Seroquel Quetiapine Withdrawal. Seroquel Quetiapine
Withdrawal step by step procedures. How to avoid
Seroquel withdrawal.
Seroquel Quetiapine Withdrawal
Seroquel Withdrawal
Symptoms, Quetiapine Side Effects, Withdrawal Help
Seroquel Withdrawal Symptoms ( quetiapine )
As is the case for most psychoactive medications, using them
for several weeks or longer may lead to physical dependence.
This is especially true for Seroquel. Withdrawal from
Seroquel is called Seroquel discontinuation syndrome, but in
the real world it is Seroquel withdrawal. Seroquel should
never be stopped abruptly and should only be tapered very
slowly
Even when slowing the tapering off of Seroquel, there can
still be some significant Seroquel withdrawals, which may be
more severe if the prescription was for a very long time,
such as years. Our Seroquel tapering page goes into how
Seroquel can and should be tapered as well as what you can
do to help avoid Seroquel withdrawal symptoms. A list of
just some of the reported Seroquel withdrawal symptoms
includes the following.
Seroquel withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Suicidal
ideation or behavior
- Seroquel
Withdrawal Psychosis
- Rebound mania
- Psychotic
symptoms that did not exist prior to taking
antipsychotics
- Insomnia
-
Hypersensitivity to light, sound, temperature, all
sensory perceptions
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Racing heart,
tachycardia, hypertension
- Unusual mood
swings that can change rapidly
- Loss of
appetite
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Loss of
concentration, can’t focus
- Depression
- Excessive
sweating
- Dysphoric
unease with life
- Some limited
reports of withdrawal dyskinesia
The Road Back over the past 22 years have helped countless
of people off Seroquel successfully. In 2022, it seems most
people being prescribed Seroquel only have insomnia or some
other minor symptoms they asked their doctor about.
If you were
prescribed Seroquel for suicidal ideation or psychosis, make
sure you consult with your physician before starting the
reduction of Seroquel. Tapering Seroquel too quickly can
cause psychosis and suicidal thoughts, so again please,
taper Seroquel very gradually.
Everyone has a different set of withdrawal symptoms, there
is no one size fits all description of “this is what to
expect from a Seroquel withdrawal.” However, the most
consistent symptoms we have seen at The Road Back are
Seroquel withdrawal rebound psychosis, rebound mania, insomnia, and loss
of appetite. Suddenly not sleeping, not eating, and acting manic when
enduring Seroquel withdrawal is a sure sign that things are
most likely going too fast and that the rate of withdrawal
needs to be slowed down.
Also, the last reduction of Seroquel needs to be even
slower than all previous reductions and allow more time
before stopping the last dosage.
There are instances where people who did not have mental
health problems experienced withdrawal psychosis when
stopping Seroquel. No need to put yourself in harm's way;
reduce Seroquel slowly and gradually. Slow and gradual wins
this race.
The Road Back can guide you through a
successful Seroquel withdrawal and get you back to life
again.
There is Hope and There is a Solution
The Road Back Seroquel Withdrawal
This page provides information on Seroquel withdrawal
symptoms, quetiapine side effects, what it is prescribed
for, and discusses treatment options.
Does Seroquel Work Long-Term?
Seroquel may be lifesaving in certain circumstances. There
can also be a time to come off Seroquel and that is where we
come in. The long term usage of Seroquel is still
questionable. In the February 2021, edition of
Psychological Medicine showed these results:
After following schizophrenia
and schizoaffective psychosis for patients for 20 years,
those who stopped taking the medication within the first two
years were six times as likely to recover than those who
continued the antipsychotic.
“Even when the confound by indication for prescribing antipsychotic
medication is controlled for, participants with
schizophrenia and affective psychosis do better than their
medicated cohorts.”
“These and previous data indicate that after 2 years, antipsychotics no
longer reduce psychotic symptoms and participants not on
antipsychotic perform better.” ~Harrow, Jobe & Tong,
Journal of
Psychological Medicine.
