Parker & Waichman LLP and Aylstock, Witkens & Sasser PLC have filed a class action lawsuit against AstraZeneca, Europe’s second largest drug maker, in a U.S. District Court on behalf of all patients who have used the popular anti-psychotic drug Seroquel. Seroquel is part of the new class of anti-psychotic drugs known as atypical anti-psychotics.
A recent study has linked the use of Seroquel to an unacceptable rate of diabetes onset. Data from this study showed that patients on Seroquel had a significantly higher number of incidences of diabetes than those on older drugs or other atypical anti-psychotics.
The lawsuit alleges that AstraZeneca was aware that Seroquel caused a high occurrence of diabetes, but failed to adequately warn doctors or patients in the United States. The Japanese label for Seroquel provides a detailed warning about the risk of diabetes and specifically informs medical professionals regarding the need for medical monitoring of patients on Seroquel.
“When studies show that a medication is linked so often to a disease as serious as diabetes, it is unconscionable that a drug company would not take the necessary steps to protect the public,” commented Jerry Parker, one of the founding partners of Parker & Waichman. “What is particularly upsetting is that a pharmaceutical company would provide a greater warning of a serious side effect of a pharmaceutical in one country but not provide the residents of the United States the benefit of that same warning.”
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that AstraZeneca aggressively marketed and promoted Seroquel for off label use that was beyond its FDA approved indications. AstraZeneca offered incentives to doctors and other medical professionals to increase the number of Seroquel prescriptions that were written.
(via PR Newswire)
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I suffer from bipolar disorder with severe psychotic episodes. Doctors had me on any number of antipsychotic medications, antidepressants and mood stabilisers as well as ECT sessions and numerous hospitalisations for years, until they decided I was best on seroquel. Since being put on this drug 4 years ago, I have put on 30kgs, diet constantly with no results, have shocking night sweats and an uncontrollable hunger after taking my seroquel at night. The weight gain has caused havoc with my life as I have no confidence in myself and am always lethargic. I sleep approximately 11 hours per day. I dont know what to do as I have stayed well, but the depression, lack of drive and lethargy make me feel “is it worth it”?
PSYCHIATRIST PUT ME ON SEROQUEL AND LEXAPRO AS MY WELLBUTRIN WAS NOT WORKING TO THE FULL POTENTIAL AFTER BEING ON IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. WELL I BECAME ITCHY AND ALSO MY CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDES WENT OUT OF SIGHT. CHOLESTEROL AT 500 AND TRYGLICERIDES AT 300. EVEN WITH TAKING LIPITOR. RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND INCREASE IN CHOLESTEROL POSSIBLE. STOPPED BOTH MEDS NOW ON WELLBUTRIN XL FEELING OK SLEEPING BETTHER THAN I HAVE IN YEARS. CHOLESTEROL DOWN TO 190 AND TRYGLYCERIDES TO 160 HAS ANYONE HAD THIS EFFECT?????
i had a very bad allergic reaction to risperdal but have found NO websites where people talk about there problems with it like this. has anyone else had a problem with this medicine or know where i can go to get other info from other people?
I have been taking Seroquel for over 5 years now. At first I was put on 400 Mgs of Seroquel a day along with a Haldol injection twice a month. I had really bad TD from the combination and after switching doctors I managed to get my dosage lowered. I’m currently taking 100 Mgs of Seroquel at bedtime. I’ve been on the dose for over two years now and my mental illness has been stable. I have experienced some side-effects like the lethargy in the mornings, the dry mouth and the muscle twitching, but other than that I’ve felt pretty good. I might just tolerate the medication better than others. Anyway, I’m glad I’ve come across this site. A lot of your comments have made me happy that I was put on a low dose and not left to rot on 400 Mgs of it a day. Recently, my new doctor has been hinting at upping my dosage, even though I am and have been mentally stable for over two years, because he believes the findings that anything under 150 Mgs a day isn’t effective in treating psychosis. I came across the site while looking for any studies that might have been done on Seroquel at low doses for the treatment of psychosis. I’m pretty sure that a percentage of patients treated with 100 Mgs or less have had positive results, like me, and would like to show these results to my new doctor. So, I was hoping that someone reading this site might know of a study or site with information on Seroquel’s effectiveness at low doses on psychosis. Thanks for your time. Good luck in the future, and keep up the fight.
