Hello,
I understand that you have been suffering from early
insomnia (difficulty in initiating sleep) for a long time.
Seroquel (
Quetiapine) is an anti-
psychotic medication which has sedative properties and if sometimes used in the short-term management of insomnia. Unfortunately, you have been experiencing multiple side effects of that medication.
Now, there are several other medication which can be used to treat insomnia. Benzodiazepines are one such group, but the problem with this group of medication is the high risk for dependence. One good alternative, especially for initial / early insomnia is
Zolpidem. This is very effective in people who have trouble falling asleep. It is a relatively safe medication and unlike benzodiazepines, there is no risk for dependence.
Low doses of certain antidepressants with sedative properties are also often used effectively in the management of insomnia.
Trazadone is one such medication which is used in low doses (25 - 50 mg) for treating insomnia. Since you also mention that you suffer from anxiety-related symptoms also, another good option would be
Mirtazapine - which is an antidepressant with both sedative and anti-anxiety properties.
So, I would suggest that you discuss about the above mentioned options with your doctor, so that an appropriate choice of medication can be made.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Iven Romic Rommstein, General Surgeon