There could be several reasons the long term efficacy of
Seroquel does not warrant continual usage of the medication.
It could be after prolonged Seroquel exposure the dopamine
receptors in your brain no longer function correctly, it
could be the prolonged over expression of the JNK gene has
sent your body completely out of balance. The list goes on
and on.
There are some people that do better on Seroquel, that is a
given. The Road Back is not on some mission to get everyone
in the world to stop taking a psychoactive medication,
especially an antipsychotic. We are here to assist those
wanting to discontinue their medication with their doctors
approval.
Seroquel Withdrawal Help
If you are taking Seroquel you may benefit from knowing more
about Seroquel withdrawal, side effects, and other important
information. Seroquel is typically prescribed at the time a
person is in a mental health crisis. Too little attention
may be given to understanding whether the crisis was a
temporary situation. This can lead to unfortunate
experiences by a person staying on a high dose of Seroquel
or other medications for a very long time. A diagnosis may
need to be adjusted, which may mean a change in the
prescription. However, it is not always easy to find a
physician who is well-versed in how to safely reduce
Seroquel. Our doctors have much hands-on history with this
population, which is often required to navigate this
delicate terrain. You should inform your physician about
methods of tapering medications such as strategies,
timelines, and other points that your doctor may not have
been aware of. We encourage you to share this information
with your doctor for consideration.
PLEASE REMEMBER: Never abruptly stop Seroquel
as the shock to the body could be overwhelming. Gentle,
gradual, monitored tapering under the guidance of a trusted
prescriber is safest.
Seroquel ( quetiapine ) is an atypical antipsychotic
medication that is FDA approved for the treatment of
schizophrenia and mixed bipolar episodes in adults. It can
be prescribed for schizophrenia for children over the age of
12. Bipolar may include either acute manic or depressive
episodes. Extended-release Seroquel XR is used for the same
reasons in adults but only used in adolescents demonstrating
schizophrenia or the manic bipolar I disorder features — not
depressive episodes. Seroquel belongs to a relatively new
family of drugs called atypical antipsychotic medications.
When severe symptoms of either mania or depression occur,
there may not be a lot of time to research available
treatments that are offered. However, later there may come a
time that a person may decide to go a different direction in
treatment. This drug may have considerable side-effects
including emotional dulling,9 that may naturally
prompt someone to consider other alternatives.
What Is Seroquel ( quetiapine ) Used for?
Aside from the FDA-approved guidelines, there are several
off-label uses for Seroquel which are being explored such as
for insomnia, PTSD, OCD, substance abuse and addiction,
delirium, anxiety, depression — especially in those who have
stopped getting benefit from SSRIs — and personality
disorders. We find a lot of people taking Seroquel
specifically as a sleep aid, usually at a low dose of 25-150
mg.
At present, these off-label uses are being cautiously
examined due to a lack of established dosing parameters and
their effects on metabolic side effects, extrapyramidal
adverse effects, and potential safety concerns.
Discontinuing/Quitting Seroquel ( quetiapine )
Based on 22 years of experience, we suggest that Seroquel
withdrawal be done at a rate of 10% reductions every 2
weeks. When you get to the last 10% reduction, only reduce
the Seroquel by 5%, wait 2 weeks and then reduce the last
5%.
The end of the Seroquel taper is the most important. The two
reductions of 5% is key.
Now, if you begin to feel a return of symptoms within the
next two weeks after stopping the last dose of Seroquel, go
back to the 10% amount immediately. Remain at 10% of your
original dosage for the next 30 days. Then cut the 10%
dosage in half and stay at the 5% amount for 30 more days.
Very important:
If you came off the Seroquel and within 2 weeks began to
have a return of symptoms go back up to the 10% amount again
quickly.
The Road Back uses nutritional supplements to help stop or
eliminate Seroquel withdrawal symptoms. These nutritional
supplements were formulated by our founder, Jim Harper,
after conducting hundreds of DNA tests on people that were
taking a psychoactive medication. Special attention was paid
to ensure there is no drug-supplement interaction.
