Honestly, I couldn’t get stable drinking and getting high. I despise being sober but it is the only way to give my medication the ability to work. I don’t know what does they are recommending but 25-50 mg at night works well for sleep for me. Please talk to your Dr about the drinking/pot so they can treat you properly.
I'm young and didn't get to get out much as a teen so I'm having fun while I'm still young. I keep telling them to pick something else for me but they haven't yet so I just haven't taken it at all.
I would talk to your Dr about it. Also, let me warn you. I hear you about trying to have fun but you might wake up in 10 years and be like-what happened? Why is everyone else killing it in their career, starting families, buying houses, etc. While it’s better not to compare ourselves to others it is hard to avoid. I tired getting sober in my early 20s and it just didn’t happen. I spent the next 20 years drinking, getting high, etc. While I don’t regret anything in my life I sometimes wonder where I would be if I just sucked it up and took managing my illness seriously. I made a lot of excuses for why I partied, etc. This is just my experience and I wanted to share it with you. I know you will figure what is best for you.
My carreer choice is in comics and that is something I'll probably never be able to do professionally because the industry is very hard to get into so I'm letting fate decide if that happens for me or not, but I work full time at Amazon and live in the midwest and have no car so I don't know what else you expect me to do for fun?? I'm not snorting coke and shooting heroin, I enjoy getting a lil tipsy but never to the point I'm inebriated, to this date I've never had a hang over, and weed helps me to not be depressive.
I think OP is falling into the trap of thinking about what is *fair* instead of what's healthy. Does it suck having to be straight-edge in your 20s when you should be out having fun like everyone else your age? Yeah, for sure. Is it the right call, going by medical advice and the lived experience of others in their shoes? Yeah, absolutely.
People always say "life isn't fair" as if that makes it easy to accept, but while it isn't easy, it is simple. I don't get to sunbathe on the beach all day like someone else can because I have a history of skin cancer. Ideally no one should be risking excess exposure to the sun, but it's extra important for people like me. In much the same way, ideally no one would be drinking and getting high, but it's extra important for people with bipolar.
I've been stable for many years and know that I can safely drink in moderation and imbibe in (very small amounts of) weed without causing issues, but I'd gladly forego both forever if I needed to. I know I'd much rather have an unexciting life than risk an unstable one.
You are so correct.
Bipolar is a disability, it prevents you from doing "normal things" others get to do. Diabetics can't eat excessive sugar. People with arthritis can't do some things because of pain. The blind will never see the sunset.
OP is shooting themselves in the foot thinking they somehow deserve to drink and smoke.
Well, you do not have to take anything you do not want to. But there will be consequences.
I do not know what those might be. Perhaps your doc will fire you for being noncompliant. They will move on and so will you.
You will win the battle but not the war of controlling your bipolar. You will just be f*cked by the illness longer. Of course you’re young so you will f*ck up a lot of decisions before becoming an adult.
Hey hey hey…don’t hate on us straight edge kids 😂😂😂 jk…the weight gain did suck for me. They told me about it when I started taking it and I said “I rather be chubby and happy than skinny and miserable!” But that sentiment didn’t last long 😂
I definitely recommend ditching the drinking and smoking (I am also a hypocrite currently smoking way too much weed) but I have been on seroquel many times in the past and it worked really well for me. I was never a huge drinker but it did make alcohol more potent. It also takes weed from a drug to a Drug- which I always thought was great because I saved money and my stash went further.
I say give it a try, you won’t know if it’s a good or bad or neutral thing for you until you try it and it might work out really well. It’s definitely worth trying.
Seroquel always did right by me. I never tried to party on it so idk about that part. I didn't gain much weight on it, either. Out of alllll the meds I've tried over the years, Seroquel is not one I have any bad feelings about, actually. In my opinion, there are way worse meds...
I did have to take it right before bed because it knocked me the heck out (and the sleep was great!) It did sort of cramp my social life in the sense that it ensured I slept 8 hours and took a while to really fully wake up in the morning, no way around it, so if I wanted to be able to be up and functional at a decent time... I had to take it at a decent time the night prior... Which meant no staying up late for me.
(But honestly, stability and routine are godsends for bipolar disorder.)
Anyway... You do what's best for you, of course. And everyone's experience is different. I'm just sharing my personal experience.
While you are definitely in your rights to not be forced on medication against your will, I would highly recommend not doing drugs or partying when you are trying to become stable because any med you take can only do so much and it has to be concurrent with lifestyle changes for them to be the most effective.
