Seroquel for Bipolar (Quetiapine)

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Seroquel for Bipolar (Quetiapine)

by Sarah from Bipolar-Lives
(US)

US BRAND NAME: Seroquel

GENERIC NAME: Quetiapine

TYPE: Atypical antipsychotic

USE: Can reduce symptoms of mania, such as feeling upset, racing thoughts, and not being able to sleep. ALSO works on dopamine to reduce bipolar depression.

COMMENTS: Addresses both mania and depression, but carries significant risks to physical health, especially through weight gain and diabetes. Dr Jim Phelps suggests Seroquel is a good choice in situations of (1) both severe depression and agitation (2) severe sleep problems (3) anxiety is significant, and (4) no family history of diabetes.

EVIDENCE: Has been studied by the NIMH as well as the Astra Zeneca sponsored studies. Both Consumer Reports and the British Medical Journal rate Serquel as likely to do more good than harm in treating bipolar mania and depression. The FDA approved Seroquel XR for the treatment of bipolar depression and bipolar mania in early October, 2008. According to AstraZeneca, Seroquel XR is "the first medication approved by the FDA for the once-daily acute treatment of both depressive and manic episodes associated with bipolar."

SIDE EFFECTS: Include but not limited to: Diabetes, Dry mouth, Hyperglycemia, Sleepiness, Tiredness, Weight gain.

CAUTIONS: NOT to be used to treat behavioral problems in older adult patients who have dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Can lead to pronounced weight gain and diabetes so not a good choice for a patient who is already obese and has metabolic syndrome and/or diabetes.

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Seroquel for Bipolar (Quetiapine)

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Apr 09, 2012
Rating

Excellent for mood and delusions
by: Jon

I have taken 600mg quetiapine modified release for about 4 years. My diagnosis is bipolar disorder type 1 and schizotypal disorder. The quetiapine does an excellent job at balancing my mood. I've only felt a bit high or low on a few occasions. It has totally cleared up my delusions and paranoia. However, it does not do much for my anxiety, and I have gained about 55 lbs since starting it. Cannot shift the weight. This is the only side effect I've noticed and it is making me want to stop the medication.

Feb 06, 2012
Rating

ditto that
by: Anonymous

Seroquel helps me a lot. I take it with Lamictal and Wellbutrin and the mix is working for now. Seroquel lets me sleep well.

Feb 02, 2012
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Seroquel Saved Me
by: Anonymous

started out taking 100mg per day @ night time. now up to 800mg a day. this drug has been a life saver & life changer for me. controls mania, lifts depression & allows me to get a full nights sleep without nightmares. the problem is that I am now on maximum dosage per day & within the year know I will have to find another drug to take with the seroquel or perhaps up to three different drugs to replace what it now does for me. have taken depakote in the past this is without question worse drug I ever put in my body & no one will ever convince me to take it again. would be nice if a generic seroquel became available as seroquel is very expensive even with healthcare coverage.

Nov 03, 2011
Rating

Seroquel
by: Anonymous

Iv been taking 200mg of Seroquel combined with 100mg of lamictal for the past 6 months.I no longer have depressive stages and highs are very limited as my cycles of ups and downs were regular.I was on risperdol previously and found no addition.Seroquel slows your body down ,thinking ,reducess tention and stress.I am relativly normal now since i started taking seroquel.so i am glad i got the choice.good luck all.

Oct 26, 2011
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Seroquel
by: Anonymous

I have been taking seroquel medication now for six months and it is working well at keeping mania at bay and helping me sleep at night.

Oct 15, 2011
Rating

Wonderful combo of meds for bipolar
by: Anonymous

I have been on Seroquel 300 mg for 3 years along with depakote and cymbalta and klonopin. This cocktail helps tremendously. I have little to no manic episodes and not much depression or anxiety attacks. I suggest these meds to people all the time.

Jun 25, 2011
Rating

Seroquel big help in Bipolar 2
by: Anonymous

I have been taking Seroquel XR 100mg for about 14 days. I have Bipolar 2 and really suffer with depression. Seroquel has made a big difference. I am taking it at night when I go to bed to avoid the desire to binge eat that follows about an hour after I take it. Only problem I am having with it at this stage is I get restless legs within an hour of taking it and it is annoying. The good effects are outweighing the bad in my situation. Good luck people.

Feb 24, 2011
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Low Dose Seroquel for 8+ Years With Good Results
by: EAC

I have taken 25 mg of Seroquel every night for over 8 years. My body reacts very strongly to even small doses of psychotropic meds, and I've tried at least 12 over the 11 years since my diagnosis. Although I have had a small weight gain of say 5-10 lbs, my experience with Seroquel has been generally good. It's very effective for sleep as well as controlling my hypomanic tendencies. I take this in conjunction with 200 mg of Lamictal, which is very effective for stablizing my moods. In addition, I take 25 mg of Trazadone at night for sleep. Before my diagnosis, for many years, I barely slept. With the early meds I was given, I often slept up to 20 hours a day. My current combination is not perfect but so far, the best.

Dec 09, 2010
Rating

Is Seroquel really any good?
by: Anonymous

when first diagnosed i was prescribed seroquel 300mg. it made me exhausted all the time. my night terrors eventually returned. i was then prescribed lithium which i felt much better on. my wife said my moods were much better too. my sodium levels became too high so now i have been switched back to seroquel this time 200mg. i'm not as exhausted but i am often irritable. it has been about 8 months now i'm still wondering if this really is the med for me.

Aug 11, 2010
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AstraZeneca set to pay $198m to settle Seroquel claims
by: Sarah from Bipolar-Lives

Settlement for a little more than $11,300 per head for plaintiffs claiming that the treatment for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression causes diabetes and other injuries.

Aug 11, 2010
Rating

Seroqel is a wonder drug.
by: Mary

I am bipolar amd have epilepsy. I take Topomax and Neurontin for anti-convulsant, and mood stabilizers. Have been on this combo 6 yrs. minor dosage adjustments. have been pretty stable.
I take Seroquel, Zoloft and Effexor for depresssion, the Seroquel added 3 months ago because the Zoloft and Effexor were becoming less effective. The Seroqel is a wonder drug. I sleep all night now, and depression has almost totally lifted. Don't really care if I gain weight, unless its tons. Haven't yet.

Aug 04, 2010
Rating

Seroqel is a great med (shame about the diabetes)
by: Sarah from Bipolar-Lives

Elsewhere I have been very critical about Seroquel because of the damage it does to physical health. People with bipolar disorder are dramatically more likely to die prematurely from things like diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and gaining 60 lbs on Seroquel and developing insulin resistence sure won't help your chances. However, not all people gain a lot of weight and the fact is that Seroquel is unique in addressing both depression and mania, without the blood work and endless monitoring of the tradtional mood stabilizers. it would be wonderful if we could present both sides of teh story, so please share comments on either your positive or negative experiences with Seroquel.

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Seroquel for Bipolar (Quetiapine)

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Seroquel for Bipolar (Quetiapine)