[*Laurie*]

I was on regular Seroquel, mainly for sleep. I took it 1/2 an hour before bedtime and it knocked me right out. That was 50mg., by the way.

When I saw my pdoc a couple of weeks ago she increased my Seroquel to 100mg to help with sleep and with mood stabilization (I had had a manic episode along with difficulty sleeping, and was put on Lamictal about a month before she increased my Seroquel). This time she prescribed Seroquel XR.

Since taking the S-XR 100mg. I feel very tired, but when I lie down to sleep I have what seem to be dreams, yet I'm not quite asleep. The dreams awaken me repeatedly. So it's 1/2-asleep with dream, awaken! - 1/2-asleep with dream, awaken! - and so on. It takes a long time to fall asleep now. When I finally do, I sleep well.

I'll see my pdoc on Friday, but I'm hoping to get some input here first, from people who take Seroquel. Has anyone noticed differences between regular S-quel and S-quel XR and, if you have, what differences have you noticed?

[possum220]

I have only been on 100mg of Seroquel not the XR variety. I would tend to think that the xr doesnt hit your body all at once and that it leaves you in kind of a twilight mode for a longer period. Have to wonder if the Lamictal is impacting your dreams too.

Maybe you could call the pharmacy and ask them if this is normal.

[*Laurie*]

Good idea, possum. I usually forget about asking the pharmacist about meds.

[*Laurie*]

So no one else on this entire forum has experience with Seroquel vs. Seroquel XR? C'mon people, dig deep.

[twilliamsjr79]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

So no one else on this entire forum has experience with Seroquel vs. Seroquel XR? C'mon people, dig deep.

My experience with Serouel XR has been it made me sleep all day. I won't ever take it again. It didn't make thins better just knocked me out cold. If you Google it there's a rew results of people blogging about their experience. That will give you a better idea of what to expect.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by twilliamsjr79

My experience with Serouel XR has been it made me sleep all day. I won't ever take it again. It didn't make thins better just knocked me out cold. If you Google it there's a rew results of people blogging about their experience. That will give you a better idea of what to expect.

Thank you. I appreciate that you've shared your experience with the XR.

I know I can google my question, but I can google anything. I made this post hoping to get some input from people on PC.

[*Laurie*]

Thanks for the hug, possum. A big hug to you, too.

[*Laurie*]

No one else on this forum at this time has been on both Seroquel and Seroquel XR?

No one except possum and twilliamsjr have any experience to share? Perhaps a preference - one type of Seroquel over the other for certain reasons? What is it, do I smell funny or something?146 members have viewed this post and 2 have replied. Seriously.

[TicTacGo]

Hello Laurie.

Both posts above have fair points. I did not find Seroquel XR to be a pleasant experience whatsoever. it did make me incredibly sleepy no matterhow much I tried to make it work. I believe I only stayed on it for about three days before giving up. Seroquel SR did make me drowsy as well, but not as bad as the XR version.

[*Laurie*]

Thanks very much, TicTacGo. It sounds like Seroquel XR might not be the best option for me. I am so sleepy all the time it's miserable. I'm not clear on why my pdoc changed from Seroquel to the XR type. Fortunately, I'll see her Friday.

I currently take a small dose of seroquel to sleep - 25mg. It works well for me, for that purpose.

In the past I have been on up to 600mg of Seroquel XR and felt like a zombie all the time. It was not very helpful for me and I was glad to be off it.

Also I am noticing a pattern of you commenting on your posts, about how many people have viewed it vs. how many people responded. I imagine that may put people off from both responding to your posts and even viewing them, for fear of being called out in such a way. I can certainly understand your frustration, but you may push people farther away and get even fewer replies with comments such as this.

[*Laurie*]

Thanks for the info on your experience with Seroquel XR, sandc. I appreciate it.

