mpowerme: Seroquel Taper From 400mg to 200mg...too fast? Go back to 400mg?

[mpowerme]

Four nights ago I stopped taking 400mg of Seroquel and reduced it down to 200mg per night.  Starting yesterday I noticed anxiety in my system the whole day and it has now been a problem for me again today.  Did I taper too quickly for sure?  When would the anxiety pass if I continued to take 200mg at night?  And the last question is, will my problem be solved if I went back to taking 400mg again?  The original taper from 400mg to 200mg was approved by my psychiatrist.  In other words he did not advise me that I would be tapering too quickly and experience WD symptoms.

[Petunia]

Welcome mpowerme, thank you for posting in introductions.

 

It sounds like you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms.  Many of us are here because we tapered too fast while believing we were doing it right.  Sadly, most doctors don’t have a clue and often advise tapers that lead patients to going back on the drug because of a ‘relapse’,  which is actually withdrawal.

 

We suggest reducing by no more than 10% of the current dose every 4 weeks, this reduces the risk of withdrawal symptoms arising.  Please read through this which will explain why:

  

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?  (The general philosophy of gradual tapering)

 

Are you planning on coming off Seroquel completely, or just reducing your dose?  Are you on any other medications?

 

Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature.  Putting a short version of your drug and tapering history in your signature helps people understand your context, it appears below each of your posts.  Here are instructions for how to do it:

 

http://survivinganti...your-signature/

 

What is most helpful are all medications ever taken, including approximate years, but details, including dates and dosages of all current drugs, including any recent past or present tapering attempts.

 

Please see our tips for Tapering off Seroquel

 

Its impossible to answer your question about how long the withdrawal symptoms will last, because everyone is different.  If I were in you situation I would reinstate back to 360mg, or close to it, and then hold until your symptoms settle down, at least 4 weeks, and then I would continue with the 10% taper method as detailed in the link above.

 

But we really do need some more details about your situation and goals if we are going to be able to offer support and suggestions. You will find a lot of friendly help and support here.  You can use this thread as your ongoing journal to track progress and communicate with the community, add to it whenever you want.

 

Petu.

[Meimeiquest]

There is a thread on tapering Seroquel that you should read. The drug does not work the same at all doses.