In 1999, The Road Back could get 50% percent of the people
off their medication by using a slow and gradual withdrawal
of the Seroquel. However, that 50% still suffered and the
vast majority had to go back on the Seroquel due to the
withdrawal side effects. Jim took 5 years to develop these
supplements and over the last 15 years he has changed the
formulas several times as more information became available.
Frankly, the best information came from 19 million people
just lie you who used this program and emailed their
questions and successes.
When using these nutritional supplements to help with
Seroquel withdrawal, you begin the first week and only take
the supplements, you do not reduce the Seroquel at all.
Two items to mention in a separate paragraph.
If you currently smoke cigarettes do not stop smoking until
off the Seroquel for at least 45-days. If you drink coffee,
do not stop drinking the normal amount you drink until at
least 45-days off the Seroquel.
Jim Harper toured several inpatient drug rehab facilities
over the years and one observation he noticed immediately.
The facility would not allow their patients to smoke. They
wondered why they were having such a failure in the
facility. Seroquel uses a specific metabolism route to
breakdown and clear the body. Cigarettes and coffee use this
same metabolism route.
Cigarettes open up this route more and coffee slows down the
metabolism process of anything trying to use this route. So,
if you quit smoking and you are taking Seroquel, the
Seroquel will no longer clear as rapidly and you will have
15% more drug stay in your system for more time. To top it
off, if you stop smoking and still drink the same amount of
coffee each day the coffee will act as though you just
consumed 4 to 6 times more than you have. Cigarettes
increase the metabolism rate and coffee slows it down.
Plus, I've seen people stop smoking and stop drinking coffee
and they tend to have a psychosis all of their own.
The nutritional supplements are designed to help with
daytime anxiety, balance the brain once again, to help with
sleep and above all to help with potential Seroquel
withdrawal symptoms. In 2018, Jim Harper introduced a THC
FREE CBD oil to his program. This has been amazing for those
coming off Seroquel. Now, don't run out and buy some off the
shelf CBD oil or you tried CBD oil before and it did nothing
for you, there is likely a reason.
The CBD oil we use with this program is manufactured within
an F.D.A. inspected facility, the dosage is exact in each
bottle and what is only the label is exactly what is in each
bottle. There is 25mg of CBD oil per dropper full, which
equals 1 serving. And Jim Harper subsidizes the price of
this CBD oil so you do not pay the normal arm and a leg for
a bottle. If you can even find a bottle with 25mg per
serving the cost will be around $120 a bottle. Jim has
allowed his be right at $25 a bottle.
Ask your doctor about taking THC FREE CBD oil and you will
likely receive a fast, "Yes, take it."
The reduction of the Seroquel is really the easy part. A 10%
reduction every 2 weeks until you have one 10%dosage left.
Don't reduce by the 10% for the last reduction, reduce by
5%. Wait 2 weeks and then reduce the last 5%.
In 1999, Jim Harper published how to reduce this type of
medication. His published method is now the standard for
psychoactive medications as published by the drug
manufacturers and approved by the F.D.A.
Reduce the medication slowly and gradually. If withdrawal
symptoms become too severe, go back up to the last dosage
you were doing fine at and get stabilized again. When you
resume the taper off the medication taper at a more gradual
rate.
The nutritional supplements you will use for Seroquel
withdrawal:
JNK Formula Complete
- This supplement will help take care of a majority of
Seroquel withdrawal symptoms. You take 1 capsule in the
morning and 1 capsule in the afternoon.
Neuro Day - Take this supplement along with the
JNK Formula Complete. It helps with daytime anxiety and
helps promote a calm but not drowsy feel.
Neuro Night - You take this supplement about
15-minutes before bedtime to help with a restful night of
sleep. Take 1 or 2 capsules.
Omega 3 Supreme
- This is a very pure omega 3 fish oil that is high in EPA.
You only need 1 softgel of this daily. You should take any
time before 4pm.
