[xRavenx]

Recently my doctor increased my Seroquel. Before the increase, I would have to take it earlier and go to bed earlier than normal since 8 hours did not feel like enough, and I'd feel lightheaded and extremely tired with anything less. I only have the opportunity to sleep in a couple of days during the week since I usually get up early for work and have to drive 50 minutes to get there in the morning. However, I felt it was manageable.

I've been on the higher dose for 2 days now. The first night, I had about 8 hours of sleep. I felt slightly dizzy going to work and had a hard time dragging myself out of bed. It took a few hours for the feeling to wear off. The sedation seems twice as bad compared to my previous dose, even though my pdoc only had me taper a little bit higher.

Today, luckily I had no work due to the snow, but I highly doubt I would have been okay waking up on time and driving. I ended up sleeping from 11 pm-12:30 pm, which seems like a lot to me.

The intention of the increase in Seroquel was for help getting me out of this depression/some mixed symptoms of BP. I notice a slight, positive difference in my mood since my emotions were out of control before. However, I'm afraid of this dose interfering with my functioning (driving and working).

Seroquel has helped with mood/psychosis, and it's been the only med that has helped me with sleep, but if the new dose continues to be overkill, I suspect decreasing it again and adding a new med will be inevitable unless something changes.

How long did it take you to adjust to a higher dose of Seroquel? Any tips as far as how many hours before bed to take it, or things to help with the sedation? I am crossing my fingers I get used to this.

[*Laurie*]

Hi xRavenx, When I was on a higher dosage of Seroquel the extreme sleepiness lasted for about 3 weeks. After that, things felt more normal. That was at 350mg.

I now take 100mg of Seroquel. It helps me sleep with little or no 'hangover' the next day. I do require 9 hours of sleep, however.

[still_crazy]

I don't take seroquel, but I have an acquaintance who has done well for several years now on seroquel at night and an adderall xr capsule in the morning. Are stimulants, or maybe wellbutrin, an option for you?

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by LauraBeth

Hi xRavenx, When I was on a higher dosage of Seroquel the extreme sleepiness lasted for about 3 weeks. After that, things felt more normal. That was at 350mg.

I now take 100mg of Seroquel. It helps me sleep with little or no 'hangover' the next day. I do require 9 hours of sleep, however.

Thank you. It's good to know that maybe in a few weeks, I won't have to go through that extreme sleepiness anymore. I was previously on 250 mg, and then it was recently increased to 350. The plan was to go at 400 mg, but I need time adjusting to this current dose.

Originally Posted by still_crazy

I don't take seroquel, but I have an acquaintance who has done well for several years now on seroquel at night and an adderall xr capsule in the morning. Are stimulants, or maybe wellbutrin, an option for you?

Unfortunately, Wellbutrin made me so agitated and eventually manic, so that isn't an option. I'm very sensitive to stimulants, but maybe I can ask the pdoc about maybe a more natural way of boosting energy in the morning? I do like my coffee, and I wonder if there's any vitamins or something of that sort to help.

[Shazerac]

the sleepiness will go away. So will the sleeping more than usual. I deal with it by going to bed earlier and getting up at least 2 hours before I have to be somewhere to give myself time to drink coffee and get fully awake.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by Shazerac

the sleepiness will go away. So will the sleeping more than usual. I deal with it by going to bed earlier and getting up at least 2 hours before I have to be somewhere to give myself time to drink coffee and get fully awake.

Thank you, Shazerac. I guess since I made it this far to 300 mg, eventually my body should adjust to 400 mg (which is the dose my pdoc plans to keep me on). Luckily, I was able to talk to her today since I had a follow up appointment. She said my body should fully adjust in a month and that I need to take it a little earlier so that when I wake up, the calming affect will be there without the heavy sedation.

I'm on 250mg - at night. I get about 10hrs sleep a night. Bordem is a problem in my life and I find then that I nap during the day for a few hours on top of that.

Some tests have shown that there is a link between Type II Diabetes and long term extremely high Seroquel (Quetiapine) dosages (I know people on 650mg). I take Metformin off label for this reason - it also helps to manage my weight.