I'm about to say screw treatment

Sword of the Lord · Oct 23, 2015

They want me to take Seroquel, which is this medication:

http://www.drugs.com/seroquel.html

https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Treatment/Mental-Health-Medications/Quetiapine-(Seroquel)

First, they told me they wanted me to take 300mg tablets once daily. They said that sounds like a lot, but 800mg is the highest dose. According to the above information, it goes up to 400mg. They also said the only side effects were drowsiness and the possibility on high blood sugar. That side effects list definitely doesn't stop at drowsiness and high blood sugar. It's frightening. Plus, you aren't supposed to take it with an irregular heartbeat, which I have, and they know this. They're lying to me.

Michie · Oct 23, 2015

Mike, the unfortunate thing with these issues is you feel like a guinea pig for awhile and it takes awhile to adjust. Don't give up!

Tallguy88 · Oct 23, 2015

I read the first link and all the extra side effects sound like thing related to allergic reaction to the med.

You should do what the doctors tell you. Also consult with the pharmacist about the side affects and how it may interact with any other drugs you take.

Sometimes new meds make you feel worse before you feel better. My mom took a drug that made her feel really depressed for three weeks while her body adjusted. But after that, she was fine. So as long as your symptoms stay within the range of what the doctor and pharmacist told you to expect, you should stick with it and consult them if things happen differently.

pdudgeon · Oct 23, 2015

i would take the drug.
since you know in advance that there might be sleepiness, it should be easy to plan for such things,
and make sure that you are sitting down after taking it.
allowing for the increase in sugar in your blood is also something that can be countered by a change in your diet, and switching to
a sugar substitute.

you'll probably notice the greatest changes initially as your body gets used to the drug.
that's why you should be monitered so that the doseage can be adjusted if necessary.

Eretria90 · Oct 23, 2015

Mikhael Disciple of Christ said:
They want me to take Seroquel, which is this medication:

http://www.drugs.com/seroquel.html

https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Treatment/Mental-Health-Medications/Quetiapine-(Seroquel)

First, they told me they wanted me to take 300mg tablets once daily. They said that sounds like a lot, but 800mg is the highest dose. According to the above information, it goes up to 400mg. They also said the only side effects were drowsiness and the possibility on high blood sugar. That side effects list definitely doesn't stop at drowsiness and high blood sugar. It's frightening. Plus, you aren't supposed to take it with an irregular heartbeat, which I have, and they know this. They're lying to me.

Just listen to the doctor and take the meds. How do you think I feel trying to treat my acne? Nothing but constant "experimentation" of various meds over the past 2+ years trying to get my chronic acne to go away. I take some other meds too but not as much a couple years ago.

Also, be a good boy and don't feed meds to the eagles.

Sword of the Lord · Oct 23, 2015

Eretria90 said:
Just listen to the doctor and take the meds. How do you think I feel trying to treat my acne? Nothing but constant "experimentation" of various meds over the past 2+ years trying to get my chronic acne to go away. I take some other meds too but not as much a couple years ago.

Also, be a good boy and don't feed meds to the eagles.

To be honest, treating Aspergers and Schizoaffective is quite different than treating acne. The side effects and drugs are very, very different. We're talking about my brain and changing the chemicals.

Eretria90 · Oct 23, 2015

Mikhael Disciple of Christ said:
To be honest, treating Aspergers and Schizoaffective is quite different than treating acne. The side effects and drugs are very, very different. We're talking about my brain and changing the chemicals.

I am taking a psych drug as well which is "mind-altering" and has side effects.

You should take the advice of me, a skateboarding eagle: do what your doctor says.

AWWW YEAH!!!

eastcoast_bsc · Oct 23, 2015

Mikhael Disciple of Christ said:
To be honest, treating Aspergers and Schizoaffective is quite different than treating acne. The side effects and drugs are very, very different. We're talking about my brain and changing the chemicals.

Give it a chance Michael. When you stabilze than you can discuss alternatives, ie latest drugs in the pipeline and/or get an additional opinion.

