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Does Serequel Cause Cataracts?
Question: Does serequel cause cataracts? Im on 100mg for sleep.
Brief Answer:
It has been reported
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood your concerns.
Seroquel has many side effects but cataract is not frequently reported. The drug trial also have not described it, but there are reports of cataract after 2 to 3 years of continuous use of seroquel.
I have searched through the data and and found few case reports.
So, for safety purpose I would ask you to go for eye examination every 6 months after starting seroquel, but if you are not using it continuously then there is no need to go for eye examination at all.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
It has been reported
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood your concerns.
Seroquel has many side effects but cataract is not frequently reported. The drug trial also have not described it, but there are reports of cataract after 2 to 3 years of continuous use of seroquel.
I have searched through the data and and found few case reports.
So, for safety purpose I would ask you to go for eye examination every 6 months after starting seroquel, but if you are not using it continuously then there is no need to go for eye examination at all.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
What are common side effects?
Brief Answer:
Common side effects are less seriuos
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
Seroquel can cause many side effects in a person initially but some of it goes away with time. Following are the less serious side effects which occur commonly but it does not mean that you shall develop each and everyone of these, it can be possible that you shall experience only one or two of these:
-dizziness, drowsiness, tired feeling
-dry mouth, sore throat
-stomach pain, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, constipation
-increased appetite, weight gain
-breast swelling
-missed menstrual periods
Do not make any changes in dosage of the drug without consultation to your prescribing doctor.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Common side effects are less seriuos
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
Seroquel can cause many side effects in a person initially but some of it goes away with time. Following are the less serious side effects which occur commonly but it does not mean that you shall develop each and everyone of these, it can be possible that you shall experience only one or two of these:
-dizziness, drowsiness, tired feeling
-dry mouth, sore throat
-stomach pain, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, constipation
-increased appetite, weight gain
-breast swelling
-missed menstrual periods
Do not make any changes in dosage of the drug without consultation to your prescribing doctor.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Is it considered a safe drug
Brief Answer:
Yes, it is a safe drug compared to other antipsychotics
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
Seroquel is much safer then other antipsychotics. You are taking only 100 mg, so at this dose only few side effects like drowsiness, sedation, nausea, constipation and dry mouth will occur.
You are given this drug for sleep because it cause excellent sedation, and I am using seroquel for sleep for last 2 years in elderly people and results are good.
So, there is no need to worry, continue taking it and follow advice of your prescribing doctor.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Yes, it is a safe drug compared to other antipsychotics
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
Seroquel is much safer then other antipsychotics. You are taking only 100 mg, so at this dose only few side effects like drowsiness, sedation, nausea, constipation and dry mouth will occur.
You are given this drug for sleep because it cause excellent sedation, and I am using seroquel for sleep for last 2 years in elderly people and results are good.
So, there is no need to worry, continue taking it and follow advice of your prescribing doctor.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Should I worry about it causing weight gain at this dose & is it a natural sleep? My dr says it is not a sleeping pill or chemically induces sleep says sleep is natural bc body is relaxed
Brief Answer:
It is natural sleep
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
At this dose, you need not worry about weight gain but yeah, you should keep check on your diet and monitor weight regularly. Exercises like walking, jogging in the morning will be beneficial if you find your weight increasing.
Seroquel acts on receptor which induces natural sleep so it is similar to natural sleep. It causes sedation and induces sleep as a side effect, sleep is not it's primary effect. It is a antipsychotic and the dose required for it's effect in psychosis is 400-700 mg in a day. At a dose of even 25 to 50 mg it induces sleep but has not effects on psychosis.
Lower doses are used for sleep and higher doses are used for psychosis like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
It is natural sleep
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
At this dose, you need not worry about weight gain but yeah, you should keep check on your diet and monitor weight regularly. Exercises like walking, jogging in the morning will be beneficial if you find your weight increasing.
Seroquel acts on receptor which induces natural sleep so it is similar to natural sleep. It causes sedation and induces sleep as a side effect, sleep is not it's primary effect. It is a antipsychotic and the dose required for it's effect in psychosis is 400-700 mg in a day. At a dose of even 25 to 50 mg it induces sleep but has not effects on psychosis.
Lower doses are used for sleep and higher doses are used for psychosis like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
How is that different than sleeping pills?
