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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by phil1909 on May 23, 2010, at 0:31:40
Hi people;
I'm wondering if anyone has ever experienced sleep problems whilst going on or coming off SEROQUEL XR?
The symptoms are bloody scary.
I wake up every 2 hrs through the night with what feels like a GASPING FOR AIR - SOUGHT OF A SENSATION OF DROWNING, with a strange feeling in my throat. I'm not sure how to describe it further, - either a breathlessness or shortness of breath (almost like the wind has been knocked out of me).This is a bit more of my 'story'.
I've been on seroquel for anxiety/phobia problems. (14 months / 400mg per night).
Apart from knocking me out at night, the XR has not helped with the chronic generalised anxiety disorder.
My psych has put me on NARDIL to replace the ineffective ZOLOFT (for me anyway), and I noticed a wonderful improvement after 2 weeks.
I was then recommended to slowly wean off the SERQUEL XR. I cut back from 400 to 200mg and after 5 nights the sleep problems peaked.Can anyone please help me with this? I feel great on the NARDIL and in the meantime I will go back to taking the 400mg of XR at night.
Honestly, looking back over the 14 months the side effects of SEROQUEL have been minimal and I'm not sure what the med was even doing for me. (of course other than the drowsiness and really coma like deep sleep).
Thanks for any help or thoughts anyone can share on this.
Cheers to all;
Phil
Posted by ed_uk2010 on May 23, 2010, at 3:28:57
In reply to SEROQUEL XR + SLEEP PROBLEMS, posted by phil1909 on May 23, 2010, at 0:31:40
>I cut back from 400 to 200mg and after 5 nights the sleep problems peaked.
Disturbed sleep is frequent when stopping antipsychotics, especially insomnia. What you describe sounds more unusual. It's definitely something to discuss with your doctor.
400mg to 200mg is a big jump. You need to taper more gradually to avoid any unpleasant 'shocks to the system'.
Posted by linkadge on May 23, 2010, at 6:03:49
In reply to SEROQUEL XR + SLEEP PROBLEMS, posted by phil1909 on May 23, 2010, at 0:31:40
It could be some sort of apnea. MAOI's can cause apnea and alpha-2 antagonists like seroquel can supress apnea. You may wish to go for a sleep test.
Linkadge
Posted by phil1909 on May 24, 2010, at 5:25:25
In reply to Re: SEROQUEL XR + SLEEP PROBLEMS, posted by linkadge on May 23, 2010, at 6:03:49
Well well.
2 nights back up to 400mg of seroquel XR, and sleep issues completely disappeared.
I'm seeing my psychiatrist this Saturday and I'll be letting him know about this incident.
I think I will have to taper off very very very slowly.
Still, a very scary withdrawal symptom none the less.
Posted by phil1909 on May 24, 2010, at 5:45:00
In reply to Re: SEROQUEL XR + SLEEP PROBLEMS, posted by linkadge on May 23, 2010, at 6:03:49
Thanks for the info.
By apnea are you saying tha MaOIs can bring on Apneas or make apneas worse
Also, I guess if Seroquel can supresp Apneas then coming off SEROQUEL can make Apneas worse.
Can you please explain how Apneas can be caused by MAOIs and supressed by Seroquel. I mean, what exactly to these drugs do us to effect our breathing in our sleep.
Its still got me pretty worried.cheers mate;
Phil
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