Has anyone had severe side effects from Zonegran? I now have severe arthritus type pain in my hands after dr increased my dose to 600mg. I still have the pain even after being off the drug for 2 months
Hi, I have been on seroquel since December 2002. Being in a very stressful marriage, I finally lost it and had to go to the hospital in the mental department. The doctor declared I had “intermittent explosive disorder” and gave me 100mg seroquel before bed and 25mg seroquel during the day. Before taking it, I was generally a light sleeper, but as soon as I took it, I was out like a light. Did the seroquel help my outbursts? Yes, but if you shoot a tranquelizer into an angry elephant, it calms down, even though the tranquelizer can cause the heart to stop. There were times I wanted to get off the seroquel and the other day in fact, I tried to stop taking it. One of my psychiatrists gave me 300mg a day before bed of seroquel. The 300 mg dosage made me basically a zombie. So I started only taking half. I was still able to sleep. Now, I take the seroquel to sleep, and for nothing else. It has made my life miserable and worse than it was before i began taking it. My advice is, STAY AWAY from it if you haven’t started. Anyway, about a week ago, I tried to get off the seroquel and like another poster on this forum, I couldn’t sleep for 24, then 36 and then 48 hours. I began shaking and getting horrible headaches. I was crying out of frustration because I felt hopeless. The more I think about it, the more I realize doctors and psychiatrists are basically DRUG DEALERS. They don’t care about the nutrition factor. If everyone took the right natural supplements, sickness would disappear overnight, but these doctors and drug companies LOVE MONEY. It is only for this love of money they continue to make products more harmful than cigarettes, alcohol, and carbon monoxide COMBINED. If I find a way to get off the seroquel and succeed, I will be happy to share it with any of you who wish to get off this toxic addictive drug. Thanks.
I just found this site…at four fifteen in the morning! This is only my third night trying Seroquel and I disgarded the entire bottle earlier this evening!
When I called to report my adverse reaction and questioned why I was put on a drug for bi-polar disorder and psychotic episodes…when I suffer from depression and anxiety attacks. The county clinic I go to claims they prescribe it also “to help people sleep! Apparently, since all the budget cuts and limitations to which drugs are now available…they’ve decided to get ‘creative’ with what they have to ‘work with!’
My doctor prescribed it ‘in place of Lorazapam’ – since they’re now only allowed to dispense 1 pill a day. I was having such severe anxiety attacks that I was up to three or four Lorazapam tablets a day. So, I was more than willing to try anything. The first night I took Seroquel – just before bed – it completely incapacitated me. I could not move and my heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest. I honestly thought I was having a heart attack and wasn’t able to even lift my shoulder to reach for the phone! I don’t remember anything after that moment. The next morning, I still could not move or wake up when my alarm went off. I missed my morning appointment with my case mangager, at the clinic. I managed to dial a friend and asked them to call the clinic for me. When I finally spoke with this woman (they don’t let you speak directly with the prescribing doctor), she simply suggested, “Oh, well, your body will get used to it, you just have to build up a tolerance for it. Maybe you should take only a quarter of the tablet because it sounds like you’re just more ’sensitive’ to it than most.” When I told her that I read the side effects and the one that stood out in my mind, the most, was: Avoid changing your posture quickly. She said, “Oh, yeah, that’s because you can pass out.”
So, unable to sleep one night later, I tried the quarter tablet.
It did nothing, as far as helping me sleep. I began to get shortness of breath and agitated. I ended up taking half of a Lorazapam to finally help me sleep. Then, last night, I took ‘half’, following the directions I was given. Well, it only made me feel wired and like I was having a heart attack again. Every time I’ve taken it, I have been ‘winded’ and had severe shortness of breath…while laying down, not moving a muscle! My pulse seemed normal so I wondered if it was causing high blood pressure.
Then, I absolutely could not wake myself up again this morining. I’ve spent the rest of the entire day, into the night…now it’s after four a.m. – and I can’t wait til’ this terrible drug leaves my system completely.
I honestly worry it’s damaged my heart. I nearly passed out numerous times over the past twenty-four hours and have been miserable, going out of my mind! I say, “Beware to anyone thinking of taking this medication! Look what it’s done to me, in just three days on it!!!
i have been diagnosed as having bi-polar 1 disorder and was given 1000mg of seroquel to take at nite
i feel unusually drained during the day, sleep extensively throughout the morning and havent been able to focus or concentrate on studies or even read an occasionalal book without becoming restless.
