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Title: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 11, 2012, 07:42:27 PM
Saw my psych last week he took me off my antidepressants mirtazapine and put me on quetiapine.  Kept on pregabalin too he increased this. Its been rough since the meds changed. Been nauseaus till about 5pm its not helped by the fact I was going from a high to a low mood at the time.  Have really struggled the last 9 days .  Is this normal when starting quetiapine?
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easiersaw
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 11, 2012, 07:43:21 PM
Excuse the bad spelling in title not very focused
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easiersaw
Post by: babylady on February 11, 2012, 07:47:14 PM
 knpeople for whom quetiapine has worked fantastically and the side effects relatively short lived, but for me, it was the most intolerable medication ever, felt permanently nauseous and low in mood and only stuck it out for 3 weeks, I couldn't deal with the sickness at all.
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easiersaw
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 11, 2012, 07:48:59 PM
I got told to give it a few weeks.  I am struggling though.  Too low with it. 
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: unknown_member on February 11, 2012, 08:44:27 PM
I stuck with quetiapine for nearly a year and i noticed a massive difference in my mood and thoughts etc.. it really helped me alot, i only got taken off it to go onto a depot otherwise i would have still been on it... it didn't make me feel nauseous so sorry you feel like that but stick with it , it really worked for me! xxx

If you don't get on with it in the next few weeks speak to your doctor there's lots of alternatives xxx
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 11, 2012, 08:53:49 PM
 Seeing psych weekly at the moment.  I know I need to be patient and give them a chance just not coping too well.  Med changes are never easy.  But this time seems harder. 
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: is_it_true on February 11, 2012, 09:38:49 PM
when i began quetiapine i was also put on venlafaxine...the 2 combined made me very sleepy and yeh i fel sick. cant really remeber how long for? but it def used to help me sleep.

i would stick with it, you know if you will keep the dose you are on or is it intended to go up? i begun very low never really knew why i was given it, but have new psych and she said i would have been given it to help reduce anxiety and slow racing thoughts. didnt see help in anxiety until my current dose (dont think im allowed to say, but its 6 times the original dose and i have requested a bit  more). it also helps unwwind at night.

how are you feeling today, mind me asking what you are being given it for?  :hug2:

when i had 24/7 morning sickness i found dry crackers helped settle my stomach and ginger bisuits (anything ginger is supposed to help)...never know may help normal nausea???
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 11, 2012, 09:49:19 PM
I've not been diagnosed with anything yet cos the psych hasn't seen me high cos my mood dipped that day badly.  In 9 days psych increased my dose twice.  I know these things take time but I'm just finding is such a struggle as I am under pressure with other  things right now too

Thanks for nausea tips will try them   :hug1:
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 21, 2012, 07:42:13 PM
does anyone know why this has to be taken on an empty stomach? x
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: findingmyway on February 21, 2012, 07:46:59 PM
Im not sure about quetiapine specifically, but its generally because it doesnt effectively get into the blood stream if you've recently eaten.

Obviously, I cant tell you to go against the leaflet but I've never worried about taking it on an empty stomach because it made things too complicated for me and I've never had any issues. x
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 21, 2012, 07:49:46 PM
the leaflet doesn't explain why it has to be on an empty stomach, the doc at psych centre doesn't know either.  It's the most confusing meds I have been on x
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: findingmyway on February 21, 2012, 07:53:23 PM
Yea I found the same thing - none of my mh team knew why it has to be on an empty stomach - so I took that to mean it wasnt that important :whistler:
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 21, 2012, 07:57:21 PM
it's hard trying to plan work around it cos I can't take it at bedtime, or I feel crappy in the morning, and if I take it early I either have to miss dinner or have dinner late, and I don't like eating at night x
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: howling on February 21, 2012, 07:59:34 PM
such a bummer isnt it? has the doc not given you advice for the best time to take it. easier said than done but try and relax about bedtime so you can get more sleep. xxx
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 21, 2012, 08:02:47 PM
nah the psych I have been seeing is nice but she seems a bit retarded  :-X

