Mictlantecuhtli: leaving quetiapine / Seroquel away

[Mictlantecuhtli]

Hello everybody. I have been on 12. 5 MG of quetiapine every night for 5 months. I started on december 2018. That dose was prescribed for anxiety. Last may the anxiety was blown off and doctor said its Time to leave the Seroquel. She suggested to leave it cold turkey but i refused. Searching the web i found you. Thanks God! I started the 10 percent taper. All went fine at the begining but now at 9 MG. The hypnic jerks appeared. My shrink insists That was a very low dose for a few months. I could leave it faster. The only thing im worried its That these shakings could grow as i tapper. This Is the only pill im in now. Is it really such a very low dose? Any suggestions? Thanks everybody

Edited July 8, 2019 by Mictlantecuhtli
Forgot to mention some points

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Mictlantecuhti.  I'm glad you found your way here and didn't cold turkey.  Doctors know nothing about tapering or withdrawal and almost invariably advise their patients to taper far too quickly.  

 

To start, please add a drug signature, including drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements in the last 12-24 months. Please include the date you started the Seroquel and the dosage, dates and dosages of your taper, and when the hypnic jerks appeared.  Also include supplements. This will help us give you the most accurate advice we can. 

• Any drugs and supplements prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. 
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago.
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
• This is a direct link to your signature:  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

We recommend tapering no faster than 10% of current dose every four weeks.  Some have to taper more slowly.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Is this the method you've been using?  If so, the fact that you developed hypnic jerks at 9mg indicates you are tapering too fast. 

The 10% method suits many members, but many others have to go more slowly.  This is especially important as you get lower in dosage.  I suggest you stop tapering and hold at 9mg until you get relief from the jerks.  Then I recommend you taper more slowly.  Here are two gentle taper methods:

 

You may want to switch to a micro-taper going forward. This is the gentlest way to come off these drugs. 

 

Micro-taper instead of 10% or 5% decreases

 

The Brassmonkey Slide is a way of making micro-taper reductions weekly, as opposed to a larger reduction once a month. 

 

The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering

 

Here is specific information about tapering off Seroquel.

 

Tips for tapering off Seroquel (quetiapine)

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can ask questions, post updates and connect with other members.  Please let us hear from you and don't forget to complete your drug signature.  Again, we're glad you found your way here.

[Mictlantecuhtli]

Thank you  very much for acepting me and the response. I am filling the signature

 

Edited July 8, 2019 by ChessieCat
removed quote

[manymoretodays]

Welcome Mictlantecuhtli,

Good job on your signature.  It looks like you have been tapering at 10% or less, from each previous dose about every 4 weeks.

How are you tapering?  In other words, have you made a liquid, or are you weighing doses, or cutting pills?

 

And yes, you might consider a bit of a longer hold now, until WD(withdrawal) symptoms stabilize a bit.

 

Welcome again,

 

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

manymoretodays(mmt)

Edited July 9, 2019 by manymoretodays