I wonder if this dosage is too high and i question the doctors judgement
Been on Remeron for over 2 months & Seroquel again for a couple of weeks. Prescribed for my depression & insomnia. Feeling no change in my mood,emotionless;thoughts, memory, communication skills seem to be more vegetative. Finances are going downhill, need help. These meds just aren’t working! Also tried Zoloft (aka ‘zombieoft’), Effexor, Celexa (albeit possibly not long enough) – none worked, especially for my insomnia (same time the depression sweep in forehead hit me). What about Transcrannial Magnetic Stimulation? Anyone ever have that or success?
Hi, I have been on Seroquel for almost a year, givin to me by the county clinic for sleep. The dose quickly went to 400mg. When I moved to a new county the clinic did not fix me up on the assisted plan of recieving meds.
I spent my first night without it and now feel I have made a big mistake for taking it. I have not had weight gain but have now began having bad muscle cramps. I have experienced the lathargic days and no real get up and go. I was given it for bi-polar and to get sleep. I am so ashamed at the institutions neglect in getting my meds. After all if I’m at a county clinic and can barely pay for the session wouldn’t a red flag go up if your patiant was on a drug that cost 356.00 a month. Duh! So now I am having to go without till it has been reinstated as assisted. I think after reading this I will just suffer the withdraws. It is not worth being a nonproductive zombie. Shame on the drug companies and Doctor’s and shame on myself for not looking into this drug before popping it down my throat without investing into this drug. Why do we trust them with our lives so much when all they are really interested in is the almighty buck? If there are suits out there I just might join the money train as this drug should not be given so quickly for sleep. If a clinic can’t perscribe meds for us than the ones they get kickbacks from then we should all raise our voice against this kind of treatment. Afterall most of us put on them have emotional and mental problems and aren’t we under the care of a knowledgable Doctor? So shouldn’t they have our best interest at heart.
I say they can’t when they don’t have hearts or souls.
Bret
i was force to take seroquel against my own will at night time in a hospital and the drug make me blind and cause me panic attacks and anxiety
my 10 year old grandaughter has been put on Seroquel recently we don’t know why but they want to increase the dosage to 100mg BID, is this drug safe for children, she does not sound like herself when I talk to her on the telephone
My wife was taking Seroquel for about 2 years and all of a sudden she would go into these deep sleeps. The first time I could not wake her up and had to call EMS. Her respirations were 6 per minute and Blood pressure was 89/54, this is very dangorous!! The ER doctor thought she had overdosed on this medicine but she had not. She took the seroquel agian 2 nights later and the same thing happened again. We called her doctor and told him about it and he could not believe that it was the seroquel. I say BULL****. My wife has been off of seroquel now for about a week and she said she has not felt so good in years. Let this be a warning to all who are taking this deadly medicine, Flush it NOW??
I have been on seroquel for probably 2 years now. I was never warned about diabetes in the medical brochure for the medication or my doctor. I usually weigh 185 to 190 and now I weigh 240.
I was on paxil five years ago and went off that and had withdrawl for 6+ months. Has anyone been on seroquel and gone and stayed off of it? If so did you have any withdrawl from it and for how long? I don’t want to be on something where the side effects outweihg the benefits…Who would.
Thanks for any advice, Bryan in San Jose.
I was given seroquel for sleep, I was using ritalin for adult ADD. My doctor said he thought I needed Seroquel for sleep, he gave me 100mg. samples to try I only took one but thats all it took. I was rushed to the emergency room and was told I had damaged my heart. After I took the Seroquel I went to bed but as soon as My head hit the pillow I could not breath and started to panic. Do not recomend this to anyone who has a regard for life.
I saw a new psych’ yesterday and he wants to take away the clonazepam (klonpin) which is only 1mg. 3 times a day! Of course he gave me sample pack of the ever famous ” seroquel “. I looked inside the pack and read the little card that warned of risk of Diabetes. I nearly dropped over!!!!
That doc’ did not even ask me if there were diabetics in my family. Diabetes killed my Mom!!!! Needless to say, I will not take them, I will not go back to that doc’. I will be on a search for a doc’ who will listen to me and let me be a part of my medicated life! That really t’s me off, knowing they are getting paid extra for writing certain scripts to certain people. I told him I did not want anything that would make me a zombie…now after reading all these posts…I would like to pop his face! I, in 2001 encountered the paxil addiction and do not want to go through anything even remotely like that again. Thanks everyone for warning me!!–Joni
A family member takes only 150mg Seroquel per day. MD says take it with grapefruit juice. What will this cause? Does it help absorption?