Harper Drops Supreme
- This is the THC FREE CBD oil mentioned earlier. Take 1
dropper full at bedtime along with the Neuro Night.
Click Where supplements are available link on
the top navigation bar for country you are in.
Each of the supplements mentioned above is taken as the
bottle label states. Except for the Harper Drops Supreme.
The Harper Drops Supreme is a supplement you can alter the
time of day you take and how much of it you take.
Start with the dropper full at bedtime but you can also take
it during the day or evening as well. A typical day may be;
Taking a dropper full when you awake, a half dropper full
around noon and a dropper full at bedtime. We have had
people take as much as 3 dropper full at once and stayed at
that level until their symptoms subside. That only took a
few days and it was in rare circumstances.
The program is a simple as described above. You can also
send an email to Jim Harper and he can guide you through,
help adjust anything as needed. Use the Contact Us link on
the top navigation of this website and Jim will reply.
Keep this close to your during your journey:
There is Hope and
There is a Solution
All of Jim Harper's book,
How to Get Off
Psychoactive Drugs Safely is found on this website. Just
click The Program on the top navigation bar.
It is a good idea to keep a journal during your progress.
How you felt that day, any changes you made to diet,
exercise, stress at work or in your life. Ideally, you would
not make any changes to your diet or exercise during the
Seroquel withdrawal steps.
Seroquel ( quetiapine ) Side Effects
There can be a wide range of side effects from Seroquel,
from mild to moderate to severe. Not everyone experiences
significant side effects such as the ones listed here.
Side effects can include these common ones:
- Orthostatic
Hypotension:
A sudden drop in blood
pressure, especially after rising from a sitting or
lying position, may also feel like fainting momentarily
-
Vertigo/dizziness
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Swollen throat
or sinuses, stuffy nose
- An increased
appetite
- Weight gain
-
Drowsiness/fatigue/exhaustion
- Dryness of the
mouth
- Stomach or
abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Inability to
urinate, painful urination
- Low sodium
levels
- Nightmares
- Disturbed sleep
- Rashes
- Lightheadedness
Less common, but more severe adverse effects
should be carefully monitored and could include:
- Suicidality
(ideation and behavior) especially
noted in younger patients under age 25
- Tardive
Dyskinesia
- Tachycardia,
pounding heart
- Movement
disorders, involuntary repeating movements of limbs,
face, tongue, etc.
- Intense pain in
the abdomen
- Tremors,
shaking
- Painful
persistent erection
- Cataracts in
eyes
- Stevens-Johnson
Syndrome:
potentially life-threatening severe rash, allergic-like
reaction, including fever, unconsciousness, raised
welts, loss of consciousness, difficulty speaking, coma,
sores in the mouth and mucous tissue, requires emergency
transport to ICU or burn unit
- Slowed
heartbeat
- Sleep apnea
- Diabetes
- Low white blood
cell count
- Breast
inflammation, enlarged breasts, either sex
- Breast
discharge in either sex
- Impotence
- Abnormal liver
function or liver failure
- Seizures
- Stroke,
especially in elderly
- Pancreatitis
- Amnesia
- Hepatitis
- Swelling of the
hands/feet/legs etc. fluid retention
- Hypothyroidism,
low thyroid function
- Neuroleptic
Malignant Syndrome
- DRESS syndrome
(drug rash increased eosinophilia — white blood cells,
systemic) a potentially fatal drug reaction that needs
immediate attention if a rash appears with fever or
other flu-like symptoms 26
- Parkinsonism,
i.e., drug-induced symptoms that resemble Parkinson’s
Disease such as unusually slowed movement, shuffling
walk, slowed motor controls.
- Enlargement of
heart muscle tissue Another set of
side effects to be aware of, and which may require
monitoring during the night-time.
- Sleepwalking
or other normal activities during sleep, i.e.,
sleep-driving, sleep shopping, etc., of which the person
has no memory.
- High blood
sugar,
possibly extreme and associated with diabetic acidosis,
coma, or death, have all been reported in patients
treated with Seroquel.
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