I've been on Quetiapine Fumarate for almost 2 weeks. I started at 25mg at bedtime and then went up to 50mg at bedtime. This Friday night will mark 2 weeks. I've been diagnosed with Cyclothymia, a slight case of Borderline, and ADHD. I'm also going through a breakup, so I'm in a real funk. I suffer from anxiety as well. I know that I am supposed to wait at least a month but I am getting impatient and I need to get my life together. So I'd like to hear about other people's experience in regards to how long they had to wait (and and other details you'd like to share).I also get crazy jealous in my relationship, anyone have experience with that?
How long did it take for Seroquel to kick in? Aside for the sleeping effect, which I appreciate?
Question posted by RS92 on 21 Jan 2016
Last updated on 5 January 2024 by ricardo9123
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
11 Answers
ricardo9123
5 Jan 2024
25 mg of Seroquel should knock you out for a good 6 hrs, especially if u sink back a few beers and a vodka or two.
There is no evidence according to the medical professionals that any dose above 25mg will help you sleep better, or feel better. Seroquel or quetiapine also increases appetite so you’ll get fat within 6 months:/
Personally it doesn’t work without alcohol also.
Jealousy is a no no, not worth your trouble, Don’t be jealous, play the game and the game pays out eventually.
Seroquel actually sucks and the best way to combat any Ill feeling or sleeplessness can be beaten the fuck out of by clonazepam 2mg or alprazolam, the green bars. A blunt and a new woman/man (whatever ur preference) will fix whatever it is making u uneasy
Ask ur doc to switch it up for u as
Seroquel is an antipsychotic, off-label at 25mg it should put u to sleep but after a while it doesn’t work without a shot or half a dozen.
Go clonazepam (Klonopin in the USA) 2mg min and if your doctor would be so kind as to prescribe the blue oval pills take two and you’ll be good.
Good luck to you and I hope the advice treats you kindly.
Take care
SueMM
27 March 2021
I haven't had the greatest results with Seroquel. I used to take 400 mg at night to help decrease anxiety so I could sleep. There were many nights that it seemed to have the opposite effect; I would be extremely groggy and dizzy, but sleep never came. It takes hours for the "hangover effect" to wear off after a dose that high. I finally just quit nighttime Seroquel and starting taking 150 mg of Trazodone, which seems to agree with me much better and I am now getting more sleep. I have 25 mg Seroquel tabs that I can take prn during the day for anxiety, but I have never felt that Seroquel helped my anxiety--it only made me a anxious tired person, and yes--sometimes grumpy and idle.
BaconBaby
12 June 2019
For me, the tiredness and increased appetite was immediate with the first dose. The therapeutic aspects, however, took approximately 4 weeks to begin. Keeping in mind this was coupled with therapy. My beginning dose was 100mg 3x per day. It was eventually changed to 400mg 1x per day. So, keep in mind that the dose you are on now may not be the ideal dose for you. Over time you and your doctor can adjust the mg to find the best dose for you and when that's combined with whatever therapies you need the outcome is beautiful and definitely worth the wait time your body needs to adjust to this medication.
sweetangelwings
22 June 2019
I see you are probably the latest post on this pill. I've been given 50 mg of this med to help with my sleep. I haven't tried to take it because afraid it won't help me sleep, I know I have issues on worrying about sleep, guess that's why I have insomnia issues. So my question is will this make me super tired in the morning, like drugged up or hung over type of feeling? I also take half a pill of clonazepam which is 0.05 for a whole pill so half of that but last night had to take another half, just couldn't sleep. Wondering how well this pill will make me feel, hate side effects so much, mainly tiredness, hate that feeling! Hope to hear back from you real soon. Thank you
gatxpeach38
3 Aug 2017
I felt really good the next day. I thought I had found the right one. Cleaned, showered, did a few other things but day 5, I feel like the bottom has fallen out from under me. Not much help here for you, sorry.
0424057741
29 March 2017
Two weeks just starting get the effects of ioomg seraqual got my first decent sleep for over three years so I'm over the moon
Sydney1996srr
18 Jan 2017
Immediate response for me 150mg XR 3 hours before bedtime, 0 anxiety very next day.
Sydney1996srr
18 Jan 2017
I was prescribed 150mg XR at bedtime worked immediately for insomnia, anxiety , take it 3 hours before bedtime and it knocks me out. Cons , the first week you can be unusually tired, but it subsides. Use it a lot for my own patients , in my humble opinion with accompanying anxiety, depression insomnia... I Always prescribe an XR ( extended release) and would never go through a family Dr. Only a psychiatrist! With the symptoms you are describing that is a considerably small dose, and I am not surprised you are not getting the relief you Need. .Hope that helps. And a reminder to all ... all meds in the antidepressant class have the potential to cause adverse side effects and it may not be the right drug for you. Have never had an issue with starting my patients and myself 150mg for the initial dose XR at bedtime. It is designed to decrease anxiety and agitation amongst other things.
