Bipolar support thread

happymumto2

Hi
Just after a little advice, I was started on seroquel (quetiapine) last week, am on a low dose at the moment which is to be increased weekly for the next 6 weeks. Have been taking it since Friday night.
Am having some strange side effects (was no leaflet in the box when I got them from chemist). My GP can't see me for 3 weeks!, was just wondering if anyone else had experienced the same thing and if it goes away. Have looked online and I don't have the drowsiness thing that some get but I do have the dry mouth, however my fingers are so swollen that my sister had to cut up my food for me last night as I couldn't hold my knife and fork properly as my fingers look like a packet of Wall's sausages!!

dane-katie

I had loads of side effects when i started seroquel, you are not alone, i had dry mouth for ages took months to go away but finally has! i used to slurr my words, be drowsy, my hands and feet swell a bit, i go dizzy and loose my balance, become forgetful, the list goes on but it does get better

happymumto2

dane-katie wrote: »

I had loads of side effects when i started seroquel, you are not alone, i had dry mouth for ages took months to go away but finally has! i used to slurr my words, be drowsy, my hands and feet swell a bit, i go dizzy and loose my balance, become forgetful, the list goes on but it does get better

Thanks for that, have spoken to my ex-hubby (psychiatric nurse), and he had never heard of the hand swelling thing but told me about everything else. I got the forgetful thing too, had an online conversation for about an hour and had no recall the next day!

lolababy

Id try and get an emergency appointment. Iv not heard of the swelling before although Im sure its in the leaflet. The gp needs to see you asap.
I still have problems with a dry mouth and if I take the meds late Im drowsy all the next day until Iv had a sleep.

System

Never had the hand swelling though from the leaflets the hand swelling is something you should seen for asap

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/seroquel-side-effects.html

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Seroquel:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); confusion; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; increased saliva production or drooling; increased sweating; memory loss; menstrual changes; muscle pain, stiffness, or weakness; new or worsening mental or mood changes (eg, aggressiveness, agitation, depression, exaggerated feeling of well-being, hallucination, hostility, impulsiveness, inability to sit still, irritability, panic attacks, restlessness); numbness or tingling; persistent, painful erection; seizures; severe or prolonged dizziness or headache; shortness of breath; swelling of the hands, legs, or feet; symptoms of high blood sugar (eg, increased thirst, hunger, or urination; unusual weakness); tremor; trouble concentrating, speaking, or swallowing; trouble walking or standing; uncontrolled muscle movements (eg, arm or leg movements, jerking or twisting, twitching of the face or tongue); vision changes.

Though i have had dry mouth and i usually feel drowsy all day

storeton

fantabulous
yes agressiveness is all part of the condition.I'm 57 years old and only several years ago I was roadraging with young bucks chasing after them at traffic lights with a wheel brace in hand after being cut-up by them.
the lad gets out of car and is big enough to be the missing link, recently out on parole for gbh, guess what he said he was a born again christian:D
Funny you can laugh now but it taught me to calm down!
The cavalier attitude especially to authority got me 15 months for fraudulent behavior,but to me it was just a game to get one over the banks,harmed no one and cost no one but judge did not understand the illness which can drive you into poor decision making.
So watch that cavalier spirit were you think your untouchable!!!
storeton

dane-katie

I told my pdoc all the side effects i had and she was fine with it? maybe i need a second opinion? i dont really get them anymore now i have been on them 6 months.

happymumto2

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

Never had the hand swelling though from the leaflets the hand swelling is something you should seen for asap



Though i have had dry mouth and i usually feel drowsy all day

Rang surgery again today and have managed to fit me in on 18th, which is still over a week away. Ex-hubby spoke to someone in work and apparently while it is not a common side effect it is seen in quite a few patients, am also suffering very slight tremors. My hands feel like, when your leg goes to sleep and you get that tingly feeling as they come back to life, except this is constant, and it is stopping me from doing things like use a tin opener or cut my food up as I don't have much control over them.
On the plus side which is why I would like to keep taking them, even after only a few days I can see a slight difference. I was so agitated all the time and rocking when stressed out, and this has almost stopped, am feeling quite calm, the dry mouth is awful though :rotfl:

pink_numbers

am I the only one here that are trying to deal with bipolar without medication?

My GP just can't get her head around why I don't want to take meds, but thankfully respects that it's my choice at the end of the day. Doesn't stop her from quizzing me over it every time I see her (for other medical conditions).

dane-katie

I wanted to take medication i had bipolar (without knowing) from being 16 and was diagnosed when i was 24 and them years were hard and horrible and dont want to relive them again, i am so much better on medication, i am more calm and react better to stressful situations.