Doris Grayson
Wow, Today I found out that I have diabetes. Just found this website and cant believe that I have some many symptoms that others here have. I have been taking seroquel for 3 years at night to sleep. Well I gain about sixty pounds. Also my arms and feet are numb and I have chest pains. Last year when my arms got to the point were I just could not stand it, I had a nerve conduction study done. The Dr. kept asking me over and over if I was diabetic. No I said. I think he was shocked because I did not feel a thing. Then about six months ago my feet went numb. I even steped on a nail and didnt even know it, until I looked at my foot and saw it was still at the bottom of my foot. Also I have broken out in rashes so many times, that it just dosent bother me any more. Also, talk about itching! I have some scars on me from itching my self do death. Last year at an employee heath screnning my glu and tri were very high. This year my labs look like a walking heart attack with the high glu also. When I first started takeing this medication my sister told me that seroquel cause diabetes. Well I asked my Dr. about it and said no way, not likely. Well just wait until I give him a call tommorrow!
I was taking Celexa for depression, after being referred to a Phyciatrist I was given, Seroquel. With no medical test, and no questions asked about diabeties being a major health factor in my families history, I became very ill from this drug. This medication is dangerous! It caused me to serious consequences, my job and my health! After writing the physician a letter, refusing to take this medication, I was sent a certified letter refusing further treatment. It took many months, to began to feel normal. Trust me this drug should be taken off the market. However, I am seeking an attorney to fight for my rights. I suffered tremondous memory lost, circulation problems, and much, much more! Depresseion should not be treated with this drug period! Add my name to the list, I will not give up until this Seroquel has been removed from the market!
Sharon Butler
i already have diabetes and phone doc prescribed seroquel for sleep. about to pop first pill and threw them away due to reading all these post. thanks
I just copied this from a site that gives info about seroquel, not all of the info you need, but found this quite interesting. I was on seroquell for a short time and was a zombie. I was also on an SSRI for clinical depression. Seroquell in counter indicative for this since it REDUCES the amount of serotonin in your brain. Brilliant psychiatrist that was. Finally found a sensible doc, changed meds, but still feel depressed and paralyzed by it. Anyway, here is some info you might find interesting.
“Seroquel combats the symptoms of schizophrenia, a mental disorder marked by delusions, hallucinations, disrupted thinking, and loss of contact with reality. It is the first in a new class of antipsychotic medications. Researchers believe that it works by diminishing the action of dopamine and serotonin, two of the brain’s chief chemical messengers.”
NOT GOOD for people with a shortage of seratonin to start with.
My son is taking stattera and took an extra dose while studying. That night he was arrested for DUI. I think stattera increased his blood akchohol level like Lee noted. I would like to learn more as he needs to defend himself in court.
I have been on seroquel for 4 years I am suffering blackouts I have been falling alot I am 27 years old since being on this for so long I will forget what I am saying in mid conversaysion I will go to do somthing and forget what I have recently started getting gullstone and pancarititis I also will be smoking a cigarette and it just slides out of my hands this has been happening 5-8 times a day I started at 100mg he pushed it up to 500mg in less than 6 months I also find it funny why for 4 years my doctor had nothing but seroquel sampels he did not want me to miss one dose he would never listen to me about my side effects so I told my primary care doctor about these effcets we did several test finally he decided that we need to wing me off seroquel this has been the hardest thing to kick I bounce off the walls I cant eat or sleep seroquel should taken off the market I will be getting a lawyer
I Have been taking Seroquel for about two years and feel as though I am drugged all the time sometimes things just slip out of my hand and there were times were I would have to just lie down were I was in my house becouse i had no energy to get to my room,at school it was like looking through a fish bowl and I would have a hard time focusing off and on.My doctor knows about these things yet still insists it is safe and my mother then agrees.these sighns have me worried should I be doing somthing myself.
Does anyone know what the side effects are once you stop taking seroquel? Take 400 mg. One in the a.m one in the p.m. Also, I DO know that when taking seroquel its good to take bentropzine for side effects. Know this because at first there was nothing given to me for side effects and I got insomnia so bad I ended up in a seisure and the hos. Had never had a seisure before, then they put me on benztropzine for side effects. However have been thinking about getting off seroquel and just getting a nerve medicine thats not psychotropic. Just didn’t know how long it took to get out of your system. Seroquil is like a knock out drug to me. It makes you so that your zoned out so to speak. No energy to do anything.
