Seroquel and Sleepy: What Users Say

• Dyl...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 29, 2012

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "300 mg 4x/day. I used to have horrible hyper-vigilance, hyper-startle, anxiety, paranoia, insomnia symptoms. NOTHING (meditation, yoga, EMDR, etc.) helped that much, let alone fix it. So, the doctor said to try this. Because of my side-effect sensitivity, my doctor started me on 25 mg. That first night, I slept a full night for the first time in months. But then I started sleeping too much - up to 14 hrs a day on the weekends. We backed off to 12.5 mg & my life CHANGED. I'm under more stress right now so my dose is back to 25 mg & I'm doing great on it. It pulls me down out of that watchfulness that prevents me from doing anything but surviving (and poorly, at that). For me, after a near-lifetime of struggle, this is a miracle."

• 123...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 4, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I used to take this drug, Seroquel, for 7 years. The only side effects I had were sleeping too much, no way to wake up in the morning, and 'still sleeping' for the first hour of being awake. Once I threw up breakfast because my body was just not working yet. And I was always putting guilt on myself because I didn't know that this was a pill side effect. I used to think I was lazy because I couldn't wake up. When having a job, I always needed someone who woke me up because I always turned off the alarm unaware while sleeping. Only now, when I changed pills and can normally wake up, I see that I am not lazy, and I am very happy for that fact! Another side effect was muscle cramps in my legs. When I went to bed, I couldn't stay still, I had to move my legs because of some weird 'muscle tightness.' This happened occasionally. The side effects were not so terrible. It didn't do any harm to my mind and emotions."

• ins...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 10, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Took for bipolar. Good side effects: more or less consistently put me to sleep every night. Bad side effects: gained roughly 20 lbs 6 months in, had a difficult time getting up every day, needed more sleep than usual. It helped for a while, but it mostly made my episodes less severe, did not effectively stop or prevent them."

• Ser...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 8, 2013

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I've suffered from bipolar and psychosis as early as 6th grade. It took about 15 years to get seen, by that time, I was completely detached from reality. After trying expensive placebos with bad side effects and high hype, I tried Seroquel. It works on the psychosis, mania, and depression I've experienced in trade for being a little sleepy. Seroquel is so far the only medication that works by itself and which I can function even after missing a dose (not recommended). It's all about risk versus controlling symptoms with these medications. If you've found something effective for treating the symptoms, the next step is finding the cause. This illness is like a sleeping dragon, you must keep it asleep or you'll get burned. Seroquel helps."

• Mym...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 1, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I was having extreme depression and hypomania, and they could not find the correct drug for me, and this was the miracle drug for me, it was the key. It works very well for me, and I would recommend it. I take Seroquel at night because it does make me a little sleepy."

• Mom...
• September 16, 2013

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I have been on Seroquel for several years, mixed with other medicines. Recently tried reducing strength but couldn't sleep or concentrate due to racing thoughts. Keeps me normal (as 'normal' as anyone else). Also take Lamictal for mood stabilizer/anti-depressant and Citalopram for anxiety/depression. Does make me very sleepy, so I must take it before 9 pm to feel awake enough to function at 6:30 am. Life saver for me and my family."

• Gon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Only lasted 2 weeks at the lowest dose, stopped because the side effects were so intolerable. Took in the evening, but still had trouble staying awake during the day and felt like a total zombie when I did. May have given this a couple more weeks to see if it would have worn off had I not gained 15 lbs as well (with no appetite change - I wasn't awake long enough to eat more!). I was already 35 lbs overweight from meds as it was, and when I med chunks me up, it doesn't stop. Only reason it gets 2 stars is that it kicked my chronic insomnia's butt."

• K19...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2018

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was on a number of medications. For hallucinations (both tactile and visual, as well as auditory), I’m dealing with more of the schizophrenia part. I’ve been diagnosed for a year now. I’ve been on Abilify, Risperdal, Zyprexa. And nothing until Seroquel. I am completely calmed down and feel much better. Really sleepy and very hungry. Restless legs and arms, but all around a good medication."

• vos...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 12, 2017

For Schizophrenia "Definitely calmed me down during the first-time onset of schizophrenia. However, it makes me very sleepy, sometimes I sleep 14 hours a day, and when I wake up, I feel like I want to sleep even more. Also resulted in a lot of weight gain. Eventually, had to stop taking it because of how tired I always was."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 3, 2017

For Schizophrenia "Wow, this medication... it may have knocked me out many times (put me to sleep)... Hell, it may have made me sleepy 24/7. I would sleep sometimes 18 hours a day. I spent a lot of time recovering with this medication... sleeping. But I can't complain because, well... I have my life back. And I thank all those people who put their time and effort into producing this medication because without them, who knows where I'd be... right now I'm back in college off of this medication but still on Abilify. This drug may not be the cure for schizophrenia, but it does wonders."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Hmm about this medication... I literally do not recommend it at all! As someone with Bipolar 2, I was put on Seroquel for my rapid, unstable moods. I was on it for quite some time, and I noticed the rapid weight gain. Not just that, but I was literally sleeping all the time! When I was awake, I felt like a zombie. Quite frankly, it's a nightmare! Thank God I went off it."

