrible though, so I'm thinking about asking my pdoc to just raise the dose daily instead of do the PRN. My only problem with that is fear of hypersomnia.

[Hexagon]

Originally Posted by xRavenx

I ended up taking the PRN with my regular Seroquel dose last night, and I noticed some improvement. I am going through a new depressive episode though and still feel pretty terrible though, so I'm thinking about asking my pdoc to just raise the dose daily instead of do the PRN. My only problem with that is fear of hypersomnia.

Just read now that you use Seroquel. I used that too, along with lithium. From 2011 to 2014. My thyroid gland was that damaged due to their side effects, that bad, that doctors changed it all to Ergenyl Retard and Olanzapine. Also, Seroquel trigged my depression and forged it into bipolar in 2011. Just a heads up. All medicines have side effects but these were the worst.

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[Brentus]

I took Seroquel PRN for sleep but I was told if my mood seemed especially down, I could take an extra dose for a few days on top of my regular AP. I've heard of doctors prescribing it that way. The concept of an "emergency medicine" is a good way to kind of think of it used for those situations I think. Seroquel is rather sedating in my opinion but can seem to have a good effect on mood stabilization even at lower doses.

[FluffyDinosaur]

Originally Posted by Hexagon

Just read now that you use Seroquel. I used that too, along with lithium. From 2011 to 2014. My thyroid gland was that damaged due to their side effects, that bad, that doctors changed it all to Ergenyl Retard and Olanzapine. Also, Seroquel trigged my depression and forged it into bipolar in 2011. Just a heads up. All medicines have side effects but these were the worst.

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Yeah, in my experience new meds are always like Russian roulette. You never know how it's going to pan out. And unfortunately meds that work great for some can be a disaster for others. That goes for every med, though, and the only way to find out is just to try.