my gp is the one who posted me the leaflet and has been helpful but shes not a psych so can only advise me so far
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: howling on February 21, 2012, 08:08:05 PM
oh dear, thats no good then? i know you said she was retarded but can you push it with her. you cant go on like this if your unsure how to take them. or see if the doc will go above her. sorry just thoughts. xxxx
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: findingmyway on February 21, 2012, 08:13:18 PM
it's hard trying to plan work around it cos I can't take it at bedtime, or I feel crappy in the morning, and if I take it early I either have to miss dinner or have dinner late, and I don't like eating at night x
Yea, I think this is the big issue with the XR tablets. They're such a pain to get a time that works as far as meal times and being able to get up in the morning :hug1:

Ive just looked on the nhs choices website and it says that it should be taken an hour before food - would taking it at 6pm and eating at 7pm be possible for you? Or does it feel too late?
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 21, 2012, 08:25:02 PM
I have to eat around 5ish I suffer with reflux and heartburn.  Took them at 8 tonight just pray I will be able to get up in the morning (and that I get to sleep in the first place!) x
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: findingmyway on February 21, 2012, 08:26:41 PM
Ah ok, definitely not poss for you to take it before then. I think if its empty stomach you can take it 2hrs after food? So maybe thats an option?

I hope it helps you sleep lovely and getting up isnt too hard in the morning :hug1:
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 21, 2012, 08:32:33 PM
I am hoping to start having a small main meal at lunchtime then a small healthy snack in the evening when my body gets used to the seroquel ( am nauseus during day at the moment) x
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 21, 2012, 10:04:08 PM
oh dear, thats no good then? i know you said she was retarded but can you push it with her. you cant go on like this if your unsure how to take them. or see if the doc will go above her. sorry just thoughts.

shes a nervous wreck runs off to the consultant every 5 minutes bless her.  Shes leaving soon so I get to start all over again with someone new :frying pan:
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: howling on February 21, 2012, 10:12:24 PM
blimey sounds like she needs the help! i know its probably not ideal for you having to start again but sounds like you could do with somebody that might know what they are doing. anyway ive got to go to bed so i hope you manage some more sleep tonight. spk tomorrow hopefully. xxxx :1059:
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 21, 2012, 10:21:43 PM
me too I will end up smooching the laptop  ::)
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: is_it_true on February 21, 2012, 11:32:39 PM
i had no idea quetiapine needed to be taken on empty stomach! i have bene taking for just over a year and for my morning dose i always take with food otherwise i will just crash and feel very tired. night time one i take houir before bed, but doesnt really stop me getting up,but i think i have taken it for so long now, it doesnt make me drowsey so many hours after taking it.

psych def sounds like shes no good for you!!!
new people suck, but can also be good for you. :hug1:
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 22, 2012, 12:28:06 PM
Got up for work ok have just felt tired and grumpy all day x
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: howling on February 22, 2012, 01:01:03 PM
think your allowed off days so dont worry about it. hope the smooching went well last night with your laptop.  :1059: xxxx
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on February 22, 2012, 10:12:05 PM
 :blushing: i fall asleep face first in laptop a lot.  Pills haven't made me drowsy tonight :(
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: Faded~Lady on March 12, 2012, 07:19:03 PM
Its been 6 or 7 weeks now.  Although the nights have got easier the days are worse than ever.  Do I need to give it more time? Sui thoughts are getting really strong
Title: Re: Quetiapine-does it get easier?
Post by: terrified heart on March 12, 2012, 07:43:05 PM
I never got used to Quetiapine to be honest. It knocked me out too much and made living a 'normal' life impossible. I switched to Risperidone in the end (but I have that as a depot injection). The Risperidone made me sleepy at first, but I have no side effects at all now. My care team have put it on record not to give me Quetiapine again.
Xx