need some advice? Seroquel?!
Question: Need some advice? Seroquel?
Have any of you been on Seroquel? Just need some input on this because we dont know what to do and hes sick of feeling this way. Hes only 19 if that makes a difference
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
It's not true that Seroquel takes weeks to start working. It starts working immediately - that's how anti-psychotics work. I think somebody has got confused thinking Seroquel is an anti-depressant but it isn't. They DO take some weeks to have an effect.
100mg is a low dose. It's an exceptionally low dose to treat psychosis. You say your friend has lost touch with reality which is considered to be psychosis, in which case a much higher dose would be prescribed - usually 300-800mg daily.
You absolutely cannot increase this dose. Only the prescribing doctor can. Adding another anti-depressants (assuming this friend is already taking one) may be counter-productive.
I'm a qualified mental health practitioner
Unless you are a licensed physician, and your friend is a patient in your practice, you shouldn't be adding any medications to his regimen. What you should be doing is encouraging your friend to contact the physician who prescribed the Seroquel to notify him/her that there has been no noticeable improvement yet. Certainly after 4 weeks of treatment, some degree of improvement is to be expected, although many patients confuse not achieveing a total resolution of their symptoms with no improvement whatsoever. It sounds like a change of therapy could certainly be in order, but whether that means an increase in dosage, or an additional medication, or a change of medication, or intesification of psychotherapy, only your friend's physician can decide.
I am a physician with over 18 years of experience.
I was on Seroquel and it took approximately eight weeks to have the full effect. You are going to have to help him get through this second month. It really does work.
I do not know if he is in the state in which he is able to wait another month in order to recognize the full effect of the drug without your help.
I admire you in that you are willing to be involved in his mental state.
If his suicidal ideation and the thought of wanting to hurt himself continue, you may need to call "911" and have him admitted to the psychiatric ward of a hospital and they will then be able to help him as far as his Seroquel is concerned.
He is very fortunate to have you as a friend. Not that many people are able to say that they have a friend such as you.