I know - I understand that people might be put off by my expressed annoyance. It is so frustrating to me when I post a question that I really need help with, and that I know many others on PC have experience with, yet only a few kind people respond. I truly make an effort, every day (actually several times every day) to reply to as many people as I can, especially if I have direct experience with their question. But usually when I post a question I really feel unsupported on PC, except by a few kind people.

It's very hurtful. I've been here for over 3 years; I appreciate it profoundly when people come through for me, and I make a point to say so.

I'm not one who posts, then disappears and never again comments or doesn't bother to thank members who have replied...I certainly don't "suddenly appear" on PC only when I have a problem, get support, then disappear again until my next problem pops up.

I truly try to be supportive here and I really do care about PC people. When I see 146 views and 2 replies...geez...I dunno, it just feels really hurtful

As for the Seroquel situation, last night I took only 50mg. Seroquel XR and slept much, much better. So far I don't feel super-sleepy, so we shall see. Maybe the 100mg was just too high.

[*Laurie*]

Thanks Guiness

Thanks sandc

[Deejay14]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

So no one else on this entire forum has experience with Seroquel vs. Seroquel XR? C'mon people, dig deep.

Laurie, it is wonderful that you have time to respond to so many people! That is very generous of you, but people here respond to what they think they can help with and it doesn't leave a good impression if you try and goad someone into responding. When you give a response give with a free heart and don't equate it with getting more responses to your question on that day or in the future. You will be discouraged and often disappointed if you give to get. I know often I click on a post to learn something and can't respond because my knowledge base isn't that big on certain subjects.

[88Butterfly88]

Both Seroquel and Seroquel XR caused me increased hunger, but the hunger was a tad more managable on Seroquel XR. Otherwise I didn't see much difference.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by Deejay14

Laurie, it is wonderful that you have time to respond to so many people! That is very generous of you, but people here respond to what they think they can help with and it doesn't leave a good impression if you try and goad someone into responding. When you give a response give with a free heart and don't equate it with getting more responses to your question on that day or in the future. You will be discouraged and often disappointed if you give to get. I know often I click on a post to learn something and can't respond because my knowledge base isn't that big on certain subjects.

Thank you for your input. I want to be very clear on something: I do not give to get. That is not me. In fact, quite the opposite: I give in many ways IRL anonymously and I like it that way. I strongly believe that to give anonymously is a true mitzvah (a charitable act).

By nature, and with joy, I am a giver. I genuinely love helping people out and I am on PC to be helpful.

Now. It is rare for me to post a question. I only do so when I really need some help...I post a question when I am to the point of desperation, or nearly.

I know that there are many, many members of PC who are on Seroquel and have experience with both types of Seroquel. In no way was I trying to "goad" anyone into replying to me. No. I was feeling quite deeply hurt that 146 people had viewed my question, but only 2 people took the time and effort to reply.

The same day I posted this thread, I posted another thread on a different board. That day I was really being disturbed by ongoing sleep issues and needed some help with the situation. My other post received ONE reply. I poured my heart and soul out in that post and...one person took the time to read it and reply to it.

I don't think it's unreasonable at all to hope for a few replies when I occasionally start a thread.Yes, I love to help people, but geez...I'm not a saint. I do appreciate when people sometimes give to me, too.

To me, it seems that considering I do try to be supportive and honest and helpful to as many people as I can every day on PC for the past three+ years, that more people would be caring enough to offer some kind of experience to help me out once in a while. I don't "expect" it, but I would sure appreciate it, just as I profoundly appreciate those who did reply or give hugs on this thread.

Over the years I have been on PC I have seen some degree of a "popularity" thing going on. There are some people on PC who, no matter what they post, tend to get attention and a lot of replies for their posts. Interestingly, oftentimes those people are ones who create a lot of posts, but don't reply to that many...just something I've observed on this forum and something that I've seen some members feel hurt about. We all want to be heard, after all, do we not?

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by 88Butterfly88

Both Seroquel and Seroquel XR caused me increased hunger, but the hunger was a tad more managable on Seroquel XR. Otherwise I didn't see much difference.

