What is going on with my brain, after I take Seroquel?!
Question: I have been taking Seroquel (500 mg) for several months for night anxiety and mood disorder, at bedtime. Every night it causes an over-bearing sleepiness to come over me about 30 minutes after i take it. Why? Does it have anything to do with serotonin? i know seroquel is an anti-psychotic, but what chemicals in my brain are being affected to make me feel so sleepy? it also makes my hands shake and feel weak. does this med have any affect on my brain during the day? im also taking lexapro in the morning for anxiety.
Answers: I have been taking Seroquel (500 mg) for several months for night anxiety and mood disorder, at bedtime. Every night it causes an over-bearing sleepiness to come over me about 30 minutes after i take it. Why? Does it have anything to do with serotonin? i know seroquel is an anti-psychotic, but what chemicals in my brain are being affected to make me feel so sleepy? it also makes my hands shake and feel weak. does this med have any affect on my brain during the day? im also taking lexapro in the morning for anxiety.
You know how benadryl can make you tired? That's because it blocks histimine, the same receptor seroquel first blocks, only much, much more strongly. At higher doses, seroquel also blocks dopamine reputake. It might also do something with serotonin but I doubt that it's much. Seroquel is prescribed a lot to ppl with bipolar, but many of us can't deal with serotonin boosts. Yes, you do feel seroquel during the following day and are probably getting a nice antianxiety effect throughout much of the day, at least that's how it works for me and anyone else I know who takes it. (I belong to a bipolar support group and there are a few ppl on it.) Sorry, don't know about the shakey and weak hands. Talk to your doctor about that!
I tried seroquel and didnt like it. I felt like I was tripping on acid... 500 mg!! Holy **** thats allot. You must have taken it for a long time. I think seroquel effects dopamine and serotonin receptor sites all effecting mood. Im taking lexapro and its been great. no side effects