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Suggest Effective Alternative Substitute For Seroquel
Question: Because of recurrent pituitary tumors, 3 surgeries, and cyberknife, my pituitary is dead. My hormones are exogenous from my endocrinologist. My big problem is that I can't stay alseep for very long. I have also had two brain tumors and the craniotomies have left me in a situation where everything seems to give me a terrific headache. I also had hepatitis B for seven years, cured in 1986, but my impaired liver hurts when I take anything. I have been taking the larger half of a 25 mg Seroquel tablet for 10 years, but my insurance has changed and the name brand will now cost me $319. I have tried 8 generic brands and they all give me a monster headache, and when headaches get bad enough I have partial seizures. I am now trying very gradually to withdraw from Seroquel but now spend most of my nights awake. In the distant past I tried Restoril and Deseryl, and meprobamate and benadryl and probably others. Everything either makes my head hurt or my liver hurt or both. If I had more money, I would just continue with the 12.5 mg of Seroquel. Any suggestions?
Brief Answer:
Doxepin or Suvorexant might be alternatives.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the many problems you have had to face.
Seroquel is not typically used for sleep, but then again I guess yours is not the most typical situation and you have tried some other alternatives without success.
In this situation since generics are giving such side effects one alternative would be looking at another antipsychotic drug, meaning the same class as Seroquel, with similar effect on sleep. Two alternatives which could be considered would be Olanzapine or Clozapine.
An alternative from a different group might be an antidepressant. Doxepin is an antidepressant which is also effective and approved for insomnia. The necessary dosage for insomnia is much lower than that for depression, so not likely to induce any liver damage.
There is also Suvorexant a drug with a different mechanism of action than all those you have tried, but it's a new drug (not available at all where I live), and I am afraid the price in the US should be quite high, so unless your insurance covers that I don't know whether it's affordable.
Of course these are prescription drugs and should be discussed with your physician.
I hope to have been of help.
Doxepin or Suvorexant might be alternatives.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the many problems you have had to face.
Seroquel is not typically used for sleep, but then again I guess yours is not the most typical situation and you have tried some other alternatives without success.
In this situation since generics are giving such side effects one alternative would be looking at another antipsychotic drug, meaning the same class as Seroquel, with similar effect on sleep. Two alternatives which could be considered would be Olanzapine or Clozapine.
An alternative from a different group might be an antidepressant. Doxepin is an antidepressant which is also effective and approved for insomnia. The necessary dosage for insomnia is much lower than that for depression, so not likely to induce any liver damage.
There is also Suvorexant a drug with a different mechanism of action than all those you have tried, but it's a new drug (not available at all where I live), and I am afraid the price in the US should be quite high, so unless your insurance covers that I don't know whether it's affordable.
Of course these are prescription drugs and should be discussed with your physician.
I hope to have been of help.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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