Thank you, Butterfly. Yeah, the hunger thing...I weighed 110 when I went on Seroquel. A year later I weighed 210.

It's good to know that the XR has caused a little bit less of a hunger issue for you. I hope I have the same response to it.

[bluecats]

I am currently taking both versions of Seroquel.

Seroquel xr 150mg at 9pm and then 50mg Seroqel around midnight. I also take effexor 300mg in the morning.

I am taking the seroquel for anxious thoughts, as well as sleep and depression. The XR really does make you tired when you first start it and then after taking the regular seroquel at bed time am asleep within about an hour.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by bluecats

I am currently taking both versions of Seroquel.

Seroquel xr 150mg at 9pm and then 50mg Seroqel around midnight. I also take effexor 300mg in the morning.

I am taking the seroquel for anxious thoughts, as well as sleep and depression. The XR really does make you tired when you first start it and then after taking the regular seroquel at bed time am asleep within about an hour.

Thank you, bluecats. I love your username, btw

How interesting - I've never heard of anyone taking both types of Seroquel. Seems sensible to me, though.

I'm somewhat beside myself because the XR just doesn't seem to help me fall asleep, yet I am sleepy all day. I'm getting some good info on this thread, so when I see my pdoc on Friday I'll be prepared with some ideas.

[possum220]

Hope you can get things sorted when you see the doc. I am wondering about the xr version now.

[*Laurie*]

Thank you again, possum. I'm curious as to what my pdoc will suggest. I'll definitely update, as I think the regular Seroquel vs. Seroquel XR are very different meds. I'm sure other people also have issues with the differences between the two.

[whisperingskye]

Whenever I’ve been on seroquel I’ve been on the normal rather than XR. I do know the immediate makes me sleepy, which is awkward as I take 100mg at lunch, and another at bedtime (sometimes I take both doses at bedtime and sleep like a baby.)

I remember when I was first on it around 5 or so years ago I was taking 50mg for sleep and it worked wonders. At some point I was under the crisis team and they got me a prescription for the XR by mistake, and yeah I didn’t sleep. I tried it a couple of nights before they agreed to give me the regular. So yeah, I don’t have too much experience at all with the XR and not sure if the sleeping gets easier or not....

[*Laurie*]

Hmm. Very interesting info, wskye. From reading this thread it sure sounds like the XR doesn't exactly promote good sleep.

I'm glad I'm seeing my pdoc tomorrow.

[rightmeds]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

So no one else on this entire forum has experience with Seroquel vs. Seroquel XR? C'mon people, dig deep.

I have been on both, Seroquel XR gave me the same reaction you have. So I went off that and onto regular seroquel. Which has been much better. I primarily take it for sleep too. My dose had been 400-500 mg a few years ago, then tapered it down to 200. I sometimes wish I could get off it, because of the weight gain, and increase in B/P. But being off isn't an option as no sleep ensues.
I've recently had increased stress both good and bad. Moving, death in the family, husbands job stressful and he brings it on home. I wonder if I should request an increase in the seroquel for awhile?
Thoughts?

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by rightmeds

I have been on both, Seroquel XR gave me the same reaction you have. So I went off that and onto regular seroquel. Which has been much better. I primarily take it for sleep too. My dose had been 400-500 mg a few years ago, then tapered it down to 200. I sometimes wish I could get off it, because of the weight gain, and increase in B/P. But being off isn't an option as no sleep ensues.
I've recently had increased stress both good and bad. Moving, death in the family, husbands job stressful and he brings it on home. I wonder if I should request an increase in the seroquel for awhile?
Thoughts?

Maybe it would be a good idea to increase your Seroquel for at least a month or so - or speak with your pdoc about another medication. In other words, keep your Seroquel at the low dose but add something on.

I saw my pdoc today and sure enough, she switched me from XR to regular. Said XR can cause the sleeplessness problem.

Everyone who replied on this thread has been so helpful to me with this issue. Thanks to each of you