What is Seroquel Withdrawal?
Seroquel is an atypical short acting anti-psychotic drug that is used to treat conditions like bipolar disorders, depression, schizophrenia, insomnia and Alzheimer’s disease. It affects the neurotransmitters in the brain, dopamine and serotonin in particular. It also helps to regulate mood, increase concentration and clarity and has a calming effect on the person. It blocks the flow of these chemicals within the brain which in turn has certain effects. Due to its effects many people are prone to get addicted to it and the brain gets used to functioning in its presence. The moment a person tries to withdraw from Seroquel, he or she finds it difficult to cope up with the absence.
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Seroquel Withdrawal Symptoms
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Fatigue
- Itching
- Headaches
- Problems in concentrating
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Insomnia
- Suicidal thoughts
- Vision changes
- Suicidal thoughts
- Hallucinations
- Sweating
- Hypersensitivity
- Mood swings
- Changes in heart rate
- Agitation
Assessment
- Psychological reasons such as depression and stress must be taken into consideration.
- Comprehensive medical background can reveal a great deal about the reason behind the addiction.
- Lab tests must be conducted to know what toxins are affecting the patient.
- Consumption patterns with regard to the dosage and frequency of use must be assessed.
Treatment
Treat Insomnia: Tapering Seroquel gradually instead of cold turkey is recommended for easing off the withdrawal process. Insomnia is one of the most common symptoms and the overall treatment needs to be focussed around overcoming insomnia. Exercising to get rid of sleeping problems is one of the key exercises here.
Dedicated Drug Withdrawal Plan: Consult a reputable rehabilitation program can help in preparing a drug withdrawal plan to a mental illness free as well as a drug free lifestyle. Both inpatient and outpatient withdrawal programs can make it comfortable to treat the psychological and physical side-effects after Seroquel Withdrawal.
Prevention
- Use of the drug for recreational purposes must be avoided at all cost.
- Lower the use of the drug over time rather that quitting its use suddenly to avoid chances of relapse into the addiction.
How long does it take for Seroquel to detox?
Timeline for Seroquel detoxification completely depends on how long and in what quantities the drug has been used. Technically it takes about 12 hours to clear out of the system after which the withdrawal symptoms set in. It takes about 1 to 3 months for the withdrawal symptoms to subside and recovery of any sort can only be expected after a period of 90 days.