[lenjan]

So, here's the deal: Seroquel knocks me out cold in about 10 minutes. It also tends to make me groggy the next morning. Fortunately, I live a 2 minute drive from work, and I shower the night before, so waking up 15 minutes before I have to be at work usually isn't a problem.

Some days, however, I need to make sure I don't hugely oversleep the alarm, so I skip the Seroquel. And then I don't sleep AT ALL.

I didn't take it last night because I needed to be on time somewhere besides the office first thing this morning. Consequently, I didn't get to sleep till 4 a.m., which made getting up at 8 a bite.

I used to have kind of weird sleep patterns, including periodic insomnia, but I more or less managed at least 8 hours without meds to put me under.

Does this happen to anybody else on Seroquel, and if yes, what do you do about it? I like what it does for my moods, but I hate that it so drastically screws with my sleep.

Thanks,
Candy

[ziggy1]

Hi Candy, they gave me that when I was in Hospital and it knocked me out cold too. 25mgs is all i was on. Once I got home
and took the same dose it didn't do much for my sleeping, but it
did make me feel groggy all the next day.

How much do you take if you don't mind me asking?

[lenjan]

I take 200 mg at bedtime. It's great because I used to toss and turn for a long time before falling asleep, and now I'm zonked in nothing flat, but I hate that since I've been on it (several months) I seem to need it to fall asleep now!

[lauren_helene]

I'm on 50mg and it puts me to sleep. I didn't take it last night either because it is starting to put too much weight on me.

My T said Seroquel is notorious for weight gain. I have Trazadone as a backup for sleep. You can always ask your p-doc about that. I take 50mg just for sleep.

[lenjan]

I tried Trazodone twice. Worked brilliantly the first time, pdoc didn't want me on it long-term, so went off after a few months. Second time, it didn't work at all.

I don't know if it's the Seroquel causing the weight gain or just my crappy eating habits, but I'm starting to put some on too. Which I totally don't need.

[anna342]

I was on seroquel, started at 25, soon got upped to 300mg an evening. I've had chronic insomnia for a few years now, and to start with it helped. As it got upped I felt more and more 'hungover' in the mornings, yet I'd be waking during the night. It also sedated me slightly during the day- which my psych thought was safer (but I thought was stupid) . I've now come off it, and my sleep has definatly got worse, but otherwise I feel so much better without.

I'm glad I made the decision to come off it, even though my sleep is terrible, but it is personal choice. Maybe another drug would suit you better? I don't know how many you've tried?

From talking to my psych, social worker etc it was decided that behavioural therapy is the way forward for my sleep, pills are not solving anything and I do have a history of abusing prescription meds. Perhaps it's something for you to consider too?

[serafim_etal]

I take seroquel for sleep and also feel groggy in the mornings. What my pdoc and I have done is to lower the dose to the absolute lowest possible that still puts me to sleep (25 mgs). I have to perform good "sleep hygiene"... meaning I set a bedtime and stick to it; I also stick to a set time to get up, whether I feel like being awake or not...I must get out of bed and start moving around. The grogginess wears off faster if I start moving around...I also take wellbutrin in the morning which has a tendancy to amp people up. Basically, on seroquel I sleep 9 hours if I just sleep with no alarm and nowhere to be...however, I am groggy if I sleep 9 hours or 7 hours. I know this, so I act accordingly...I'm in bed by 9 and set my alarm for 5:30. This gives me an extra half an hour to move around slowly and let the grogginess disipate. The early bedtime sucks a bit, but tivo helps...as does knowing that I am going to sleep (thanks to seroquel) and therefore I will be able to function. It's an understatement to say I don't function well without sleep!

[okiedokie]

Hi Candybear,
I can't take seroquel at all. Made me very weird at it's lowest dose.

I do take Vistaril for sleep. It is an antihistamine similar to Benadryl but stronger. Works great, no hangover, no addiction potential.
Take care,
Okie