Seroquel is a powerful medication that can help you with symptoms of schizophrenia as well as bipolar disorder. However, if you need to change your medication, you could have withdrawal symptoms—especially if you don’t consult your physician before you stop taking Seroquel. The Seroquel withdrawal timeline can take a few days to weeks depending on your dosage and other factors.
If you need to safely withdraw from Seroquel, Tampa Bay Recovery Center can help you. We offer outpatient detox and addiction treatment programs for a variety of illegal and prescription drugs.
What Is Seroquel?
Seroquel is the brand name of quetiapine, which treats mental and mood disorders. It is classified as an atypical antipsychotic and helps to restore natural chemical balances in the brain. As such, Seroquel helps treat symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Seroquel works by rebalancing two brain chemicals named dopamine and serotonin. Both of these chemicals are important in regulating your mood and behavior. They also help improve your ability to think clearly.
Thus, rebalancing these chemicals treats symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thoughts. In addition, by regulating your mood, Seroquel treats acute symptoms of mania and depression among those with bipolar disorder.
What Causes Seroquel Withdrawal?
When you stop taking Seroquel suddenly, you might have withdrawal symptoms. This is because, over time, your brain becomes dependent on Seroquel to keep serotonin and dopamine levels balanced. So, if you suddenly stop taking Seroquel, you experience unpleasant symptoms when these chemicals are no longer balanced.
Oftentimes, when you feel better, you might think that you can stop taking Seroquel. However, Seroquel might be part of your ongoing treatment program. If you stop taking Seroquel without consulting your psychiatrist, you are at risk of going through withdrawal.
What Are the Symptoms of Seroquel Withdrawal?
Overall, symptoms of Seroquel withdrawal can appear as a return of the symptoms that Seroquel treated. In addition, you could have additional physical symptoms. That is why it is important to speak to your healthcare provider before you stop taking Seroquel.
Seroquel withdrawal symptoms include the following:
- Nausea and dizziness
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Difficulty sleeping
- Irritability
Furthermore, suddenly stopping Seroquel can lead to significant issues, such as:
- Trouble breathing
- Dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Changes in weight
- Problems with sight
- Kidney trouble
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
Your symptoms of Seroquel withdrawal will vary based on individual factors, such as how much you take, why you take Seroquel, and your overall health. In addition, the Seroquel withdrawal timeline varies from person to person.
How Long Does Seroquel Withdrawal Take?
The Seroquel withdrawal timeline isn’t going to look the same for everyone. However, you can expect some degree of withdrawal symptoms. If you gradually get off Seroquel by taking less and less as directed by your doctor, you can minimize the risks of withdrawal.
Therefore, Seroquel withdrawal can take weeks. This is because your doctor will most likely recommend a gradual decrease in dosage week by week to safely wean you off of Seroquel. You could also experience a prolonged timeline for Seroquel withdrawal if you take a high dose or abuse Seroquel.
In order to safely manage withdrawal symptoms, your doctor might recommend a detox program. That way you can safely manage withdrawal and minimize the risk of relapsing.
After detoxing, you could try other medications similar to Seroquel if the side effects from Seroquel were too unpleasant. Additionally, during detox, you can work on additional coping skills for mental and mood disorders. But it is important to talk to your doctor first before making any changes to medication and treatment regimens.
Do I Need a Detox Program for Seroquel Withdrawal?
You might need a detox program for Seroquel if you take a high dosage, abuse your prescription, or if you struggle with severe withdrawal symptoms. Each person will have different needs when it comes to withdrawal from Seroquel. Overall, the best approach is to follow your doctor’s recommendations and to seek detox services if you struggle significantly.
But, if you are abusing Seroquel, it is imperative that you enter a detox program for addiction. Some people abuse Seroquel by taking more than their prescribed dosage for euphoric effects. This could lead to developing an addiction.
During a detox program, you can begin treating the underlying causes of your addiction to Seroquel. Oftentimes, a person never intends to get addicted to prescription drugs. However, due to the potency of these medications, you could find yourself abusing Seroquel to get high or to alleviate additional mental health symptoms.
After detox, you can begin recovery from addiction at a dual-diagnosis treatment center. That way, you can get treatment for addiction as well as the mental health disorder that you were treating with Seroquel in the first place.
Detox From Seroquel Safely Today
The Seroquel withdrawal timeline will look different for each person. However, if you suddenly stop taking Seroquel, you are at risk of unpleasant and dangerous withdrawal symptoms. If you want to change your psychiatric prescriptions, discuss these changes with your psychiatrist first so that you can safely and gradually get off of Seroquel.
Tampa Bay Recovery Center can help you safely detox from Seroquel. We can also help you or a loved one continue addiction treatment for Seroquel abuse. Contact us today to learn more.