Again, only work with a psychiatrist , one that will co partner with you and be patient and listen to you. Research, Research, Research your mental health symptoms , so you are well informed .
OEF_army_vet117
12 Dec 2017
Sorry mam, but I'm quite certain that as a "psychiatrist" you cannot personally prescribe/start yourself on 150mg of extended release seroquel, as that is illegal, so please feel free to edit your post as to not mislead others. I would assume a "professional" such as yourself would know this.
howellfamily3
12 Feb 2018
Hi Sydney1996srr, I was recently started on seroquel 100mg, QD, for insomnia??? I placed a ? mark there because i'm not sure if the psychiatrist rx'd this for my bipolar disorder, depression,or insomnia. I'm guessing it's for the insomnia as i'm usually up for 36 hours at a time. This dose is NOT WORKING... so I increased it myself to 300mg. STILL NOTHING... how much do you have to take to get relief???
SLEEPLESS IN VIRGINIA
howellfamily3
12 Feb 2018
Hi Sydney1996srr, I was recently started on seroquel 100mg, QD, for insomnia??? I placed a ? mark there because i'm not sure if the psychiatrist rx'd this for my bipolar disorder, depression,or insomnia. I'm guessing it's for the insomnia as i'm usually up for 36 hours at a time. This dose is NOT WORKING... so I increased it myself to 300mg. STILL NOTHING... how much do you have to take to get relief???
SLEEPLESS IN VIRGINIA
Tommoxon
18 March 2018
Seroquel only works as a sedative at low dose, I heard 100mg before bed time or below.
samicat
14 March 2016
I started out on 100mg at night. It didnt help me at all. Now my dr just started me on 800mg at night. It still takes almost 2 hours to make me sleepy. I only sleep about 4 hrs. My depression and anxiety are still bad. I have ptsd and bipolar along with borderline so i dont really know why it doesnt work well for me. I hope you are feeling better.
Kimikamada
19 Dec 2017
I take 2-400mg 4 hours before bed which is around 4:00pm. Then I take 1-150mg at bedtime around 9:00pm. I sleep through the night only because he also gave me ambien CR 12.5mg at bedtime which is around 9:00pm. This is the only reason I sleep throughout the night without getting up during the night.
Helppleaseeee
12 Jan 2019
Do you take Seroquel in the day time for anxiety??? Do you also get panic attacks??
jandod
30 Jan 2016
Seroquel works great... i feel so much better on it... i switched from Seroquel XR to Seroquel 50mg. It helps with my moods as well as my sleeping.
I also take Zoloft and latuda
Libbycochrane7
4 Feb 2016
Did you switch from seroquel XR to 50mg to have less grogginess the next day? How has the latuda helped you & how much do you take? Thx.
jandod
4 Feb 2016
I am not groggy at at all on the Seroquel 25 mg... The XR was terrible,, I was literally falling asleep at my desk at work.
The latuda is great, i have no anger issues or mood swings... I think I have finally found my balance with these meds..
I also take Zanax for anxiety when needed ... I have an issue at work where i dont get along with one of the staff and my anxiety gets bad sometimes when i have to go to work... and i work full time so every day ... LOl
keep in touch
Michigancookie
5 Dec 2018
Hi There this is karen thank you for posting it was very encouraging post to read. I just switched back to Seroquel after several years of being off it.. I gained 80 pounds! I took 600 mg a day at that time back then. So the doctor started me on a Sarah Quill EXR and then on another dose of Saraquel regular just before bedtime. I just started so I hope it works I’ve tried so many things I’m at my wits end. The doctor also switched me off the Luvox in the trend telex words were both making me very ill and took me off Tegretol as well which was causing me to fall all the time they couldn’t get the Tegretol toxicity balanced I’ve been in the hospital three times in two months . I don’t think I have ever been on Zoloft before I am hoping it’s the key to the anxiety and depression it was really really encouraging to see your post saying that you are doing well with combining both of those. Thank you so much again happy holidays and God bless
WildcatVet
22 Jan 2016
Hi, RS! I was diagnosed with a Bipolar II subtype when I started taking Seroquel. The drowsiness, as you know, kicks in immediately but the therapeutic effects took about 3-4 weeks for me.
I think you're probably real close so try to be patient just a little bit longer. If it works as well for you as it did for me then the wait will be worth it.
Best wishes, WCV
chuck1957
22 Jan 2016
rs; Sorry no choice you have gotten half way through the blood level most start to feel much better between 3 and 4 weeks keep at it and all the other things should fall back together. chuck1957
Related topics
seroquel, depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd), quetiapine, anxiety and stress, borderline personality disorder, cyclothymic disorder, adult adhd, diagnosis
Further information
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.