[Elorahd]

I have depression and insomnia and have been on meds for 15+ years. I've been on Seroquel for sleep for a while. Starting off at 25mg, then 50, and now 100. (This happened over YEARS.) My new doctor wanted to get me off of it because of the long term side effects it could have. (I currently have none of these and am still fairly young.) So I slowly started going down until I hit 50mg every night. My sleep has been ok. Not as good as on the 100, and lately I'm noticing I'm sleeping half the night and then waking up 6-12 times the rest of the night.
The problem is, I'm having mood and depression issues, which I haven't had in a LONG time. I've had those under control for a while and it took me by surprise that I would have these issues coming off of something that I just took for sleep.
Is it possible that the Seroquel is helping with my depression and I didn't know it? I'm confused about what's going on and what I should do now because I feel like crap and I think my doctor is being overly sensitive about these long term effects.

[CANDC]

Elorahd, welcome to Psych Central. I am sorry you are suffering from depression. I wonder if you have told your new doctor about your sleeplessness and depression. These are yellow flags that if left untreated can worsen and become more disruptive of your life.

Is your new doctor a psychiatrist? Having a psychiatrist that is comfortable with medication as a treatment plan is important. They can also be far more knowledgeable about psych issues. Medications can prevent episodes that can lead to hospitalization.

I am not qualified nor do I intend to advise you what to do, but I do have a friend that has been on 400mg seroquel for years and stays on it because it keeps them stable and out of the hospital.

If your doctor is not open to medication or advises you to take medication that does not help you sleep and stay out of serious depression, how would you feel about getting a second opinion? Many people are on meds their whole life, prescribed by a psychiatrist. They may change dosages and meds but there is nothing wrong with staying stable with the aid of medication. When I ask my friend how I know they are taking their meds, they tell me point blank: "So I don't end up in the psych hospital again!"

It is your right to get appropriate treatment. If you do not find it with one doctor you have the right to explore with other psychiatrists that may be available in your area and covered by your insurer. Check with your health care insurer and they can tell you all the options in your area. Often they list on their website doctors available in your area that are covered by your insurance plan. Medications can prevent episodes that can lead to hospitalization.

[Elorahd]

Originally Posted by CANDC

Elorahd, welcome to Psych Central. I am sorry you are suffering from depression. I wonder if you have told your new doctor about your sleeplessness and depression. These are yellow flags that if left untreated can worsen and become more disruptive of your life.

Is your new doctor a psychiatrist? Having a psychiatrist that is comfortable with medication as a treatment plan is important. They can also be far more knowledgeable about psych issues. Medications can prevent episodes that can lead to hospitalization.

I am not qualified nor do I intend to advise you what to do, but I do have a friend that has been on 400mg seroquel for years and stays on it because it keeps them stable and out of the hospital.

If your doctor is not open to medication or advises you to take medication that does not help you sleep and stay out of serious depression, how would you feel about getting a second opinion? Many people are on meds their whole life, prescribed by a psychiatrist. They may change dosages and meds but there is nothing wrong with staying stable with the aid of medication. When I ask my friend how I know they are taking their meds, they tell me point blank: "So I don't end up in the psych hospital again!"

It is your right to get appropriate treatment. If you do not find it with one doctor you have the right to explore with other psychiatrists that may be available in your area and covered by your insurer. Check with your health care insurer and they can tell you all the options in your area. Often they list on their website doctors available in your area that are covered by your insurance plan. Medications can prevent episodes that can lead to hospitalization.

It's funny that you mentioned getting a second opinion. I was pretty upset with the psychiatrist that wanted to cut my usage in half immediately. I tried it at first and couldn't sleep for a week. So I told him that when I saw him again and he just said he would prescribe 50mg or nothing. I asked him how he was going to treat my insomnia and he wouldn't answer me. He said I could get a second opinion if I wanted. I wanted. So they sent me to the only other person there, a nurse practitioner. I was fine with that and she was much more helpful, allowing me to trust and listen to my body regarding how fast or slow to come off this.

The problem is, I had an appt with her tmrw and was going to tell her everything I was going through, and then I got a call today saying she was sick and my appt was cancelled. And I know it's going to take a month to get back in.
(The only facility that treats depression in my small town is MHMR. I've been with them from the beginning. But they frequently change doctors and that is difficult to deal with because they all have different opinions about what I should and shouldn't be on.)

The thing that I don't think anybody could have predicted is that I would have mood issues coming off the Seroquel. That's what I'm confused about, since I wasn't taking it for mood to begin with and I didn't notice that it had an effect, unless it just happened too slowly for me to be aware of it.

[possum220]

Welcome to PC and hope that you feel at home soon.

I have been on Seroquel for sleeping and anxiety for a number of years. I wanted to decrease the amount down from 100mg per night. I halved it and found that sleep wasn't as easy to come by. When I forgot to take Seroquel I would lay in bed awake.

It is dissappointing that he said that it was 50mg or nothing. Sounds like that the p'nurse knows more than the P'doc. Might not be a bad idea to get a second opinion from another psychiatrist though. CANDC had some very wise words and great advice.

Getting quality sleep is going to impact our mental wellness.

[TicTacGo]

Funny how different people can react differently. I take 200 mg and periodically stop taking because, well I rebel against what I think is excessive. I haven't experienced any such things.

It is possible though.

