[life123]

hi, my 16 years old daughter started having schizophrenia from last Nov. She used Risperidone for around 3 months and then she started hearing voice again for 3 times. well, each time only last for around 1 min. Her Doctor advised to change the medicine to Seroquel but he is not sure about the effectiveness of Seroquel. I am quite confused and frustrated. should my daughter change to use Seroquel? Anybody used Seroquel and what's the effectiveness??

sorry about the long post and please give me some ideas about Seroquel. thank you very much.

I don't know much about that medication because I have never been on it but I do have friends on it and they are doing fantastic on it with very few side effects.

[ster]

I have been using Seroqel about a month. the only problem I have had is very dry sinous and dry mouth. hope this helps.

[BlueFaith]

I've been on Seroquel for a little over a year. I don't notice any side effects really. It just makes me kinda sleepy. It helps a lot with the voices for me. You have to remember that medicines don't work the same for everyone, though. If you are confused, why don't you call and talk to the doctor about it. I'm sure he could answer any questions you have.

And welcome to PsychCentral!!

Hey. I took seroquel for a couple of years to help with voices and anxiety. It is probably the best med I've taken - but yeah, everyone reacts differently. I've been on Respiridal / Respiridone too, and it was after that didn't seem to be helping so much that I got my med changed to Seroquel.

I found that I was pretty sleepy for a week as my body got used to it. But I found it pretty good in general. I would say... It is worth a shot :-)

[eskielover]

I have been on seroquel for several years but not for schizophrenia....it has been for anxiety & the horrible nightmares & flashbacks I had from the trauma I went through a few years ago.

I have had anxiety & depression for about the last 12 years (I am now 53). I have had horrible reactions to almost every AD or antianxiety med available.....so when seroquel only causes me drousiness (which is what helps me sleep without nightmares), I was very pleased. What I found about all meds is that everyone has possible reactions & without trying them, you don't know if they will work or hurt. Initially I was mad & felt like a guinea pig....I got to the point I wouldn't try anything more....I was afraid as to what was going to happen next.....from my breathing being stopped to parkinson's symptoms....I never knew what I would wake up to or if I would even wake up on even the smallest dose.

Seroques does effect diabetes & colestoral levels, & for me, I take 600 mg (I weigh about 100 lbs) at night & I can wake up feeling like I am drunk in the morning (have to stay in bed until I sleep it off...then I am ok). But what you need to know with every med...is that each person reacts very differently & one doesn't know if it will work unless it is tried for awhile.

It seems that seroquel is able to be used for many psych related problems. I don't know how it effects voices since I have never had voices.....but if might just be the med that works.

Debbie

it helped my brother

> Seroquel does effect diabetes & colestoral levels

sorry... I just want to say CAN affect. Every medication has a number of possible side effects. Even asprin. Even caffene. It is certainly not the case that the majority of people find nasty side effects. It is certainly not the case that the majority of people find any (even less all) of the possible side effects to be side effects for them.

Sorry... I don't mean to be pedantic. I guess I'm just trying to say that sure it is worthwhile knowing the side effects so if you experience them you are more likely to appreciate them as side effects. But sometimes people worry too much about side effects that affect less than 1% of people who use the med and don't take it when really they are more likely to be hit by a bus than to experience any of them...

If there is familial history / current symptoms of diabetes or high colesterol then it is definately worth mentioning that to the doctor.

[life123]

hi, thank you all for your reply. I certainly have come to the right place. Thanks again. love u all

[sniffles]

ive been on seroquel before and although i did like it and it helped me to sleep throughout the night without waking up, it did make my blood sugar levels shoot up, so they stopped it. i wasnt very happy about it, because it was what helped me get a good nights rest. oh well i suppose. i hope you find that it works well for you without many side effects. let me know.

[sujunew]

i never knew about serequel and diabetes. helps explain a few things... i use it mostly to help me sleep at night and keep the nightmares away but while it helps with the sleep it doesn't help the nightmares (maybe i've been on it so long i've just gotten too used to it?!?). but for helping anxiety and 'thoughts' it has always worked well for me.

[Sarah116]

I took it for the same reason, although it is different for everyone. Seroquel on me did not work but Risperdone did. I recommend to you talk with your doctor check out www.seroquel.com and of course let your daughter be a part of it! Good luck and God bless you two!
Sarah

[crazymusiclvr]

I've heard that Seroquel CAN cause diabetes but you have to take into consideration how they are proving this. Are they considering those who are overweight? Have diabetes that runs in the family? Doesn't take care of themselves? I think it is important to weigh in the consequences of not taking it. If it is a drug that works for you, (it's so hard to find one that works) and you are getting quality sleep, is it worth not taking it anymore because of the health risk? Not getting sleep is a HUGE risk for someone who has a mood disorder. Of course, the doctor is the best one to consult about this. I've been taking seroquel for over a year and i'de be glad to share my experiences with it.

~lia

crazymusiclvr@aol.com

[tita]

I been on serequel for almost 3 yr.s the dr. gave it to me for PTSD I get 200mg at nite time,other pplI know take it for agitation some other ppl take it for voicesSo I think its a drug for everthing but it works for problem good
Good Luck.



i

[Sarah116]

WOW! Our stories are so alike! My Pdoc first gave me Risperdal then seroquel and for the same reason of hearing voices and all that what they call Schizophrenia! Wow is that word scary! But anyway everyone is different so you never know and I really do wish you to luck I am close but sort of in the range of your daughter's age. Beetween birth to 18 it is usaully called Child Schizophrenia.But rarely happens before age 7 that is what Shrink said. Good luck!

[JustAPixie]

Seroquel makes me very drowsy... I use it to sleep and for anxiety and night terrors.