My 12-yr-old child was put on Seroquel as a mood stabilizer to control her temper. She’s adopted and the psychiatrist’s hypothesis is that she has frontal lobe damage from fetal exposure to alcohol or head trauma. I didn’t let the dosage get high, drawing the line when she wasn’t violent even though she was still very irritable and moody. I just wanted to keep the dosage to a minimum (75 mg). She has complained on sore leg muscles/cramps and needs to just sit. Some constipation. She has complained of chest pains, which I have brought her to the doctor for but was told there was no problem, shouldn’t be related to Seroquel and could be growing pains. In her school pictures she looks stoned. Now I’m told she has ADD and should go on Strattera. I was hoping to take her off Seroquel but advised against it – she might get violent again. I’m afraid of Seroquel and I’m wondering about others’experiences of mixing Seroquel and Strattera. Wish she needed neither.
I have been taking Seroqeul for 6 months only about 10-15mg for sleep due to a tramatic event. I am trying to get off of it and I cannot sleep without it. the doctors say it is not addictive. I have been feeling wierd,a scared feeling that bad things are going to happen. What should I do? I asked my doctor and she said to get off it. Will my brain go abck to normal and how long will the withdrawl last? After I’m off it will things go back to normal?
I have been taking Seroqeul for 6 months only about 10-15mg for sleep due to a tramatic event. I am trying to get off of it and I cannot sleep without it. the doctors say it is not addictive. I have been feeling wierd,a scared feeling that bad things are going to happen. What should I do? I asked my doctor and she said to get off it. Will my brain go abck to normal and how long will the withdrawl last? After I’m off it will things go back to normal?
Psychiatrists are a bunch of jerks and I hope they rot and have a painful life and death. They don’t really care about the patients, they care about thier paycheck. There is no sympathy from them . It is all fake. They do not care about you at all. i think mental ward should do something to the staff all the time. Rot in hell asshole nurse cratchets. Mental wards used to be a sight for your family to see on a saturday fun night. This was going on 60 years ago. America can kiss my ass for letting it continue with the way patients are treated in mental wards. bunch of assholes!
I just started taking seraquel two days ago taking 25mgs 2 times a day, am very sensitive to meds of any kind..I get heart palpitations and have ups and down most of the day with agitation and then feel tired and then feel like doing things..I really could use any help you may have , thanks for letting me talk will be glad to hear from you..moriahblue7804@cs.com BB
I have been taking Seroquel over 2 years, in fact cannot remember how long. Strange about that. I take 25mg to get to sleep.
Suffer Chronic Fatigue and could not sleep, in turn became manic.
After reading all you people have experienced it would seem like any medication or things we do in life that if such things are not monitored closely by humans trained as professionals we are really just given medication to hopefully ‘fix’ us.
I will say this, I love Seroquel for it gave me sleep. I now have horrific nightmares, gone from loving humankind to avoiding everyone.Totally out of character I now have social anxiety and very paranoid and too sensitive about issues that I could once deal with sensibly.
I fear that if I stop taking it I will be referred back to the medical fraternity to try yet another drug.
Heaven help all of us. A very wise doctor once said to me’if doctor’s gave us the time and treated all our symptoms individually… then our unwellness would not become so insurmountable…thus fobbing us off with medication accordingly neglecting the real need. Human to human interation with with good old fashioned medical assistance.
Chris
Hi folks. I take a half of a 25 mg tablet of seroquel at night. I have to take side effect meds to keep the tightness in my muscles at bay. I take benydryll and akiniton all day long. But the seroquel is the only thing that works for me. I have bi polar and get really awful fears without it. It does make me high and tired, affects mymuscles, but Id rather be dead than live with the fear my illness creates. I also take tegratol. Yes take this drug with caution but its not a terrible drug for everyone. A good doctor will listen to you, and its your right to demand how much you’ll take and what you take. I only take 12.5 mg and that is enough for me, plus it’s cheaper. Hope this helps someone out there.
I argued with my pyschologist about seroquel because it does not working for me. i believe that it is very powerful substance abuse than xannx. it knocked me out to sleep, but i tried to wake up before working so late. I do not want to be drowsy, but it made me violent esiopes!!!! my psychologist switched from paxil to seroquel. I believe that it is too dangerous to get us so high and being drug addict. i told my psychologist that i had troubled sleep, then i have became drug addict and high. i took off seroquel, then i felt so sweat and never sleep in 24 hours. i took it back, then i tried to tell my psychologist to switch another medication. he refused to switch. i feel i almost died with one seroquel pill being biggest powerful. i believe it is very dangerous.
