[sunnydisposition]

I think the antihistamine effect of the seroquel has been sheltering me from the dairy allergy, which i know i have. i was able to eat dairy as much i wanted without worrying. But now that ive stopped taking seroquel for the past 2 nights, the itching is back. Couldnt sleep last night it got so worse i had to take an antihistamine. I think i just have to stop consuming dairy and i'll be okay. Has anyone else noticed/experience something similar?

[*Laurie*]

No, I've never heard of such a thing. Interesting. I hope someone else here can help give you ideas or suggestions.

[possum220]

Stopped Seroquel? Did you stop all at once? This is a list of things that may happen if you didnt taper off properly -

• Agitation: If you feel especially agitated, it’s because you’re brain is no longer receiving the drug. This drug helps many people stay calm and reduces agitation. When a person quits taking it, they may become increasingly agitated and it may last for awhile.
• Anxiety: In many cases this drug helps people with anxiety. When you stop taking it, your anxiety may skyrocket. Everything you do may provoke nervousness and intense anxiety. Try to realize that it is just from withdrawal and that you will recover.
• Concentration problems: Although this drug can cause concentration problems while you take it, you may also experience poor concentration when you stop it. Some people call this “brain fog” or foggy thinking – it is due to the fact that your brain is trying to readjust itself.
• Depression: When withdrawing from this antipsychotic you may spiral into deep depression. Any medication that affects neurotransmitters can result in depression when you withdraw – especially if it had a subtle antidepressant effect when you took it.
• Dizziness: A common withdrawal symptom from any psychiatric medication is dizziness. This may be extreme when you quit taking Seroquel, but shouldn’t last longer than a few months. For most people, this sensation goes away after a few weeks, but for some, the dizziness persists for a long time. Don’t freak out if the dizziness lasts longer than you anticipated – realize that it is a result of post-acute withdrawal.
• Fatigue: Feeling excessively lethargic, tired, and fatigued is common when quitting an antipsychotic. Although this medication tends to be sedating while you take it, the withdrawal takes a toll on overall energy levels. When your brain is trying to readjust, you may become extremely tired and feel like sleeping all day.
• Headaches: It is common to experience headaches when you quit taking Seroquel. The headaches may be minor or may feel like full blown migraines. These will subside eventually, but may last weeks before they go away.
• Heart rate changes: You may notice that your heart rate becomes excessive when you quit this drug. Some people notice that their heart beats excessively fast when they withdraw. You may also notice heart palpitations – these are caused by both withdrawal and anxiety.
• Hypersensitivity: A person may become hypersensitive to sights and sounds when they come off of this medication. The person may not realize that it is from drug withdrawal and their neurotransmitters are not functioning properly. Therefore normal sounds may sound excessively loud and normal sights may appear excessively bright.
• Insomnia: It is common to experience insomnia when you quit this drug. Insomnia is usually caused by anxiety and/or sleep disruptions. Your entire sleep cycle may be thrown off when you quit this drug and you may experience increased anxiety.
• Irritability: Don’t be surprised if you become increasingly irritable and difficult when you stop this drug. In general the medication tends to calm people down almost to the point of a stupor. If you feel excessively irritable, know that it’s likely a result of withdrawal.
• Itching: Some people notice when they quit this drug that they become itchy all over. If you are experiencing excessive itchiness when you stop Seroquel, just know that it’s a result of withdrawal. If it becomes too unbearable, you may want to conduct a slower taper.
• Mood swings: It is common to experience mood swings when you quit this drug – even if you are not bipolar. The mood swings may be more pronounced and uncontrollable if you are bipolar, but even individuals that aren’t will notice that they may feel angry one minute and hopeful the next.
• Nausea: One of the most common symptoms associated with withdrawal from Seroquel is that of nausea. You may feel nauseated for an extended period of time until your body becomes used to functioning without the drug.
• Psychosis: It has been discovered that withdrawal from antipsychotics can cause psychosis. In other words, you may experience hallucinations, delusions, etc. when you are coming off of this medication. Most people don’t experience psychosis when they withdraw unless they have pre-existing schizophrenia – but it is still a possibility.

Insomnia is also part of the list above. Dairy allergy could be a factor but it could well be a case of side effects from withdrawing from this med.

[sunnydisposition]

I did stop all at once. I didn't have much of a choice. I was binge eating so much that it had started to seriously effect my health. Stopping seroquel immediately stopped my binge eating. Thank God for that. Fortunately insomnia has not been an issue so far.

Interesting fact that itching is a possible side effect of withdrawal. God these meds are soooo complicated.. I did stop eating dairy and I was okay last night, no itching at all. But that could be the result of maybe the residual effect of the antihistamine I took the night before. Guess I'll know more today, if it was dairy, Itching should not be an issue now. If it still itches, I'll know it's from the withdrawal.

Thanks so much for sharing your perspective. This is what I love about PC, the insight that members have gained into the workings of psych meds and the Knitty gritty of mental illness is so profound. often times I return clueless and uncertain from my docs visits. I end up finding and getting the answers with the help of fellow members of PC.

[sunnydisposition]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

No, I've never heard of such a thing. Interesting. I hope someone else here can help give you ideas or suggestions.

Oh yeah it's true, the sedation of seroquel, along with many other antidepressants and antipsychotics which are used as a sleep aid all act as such powerful sedatives coz of the histamine receptors they bind to. Which makes them a kind of mild to in some cases like doxepin a very effective antihistamine.

[*Laurie*]

I understand the binge eating problem. I still think, however, that it would be the best idea to taper your dose down, rather than stop it suddenly. You could drop from 50mg down to 25mg, and so on. I think just dropping it down would have the effect of stopping the binge eating.

[sunnydisposition]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

I understand the binge eating problem. I still think, however, that it would be the best idea to taper your dose down, rather than stop it suddenly. You could drop from 50mg down to 25mg, and so on. I think just dropping it down would have the effect of stopping the binge eating.

I really couldnt afford to wait any longer to quit, my liver tests were starting to falter, not by big numbers but just slightly, and it freaked me out. I have severe health anxiety, so bad health reports are an unbearable trigger for me. for some reason my thyroid test also came back as "overactive". so did my blood pressure test, 150/110. I was starting to eat like 5000 calories a day. and still hungry. always hungry. i had to do something. This was the only way i saw out. so i took it.

[possum220]

I have tried getting off Seroquel and find that I cannot sleep. The binge eating is horrid. Can you talk to the person who prescribed this medication and see if there is an alternative?

You may end up choosing to stay off Seroquel. Whatever happens I hope it gets sorted soon.

[sunnydisposition]

I am actually sleeping pretty great without the seroquel. My diet has become perfectly normal. Haven't binged or even felt the need to binge since stopping seroquel. I told my doctor about it, he says if I can sleep on my own then there is no more need to continue seroquel. He has however given me ambien just in case I can't sleep. As prn. He said ambient is weight neutral so I won't have to worry about binge eating on that.

[possum220]

Yay. That is good news.

[sunnydisposition]

Originally Posted by possum220

Yay. That is good news.

hehe..you're very kind possum220