Medication Dosage

[SilentRage]

I am taking my medication for my bipolar, anxiety but the thing is sometime I dont want to take the seroquel at night because I do not want to be put into a drug induce sleep. I like to be aware of my surroundings and I would like to be alert in case anything was to happen. I talked this with my social worker but because of the severity of my mania I think she wants me to be on a higher dosage or atleast a different kind. I tried to tell my psych doc (I probably didnt explain it very well) she just lowered my dosage. I am just, I dont know. I want to be able to be aware just in case anything was to happen to my family or if I need to be on the move if i need to escape or anything. (fire, breakin, etc.) Can anyone offer any advice or ever felt this way? I know it must be my paranoia but its hard. Especially when I feel I have to protect everyone. I know they can handle themselves, but I feel as if I am the protector. The medication I take is Trileptal 150mg and Seroquel 50mg. I have no problems with the Trileptal its the seroquel I dont want to take because of the groggy, zombie rush me into sleep feeling.

[jimgreg]

serquil more less induces sleep..i do agree with you..say you take it at 9pm ur out by 10pm..in just 3 hrs you would be able to fushion..serquil has a histamine afffect,.,.that induces sleep,..this is the reasons u may feel foggy upon awaking also..i was on this for 2 yrs had t stop due to alot of side effects..i was on 100 mgs immt realse..if ur on anything higher than 200 xr it wont be as bad you may think upon a emergency..the long acting is alot diftt then immt release..ur only getting so much a period of 3 hrs till 24 hrs is up..immt release is 1/2 life 5-6 hrs..

[SilentRage]

Thanks for that. I actually been writing these things down on paper, but I been writing everything lol. I will shorten it and get straight to the basics so she can understand what is happening. When I speak to people my speaking is the same as the racing thoughts as my head so that is highly possible to what you are saying. My mania is there, its been there for awhile so maybe I just need another combination of meds all together.

[rmevans]

If the seroquel puts you out that badly, and the lowered dose doesn't quit knocking you out completely or makes the mania worse, you need to see if your doc will try you on different mood stabilizers.  There are many different options available and every med works differently for every person.  
It sounds like the mania is causing you racing thoughts and the paranoia can also be a symptom of mania.  If your speech is racing like your thoughts, it is quite possible that neither your social worker or you doc were able to understand what you were trying to tell them.  Also, I wouldn't take a social workers advise on medication.  She is not a doctor, and only your doc can find a combo of meds that will work for you.
Perhaps you can print out what you wrote here and take it to her.  I find it is easier if I write down the things I need to talk to my doc about so that I don't forget and to make sure she is able to understand what I am trying to tell her.  I can communicate so much better on paper and in the comfort of my home than while I am in the docs office for 20 min.  I've even just given her my notes so she can read them quickly - just make sure you don't write down everything that is running through your head though or she'll never have time to read it ;-)

[starbunny]

I take seroquel 500mg and used to take 600mg and I got used to the sedating effect after a while. I must have a really hyperactive brain because I still feel manic some days and have difficulty sleeping. Perhaps you should just give yourself more time to get used to it? I remember having similar fears at the beginning.

[SilentRage]

I took a higher dosage before and they put me to sleep for over 24 plus hours. I had to practically beg them for a lower dosage. Its just that I dont want anything to happen to my family and I cant  do anything because I am knock out.

[rmevans]

I was on a larger dose of Seroquel than that (75-100mg), and never had any problems getting up in the night if the phone rang or my dog nudged me in the face with his nose.  But I guess I took Trileptal a long time ago and it didn't do anything for my manic states, and the Seroquel didn't always help me sleep anyway, so it is possible that they affect you differently.  I would suggest at least trying to take it.  Maybe set your alarm for a sometime in the middle of the night once, just to see how groggy and out of it you feel when you are awakened.

[SilentRage]

Thank you so much for all your help. Any advice is highly appreciated :)

[wineandroses]

I have never taken Seroquel because of the weight gain issues but I have heard it will make you sleep.  I take Lamictal and have good success with it.  The Lamictal does make me somewhat tired but I take it with other meds that do knock me out.  Lamictal is a mood stabilizer and not a antiphycotic like Seroquel.  You may want to do some research on Lamictal and Abilify.  Sorry I can't help you anymore than I have, perhaps someone else on this site can give you a better answer.  l

[SilentRage]

We have an alarm that would go off if the fire escape is tampered with. But I might look into other things. My thing is I can stay up for over 27 hours at times. Or i can go to sleep for 10 min and feel well rested. My social workers said its my mania that does that. She wants me to sleep the way I need to because its not good especially for someone with bipolar and who also suffers from chronic migraines everyday. I dont mind taking the meds. I just dont want anything that would just throw me into sleep mode and not hear anything at all.

[wineandroses]

I understand what you are saying because my meds knock me out.  I know this sounds funky but what would the possilbility be to install alarms in your house?