I had an isolated manic episode over two years ago. I have been taking seroquil for right at two years. I was taking as much as 300mg/day at night, and have tapered down to 100 mg/day at night(for the last 8 months). I personally have had no adverse side effects whatsoever. I wake up with plenty of energy and have the energy to do cardio workouts 4 to 5 times per week. I am however, about to taper down again, to 50mg/day with the hopes of completely coming off the drug within 6 months( I would definitely prefer to be drug free if it is possible for me), I hope and pray that I’ll be fine med free. It is obvious that a lot of people have sufferred problems due to this med, but wanted to let you know some have not had the problems.
I have been taking Seroquel for over 2 years and I am TOTALLY addicted! I’m very unhappy about this, but I am afraid to tell my doctor about my concerns b/c the Seroquel is helping my Bipolar. I have gained a bunch of weight and my blood sugar is all over the place. What do I do? keep taking it and jeparodize my health, or discontinue using it and jeparordize my life?? I’m really at a lose for what to do now. I’m very fearful that I may be heading towards Diabetes. My Dr. has been keeping an eye on my weight and blood sugar and he has expressed concern.
I am raiseing a 7 year old girl. when i first got her she sufferd from not being able to sleep and adhd problems, the psych dr. put her on seroquel for sleep at night. this is to shut down the part of the brain that makes you dream. well her focuse and behavior has been getting much worse, so i started to look into the seroquel and found it lowers the serotona ont he brain and the adhd medication strattera is to be giveing more seratona.when i confronted the psych dr. he got angry at me and told me those studys was one drug company got into trouble and now all drug companys are to lable the posible side effects. he told me not to read the pamplets that come with the medication. i asked him why he has not checked her blood pressure, puls , and blood test. he claimed he did not feel the need to do this. he also added risperdol and she was unable to funtion, so i stopped giving it to her. but what eles is out there for a 7 year old to take for sleep.? is seroquel and strattera together safe? or are there tearing apart the brain? Debra
Seroquel will fuck you up!!! BIG TIME!!!
DONT TAKE IT!!!!
“anonymous”, a little elaboration would give your post some level of credibility. Just my humble opinion.
Uh… Excuse me Jimmy… How much elaboration and credibility do you need? Try scrolling down and reading all the posts below. That might give you some elaboration and or credibility you crave. I am pretty sure most of these posts are facts from experiences and not just a “humble opinion”. A book does not have to be written in order to understand the facts. Sometimes you can get your point across more by saying less. If you don’t believe Seroquel will fuck you up, why don’t you try taking some high milligram dosages of the drug (Seroquel). Find out for yourself before you seek elaboration or credibility. If you want me to write a book on my experiences and usage of the drug Seroquel, I would be more than happy to accommodate your needs. I am a good writer. I could write at least a 300 page editorial on the usage and experience of Seroquel. Side affects, long term usage, positive, and negative etc etc. But I better have someone get me a publisher before I do that. From all the shit I have been through with this drug (Seroquel)and how much it has messed up my life I should at least get paid for it.
I think anonymous has a point. I have read all these posts and only found 1 post which was, ironically Jimmy’s, which claims Seroquel does not cause any problems. I take Seroquel and I have always had problems with side affects from it. My doctors keep telling me the side affects will subside. However, I have been taking Seroquel for over 1 year now and still have the same side affects.
I wouldn’t use the same words as anonymous would but overall I think Seroquel does mess you up. I also know other people who are currently taking Seroquel and they have told me that it makes them dizzy when they wake up. They have no energy at all. They bump into things. And are always very dizzy, constipated, thoughts of suicide have increased, and have recently been diagnosed with diabetes, and or thyroid levels have increased, along with gallbladder pain and increase in gallstones since taking the drug within a year timeframe. My guess would be because of the decrease in metabolism upon taking the drug.
So far to date all I have seen from anyone taking Seroquel is bad things. If you do the research on the drug Seroquel you will find that the scientists really don’t know exactly how Seroquel works. It is a fairly new drug and I personal think the side affects whether long term or short term far out way the treatment for the illness. What I am trying to say is there are too many side affects with Seroquel. And the side affects are worse than the illness being treated in most cases I have seen.