Brief Answer:
It acts differently
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
Sleeping pills like benzodiazepins act on GABA receptor complex same as alcohol. Alcohol depresses the brain by increasing the activity of GABA and same is true for benzos. So the sleep induced by these drugs is different.
Seroquel does not act on GABA. It acts on histaminic H1 receptors and increses sleep by inhibiting them. These Histaminic receptors constitute the wakefulness promotor region in brain. During wakefulness, throughout the day these receptors fire at maximum rate and at night there is absence of any firing.
So by inhibiting H1 receptors, seroquel increases both phases of sleep that is rapid eye movement [REM] sleep and N-REM [NON-REM, SLOW WAVE SLEEP, DEEP SLEEP]. So it induces sleep that is similar to natural sleep.
Have you ever taken cetrizine for cold? After taking cetrizine, you shall have sedation because it is also a anti-histaminic drug. Seroquel is similar to it but more specific in acting on receptors.
I feel these information will be adequate to you.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
It acts differently
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
Sleeping pills like benzodiazepins act on GABA receptor complex same as alcohol. Alcohol depresses the brain by increasing the activity of GABA and same is true for benzos. So the sleep induced by these drugs is different.
Seroquel does not act on GABA. It acts on histaminic H1 receptors and increses sleep by inhibiting them. These Histaminic receptors constitute the wakefulness promotor region in brain. During wakefulness, throughout the day these receptors fire at maximum rate and at night there is absence of any firing.
So by inhibiting H1 receptors, seroquel increases both phases of sleep that is rapid eye movement [REM] sleep and N-REM [NON-REM, SLOW WAVE SLEEP, DEEP SLEEP]. So it induces sleep that is similar to natural sleep.
Have you ever taken cetrizine for cold? After taking cetrizine, you shall have sedation because it is also a anti-histaminic drug. Seroquel is similar to it but more specific in acting on receptors.
I feel these information will be adequate to you.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Can a tolerance/dependancy occur?
Brief Answer:
No, it won't develop
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
Tolerance does not develop to seroquel if you are taking 100 mg for sleep, So don't worry.
There is absence of dependence to sleep inducing effects of seroquel but if you shall stop it suddenly then you can have discontinuation symptoms for short duration like heaviness over head, anxiety, depressed feeling, uneasiness etc.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
No, it won't develop
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
Tolerance does not develop to seroquel if you are taking 100 mg for sleep, So don't worry.
There is absence of dependence to sleep inducing effects of seroquel but if you shall stop it suddenly then you can have discontinuation symptoms for short duration like heaviness over head, anxiety, depressed feeling, uneasiness etc.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
If Im drowsy all day after sleeping on 10 hours on seroquel, should I talk to my dr about lowering my dose ?
Brief Answer:
Yes, you can ask
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
If you are feeling sleepy throughout the day after 100 mg of seroquel then you can ask for decreasing the dose. Visit your prescribing doctor and ask for help.
I usually give 25 to 50 mg for sleep.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have any other clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Yes, you can ask
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
If you are feeling sleepy throughout the day after 100 mg of seroquel then you can ask for decreasing the dose. Visit your prescribing doctor and ask for help.
I usually give 25 to 50 mg for sleep.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have any other clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Can 25-50 be taken for life?
Brief Answer:
Yeah, it can be taken
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
Yeah, it can be taken but I usually prefer to decrease the dose gradually and to see the sleep pattern of my patients. If they are getting good sleep with even 12.5 mg than I would continue that dose and after 1 to 2 month I shall try to stop the drug and see what are the after effects of stopping the drug. If my patient is getting enough sleep without it then I shall stop it completely.
For what duration you can take it, depends on your doctor's judgement. Follow his advice.
25 to 50 mg dose is not harmful and does not cause any serious side effects.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have any other clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health
Yeah, it can be taken
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
Yeah, it can be taken but I usually prefer to decrease the dose gradually and to see the sleep pattern of my patients. If they are getting good sleep with even 12.5 mg than I would continue that dose and after 1 to 2 month I shall try to stop the drug and see what are the after effects of stopping the drug. If my patient is getting enough sleep without it then I shall stop it completely.
For what duration you can take it, depends on your doctor's judgement. Follow his advice.
25 to 50 mg dose is not harmful and does not cause any serious side effects.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have any other clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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