Seroquel and Celexa Concerns

I was put on Seroquel (Quatopine) in January 2011 and was on it until this past January 2014. I started at a low dose in the beginning and my doctor put me all the way to 600. Within in the first year I was put on 300mg of Seroquel, by May 2012 I was on 600 MG and have been on it until January 2014. All in all I was on Seroquel for three years. The thing is I never had psychosis nor am I bi polar in any way or form, Seroquel was prescribed to me as a mood stabilizer and to help me with my sleep, so I took it every night. I was also on Celexa for three and a half years for my depression before the Seroquel and I stopped both of them at the same time this past January, a side effect of the celexa was being hostile, angry, and rageful, I would get all kinds of angry thoughts, I was just a mean person and hated everyone, my doctor told me that Seroquel would help with that even though I was not psychotic, though he never pointed out that these thoughts and feelings might have been a side effect from the celexa. And so that is why I took Seroquel, I took it as directed everyday for three years making it all the way to 600mg a night. When I came off of it back in January I went through the withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia and a bit of depression but that was also because of the coming of off celexa as well. The thing that did not happen however, which happens to a lot of people who come off of anti-psychotics, is that no psychotic symptoms re appeared, key work “re” because I never had them to begin with, people that do have those symptoms which they were given the anti-psychotics for in the first place, do take a risk when coming off these meds of their symptoms returning, that did not happen to me, coming off of Seroquel did not make me worry because I know that was not the case for me, I was never psychotic in any way or form, nor did I get psychotic while I was on Seroquel.

So I came off the meds in January and it was not until about a month later that I got these anxiety attacks and constantly worry and obsess over things. It can be about anything. I get scared about a lot of things. Then I developed cognitive obsessive compulsive disorder out of nowhere where everything is mental and no rituals, this still carries onto other things, the issues change but the symptoms do not. The symptoms are worse now where I am severely obsessing and worrying about things, I ruminate, analyze and can’t stop thinking about things, it almost feels like I am less intelligent than before and that I am losing touch with reality, I go over the same things in my head over and over again and tell myself the same things over and over again, repeating things, ideas, conclusions, fears, what-if scenarios, analyzing. I talk to people about what specifically is on my mind but it only helps for a small while and everyone assures me of things, but I still go mad over the same things and new things as well, it is almost as if I am being psychotic because it is paranoia, delusional, and unrealistic, and even irrational. I can’t control my mind anymore, I am losing touch with reality. I was never like this, not before or while I was on meds. Though I am not hearing or seeing things that are not there, I still feel and know that my obsessive thoughts, worries, and preoccupations are not normal, the things I get crazy over seem silly to other people and these type of things never bothered me before or crossed my mind, knowing this is enough. I was never like this at all, never at any point in my life. This all started when I got off the Seroquel. What I am trying to figure out is that if being on an anti-psychotic without being psychotic could have messed up my brain by either making me psychotic or lose touch with reality, can my brain be like this now because of the Seroquel that I was on for three years which I stopped taking four months ago? Is this brain damage? Can anything be done about this? All these concerns over Seroquel can equally be applied to the celexa that I was on as well since I was on it for a little longer than I was on Seroquel for and stopped them both together this past January. Since January I have not been on any other medications. One last thing I want to add is that I might have weaned off my meds too quickly, i think i did it all in about three weeks, I had to do it by myself because my doctor did not want me to get off of them, he did not help me at all. But it has been four months now since my last dose of the meds, would this make any difference?

Any feedback, input, or personal experience would really help me, I am just really concerned over my mental state. Thank you.

Hi, I am sorry you are going through all of this.

I also heard the story, so that you can sleep better....I was given the smallest dosis of xeroquel,
after three months I was totally gone, I could barely socialize and my heart rhythm was going from bad to worst. I stopped.
episodes of psychosis under stress was a subject spoken. six months later, I started with quietapine,
half of the smallest dosis, I went on for about a year, for one reason or the other we kept, or I did, kept on using it longer...there were side effects.

I stopped, my nerves were also out of control, the anxiety became so bad that I started to have Parkinson symptoms, when I was anxious, I started with oxazepam,
but a couple of months later, I had all the symptoms you say, all of them.
they have been present before but not in this extreme way.

have you not read on internet over the side effects? it is amazing !

my symptoms were getting bad again so I for the third time started zeroquel, even a smaller dosis, I had a couple of bright days, then it went downwards...hormone disorders and everything...

we are stopping one fourth at a time, the stopping of the medicine most take weeks and in your case months, you take one forth for several weeks, and then another fourth, and never two medicines at a time, it is even life threatening...
it would have been better if you had done it with you doctor...
at this time I have totally stopped oxazepam and zeroquel, but I had to take valium, diazepam temporarily because I get this spasms in my back, and this we are bringing down to one fourth every two days, and talking over the phone every four days.

these medicines are so dangerous...our doctors, have never felt in their own body the secondary effects, they just read over the statistics of the secondary effects...
when I read them, I know each of them, because I have felt it!!

I want to try to stop, to accept what I can not change, and to deal with therapy...
pills do get me through, but the facture is gigantic afterwards...

oxazepam helped me a lot with the anxiety and the muscle, spasm problem, but eventually other things came above which I think were a result of this, and not necessarily another psychotic episode...you know what, sometimes all the symptoms seem a bit alike,and they are guessing with their eyes closed, with what we say and what we keep.
and also de possibility that he did not want to tell you a possible diagnosis because you were not ready to accept it...think of that.

you are not alone,,,,there wil come another medicine to bring down the anxiety, and then maybe another to stop the new one....and eventually we can get up with our own feet for a while.
there are so many thing happening that we have no control over that can throw us so easily off balance.