Hang in their brother, we care about you.

Gwendolyn · Oct 23, 2015

Psychiatry is often as much an art as it is a science. Drugs differ in how they affect each individual person. Because of this, you often have to go through a trial period to learn how each drug will affect you.

I've been through this. I tried 10 different medications before I found one that stabilised me enough to allow me to begin getting better. I even took seroquel for a few years (my mental illness has psychotic features and anti-psychotics were important for me to take during my worst years). My only side effect was drowsiness. That doesn't mean much, though, because like I said, different people experience different side effects. Seroquel is a common drug with which to test the waters. It doesn't have a high likelihood of weird side effects (though researchers need to list every side effect reported, regardless of how rare) and it is effective for many, many people. Seroquel was one of the better drugs I tried.

Please don't get discouraged and think that everyone is trying to screw you over. It sucks trying different medications when they don't work as planned. It sucks dealing with weird side effects, being tired a lot, and having to report to your doc about stuff you've noticed about yourself when you're taking each individual medication. But when you find the right one, you can become stable, and then the real work begins. Then you can start repairing your life and putting the blocks together to build a new future.

For some of us, we have to be on medication in order to function at a normal level. This isn't a weakness or a shortcoming. It is a medical reality.

If you want to ask about drugs I've tried, how they affected me, or any point of mental health recovery, send me a message. I do not have schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. I have depression with psychotic features (visual hallucinations), ocd (obsessions more than compulsions), and generalised anxiety disorder. I have not dealt with substance abuse issues. But I've done the "guinea pig" thing, and I'm glad I hung in there and endured all those trial meds because it meant I could find (and sincerely appreciate) the one medication that changed my life.

football5680 · Oct 23, 2015

A lot of the stuff that ends up on the side effects list is simply a formality. If the medicine falls under a certain class of drugs, they may include other side effects that pertain to the class, even if the side effects have not been witnessed on the specific medication. They want to avoid lawsuits so they cast a big net to protect themselves. 800mg is the maximum daily recommended dose so 300mg is well under that. I doubt they are lying to you because they don't have much to gain from doing that unless you created a will and left all your money to them. If this was the case then suspicion could be warranted.

WarriorAngel · Oct 23, 2015

I never read side effects - now i do.
I found Dr's dont know all of them - and from my own experience - i found more info [repeatedly] from other users online.
Pharmacists should have the info.

I never bothered to check the side effects of a beta blocker ending in 'lol' - i stopped taking it - the side effects became impossibly bad. [For me]

So talk to a pharmacist or check online for what others say.
My effexor caused some drowsiness initially - but tapered after 2 weeks.

I now check and double check stuff out...AND discuss other options.

WarriorAngel · Oct 23, 2015

Gwendolyn said:
Psychiatry is often as much an art as it is a science. Drugs differ in how they affect each individual person. Because of this, you often have to go through a trial period to learn how each drug will affect you.

I've been through this. I tried 10 different medications before I found one that stabilised me enough to allow me to begin getting better. I even took seroquel for a few years (my mental illness has psychotic features and anti-psychotics were important for me to take during my worst years). My only side effect was drowsiness. That doesn't mean much, though, because like I said, different people experience different side effects. Seroquel is a common drug with which to test the waters. It doesn't have a high likelihood of weird side effects (though researchers need to list every side effect reported, regardless of how rare) and it is effective for many, many people. Seroquel was one of the better drugs I tried.

Please don't get discouraged and think that everyone is trying to screw you over. It sucks trying different medications when they don't work as planned. It sucks dealing with weird side effects, being tired a lot, and having to report to your doc about stuff you've noticed about yourself when you're taking each individual medication. But when you find the right one, you can become stable, and then the real work begins. Then you can start repairing your life and putting the blocks together to build a new future.

For some of us, we have to be on medication in order to function at a normal level. This isn't a weakness or a shortcoming. It is a medical reality.

