Alternative to Seroquel?

Question

Now ive just been informed of some of the horror stories of seroquel. I just got prescribed it. 300mgs a night tapered up to that. I am experiencing zombie like feelings during the day and was asking memebers here for a stimulent i could be prescribed for this.

However, being that this drug is so dangerous, i need a alternative. I came into the doc becuase of anxiety and depression / loss of interest in activites and work. She beleives i may be bi polar thus gave me seroquel.

Cant i just take drugs that are known to be safe? like benzos i.e klonopin, and maybe a adhd med like adderall or dexatrin? what are your suggestions/ input.

Answer 1

Get a kitten. they make you happy cuz they're cute.

Answer 2

If you are TRUELY Bipolar, you need a medication with MOOD stabilizing properties, such as Lithium, Lamicatal or the anti-psychotics like Seroquel, Abilify, or Zyprexa.

Benzos are not mood stabilizers and adhd meds will make you manic...if you are truely Bipolar.

300 mgs is not alot.  Seroquel is actually an excellent drug for Bipolar issues.  It does have some nasty side effect, but so do all the other medication that have mood stabilizing properties.

First, you need to find out if you are really Bipolar.  If you are, then you choices are limited.  If you are not, then you do not need a mood stabilizer.  Many of the effects go away over time.

FYI:  You should not listen to people who are not on the medication or are not Bipolar.  People will curse all medications because they do not understand how mood stabilizers act on the brain.

Answer 3

See bipolar disorder, at ezy build, below, in section 10, and take the quiz, if unsure, and if the results are positive, ensure you get an expert diagnosis from a mental health professional, not doctors, who are much better dealing with physical ailments, and don't diagnose complex disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder often enough to develop any real expertise.

          Bipolar disorder usually involves major mood swings, which occur without apparent cause, and often over many months, or a matter of years, rather than days, as with most people (unless rapid cycling). I'd take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements daily, replacing 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements in the winter months, (or, as probably a better alternative to the 2 cod liver oil supplements: 1 teaspoonful of cod liver oil, with a little butter, to ensure its use; I take mine on sourdough rye bread, or toast, covered with fishpaste, and pepper, to mask the strong taste). Those people who receive adequate exposure to sunlight, daily, won't need the vitamin D from cod liver oil, but many people, particularly those in latitudes far from the equator, find this difficult, to achieve.

         If you decide to use allopathy, (modern Western medicine) I recommend trying Lithium Carbonate, or Lithium Citrate. (regular tests are necessary, for these) before trying the other mood stabilisers, but if you aren't good at taking medications regularly, drinking adequate water, and keeping up your salt intake, something else, such as  Lamictal,  or Depakote, may suit you better. Check out "lithium"  at http://www.drugs.com/, and http://crazymeds.us/ and always research medications first, (read, and keep the labels/information sheets) so you will be aware of the risks, and on the lookout for side effects. (Personally, if I wasn't bipolar type 1, and didn't experience hallucinations, or serious delusional states, I know I'd first try the orthomolecular, and Omega 3 fish oil supplements, vitamins, minerals; a herbal remedy, and a mostly raw food diet, for several months. Note: St. John's wort, and also antidepressants, may cause mania, or hypomania, in people with bipolar disorder. I'd aso eat in accordance with my "nutritional type". Enter that term in the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com/  

         If not considerably improved, after a maximum of 6 months trial period, consult your primary mental health care provider: you may be one of those who need medications to prevent this serious disorder from worsening.  If you have bipolar type 1, an antipsychotic medication may also be needed. Everyone should take the Omega 3 supplements, or preferably "krill oil" for its other health benefits: use the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com/ . Some people refuse medication, using supplements, and a selective, mostly raw food diet (I do not recommended trying this, if bipolar 1, unless you aren't troubled by hallucinations, or delusional states).

         Maintain the treatments for the depressive phase, in section 2, at:  http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris [ depression: section 2: see page R first - anxiety: section 6: view page N first] Some topics in section 10 include: treating bipolar disorder with supplements, vitamins, minerals, and herbal remedies (except for St. John's wort, which may cause mania, or hypomania).  As with all medications, there are risks, and the possibility of side effects, which is why I inform people of the alternatives, to see if they can cope sufficiently well, without resorting to medications or, at least use less of them.

Don't use medications and supplements together, without medical advice, except for Omega 3, which is safe, anytime. It is not unknown for those discontinuing medication, and trying the alternative treatments, (which are not quick to work) to lose their jobs, because of unacceptable behavio(u)r, so I'd start 1 week before vacation, and closely monitor the situation, and use medical advice.

Answer 4

Go get a second opinion from a psychiatrist who specializes in mood disorders.  If the second doc concludes that you have bipolar disorder, then talk to the doc about anticonvulsant stabilizers like Lamictal (good for depression), Lithium, Trileptal, Tegretol, Depakote, etc.  They are far less sedating than Seroquel.  If you are bipolar, the "anxiety" is not anxiety but is agitation, a form of mania.  A stabilizer will stop it, a benzo won't really.  If the second doc concludes you have depression and anxiety, then you probably belong on antidepressants, they also are antianxiety meds.  If they don't control the anxiety, then beta blockers are a good add on.  Benzos are addictive and a last choice.  From that perspective, they are more risky than antipsychotics and anticonvulsants.