Oral use - When should SWIM take Quetiapine (seroquel)?

[whirlybird]

SWIM recently obtained a 300mg seroquel tablet from AFOAF. SWIM thinks that they might have many uses for this pill, but is not sure for what purpose they should use it. SWIM suspects they are bipolar, although it has never been diagnosed by a doctor. SWIM also suspects that they have social anxiety disorder, again, this has not been diagnosed by a doctor. SWIM has suffered from depression (undiagnosed buy definately present) for about 5 years, and is an insomniac (unable to sleep any earlier than 3am on a good night). SWIM is also addicted to caffeine and nicotine and is a daily cannabis smoker.

SWIM wants to cut the seroquel into 3 even pieces. Then cut those in half, then cut those pieces in half, leaving them with 12 pieces of a roughly estimated 25 mg each. From SWIMs research, they think 25 mg should be enough to put them asleep. However, it also seems that 25 mg would be sufficient to self-treat their undiagnosed bipolar/anxiety problem. Would SWIM be OK if they took 25 mg in the middle of the day and smoked a blunt or would it knock them out? Would a smaller dose be a good idea, or should SWIM stay away from the seroquel for this and use it strickly as a sleep aid? SWIM thinks perhaps 25 mg would be adequate for the daytime, and 50 mg to go to sleep. Yes/no anybody?

SWIM would also like to know what else they can use to self-treat their anxiety, depression, and sleeping problem. Cutting out caffeine is not an option, as SWIM becomes just as irritable without copius amounts of caffeine as they do when they run out of cigarettes. (Watch out when they run out of both!) Kava seems to be a likely candidate for insomnia, but they don't think they could stomach the tea. Would the pills be an effective alternative? Any other suggestions?

SWIM offers their thanks in advance for any replies. They're aware they're asking a lot of questions for one thread.

[BobTheGreat]

SWIM suspects they are bipolar, although it has never been diagnosed by a doctor. SWIM also suspects that they have social anxiety disorder, again, this has not been diagnosed by a doctor. SWIM has suffered from depression (undiagnosed buy definately present) for about 5 years, and is an insomniac (unable to sleep any earlier than 3am on a good night). SWIM is also addicted to caffeine and nicotine and is a daily cannabis smoker.

Join the club. We meet on Thursdays.

1. go to a doc selfmedication is a dangerous practice at best esspecially since swiy isnt familiar with the drug.

2. 25mg should knock swiy out depending on body weight. For swim he was first given seroquel at an inpatient program. He took 25mg 2x a day and slept through his week stay but it was worse than jail so he was happy to have it. He then started taking 50mg at night for insomnia/anxiety. He had a bad reaction (re: involuntary muscle spasms; like parkinsins bad). Anyway that is one of the reasons to consult a doc first. Plus sero messes with the glucose in your blood so a diabetic episode could happen. That said 25mg would probably be a safe dose to start with little to no side effects.

And no swiy doesnt have enough to treat anything but insomnia which could clear up some depression issues in the short term.

3. Phenibut and kava could help with anxiety. Many members of the forum suggest cognative behavior theropy as a much better alternative to drugs. Swim would have to say the same with depression(in combination at least.) Benzos would cure the anxiety but will be a bitch in the long term because they are hard to get off of.
5htp might help with the depression and stablizing swiyour mood. It did for swim. If swiy wants to chat, swim would be happy to over msn messenger. Just pm swim an email address. Swim has been struggling with the same problems for years and has been seeking professional help for about two years as well as his own research. He is sure he could point swiy in the right direction if nothing else.

sorry if anything is a bit garbled. Swim's eye lids are falling shut. anyway best of luck

Reputation Comments on this post:

great post. informed swim of other safer available options to help with their problems.

[Zaprenz]

Quetiapine is an atypical anti-psychotic, not a drug to be taken lightly. Lots of potentially nasty side effects.

Even when given in a clinical setting it is not normally given on a when required basis, ONE single 300mg tablet (even if split up) is not enough for a treatment.


SWIMs recommendation: Get second opinion by a professional.

Interesting read on quetiapines pharmacological profile:
http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/sho...light=seroquel

Reputation Comments on this post:

posted a link to a thread that took all the confusion out of seroquel dosing.

[whirlybird]

First of all, thanks for the quick replies. Due to their low body weight, inexperience with similar medications, and poor diet/nutrition they probably would fall into the small percentage (or not so small?) of those that get muscle spasms etc. Unfortunately, professional help is out of the question due to financial issues and no insurance. SWIM has tried alprazolam (xanax) and diazepam (valium) in the past. SWIM finds xanax to be too much to function on it. In low doses, it does nothing, and to consume enough to relieve them of their anxiety leaves them unfunctionable. However, SWIM has had minor sucess with valium for anxiety. Unfortunately, because SWIM cannot obtain a prescription, ordinary medications are not an option. SWIM will look more into phenibut, kava, and 5htp as possible alternative treatments. Cutting a single pill into 12 pieces does seem silly to SWIM, however it is the only possible help they have available at the moment. SWIM has decided to flush the pill and count sheep. Never worked before, but what the hell, at least counting sheep has never lead to involuntary muscle spasms. Thanks for the suggestions. BTW Bob, you can expect a PM in a few days.

Thanks for the great link, Zaprenz. Helped make sense of seroquel dosing. Well, didn't help, it more like completely explained it in a way anyone could understand. SWIM could not understand why they made 300mg tablets when 25mg knocks people out until they read that.

Reputation Comments on this post:

polite reply to suggestions

[Zaprenz]

SWIM finds xanax to be too much to function on it.

Quetiapine will likely be harder to function on.

SWIM has decided to flush the pill and count sheep

Good move as even on the off chance it did help that would only be a few days supply.

Anyway, SWIM appreciates no insurance must complicate things but hopes everything gets better soon. If professional advice isn't available sometimes a good friend (one that can really be trusted) just to help give a second view on things can make a big difference.

[BobTheGreat]

Originally Posted by whirlybird

Unfortunately, professional help is out of the question due to financial issues and no insurance.

There are programs that can knock off most of the psych bill. Before swim had insurance he got a 95% bill reduction but he could only go to that clinic.

If the doc signs swiy off as disabled, he might be able to get Medicaid. Depending on the state swiy lives in, it would probably cover almost all medical costs. Swim has it and can go anywhere it's accepted which only really comes up when going to psychs or dental. Plus swim only pays 3 buck for any script.