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What Are The Long Term Side Affects Of Taking Serequel?

Posted on Thu, 26 Mar 2015

Question: What are the long term side affects of taking high doses of serequel xr over many years?

Answered by Dr. Vipul Prajapati (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Not having any major side effects on long term

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,

Thank you for your Query.

First of all i tell you that there is no major side effect of quetiapine on long term though there is no medication without side effects.

There are many minor side effects like sedation, tremors, restlessness, weight gain, rarely extra pyramidal symptoms like akathesia, dystonia, parkinsons symptoms etc...

If it is taken in adequate therapeutic dose than there is not having any major side effects.

If you take it above therapeutic dose and for long term than only there is chance of having extra pyramidal side effects and also neuromalignant syndrome.

Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vipul Prajapati (1 hour later)

I know I should stay on these medications but I often feel so lacking in energy that it can be hard at work. I take serequel xr 600mg paxam .05mg and epilem 1000mg all in one dose at night. Twice a year I take a Medication Free night to see how I go without them. On these occasions I actually wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day with enthusiasm, the rest of the time I need at least two coffees before I can even think straight and I just feel lethargic all the time. I know this is better then being in and out of hospital but I just want to get some sort of energy up so I can face the day a little better. I know I am not depressed I am in a good time of life and feel very settled with where I am at. My doctors do not seem to understand, I had one mental health worker say it was a serequel hangover but I should not feel like this all day. I am at the point where I am weighing up if I should keep taking them. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Your advice will be to no doubt keep taking them and get a review but I don't know what else I can do as no other combination of medications have worked. I think I may need to change something but I am worried I may end up in hospital again . Can you give me any suggestions on what I could do? Thankyou

Answered by Dr. Vipul Prajapati (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Need to decrease the dose

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,

First of all what ever medication you are taking is in adequate and in therapeutic limit so there is no worry regarding side effects on long term.

No need to change medicines.

As you told that you are feeling lethargic and not feeling refreshed all time, i suggest you to decrease the dose gradually.

First of all half the dose of clonazepam 0.5 mg as it is benzodiazepin and it is used mostly for sleep disturbance.
As you are taking other medication you will get sleep without it.

So first take half dose of clonazepam than with in 15 days stop it.

If you feel comfortable than no need to decrease the dose of other medicines.
Even if you feel such complain decrease the dose of sodium valproate to 750 mg at night only.

Consult your treating doctor about it.

Thank you

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj