Quetiapine

[DiaryOfAWimpyMum]

I have been given this to try help with my sleeping and mania atm.

I have to start on 100mg then 200mg if 100mg didn't help me sleep, but n more than 200mg and back to see him on Thursday.

I took 100mg around 7pm but couldn't sleep at 9pm/10pm/11pm so took another one and fell into a strange sleep.

I had the losing teeth dream (again) and woke a few times, came downstairs around 4am but was still yawning so went back to bed from 5.30am-7.30am until DC needed to be up for school.

I am on the prolonged release one but wondered how long they take to take affect (during the day) and also if anyone else who took them - took them any earlier in the evening so they don't feel sluggish the next morning?

[fedupandtired]

I didn't get on with the prolonged release version as I found it made me tired all day rather than just at night. As a mood stabiliser though I find it works very well (I take it for bipolar). It can take a while to reach full effectiveness though so you might just have to stick with it.

[DiaryOfAWimpyMum]

Thank you, I feel that way just tbh and haven't taken any tonight as yet but feel quite slowed down and head-achey.

I'm taking it for Bipolar too, found out yesterday I have this mood disorder, I have always wondered but it kicked in big time last year and I couldn't sleep and was acting fairly strange, then hit an all time low but snapped out of it miraculously with no different meds (Mitrazipine for PTSD) a few months back and now have endless energy (well until last night I did have)

I've been being treated for PTSD for months, I have no idea if I still have that or just bipolar I will try remember to ask on Thurs.

I will stick with it, my other option is no sleep and slightly very very manic

[nenevomito]

The prolonged release one is rubbish at helping you get to sleep.

I take quetiapine and was put on the modified release when I went back to work, but I had to go back onto the regular version a) so I could sleep again and b) so I wasn't knackered throughout the day.

[DiaryOfAWimpyMum]

I was awake again at 4am, I don't feel drowsy, I'm not allowed to go take more than 200mg so hopefully he will change it tomorrow when I see him I really want get back to work but am finding that I cannot work out things in my head like I used to be able to, maybe it's tiredness.

[fedupandtired]

It quite possibly is tiredness. Ask about the normal tabs rather than the extended release ones as I found the difference huge. I guarantee they'll make you sleep and once you've got used to them you shouldn't feel too tired during the day.

[DiaryOfAWimpyMum]

I was visiting a close friend and asked her is she can see if difference in me (still talking a lot about random subjects) and she laughed and said 'no'.

I went back to bed at 8am after getting DC off to school and again fell asleep until 10.40am, not a great routine as DC will be on holiday from school soon. Although they away for a few weeks soon, so this is maybe a good time to get stablised.

I will ask about the normal ones tomorrow,Ive also read a lot about weight gain but haven't felt hungry since taking them. I'm used to the Mitrazipine munchies

[SnowyMouse]

I lost 2 stone on quetiapine (and calorie counting), so it can be done. My psych reckoned that iif you kept an eye on what you ate it doesn't have to result in weight gain.

[fedupandtired]

I've found quetiapine to be fairly weight neutral. I've gained weight and lost it depending on my eating and exercise habits and taking it has made no difference to that. A lot of people do put on weight whilst taking it though.

[DiaryOfAWimpyMum]

I've been watching my eating since coming off Mitrazipine almost 4 weeks ago just using myfitnesspal to log my calories (when I remember) and haven''t been over 1000 a day since stopping the Mitrazipine.

They made me munch, at first I bought in healthy foods but I hit a big time low in December and just started eating chocolate and cake whenever I craved.

Psych made it sure I understood not to go over 300mg even if I hadn't slept since Monday, so I wonder if he is just testing me on the long release ones.

I am yawning a lot which is all new to me.

[mawbroon]

I changed to Quetiapine in February. It wiped me out for a few weeks, but now I seem to have hardened to it's effects. I take it about 10pm just before I go to bed.

It makes me crave sugar something awful though. I put on more than 2 stones in the first two months and am still struggling to contain the cravings.

But, saying all that, it works really well for me, in conjunction with ADs. I too have been diagnosed with bipolar.

[DiaryOfAWimpyMum]

I seen the Phsyc again yesterday, he thinks it might take up to 6 weeks for my brain to re balance and my moods will go up and down until they settle but he noticed a huge difference within 3/4 days.

I feel like I have came down from a massive high since Monday.

I've to take 300mg XL - I slept last night from 10pm-6/7am this morning it was great. I could have slept longer but DC had final day at school.

I probably could have slept today too but was out, Psych said to sleep as much as possible and go see him again on 8th July. My pharmacists only had 50mg so I am swallowing lots of pills and feel quite sick tbh I need to get some of those pills to protect lining of stomach.

I will take mine around 10pm tonight, try lie in past 5/6am.