Just when I thought I had the right formula for surviving Seroquel, my system goes MicroSoft Blue screen. I had a misleading four days of the three-step practice; strict adherence to medication time, drink water until you drown, and keep the sleeping schedule open. Granted, I was still sleeping exessively with my new system but I found a way to work around the groggy/weak/painful part of the medicine.
And then, something went wrong. I slept 16 hours one day, 19 hours the next day, and the day after that I was wide awake and moving around all over the place despite how easily fatigued and out of breath I have become while using this pill. And two days after my burst of business I was eating my favorite recipe... all day long... so full that I nearly threw up... but I kept on eating it until there was only an empty pot. (On a lighter note, I did stick to my water regiment.) I felt so foolish, and I couldn't stop. Since Sero, I smell and taste things in a weird way. Normal stuff doesn't appeal to me anymore, and I sometimes wouldn't finish my meal. Suddenly, my favorite food is at my beck and call, and I called it home! It was the best food in the world.
Since that happened (only a few days ago) I have tried to stick to my three-step plan. I drink like a fish. I take my meds at the same time every night. I try to stay in normal limits of sleep. (I hate sleep interuption; it just resets everything and I end up starting at square One.) For the last three days, I don't seem to get sleepy after taking Sir Seroquel. Two, Three, Four hours pass before I go to sleep on my own. I don't know if it means I've concord the Sedated effects or if my struggle to stay on a sleep schedule is beginning to work. I am still slightly 'buzzed' during the day, but I can survive it.
The good news is I will revisit my doc in a few more days to report my progress. The problems I am facing comes in two parts. Part A: how do I make sure I tell Doc EVERYTHING without missing any info? Part B: what if I tell Doc everything and Doc just tells me to go along with it another month? What if I can't do it another month? And with the feeding frenzy I did the other day (now I know why Sero adds to your girth), am I doomed to repeat that instance? Sadly, all I can report back to Doc is that I don't know if it helped me. I slept forever (I don't think I missed anything really). My emotions flash and are difficult to keep in check (esp. angry), and afterwards nothing seems to be a problem. I had a couple of bouts with sadness, but each left within a day. Otherwise, I am clueless. I don't know what it is that I am supposed to be feeling. Other than tired, bloated, flashMad, flashLaughing. Any thoughts?
For the past 15 months, I have been taking seroquel in varying doses. Started out at 300 mg (hospitalized/manic episode). Presently I am at 50 mg. This lowered dose has made a good difference. My sleep has lessened to a good level - I'm out of that sero fog in the morning much sooner than when on the higher doses.
I'm not fond of taking antiphychotics, many are not. It's great for reducing extreme mania, but, as a maintenance med it seems kind of extreme. This is simply my personal view.
I've always taken my meds as prescribed, but I don't always like my pdoc's med plan. We agree and disagree - At times he sees things my way, more often he does not. He's a great psychopharmacologist and I trust his wisdom. So the 50mg maintenance dose works pretty well for now.
Sounds like you are working on things and that's what counts. I certainly empathize - I have been in that same boat. Things always improve in time -it's the nature of bipolarness.
Judy