Seroquel withdrawl

[monkeyc]

Well it looks like I am headed for hospital and a change of meds from Seroquel to Lamictal.  

I can't find much info on withdrawing from Seroquel aside from laundry lists including heart failure and the like so Im wondering if anyone here has come off it?

I take 800MG day of XR and 100mg SR for sleep.

Your experiences would be much appreciated.

[bpchrisb]

Lamictal is a good medication; it's approved for BP depression, but it's a good all around mood stabilizer for me, for the most part.

I know that I have been placed on Seroquel several times and had adverse reactions each time; akathisia and mania. I was pulled off of the suddenly and had a terrible time sleeping along with some flu like symptoms.

I doubt that you'll have serious issues as you'll be in a hospital environment, they'll taper you off as needed. Plus, given that you're on such a high dose, I imagine they'll be able to tinker around with it to keep you comfortable. They'll probably give you a few PRN doses in case things get rough.

I am also surprised that they're not just putting you on Lamictal, along with the Seroquel as they don't interact with one another. That might be something to push.. I'd push it hard; I really, really wish the Seroquel had worked for me. It would be a nice med to add in with the Lamictal.

[BeeKeeper]

I think my pdoc is trying to cover all bases as she has me on cymbalta, seroquel xr, lamictal and lithium.  I just don't sleep on a normal basis and seroquel didn't change that, but seroquel xr at first was great!  helped my mood and let me sleep.  Now...I'm getting depressed again with hallucinations, am gaining alot of weight and can't wake up for many hours in the morning.  I was at the upper limit of Cymbalta before and it wasn't bad at all cutting over from cymbalta to seroquel.  I'm hoping it won't be bad cutting over from cymbalta/seroquel to something else.  Definately not Abilify as that litterally drove me up a wall.

[starbunny]

Yeah, I hear good things about lamictal too, especially for bipolar depression, but I've never tried it Seroquel was a life saver for me too. However, it did not do all that much for the depression and I struggled with side effects for 7 months I feel I have given it a good shot. I am pretty much in the same boat as you in facing a change. I see my pdoc in a fortnight. It will be interesting to know how you get on so please keep me posted!

[monkeyc]

The change is because Seoquel isnt working as well as they want - Im deepressed and starting to get suicidal again.

This pretty much ***** as seroquel has been a ife saving drug for me.  Laimictal is my pdocs fav MS and I heear so many good things about it.

[cowgirlnerd]

GOOD LUCK!  I hope you feel better!  Lamictal works great for me.  I just changed from Abilfy to Geodon, but take Lamictal as the main stabilizer.

Hope the withdrawals aren't to bad.

Rach

[adel_ezz]

Iwish I know why people keep changing meds. In another post, the pdoc asked her to change from seroquel to lamictal+depakote. By the time one is an old BP veteran, one would have tried the whole bloody shelves.

If my combo is considered stupid by most people and pdocs risperidal+seroquel (2 atypical AP's) why not the same for the 2 above AC's why necessary they will do the trick. To unvail a secret, I was before on the 2 above atypical plus one typical AP, I never felt much better ever except when I tried this funny combo.

one day, I remember I tried to think hard which combo is perfect for BP and came with the conclusion that lamictal+seroquel is best. I thought because lamictal works upwards (i.e. good for depression, plus little side effects like weight gain and rashes rare) while seroquel works downwards (strong antimanic) also one is AC while the 2nd an AP so a flower from every garden and they must equalize each other. So I tried lamictal and to be on the safe side, i took the chewable infantile of 2mg only ( i.e. not an increase in dose of 50mg like the usual every other week). I felt so great even under this dose and stated to increase it by 2mg every week. By the time I was on 8mg, I fell on the floor and felt I was passing away. One doc said a seizure, another said only hysterical. So i stopped it unfortunately and to my great sadness. Yet I know a lady who is taking for years  lamictal+seroquel and doing pretty pretty well. So nobody knows !!! hopefully you will find suitable. HOPE so indeed.

going back to lamictal + valporex it says in the brochure of the 1st that it mixes well with the 2nd, why, I don't know.

In summary nobody knows anything

[wj74]

Good luck!

[starbunny]

Why are you changing from seroquel to lamictal? I am just curious as I perhaps too might be changing from seroquel to something else in the near future. It's some unwanted side effects for me.I tried stopping the med unsupervised (don't do this at home) and I had a real job sleeping afterwards, so perhaps be prepared for that (I am back on now until I can see my pdoc).

[ILADVOCATE]

I was transfered from Seroquel to Risperdal years ago. Once the Seroquel was gone completely,  for a couple of days I had minor flu like withdrawal symptoms and slept all day and felt run down. Then I was okay after that.