[splitimage]

I'm currently in a psych hospital. I'm here voluntarily. It's a good hospital with lots of therapy during the day. I've been in here before. But there policy towards medication has changed a lot since I was last here. They're a lot faster to medicated and willing to use stronger drugs to do it.

Yesterday I got transferred to a new unit (that's a good thing - it's a specialized unit that I want to be on.) So I had to have an intake assessment with my new attending psychiatrist. Also present in the meeting were a social worker, my nurse, and a med student. I felt like a lab specimen.

I had to go through my entire psych history, my drinking history, my sexual abuse history, my employment history - none of which make me feel good about myself. So naturally I was upset.

One of the things that came up in the meeting was the question of what medication I wanted as a PRN. The Dr. offered a range of pretty heavy duty anti-psychotics, all of which are heavily sedating. When I balked at the newer ones, he went onto the older ones - even suggesting Haldol. I was really reluctant, as I'm already on a whack of heavy duty meds and I don't want to be turned into a zombie. I finally agreed to Seroquel and just figured I wouldn't take it.

But last night I was really upset after the assessment and I wanted to SI, OD, or Drink, just to numb out. I did what I'd been told to do - went to my nurse and said I wanted to talk. The first thing out of her mouth was let me give you something to calm you down. I balked at first but she really pushed, so I finally agreed to take a Seroquel. It was only 25 mg, but I felt like I'd been hit by a mac truck. I didn't want to hurt myself anymore, I also didn't want to do anything. I felt like a zombie.

The nurse did eventually come back and talk to me for about 1/2 an hour which was helpful, but I just wish she hadn't been so quick to drug.

And I found out that I'd been cleared to have 25 mg every hour! More than one and I'd still be comatose.

I wound up sleeping 11 hours and I still feel groggy this morning.

Not happy.

Splitimage

[T-800]

Well Seroquel is sedative.

For me this has more or less worn off (I took 200 mg not too long ago), but there are alternatives, like Risperdal and Abilify that are—more or less—in the same class of drugs: the atypical anti-psychotics.

You may want to ask your doctor about that, and there may be different alternatives.

Like you the first dose of 25 mg knocked me out within 5 minutes. I liked it for sleep but I think it triggrred type two diabetes as it is the only drug that makes me want to eat like a horse. In my opinion the sleepiness from it wears off ovrr time and in highrr timed releade capsules it just makes you feel wiped out and like a zombie. Hoping the best for you.

[sugahorse1]

I take 200mg at night if I am anxious and want to knock self out. I do battle to wake up in the morning. I normally try to take just 100mg at night and then I feel much better in the AM.
I take another 25mg in the morning.
I do agree that I feel very numb and passive. Every now and again I d bubble over and lose it, but that's my BP too.

[TheLokiWolf]

I was first perscribed Seroquel about 6-7months ago. My first 50mg dose had me from in a manic crazy add episode to unresponsive, staring into space, unable to stand on my own, blank. I agree eith your description...the only way i knew how to describe it to my housemates was "im going to bed...pretty sure ive been hit by 5 trucks." now im on 100mg at night and it seems to have lost its effect. It no longer puts me to sleep (which is the only thing i liked about it) i used to get 1-3hrs sleep before the seroquel. Now itsdropping back again. I was on about 9hrs sleep and its gone down to 5hrs.

Looks like off to the psychiatrist i go again.
*sigh*

I found it interesting about the increased appetite and weight gain aspect people so often talk about. My experiance is... Im that anxious i cant actually keep food down as im constantly in fight or flight mode. But i havent had any strong desires to eat more either. Im still on my steady diet of 1-2 meals a day (yes im aware thats terrible... But i cant spend my whole day throwing up....stupid anxiety).

Im also on Fluvoxamine. 200mg. Not sure what thats meant to do.

I agree with your hesitation to take meds. Whenever im suggested one i talk to my therapist and shell look into it and tell me the facts in simple terms. Ive knocked back 3. And your point about them practically giving away meds is also a good point. First visit to my psychiatrist and half an hour later...i was out the door perscription in hand.

Good on you for seeking help at the hospital though. Kudos to you.

I wish you luck!

[jamie1982]

I take 50mg seroquel as well as others at bedtime. I also have 50mg seroquel as needed. The PRN will come in handy when I go on vacation (Maybe).

[Vossie42]

Seroquel XR knocked me out and kept me knocked out for 17 hours out of the day. I'm now on regular Seroquel and sleep a normal 8-9 hours. It knocks me out pretty well one hour after taking it. But I can still wake up the next day, lol! The XR version of any drug does me dirty.