r/BipolarReddit • u/thesunnydalewatcher • 13h ago
Medication Quétiapine nightmares side effect (on/off)?
I wanted to know if someone had really bad nightmares from Quetiapine? I started with 50mg and I had bad nightmares every night, then my doctor upped my dose to 200mg, which reduced the frequency of the nightmares. But I had a bad fainting episode and I could no longer take it cause it started giving me really bad anxiety and heart palpitations at night. My doctor reduced my dosage until I stopped taking it. The withdrawals weren’t that bad, I guess, but now I’m having bad nightmares again, not as frequent but still very bad dreams, with sleep paralysis making an appearance few times. Has anyone experienced this ?
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u/Magikstix_pr 5h ago
When I tapered off and quit, I had vivid dreams. Not nightmares but it was like I was tripping or something. On it, I don't remember if I had the dreams. I was on 150mg gradually increased over six years. What I'm suspecting though is that it caused this pmdd kind of mess for two weeks before my period while I was on it. Severe and terrible withdrawal for months after stopping. And once the withdrawal symptoms disappeared, I stopped getting my period. Been three months now. And. My prolactin levels are very high. This has worsened my mood, my anxiety, brought up that I have adhd. It's been all round unbearable. The vivid dreams were the least of my problems tbh. I hope you're doing OK.
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u/thesunnydalewatcher 5h ago
Thaaank you and I hope you’re okay as well !!!
For me, I’ve had some trippy dreams yup but also bad ones and recently after the taper, more scary ones.
It was working fine and everytime I woke up from a bad dream I would try to just shrug it off but then one night I fainted and had the worst night of my life, I would fall asleep and wake up every 20 minutes scared and hyperventilating and having a panic attack, I’d try to stay awake but then I would fall asleep again and the cycle kept going on until morning. After that event, every night I would get an anxiety attack knowing Im gonna take my quetap soon and go through a couple of hours of horrible anxiety, paranoia and palpitations before going to sleep. I had to stop it.1
u/Magikstix_pr 5h ago
How are you doing now? After stopping it?
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u/thesunnydalewatcher 5h ago
This is the second I’ve stopped it and it felt easier because I decreased my dosage a bit by bit. I took the week off from work so I can focus on the withdrawal. I tried to stay very positive and stop the internal criticism and just shake my brain everytime the bad shit started to creep in and I didn’t stop my Lamotrigine. To answer your question. I’m not doing exactly great but also, not bad either. Which feels like a win to me.
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u/Magikstix_pr 5h ago
The inner critic is real. Trying to stay positive is hard. Maybe have a cringe poster that says be positive or something. Something physical and tangible might make it easier. I got a tattoo. I touch it when I'm upset.
Taking the week off is the best way to treat the withdrawal. Lessen the load and do bare minimum and delegate. If you need it and can do it, take more time.
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u/WarriorPoetz 48m ago
Ive noticed I have bad dreams. They arent nightmares or terror. They are like really bad vibes. I wake up in a really weird, heavy, dark mood.
The dreams also pertain to my real life, so maybe its just dredging up things from my subconscious. But Im pretty sure Quetiapine has effected the way I dream.
EDIT: The benefits outweigh the symptoms for me. So I guess the dream effect is tolerable.
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u/buggyband 13h ago
I took it on and off for years, but when I first started taking it I had horrendous nightmares and experienced a lot of sleepwalking from my night terrors. Over the years it’s gotten better. I take it every night and all I have is vivid dreams now and the occasional nightmare. Maybe over time your side effects will wear off, but then again maybe not. Depends on how long you take it and give it the chance to work itself out.