[Elorahd]

Wow, it's amazing what just one proper dose of Seroquel will do. I started taking 100mg again last night and I feel SO much better this morning! I can even breathe normally again. (I was having trouble catching my breath but thought it was related to something else.)
And, like I thought, I can't get in to see her until June 1st. But I have enough meds to last me until then. I'm going to tell her that the Seroquel is helping profoundly with my mood and that I need to stay on the 100mg.

[CANDC]

Originally Posted by Elorahd

It's funny that you mentioned getting a second opinion. I was pretty upset with the psychiatrist that wanted to cut my usage in half immediately. I tried it at first and couldn't sleep for a week. So I told him that when I saw him again and he just said he would prescribe 50mg or nothing. I asked him how he was going to treat my insomnia and he wouldn't answer me. He said I could get a second opinion if I wanted. I wanted. So they sent me to the only other person there, a nurse practitioner. I was fine with that and she was much more helpful, allowing me to trust and listen to my body regarding how fast or slow to come off this.

The problem is, I had an appt with her tmrw and was going to tell her everything I was going through, and then I got a call today saying she was sick and my appt was cancelled. And I know it's going to take a month to get back in.
(The only facility that treats depression in my small town is MHMR. I've been with them from the beginning. But they frequently change doctors and that is difficult to deal with because they all have different opinions about what I should and shouldn't be on.)

The thing that I don't think anybody could have predicted is that I would have mood issues coming off the Seroquel. That's what I'm confused about, since I wasn't taking it for mood to begin with and I didn't notice that it had an effect, unless it just happened too slowly for me to be aware of it.

I am glad you are trying to get a second opinion. I am really sorry to hear the hardness and inflexibility of the doctor. You seem to have limited options in your community. Maybe call and ask to be put on the cancellation list for the nurse. I have never heard that "Take it or leave it approach" in any of my contacts with mental health professionals. It sounds like they have strongly held beliefs and are difficult to deal with. But if that is your only option, working with them and finding out what they advise may be better than going it alone. It is a personal choice.

Since going that route has hit roadblocks, how about talking to the pharmacist about over the counter products like melatonin that are sleep aids? If natural things like that and chamomile or peppermint tea don't do the trick, ask the pharmacist what might be safe to use in over the counter sleep remedies with seroquel.

Did you happen to ask the doctor what their concern was? They seem to be anti medicine or concerned about side affects. If they do not like medicines, what other alternatives do they adhere to that might help? There are other options you can try on your own like exercise, yoga and energy work. If you want links for any of those, let me know. Mindfulness can help also.

[CobolCapsule]

Originally Posted by Elorahd

I have depression and insomnia and have been on meds for 15+ years. I've been on Seroquel for sleep for a while. Starting off at 25mg, then 50, and now 100. (This happened over YEARS.) My new doctor wanted to get me off of it because of the long term side effects it could have. (I currently have none of these and am still fairly young.) So I slowly started going down until I hit 50mg every night. My sleep has been ok. Not as good as on the 100, and lately I'm noticing I'm sleeping half the night and then waking up 6-12 times the rest of the night.
The problem is, I'm having mood and depression issues, which I haven't had in a LONG time. I've had those under control for a while and it took me by surprise that I would have these issues coming off of something that I just took for sleep.
Is it possible that the Seroquel is helping with my depression and I didn't know it? I'm confused about what's going on and what I should do now because I feel like crap and I think my doctor is being overly sensitive about these long term effects.

The long term effects of an AP are very minute. The chances of getting TD are like 1% or less, and thats at high doses. It sounds like your DR needs to do some research.

[Elorahd]

Originally Posted by CobolCapsule

The long term effects of an AP are very minute. The chances of getting TD are like 1% or less, and thats at high doses. It sounds like your DR needs to do some research.

Thank you. This is what I was thinking. I hope my new doc is more reasonable. I think once I tell her how awful I was feeling coming off of it, she'll let me stay on the 100.

[crimsoncat]

Originally Posted by Elorahd

Thank you. This is what I was thinking. I hope my new doc is more reasonable. I think once I tell her how awful I was feeling coming off of it, she'll let me stay on the 100.

Originally Posted by Elorahd

I have depression and insomnia and have been on meds for 15+ years. I've been on Seroquel for sleep for a while. Starting off at 25mg, then 50, and now 100. (This happened over YEARS.) My new doctor wanted to get me off of it because of the long term side effects it could have. (I currently have none of these and am still fairly young.) So I slowly started going down until I hit 50mg every night. My sleep has been ok. Not as good as on the 100, and lately I'm noticing I'm sleeping half the night and then waking up 6-12 times the rest of the night.
The problem is, I'm having mood and depression issues, which I haven't had in a LONG time. I've had those under control for a while and it took me by surprise that I would have these issues coming off of something that I just took for sleep.
Is it possible that the Seroquel is helping with my depression and I didn't know it? I'm confused about what's going on and what I should do now because I feel like crap and I think my doctor is being overly sensitive about these long term effects.

Hi ,just wanted to confirm that I take this as a mood stabilizer ,but when I was recently under crisis care I saw a consultation p doc as I was severely depressed and not sleeping and already taking high doses of antidepressant and topimerate and 100 Seroquel, he increased the Seroquel as he told me it does work on depression at higher doses ,so Yes it can affect your mood !