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Quetiapine Increase To Help Depression?

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Quetiapine Increase To Help Depression?

Postby CrackedGirl » Sat Feb 07, 2015 8:53 pm

hi guys

My mood has dropped quite precipitously having been creeping up on me for a while. Saw psych yesterday and she was reluctant to prescribe ADs as I always go high on them. So she increased my quetiapine and gave me some zopiclone. Has anyone had this help with a depressive phase. I have only had it upped for elevated mood before. If so, how long did it take to work? I feel awful atm and like there is no hope. :(

Thanks for any advice

Hugs

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Re: Quetiapine Increase To Help Depression?

Postby Oliveira » Sat Feb 07, 2015 9:21 pm

Hi,

I haven't had this experience yet per se. But I am on a combo of quetiapine and lithium. Lithium doesn't do anything to stabilise me but works very well as antidepressant. My pdoc wants me to taper off lithium. I expressed worry about getting depressed and she said quetiapine also works against depression.

So while this isn't probably very helpful at least you know there are other psychiatrists who think that.

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Re: Quetiapine Increase To Help Depression?

Postby CrackedGirl » Sat Feb 07, 2015 9:47 pm

Thank you Oliveira that is really helpful <3

I kind of think I am on so many mood stabilisers and antipsychotics that I don't know if this increase will do anything and I don't want to carry on feeling like this. I am glad other psychs think like mine too - that is reassuring.

Hugest hugs to you

Cracked xxx
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Re: Quetiapine Increase To Help Depression?

Postby Ennui » Sat Feb 07, 2015 9:56 pm

Hey Cracked,

I'm sorry you're feeling so low at the moment. When I was going through a horrible and long-lasting depression in '13, the first thing my psychiatrist tried was raising the Quetiapine that I was already on. He said there's plenty of evidence that, for many patients, it works as a mood stabiliser and against depression. I'm lucky he's an excellent psych, so I trust his opinion.

Unfortunately, for me, ultimately the Quetiapine wasn't effective for my depression. However, when we did add in an antidepressant, the 500mg Quetiapine stopped it from sending me high, as I've also had ADs make my mood elevated in the past if I don't have an antipsychotic on board.

I know what it's like when everything seems hopeless, but keep working closely with your doctor and there's every chance you'll soon find the right meds to treat your depression. Big hugs back to you x
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Re: Quetiapine Increase To Help Depression?

Postby CrackedGirl » Sun Feb 08, 2015 12:52 pm

Thank you so much. That is helpful and reassuring. I will see how things go. Seeing her in a couple of weeks so hopefully it will be better. I made it to church today for the first time in a while which is good and got some hugs. So at least I got out and saw some ppl.

Huge hugs

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Re: Quetiapine Increase To Help Depression?

Postby quietgirl2538 » Sun Feb 08, 2015 6:44 pm

Hi CrackedGirl,
I am really sorry you are depressed at this time. I only came out of my rough patch a few weeks ago. It is still fresh on my mind, though. I can relate and I truly want for you to feel better really fast. Hugs
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Re: Quetiapine Increase To Help Depression?

Postby CrackedGirl » Sun Feb 08, 2015 7:44 pm

[quote="quietgirl2538"]Hi CrackedGirl,
I am really sorry you are depressed at this time. I only came out of my rough patch a few weeks ago. It is still fresh on my mind, though. I can relate and I truly want for you to feel better really fast. Hugs[/quote]

Thank you. I am glad you came out of yours. Thank you for being so kind. Take really good care of yourself

Huge hugs

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Re: Quetiapine Increase To Help Depression?

Postby bipolarbirdie » Wed Feb 11, 2015 7:49 am

Hi Cracked,

The worst of my last depressive episode has now passed. I have been on quetiapene, in combination with lithium and tegretol. This combination controls the mania, not the depression so much, but it has some effect in preventing the worst of psychotic depression from recurring.

Like you I can't take antidepressants, so I rode it out with help and support from family and friends. Even reaching out to strangers helps.

Now it has mostly passed, I feel better but I am still facing some daily flashbacks. I have small goals.

You have a lot of strength in you and in your community and I know you will have a good outcome.
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Re: Quetiapine Increase To Help Depression?

Postby MrSigma » Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:21 pm

My doctor proscribed me some Quetiapine but I won't take them unless I cannot get to sleep due to epileptic activity. It is a neuroleptic. Or a minor tranquilizer. Imagine your brain is filled with all these neurons that are activated, all jumping around like dancing beans. Well, the neuroleptic basically puts those beans to sleep. Needless to say, my first experience with anti-psychotics (first generation) really knocked me down. Weight gain, bed ridden, and so forth, but my hallucinations stopped. I discontinued early because I felt "claustrophobic" for lacks of better terms. Whoa, it's tough to guess why you've gotten that combo unless you are "hysterically/anxiously" depressed??? I have only read a few of your posts so far so I am unsure where you are at.

See here's the claim.

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news ... on-anxiety

Those taking Seroquel showed greater improvement in depression symptoms than those on placebo.

"There was improvement in all the things that are impaired when you're depressed -- sleep, appetite, suicidal thoughts," Weisler tells WebMD.


When I get "depressed", I go low functioning and blank out. At it's worst a little drool, know what I mean? I don't notice sleep issues, or appetite issues, and I never suicidal thoughts. However, people will notice me not functioning, or I will spend hours trying to do something and my brain will not go there.

Me personally, if I were given that combo, I'd consider it reasonably safe and would continue with a trial run. That's me though. While I absolutely hate neuroleptics, I consider the Quetiapine to be a weak tranquilizer. The first generation ones are much more potent.

I think it is safe to say that if your depression is of the low functioning non moody kind, you may want to consider taking tranquilizers lightly if there is no hallucinations or psychosis you are trying to curb. I'd keep a log, and watch how long the run is, and I'd start to reconsider which direction I was moving after a month or few.

Hope that helps.

I feel awful atm and like there is no hope. :(


There is always hope. The best thing I ever read which totally turned the way I perceive these things, is called, "the brain that changes itself" by Norman Doidge. It talks about how the brain is constantly in a state of regeneration and healing.

This is not from the book, but for example, when I did the first gen anti psychotics, it knocked me down, and I was worried that I had done more harm than good, but my brain started "fresh" for lacks of better terms the way I see things, and healed itself more "evenly". For sure, I am only guessing, but book is so great and positive I thought I'd mention.

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Re: Quetiapine Increase To Help Depression?

Postby CrackedGirl » Wed Feb 11, 2015 1:04 pm

Thank you both so much for your really helpful and supportive replies. They are very much appreciated.

I do get psychotic with depression but other than some stuff to do with coincidences I am not having any weird thoughts or hallucinations atm.

Thank you both for your help and for the info too

And the hug.,

Hugs

Cracked
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