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Suggest Treatment For Sleeplessness While Taking CO-Quetiapine
Question: hi i currently take the drug co-quetiapine 200mg every day and have been on this for about five years before that many years of the drug larazapam. i do not sleep naturally no more and im sure its due to the medications ive been on doing it for me. i have 2 days left of my seroquel meds and cannot refill the prescription til april 19. i do not want to call my doctor as he was explicit on no refills before refills due. are there any concerns for me and is there anything that can help me sleep. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
you can follow Sleep Hygiene; reduce the dose by breaking tablet
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing to us.
I can understand your concern.
Quetiapine 200 mg for five year is moderate dose with long duration. Stopping it suddenly likely to cause discontinuation symptoms/withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, insomnia, lightheadedness, diaphoresis, dyskinesia, orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia, nervousness, dizziness, headache, and anxiety.
As you are taking for sleep disturbance, insomnia will be prominent feature.
My first request is do not stop cold turkey. If feasible ask your doctor for refill without hesitation.As you might suffer from significant withdrawal and you should concern about that.
And if you do not want to ask for refill, try following approach.
You have 200x2=400 mg of drug is with you.
Break one tablet in 4 parts.
Take 1 part (50 mg) at night for 4 days. It will help somewhat in sleep and may reduce the withdrawal.
After 4 days try to take it alternate day. Thus it will allow to pass 8 more days. Still 6 days are remaining for refill and during those days you may see how much symptoms and insomnia you can face.
At any point of time during this period you feel more discomfort , please do not hesitate to consult doctor.
With this approach you must follow some measures called, 'Sleep Hygiene'.
You can find the same in following link.
http://sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/sleep-hygiene
These may help you in very good manner for good sleep.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further,
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
you can follow Sleep Hygiene; reduce the dose by breaking tablet
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing to us.
I can understand your concern.
Quetiapine 200 mg for five year is moderate dose with long duration. Stopping it suddenly likely to cause discontinuation symptoms/withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, insomnia, lightheadedness, diaphoresis, dyskinesia, orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia, nervousness, dizziness, headache, and anxiety.
As you are taking for sleep disturbance, insomnia will be prominent feature.
My first request is do not stop cold turkey. If feasible ask your doctor for refill without hesitation.As you might suffer from significant withdrawal and you should concern about that.
And if you do not want to ask for refill, try following approach.
You have 200x2=400 mg of drug is with you.
Break one tablet in 4 parts.
Take 1 part (50 mg) at night for 4 days. It will help somewhat in sleep and may reduce the withdrawal.
After 4 days try to take it alternate day. Thus it will allow to pass 8 more days. Still 6 days are remaining for refill and during those days you may see how much symptoms and insomnia you can face.
At any point of time during this period you feel more discomfort , please do not hesitate to consult doctor.
With this approach you must follow some measures called, 'Sleep Hygiene'.
You can find the same in following link.
http://sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/sleep-hygiene
These may help you in very good manner for good sleep.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further,
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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