Hi everyone.

I'm just starting seroquel....25mg a day for my panic attacks. Biggest side effect so far? I'M TIRED. AND DROWSY. I just took a 3 hour nap and woke up feeling like I could sleep for the whole day. I'm wondering:

a) What your side effects were, and
b) How long they lasted

Thanks!

The drowsiness from seroquel doesn't go away as far as I can tell. My husband has taken it for several years and it still knocks him out almost immediately. That's why it is often prescribed for sleep problems.

Originally Posted by farmergirl

The drowsiness from seroquel doesn't go away as far as I can tell. My husband has taken it for several years and it still knocks him out almost immediately. That's why it is often prescribed for sleep problems.

So he is drowsy for the whole day? :/ I'm fine with being drowsy just at night time, but during the day is an issue for school and such.

No, he's okay during the day for the most part, some drowsiness though. I take seroquel xr. It's a little better as far as the drowsiness goes.

[puzzclar]

I am on the seroquel xr and have been on regualr seroquel. I personly like the xr better becasue after I got up to 300 mg the drowsiness went away. for the day time. Once I take it it's about 2-3 hours later i'm out. (so nice)

[BrandonSS90]

My psych gave it to me to help me fall asleep, as my manic bipolar episodes would keep me awake, now that helped for sleep. VEry quickly I always fell asleep, and slept ALL through the night.

The next day I felt as if I was tossing and turning and couldn't sleep the night before... in the daytime I was dragging by the time I would get home from high-school...

[amante]

Seroquel, gave me restless legs syndrome.

ME TOO, AMANTE! The first time I took it anyway, which was 6+ months ago. It was very frustrating, but luckily only lasted about a week or two. How long did the RLS last for you?

This time around, I haven't experienced any RLS yet...but I might when I increase my dosage from 25mg a day to 50mg a day, which will be happening tomorrow.

[nate2k191]

I am taking 200mg time release for my bi-polar diagnosis 3 hours before bed (in general) because it tends to kick in for me in about 3 hours. and by kick in i mean basically produce drowsy/anti-brain activity affects which is the drugs main affect.

You're body may adjust to the drowsiness slightly over time, i seem to remember an lessening of the affects, but overall in my opinion you will always get somewhat drowsy or slowed down. however, this also depends on your dose and brain activity i believe.

/I just joined the site, exploring web-commmunities, hopoing to provide my experience with others, learn more, and try to help - hope this helps

[mcflooze]

I'm on XR and have been for 5 months. Like others here, I take it a couple of hours before bed and I sleep like a baby. No drowsiness in the day either.

Only other side-effect I've had? WEIGHT GAIN (see other thread). That one doesn't necessarily stop.

Thanks for the reply, mcflooze. I am noticing the effects of seroquel relating to weight gain too. I have gained 2 pounds thus far (not much, but it will probably increase), and I'm hungrier than ever before.

[Yoda]

I took Seroquel for six weeks. My Pdoc increased the dose every two weeks. It made me drowsy. During the sixth week I tried to get out of bed in the morning and my legs could not support me and I had to crawl back into bed. I called my doctor and said no more Seroquel for me.

[nate2k191]

Originally Posted by ohseedee

Thanks for the reply, mcflooze. I am noticing the effects of seroquel relating to weight gain too. I have gained 2 pounds thus far (not much, but it will probably increase), and I'm hungrier than ever before.

i think the weight gain is from seroquel slowing down your metabolism/energy, as opposed to cigarettes and coffee which would tend to stimulate your metabolism/energy and cause a slight weight loss.

i've found that i can somewhat counteract the drowsiness affects by being active if possible (physically and mentally), drinking coffee/tea, taking vitamins, etc.

[possum220]

I am on 150mg of Seroquel and 4mg of Klonolpin. As well as 40mg of Paroxetine making me one very sleepy Possum.

[PsychoticHeartbeat]

The lower the dose of seroquel - the more sedative effect it has especially when you're not used to it. That's what my psychiatrist said anyway.

I didn't really get much side effects, apart from random "hot flushes". =/

[cherry.candy]

Im on seroquel XR 300mg and I have to say it knocks me out completly and Ive been on it for a fair few months.

Im getting it changed when I next see my psychiatrist though, because it affects my Asthma and makes my legs bounce like crazy!

Good luck with it though <3

[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

I used to be on 75mg of seroquel a night a few years back. It worked wonders for my sleeping problems. I didn't stay sleepy during the day either, I actually felt awake and energized, but it did knock me out almost imediately and I would sleep for 10 hours straight and nothing could make me budge. I would even wake up in the morning with my eyes crusted together where I would have to pull them apart. The drowsiness never really bothered me though unless I got less than 10 hours of sleep, that was the only way I could balance it out.

Best of luck to you on your search and I hope you find a way to make the seroquel work for you. Take care

Was on Seroquel xl for 1 year--had all side e/fx--slowed my metabolism-water gain/
loss, strange dreams, restless leg, crusty eyes, not sleepy during the day though--
couldn't handle the up and down weight thing-

it was like my body had a mind of it's own, some days it'd wanna get up and move, others it would wanna just stay there like a blob---i got off it. wish you the best-