Respectfully,
Todd Burkhard
I take Seroquel 25mg at night for sleep, and to diminish dissociative episodes I have related to childhood abuse. Yes, at first I was very tired and dizzy in the morning, but the symptoms have subsided, and I’m able to work my full time job again and be a mother to my kids. I do, however, have very strange dreams and nightmares that I didn’t have before. Overall, with more sleep, I’m less depressed, which is a vast improvement, since I was completely hopeless for over 2 months (I attempted suicide for the second time in June). If the drug isn’t working for you, and you’re not getting anywhere with your psychiatrist, find a new doctor. Unfortunately, medicine is not an exact science, and involves a lot of trial and error to find the right combination of drugs and/or therapy for each person. Good luck to you all.
“anonymous”, First of all I am not a seroquil advocate out to sing praises of this drug, I personally do not want to be on any dugs if at all posssible. Second, what do you mean by “high dosage”( I sincerely don’t know what that would be). I was personally on 300 mg/nt for a long time and had zero side effects. I realize that I may be the exception and not the norm, I also realize that the med could be doing stuff in my body that is detrimental that I can not see or feel. But, one thing I would say to the people that are having all of these problems and continue taking the med, find something different and get off the stuff, if I was sufferring the problems that I read about here I would not be on seroquil period. Sincerely,
Jimmy
I was prescribed Seroquel for migraines & insomnia and had terrible trouble with depression and weight gain and am interested in joining any class action that may result. 615-665-2576
My girlfriend starting taking Seroquel on 6/27/05 and died on 7/1/05 from ketoacidosis. She had just been diagnosed with diabetes about three weeks earlier. I am very concerned about the information that I am finding about the possible links between this drug and diabetes and other sever insulin related problems such as ketoacidosis. I plan on finding out if this drug was the catalyst to my girlfriends death and I strongly recommend that anyone taking this drug check with their general physician – not their psychiatrist- before taking this drug. Especially if they have had blood sugar problems either before or after taking Seroquel.
I have been using Seroquel for about 3 years now. My psychiatrist perscribed it for my sleep. Since I started taking seroquel 3 years ago I have been diognosed with diabetes. I have also been diognosed with glucoma. Have had recent trips to the hospital for abdominal problems relating to constipation. Had to have my gallbladder removed. I am always sleepy and tired from seroquel. On average I sleep about 10 hours a day. When I take seroquel about 2 hours later I pass out from dizzyness and fall asleep. When I wake up the next day I am exhausted. I have had halucinations after taking seroquel but now my doctor tells me I have schizophrenia. I ask him if its because of the seroquel that I am seeing things. Mostly in my sleep but sometimes when I am awake. My doctor tells me thats normal. He told me that some side affects of taking seroquel are hullicanations. I continue to take seroquel and as each day goes by my life feels like it is just detiorating more and more. I can relate to everyones problems with this drug. My friend took seroquel for about 2 years and she commited suicide. We both grew up together and were best friends. My psychiatrist tells me not to worry and insists me to take the sample packs he gives me every day. I have no insurance but as long as the sample packs keep coming in my doctor tells me not to worry. I have thought about giving up seroquel many times because of all the trouble it gives me and from what I have read I am very scared of all this. But my doctor has a college degree. He is smarter than me and knows whats best for me. All I am is a high school drop out. I have no degree so I have no right to fight this battle. If I die from this drug oh well the doctors tried their best to help me. All they want to do is help. Better to help and let someone die than not to help at all and let the person live.
I am a fifth-teen year old female and I am very shocked to here what these people have to tell about the drug that I am currently perscribed to. Not only am I shocked, but I am afraid to take my next dosage of 150mg. of seroquel later on tonight. I cannnot say that I have ALL the side effects of seroquel,but I have some. Such as constapation,dizziness, weight gain and most of all, sudden drop of blood presure when standing. I have been taking this medicine for on and off for about a year and a half. When I write with my pen, my fingers tremble. This medicine makes me more depressed. (As told by people who are naive about the side effects.) Well, I just wanted to give facts and opinions about this drug.(I do believe that they should test this drug on children. As studies show, this drug has only been tested on adults.I have plenty of associates my age that ahve been palced on this medication. Just knowing what this drug can do to an adult in two years, let a alone, a month, imagine what it’s doing to my little body. 5″7″- 135 pounds
I noticed that my daughter just has horrible body odor since beginning seroquel, and that she has developed skin fungal infections. Seroquel has helped her tremendously, and Risperdal just zombied her out. But is there something to this stinking and fungus?
my six year old son has been put on seroquel for outburst and temper tamtrums. He is supposed to take 25ml before bed. I have only given him 1 1/2 of a tablet because i am nervouse about giving him medicine. i did not give him any lastnight because my mother told me some horrible things about it and after reading these stories I think I am going to call is dr. and tell her to forget about it. I do not want to harm my child more and will deal with the tamtrums until the eeg and catscan results come back. thank you for this websight it may have saved us from far more damage then we have already.