If you want to ask about drugs I've tried, how they affected me, or any point of mental health recovery, send me a message. I do not have schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. I have depression with psychotic features (visual hallucinations), ocd (obsessions more than compulsions), and generalised anxiety disorder. I have not dealt with substance abuse issues. But I've done the "guinea pig" thing, and I'm glad I hung in there and endured all those trial meds because it meant I could find (and sincerely appreciate) the one medication that changed my life.

Pretty much...trial and error.

sunshineforJesus · Oct 23, 2015

I hope you have good luck

Mikhaela · Oct 23, 2015

Seroquel is a dangerous medication.My husband who passed away and myself have taken Seroquel. Doing some research into the medication I found that one who has irregular heartbeat should not take it.Well we didn't know.At least not until it was too late...and he had heart problems related to irregular heartbeat.I come to find this information after the fact. I don't have heart problems and when I take the high doses my heart increases.One time I had passed out. I don;t take it anymore though it is too risky and in my opinion dangerous.It has also been know to have links to diabetes.

Sword of the Lord · Oct 24, 2015

Mikhaela said:
Seroquel is a dangerous medication.My husband who passed away and myself have taken Seroquel. Doing some research into the medication I found that one who has irregular heartbeat should not take it.Well we didn't know.At least not until it was too late...and he had heart problems related to irregular heartbeat.I come to find this information after the fact. I don't have heart problems and when I take the high doses my heart increases.One time I had passed out. I don;t take it anymore though it is too risky and in my opinion dangerous.It has also been know to have links to diabetes.

Thatst what I'm saying they're liars. They know my heart is irregular. I have a funky heartbeat and palpitations.

Sword of the Lord · Oct 24, 2015

Mikhael Disciple of Christ said:
Thatst what I'm saying they're liars. They know my heart is irregular. I have a funky heartbeat and palpitations.

Was born with a hole in my heart

MikeK · Oct 24, 2015

Mikhael Disciple of Christ said:
Thatst what I'm saying they're liars. They know my heart is irregular. I have a funky heartbeat and palpitations.

Bring your heart condition to their attention. If they say it's okay to take the drug, I'd trust them, this is their specialty. If you're still nervous about it, ask a Cardiologist if it is safe given your heart condition. As another poster said, these people have nothing to gain from hurting you. They have worked very hard to become experts in their field and while they can make mistakes, they are generally very good at what they do.

Tallguy88 · Oct 24, 2015

MikeK said:
Bring your heart condition to their attention. If they say it's okay to take the drug, I'd trust them, this is their specialty. If you're still nervous about it, ask a Cardiologist if it is safe given your heart condition. As another poster said, these people have nothing to gain from hurting you. They have worked very hard to become experts in their field and while they can make mistakes, they are generally very good at what they do.

I agree. They have no reason to try to harm you. They don't make money off you taking the drug because you can get the prescription filled at any pharmacist you want, not just ones affiliated with them. Tell them your concerns, talk to your heart doctor, talk to your pharmacist.

Grafted In · Oct 24, 2015

A brother of mine died of a seizure caused by Seroquel.
It is linked to many sudden deaths.
If you want my opinion stay as far away from it as you can.

Gracchus · Oct 25, 2015

TANSTAAFL! (There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.)
John Nash went off his meds but he had the objectivity to realize that he was subject to hallucinations and delusions. He learned to constantly check what was real with others.
I went off my anti-depressants because I lost music, and could no longer compose, play or even appreciate it.
Now when the despair gathers round during the hour of the wolf, I am able to consider my own pain dispassionately. It's just pain, after all. Of course that has it's drawbacks too: If I don't care about my own pain, I don't care much about yours either.
If you can't keep in mind the fact that you are loony tunes, and monitor your own emotional states, (and the fact that you are religious indicates low self control and self awareness, but that is a subject for a different thread), you are probably better off taking your meds. Drug free is not the way for everyone to go. Keep talking with your doctors until they find the right drug(s) and dosages.
Or just say, "Screw it!" If you do, you will probably end up losing friends and family.
TANSTAAFL!

:wave:

I'm about to say screw treatment

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