• tes...
• October 28, 2009

For Depression "I was prescribed Seroquel 200 mg doses along with Lexapro after a bad episode recently. I have been unable to work since and have found my dreams to be vivid and disturbing. This drug should not be taken lightly, and I would recommend a second opinion from a medical professional before commencing a course. This drug will make you sleepy, so much so it can be difficult to continue with your employment, driving, development and maintenance of relationships between family and friends, nausea, dizziness, depletion of sex drive, and the list continues. It can be helpful in many cases, but please make sure by second or even third opinion."

• Anonymous
• November 18, 2010

For Borderline Personality Disorder "This medication is adequate compared to others in its class, despite still causing significant side effects such as weight gain (which is very undesirable). At first, this medicine seemed very strong and made me 'zombie-like' (e.g., slow, unemotional, sleepy), but after a couple of days, these were significantly improved. I was on a dose of up to 75 mg, and as far as the effects of each individual dose; 25 mg helped with sleep and 'anger management,' 50 mg increased my hunger (a lot), and 75 mg helped a little more with anxiety and emotional stability."

• Anonymous
• July 20, 2011

For Insomnia "I was prescribed 75 mg of Seroquel for insomnia. It worked like a charm for about the first week. Then it made me sleep too much. I was sleeping 12-14 hours a day and was still waking up groggy. As well as gaining around 25 pounds in a matter of 2 months, my physician and I both decided that it would be better to stop taking it. But I still will keep the rest of the medicine I have just in case there are one of those nights that I can absolutely not sleep. Great medicine, just not for me."

• Oli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm 18 and was diagnosed with Bipolar type 1 about a year ago. I've been using 200 mg of Seroquel for a couple of months now, and it's really helped my mood. I was suffering from a bad manic episode, and it calmed me down within 1-2 weeks or so. The only bad side effects are increased appetite, sleeping a lot, and nausea, but I got over those within a couple of weeks."

• Upp...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 19, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel and I have a love-hate relationship. When I first started taking it, I was in a hospital, my psychiatrist prescribed it. I had super vivid dreams, but he insisted I stay on it and they’d go away. He was right, they did. Seroquel works great to calm your mind when you start receiving the correct dosage. However, I’m sleepy all the time! It’s definitely a drug that I don’t want to be on very long. I’ve gained about 20 lbs since being put on it, 7 months ago."

• Hai...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 16, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Amazing. This stops my body from producing too much energy and makes me sleepy. A lot of people don't know schizophrenia is just extreme mania when your brain produces too much dopamine, and you can't sleep. This medication saved my life. :) I recommend taking it with Prozac and Lamictal."

• But...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "It leaves me so tired, mellow, and calm. I have no negative thoughts. Just thoughts. They aren’t necessarily super positive, but it’s nice to just have thoughts with no strong emotions attached. It does leave me more sleepy than I’d like, but it’s so worth it to me. I’m 24 and female and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. It has helped both. I’ve only been on it a short while, but the sedative effects are already proving helpful."

• Det...
• August 26, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I just started Seroquel at 100 mgs at night. Of course, it makes me sleepy, but it wears off if I wait a couple of hours. That's when I tend to eat. The only thing is I don't eat junk food, but bison, which is low fat on a whole wheat bun. I too am in need of losing weight. I am 205 lbs right now and would like to get to 180 at the least. I don't have a lot to offer because I've only been taking it for three days. I take 300 mgs Lamictal, 300 mgs Wellbutrin. The thing that gives me anxiety is the fact that I look into the future and have no wife or parents."

• Zer...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2022

For Schizophrenia "Seroquel was like a miracle, helped in every way but made me very sleepy. But over time, I started getting shaky and my nerves started breaking down. Plus, I felt like I wasn't going to wake up whenever I went to sleep. These side effects increasingly got worse, so I had to stop taking it. Currently looking for something else. Was a miracle while it lasted, for those that don't get those kinds of scary side effects, this could really be your miracle. I recommend giving it a try."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I am on Lamictal and Risperdal, however I’m not totally stable and sometimes I am given Seroquel for short periods. It really helps with the paranoia, however I get so sleepy, I sleep almost around the clock with 200-400 mg. Couldn’t take it long term."

• Mom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 4, 2017

"My son has taken 200 mg each night for the past 3 years, and he is now 16. It makes him very sleepy, but Seroquel, along with 40 mg of Celexa, has helped his anxiety. He just got a job last month, and the mood stabilizer has helped him with emotional control. Although he has not yet gone through puberty, I'm hoping that is not because of these drugs."

• liv...
• November 23, 2009

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I have noticed a decrease in BPD symptoms just days after taking this medication (25 mg) - the reason why I gave it an 8 is because I can only take it at bedtime since it makes me very sleepy!"

• Anonymous
• August 8, 2009

For Depression "It made me incredibly sleepy, which was a bonus. I took the medication combined with Lexapro and gained 20 lbs in my first 3 months on both. Since I got off Seroquel, my weight returned to normal."