Hi my name is Julie, and I’ve been taking 2mg of Lunesta per night and I have dropped my does of Seroquel down to 25mg last night. I was taking 200mgs and I have steadily been dropping my dosage per week because I have every intention of getting off of it completely.
I have been having problems with paranoia and hallucinations. The hallucinations didn’t become really bad until I combined both drugs.
I was prescribed these drugs because I have insomnia. My problems sleeping date back to when I was a toddler. Both of my parents suffer with problems sleeping as well. I was also diagnosed as being borderline anemic as well.
To make a long story short if that is possible, I started suffering extreme exhaustion all the time after I added birth control pills to the mix. My Thyroid Gland was doing weird things and I never had any energy. I went to 2 different doctors who wanted to add Synthroid to the mix. I chose to get a 3rd opinion that took Thyroid antibody tests. He told me I don’t have a thyroid condition and to start eating right. Go figure. So now I am taking a combination of vitamins, stop taking B/C, and I am in the process of getting off all sleep medications. I plan on going all natural and dealing with the lack of sleep on a daily basis.
It’s taken me a year to realize most of the general practice doctors should not be allowed to prescribe any antidepressants. They don’t know what they are doing. And women’s needs are much different than a man’s due to the hormonally issues we have.
A combination of the Seroquel and B/C pills have caused me to gain 10lbs, which isn’t much for me since I am 5′3 and 125lbs right now soaking wet, but any type of weight gain can have a huge effect on one’s self esteem when none of your clothes fit.
Not only that, I am convinced that all of these medications made my Thyroid Gland go nuts. I am 30 years old and I don’t need to be taking 4 different medications a day.
I have been making a concise effort to eat at least 4 times a day and take my vitamins. Since lowering my dose of Seroquel I have begun to feel some what normal again. I went to the doctor because I was tired and couldn’t sleep well. I was working out on a regular basis which helped my stress before I starting taking the meds. Since being prescribe a small pharmacy of drugs, I continued to feel worse. And the 2 doctors I was going to weren’t listening. I finally found Dr. John Partridge (my 3rd opinion) who is apart of the Va Physicians for Women who was a blessing in disguise. I believe now that the drugs are poison and I need to fully clean my system out. I am planning on getting back into the gym and taking steps to managing my stress naturally. I also believe that most of my problems were also due to the lack of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins I was not getting fro food alone. People don’t realize when you don’t eat right; it affects everything including your sleep patterns.
If anyone would like to know what vitamins I am taking and how much, please feel free to e-mail me. I can only speak for myself, but going natural has really helped me. What I mean by natural is getting of the drugs and getting back into exercise and proper eating….I believe sometimes you just have to deal with your issues of sleep on a daily basis. Taking a walk or a motorcycle ride has really helped me. Everyone has to find what works for them. Not only that, but Seroquel has some very serious side affects that the doctors don’t always inform you of – diabetes (which runs in my family), frequent urination (which I had and it sucks to be woken up constantly by it), leg spasms and the list goes on and on. The side effects were worse than not be able to sleep.
In conclusion, I guess in life you have trade offs to everything. You have to decide if the trade offs are worth it……for me they are not.
Jules
First of all i was on lithium, seroquel , xanax and Wellbutrin. In the past six months i’ve gone from 136lbs to 175. Isn’t that crazy considering I drink diet soda , avoidd sugar etc… I threw both lithium and seroquel down the toilet and have experienced my first night of no sleep… even with 3mg of xanax no sleep. After reading every post on this site I am determined to weather the side effects. I”m 25 and starting back to college.. I need my brain back.. seroquel seems to dominish intellectual levels. I might reccomend a book called toxic psychatry by breggin. I have no faith in these so called doctors. I recently foundd out that a good therapist can help me get a grip on mood and emmotions and I plan on staying on wellbutrin until I have issues this also goes for the xanax . The xanax is supposed to help weather seroquel withdrawls. seroquel is a nasty nasty drug. Avoid it at all costs…
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