Reviewer: Tazmanian Devil, 45-54 Female on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)

Comment:
Started this med less than 6 months ago. 150 mg is working wonderfully (as opposed to Seroquel where I experienced too many side effects that interfered with everyday life). Do need to take in early evening to sleep and to avoid 'restless legs'. Taking in addition to Lithium and Lamotrigine. Depression phase has thankfully passed.

Comment:
Started this med less than 6 months ago. 150 mg is working wonderfully (as opposed to Seroquel where I experienced too many side effects that interfered with everyday life). Do need to take in early evening to sleep and to avoid 'restless legs'. Taking in addition to Lithium and Lamotrigine. Depression phase has thankfully passed.
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Reviewer: rdnkgrl, 25-34 Female on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)

Comment:
After OD-ing in a suicide attempt a month ago, I was put on 50mg Seroquel XR in the morning and 200mg at night, which was quickly increased to 400mg at night. This med works great for the intended purpose...helps control my moods, helps me sleep better, I'm not suicidal anymore, and I find myself having more energy. What I do not like, however, it that it has caused major weight gain! I have ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
After OD-ing in a suicide attempt a month ago, I was put on 50mg Seroquel XR in the morning and 200mg at night, which was quickly increased to 400mg at night. This med works great for the intended purpose...helps control my moods, helps me sleep better, I'm not suicidal anymore, and I find myself having more energy. What I do not like, however, it that it has caused major weight gain! I have gone from weighing an acceptable (my opinion!) 120lbs to an absolutely horrible 140 lbs in a matter of one short month!! I am only 5'4", and although the medicine is definitely working for what it is supposed to, I find that I am getting depressed again over the weight gain issue, therefore cancelling out the benefits of the drug. I have decided, after weighing myself today in the store at 142 lbs, that I have to stop talking this drug. It will not do me any good if I keep gaining weight because I am becoming more depressed, therefore suicidal, because I consider myself fat and can't loose weight and I am hating myself. For me the drug is not worth the side effects. For someone who is not concerned about their weight it could be a miracle drug!
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Reviewer: 25-34 on Treatment for 2 to less than 5 years (Patient)

Comment:
I have been taking Seroquel nightly for 2+ years. PROS: I sleep much better, my mood is more stable, and I rarely enter into manic periods. I am almost a functioning human being again. CONS: (1) I feel groggy for about 12-13 hours after taking any dose (25-150 mgs), which makes mornings feel nearly impossible, and has caused me to miss several important appointments. (2) About an hour after ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I have been taking Seroquel nightly for 2+ years. PROS: I sleep much better, my mood is more stable, and I rarely enter into manic periods. I am almost a functioning human being again. CONS: (1) I feel groggy for about 12-13 hours after taking any dose (25-150 mgs), which makes mornings feel nearly impossible, and has caused me to miss several important appointments. (2) About an hour after taking Seroquel I ALWAYS get insane munchies, worse than anything I ever felt smoking/ingesting pot, and then I get very drowsy. MIDNIGHT MUNCHIES + 12 HOURS SLEEP x SEVERAL MONTHS = SUBSTANTIAL WEIGHT GAIN. (3) If I don't take my Seroquel, I don't sleep, and over time I have developed a tolerance for Seroquel, so I have to take increased quantities for it to be effective. (4) Recently my blood tests indicated that my liver is damaged, and my new doctor wants to start hunting around for alternatives to Seroquel, but I am reluctant.
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Reviewer: dmakower, 55-64 Female on Treatment for 5 to less than 10 years (Patient)

Comment:
I have been on Seroquel XR for 7 years. I have taken as much as 600 mg., for depression and manic episodes. It saved my life as I was suicidally depressed. It went away really quick. I went from weighing 160 to almost 300 lbs. I could barely walk one house. After having cataract surgery in both eyes, developing sugar diabetes, and so sleepy day and night, I changed my diet am walking 1 mile ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I have been on Seroquel XR for 7 years. I have taken as much as 600 mg., for depression and manic episodes. It saved my life as I was suicidally depressed. It went away really quick. I went from weighing 160 to almost 300 lbs. I could barely walk one house. After having cataract surgery in both eyes, developing sugar diabetes, and so sleepy day and night, I changed my diet am walking 1 mile a day, and after two years have lost 150 lbs. I can only eat around 1000 calories a day and was only eating 800 calories a day to begin weight loss. If I eat bread I can gain 3-4 lbs in a day. I am glad I'm not been depressed for a very long time, but can't stand the day time sleepiness. My doctor has gradually gotten down to 150 mg. and am still as sleepy as can be. The trade offs have been worth it up until now, but I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Don't know how low I can go and still get the good affects of keeping my moods stable.
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Reviewer: 13-18 Female on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)

Comment:
I was put on this drug before Thanksgiving of 2013. I was on Lexapro and Abilify before hand and did not like those at all. I was put on this for being "bi polar" and to help me sleep. The first two weeks I felt so much better and could sleep better. However, I soon found that I was sleeping all of the time and my mood just got worse. I was a straight A student who always paid attention ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I was put on this drug before Thanksgiving of 2013. I was on Lexapro and Abilify before hand and did not like those at all. I was put on this for being "bi polar" and to help me sleep. The first two weeks I felt so much better and could sleep better. However, I soon found that I was sleeping all of the time and my mood just got worse. I was a straight A student who always paid attention in class and I turned into a student who rarely went to school and was always sleeping. I began to have horrible nightmares that I would sometimes wake up panting and terrified. I'm normally a hard worker but on this medicine I was disinterested in everything that came up. My health greatly declined while on this medicine both physically and mentally. When I couldn't take my medicine for a week after leaving it at an aunts, with in a few days I was a wake and alert and much happier. The only thing that happened was I was extremely itchy. I was on a high dose from the beginning but I don't think being on a small one would do anything to help. I am now three weeks off this medicine and I feel amazing and able to handle everything going on.
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