I wish you well, and keep in touch, sorry for the very long letter. I hope it helps.

Thanks for your reply. The thing is I am really trying to stay off the meds. I was never supposed to be on Seroquel as it was prescribed off label for sleep and as a mood stabilizer, but for three years at 600mg is unacceptable. I am sorry to hear about what you are going through now with the meds.

loise wrote:Hi, I am sorry you are going through all of this.

I also heard the story, so that you can sleep better....I was given the smallest dosis of xeroquel,
after three months I was totally gone, I could barely socialize and my heart rhythm was going from bad to worst. I stopped.
episodes of psychosis under stress was a subject spoken. six months later, I started with quietapine,
half of the smallest dosis, I went on for about a year, for one reason or the other we kept, or I did, kept on using it longer...there were side effects.

I stopped, my nerves were also out of control, the anxiety became so bad that I started to have Parkinson symptoms, when I was anxious, I started with oxazepam,
but a couple of months later, I had all the symptoms you say, all of them.
they have been present before but not in this extreme way.

have you not read on internet over the side effects? it is amazing !

my symptoms were getting bad again so I for the third time started zeroquel, even a smaller dosis, I had a couple of bright days, then it went downwards...hormone disorders and everything...

we are stopping one fourth at a time, the stopping of the medicine most take weeks and in your case months, you take one forth for several weeks, and then another fourth, and never two medicines at a time, it is even life threatening...
it would have been better if you had done it with you doctor...
at this time I have totally stopped oxazepam and zeroquel, but I had to take valium, diazepam temporarily because I get this spasms in my back, and this we are bringing down to one fourth every two days, and talking over the phone every four days.

these medicines are so dangerous...our doctors, have never felt in their own body the secondary effects, they just read over the statistics of the secondary effects...
when I read them, I know each of them, because I have felt it!!

I want to try to stop, to accept what I can not change, and to deal with therapy...
pills do get me through, but the facture is gigantic afterwards...

oxazepam helped me a lot with the anxiety and the muscle, spasm problem, but eventually other things came above which I think were a result of this, and not necessarily another psychotic episode...you know what, sometimes all the symptoms seem a bit alike,and they are guessing with their eyes closed, with what we say and what we keep.
and also de possibility that he did not want to tell you a possible diagnosis because you were not ready to accept it...think of that.

you are not alone,,,,there wil come another medicine to bring down the anxiety, and then maybe another to stop the new one....and eventually we can get up with our own feet for a while.
there are so many thing happening that we have no control over that can throw us so easily off balance.

I wish you well, and keep in touch, sorry for the very long letter. I hope it helps.

[quote="Olddays14"]Thanks for your reply. The thing is I am really trying to stay off the meds. I was never supposed to be on Seroquel as it was prescribed off label for sleep and as a mood stabilizer, but for three years at 600mg is unacceptable. I am sorry to hear about what you are going through now with the meds.

hi Olddays14,
two things, I remember reading I think in the antimeds forum, about the practice of giving antipsychotics for the wrong reasons, problems with sleeping was one of them.

the second is that realizing my limitations has motivated me to make changes in my life style, it used to be very very stressful, I left some of my work, and I moved into more simple and agreeable things in order to be able to deal with everyday life. eating has been also very important, sleeping number one, vitamin B and magnesium have helped me enorm to calm down, to bring down the angst during the day, walking or movement is important, and I try not to overload my day,
so I have the time to cope with things one at a time. I still have teeners at home and is not always easy. also my ears have become very very susceptible? so I use earplugs at home when I want to have some space for myself.....I do not know what works for you, but there are many things that can help you cope in the process....it is a horrible practice to bring people to a maximum dosis before bringing them down, I do not understand it...and sadly, those that belong to this field are not the ones who question these practices.....so you need to look around for the other version, you will find a lot, on the forum. cheez2, gave us something not long ago in TEDtalk in you tube, over the way research is done regarding medicine, and how only the positive results are published and not the negative, bringing the wrong impression and conclusions over meds!! maybe you should see it. keep in touch

loise wrote:cheez2, gave us something not long ago in TEDtalk in you tube, over the way research is done regarding medicine, and how only the positive results are published and not the negative, bringing the wrong impression and conclusions over meds!!

I think this is the first time I've seen someone mention something I've done on the forum. Hehe it makes me smile I'm glad that you found that helpful loise.

So that we don't get too anti-psych here on this forum (there is an anti-psych/ forum for that) It is important that one is aware and informed on the benefits and costs of choosing to take psychiatric medication. While there is research on how medical journals post a lot more positive results vs negative ones, it's still a personal choice. I have found medication to be helpful in my personal situation, and I try to be as knowledgeable as I can about both sides so that I can make the most informed decision possible. I think the issues come in where people aren't told, or don't research these types of things and take these pills blindly.

[ hi! "Cheze2 ..for me it was an eye opener, and it explained the link between psych, meds and me...and the uitcome. I also want to be informed, because even reading it all, you do not know until you try, how meds will help you or....

I see as positive that my thyroids went up, because I have always been on the limit with a low metabolism, but my sugar went up, I went two weeks feeling at least once a day like I was going to lose consciousness. I wonder if the diazepam that was given to help me out of the other two, was the cause...anyway, age and other complications could play of course a factor too.

I heard in you tube a doctor martin rossman, and he spoke about how we can work our mind to change our brain...he explains the difference between worry, anxiety and stress...about good worry and bad worry, so he draws a fine line between good habits and others that can be modified...it was long but helpful.