Wish4theNight Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Hi all, I searched this site for info on seroquel and lithium but didn't find much. Basically, what I want to do is try to lower my dose of Seroquel. I'm on 300 mg and have been on this dose for 7 years. Been taking seroquel for 13 years, first 3 years on 100 mg, then 3 years on 200 mg and then 7 years on 300 mg. I'm on it for bipolar disorder. I have had two psychotic breaks. Tried to lower the dose 2 years ago by tapering 25 mg every month. When I got to 200 mg I got very depressed and had severe insomnia. The dose was increased back to 300 mg but that didn't help so I was put on 400 mg of lithium. A little over 2 months ago the lithium was upped to 600 mg. Now that I am relatively stable, I want to try to lower my seroquel dose. See how far I get. Getting off it completely is probably a dream. My question: I also want to lower the lithium dose back to 400 mg. Which drug should I taper first? I don't know if lithium is a brake or accelerator, really, because I guess it does both. I hope someone can offer me some advise. 2004 - start Zoloft. Discontinued due to insomnia. Start Citalopram. Discontinued due to insomnia.Start mirtazapine 15 mg.2005 - mirtazapine increased to 30 mg.2007 - mirtazapine decreased and discontinued because of weight gain. Start Prozac 20 mg, discontinued due to psychotic break and hypomanic episode. Start Seroquel IR 100 mg. 2010 - Seroquel increased to 200 mg.2013 - Seroquel increased to 300 mg.2018 - Tapered seroquel with 25 mg each month down to 200 mg. Severe insomnia and depression. Seroquel back up to 300 mg. Didn't have effect. Lithium 400 mg added.Sept. 2020 - Lithium increased to 600 mg. Currently on 300 mg Seroquel IR and Priadel (lithium) 400mg XR plus 200 mg lithium carbonate Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted November 13, 2020 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 13, 2020 Welcome to SA, Wish4theNight. To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly. Please include whether your Seroquel is IR (immediate release) or XR (extended release). Please also include what type of Lithium you're taking. Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature. We recommend tapering no more than 10% of your current dose every four weeks. Why taper by 10% of my dosage? We also recommend tapering only one drug at a time. Otherwise, if problems arise, you won't know the cause. We suggest tapering the more sedating drug (known as a brake) first, leaving the more activating drug (known as an accelerator) in place to help with sleep. Both seroquel and lithium are brakes. So you would need to decide which to taper first. Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first? To help you make up your mind, here are links specifically about tapering Seroquel and Lithium, including how to get the nonstandard doses you'd need a for 10% taper. These links contain valuable information about your two drugs. Tips for tapering off quetiapine (Seroquel) Tips for tapering off lithium We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. Get supplements that are single ingredient (not mixed with other types of supplements). This is your Introduction topic, where you can complete your drug signature, ask questions and connect with other members. We're glad you found your way here. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Wish4theNight Posted November 13, 2020 Author Share Posted November 13, 2020 Hi Gridley and thanks for your reply. I added a signature to my profile. I am on 300 mg Seroquel IR and 400 mg Priadel XR (lithium) plus 200 mg lithium carbonate (IR I think). I want to taper seroquel first. I am already taking omega 3 and magnesium. 2004 - start Zoloft. Discontinued due to insomnia. Start Citalopram. Discontinued due to insomnia.Start mirtazapine 15 mg.2005 - mirtazapine increased to 30 mg.2007 - mirtazapine decreased and discontinued because of weight gain. Start Prozac 20 mg, discontinued due to psychotic break and hypomanic episode. Start Seroquel IR 100 mg. 2010 - Seroquel increased to 200 mg.2013 - Seroquel increased to 300 mg.2018 - Tapered seroquel with 25 mg each month down to 200 mg. Severe insomnia and depression. Seroquel back up to 300 mg. Didn't have effect. Lithium 400 mg added.Sept. 2020 - Lithium increased to 600 mg. Currently on 300 mg Seroquel IR and Priadel (lithium) 400mg XR plus 200 mg lithium carbonate Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted November 13, 2020 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 13, 2020 3 minutes ago, Wish4theNight said: I am on 300 mg Seroquel IR The link I sent you gives information on tapering Seroquel IR. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Wish4theNight Posted November 17, 2020 Author Share Posted November 17, 2020 Thank you, Gridley. I am still in doubt about what drug to taper first. In your opinion or the general opinion of people on this forum, which one is the most dangerous? I've been googling the side effects of lithium and seroquel and it seems to me they are both terrible. I just thought since I've been on seroquel for 13 years that that should be the first one to go. I've been taking lithium for 18 months. Also, I thought coming off seroquel would be easier if I am still on lithium. I've tried lowering my seroquel dose several times, only to fail. I was planning on doing a 5% taper (per month) since my last failed taper was a 10% one. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks in advance. 2004 - start Zoloft. Discontinued due to insomnia. Start Citalopram. Discontinued due to insomnia.Start mirtazapine 15 mg.2005 - mirtazapine increased to 30 mg.2007 - mirtazapine decreased and discontinued because of weight gain. Start Prozac 20 mg, discontinued due to psychotic break and hypomanic episode. Start Seroquel IR 100 mg. 2010 - Seroquel increased to 200 mg.2013 - Seroquel increased to 300 mg.2018 - Tapered seroquel with 25 mg each month down to 200 mg. Severe insomnia and depression. Seroquel back up to 300 mg. Didn't have effect. Lithium 400 mg added.Sept. 2020 - Lithium increased to 600 mg. Currently on 300 mg Seroquel IR and Priadel (lithium) 400mg XR plus 200 mg lithium carbonate Link to comment
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