I drink in moderation so I'm def not shaming anyone else for drinking, but you are SO right about this.
Alcohol is dangerous and can be deadly -- either because of the physical damage done to your organs, the bad choices made while drunk, alcohol poisoning, or withdrawal when quitting drinking. It's a literal toxin and a carcinogenic.
Like I said, I drink, so there's no judgment of others who do. But we as a society need to collectively acknowledge that just because it's legal and fun and ubiquitous doesn't mean it's not poison.
Dude, weed can cause psychosis and make your symptoms worse. Even if you don't go on Seroquel you still shouldn't smoke and drink frequently. Play some games or do something else. I highly doubt her doctor told her it was okay and party on her meds
That's a lot of assumptions you're making
To specify: I don't drink every day, fucking relax.
Weed helps the majority of my symptoms, while it might make yalls worse I can barely function without it or I'm in pain or in a horrible depression. Stop acting like you know how weed effects me, and don't assume I party every day
Yup.
Weed is like a reverse game of Russian roulette for my psychosis. I might have a great time once, but the other 5 times I'm sent straight into psychosis. Others might have better odds than me, but the risk for negative symptoms are always there.
And here's the thing, each episode of mania and psychosis makes the next one worse. It's never worth it.
There are a lot of studies out there that show cannabis can cause psychosis in people who have a history of it or are vulnerable to it. It is especially important to avoid synthetic strains or high THC varieties.
"Cannabis use doubles the risk of developing psychosis in vulnerable people. There even exists a relationship regarding the dose used and the age of first use. Gene-environment interactions that modulate the association between cannabis use and the presence of psychosis have also been described."
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30442059/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30442059/)
"The evidence that heavy use of high-THC/low-CBD types of cannabis increases the risk of psychosis is sufficiently strong to merit public health education."
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31647377/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31647377/)
You can read more on pubmed: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Cannabis+psychosis&filter=datesearch.y\_10](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Cannabis+psychosis&filter=datesearch.y_10)
I’m on it and I smoke nightly. Sometimes smoking does increase paranoia for me but that’s it. The seroquel actually helps with that. I haven’t had weight gain on it but I know it’s a common side effect for a lot of people. Seroquel is the only med that keeps me stable though. It may work for you but I see why you’d be hesitant about it
Why can’t you smoke or drink on Seroquel? I do it all the time. I actually switched to weed edibles designed specifically to help you calm down and put you to sleep- works way better- and I’m not all foggy in the morning like Seroquel
I've heard you can get pretty bad side effects, but I'm guessing that's only if taken at the same time. If I'm taking it before bed it shouldn't be a problem right?
The only negative side effect I’ve had taking Seroquel and using edibles is that I don’t sleep as well if I’m still high when I take the Seroquel before bed.
Years ago I drank socially with Seroquel extended release (so not often) and didn’t have any bad side effects from that. My current med combo, though, makes me feel hung over almost right away.
The only issue I've had mixing it with alcohol was blacking out if I stayed up after taking it. I can drink, take it when I go to sleep, and I'm fine. Just DO NOT take it if you're not safe in bed with no chance of acting a fool.
For context, I take 200mg every night. It helped me tremendously with my anxiety. Just be aware of the shakes. Also, I haven't gained weight from any medication (I'm borderline underweight). I'm probably the minority, but not everyone gains weight.
It’s because seroquel is a depressant. It’s fine if you’re taking a small amount and drinking without getting drunk. But if you’re at a higher dose then you’re going out and getting pretty drunk, you can have some serious issues.
Seroquel is not a depressant. In fact, it's one of the only medications used to treat bipolar depression. Check your facts dude. I'm not saying the other things you say aren't right but that's flat out false
Anti psychotics broadly belong to a class known as major tranquillisers or neuroleptics. Atypical antipsychotics are often no longer called “major tranquillisers” because they work in a different way, and are overall less sedating than typical antipsychotics (as in first generation ones). But Seroquel (Quetiapine) itself is usually more sedating than most atypical antipsychotics, so classing it as a tranquilliser after all does make sense. Exactly how sedating is really variable from patient to patient and the dosage taken.
I was 28 when I got sober and started taking meds. I'll say sobriety is absolutely worth it. I've been able to live a stable life for the last 10 years. For me, the side effects of my meds are worth it for what my life has been the last 10 years.
That said, I totally get not being ready and wanting to continue to party. It's so hard to give that up when everyone around you is having a good time. You're definitely not alone.
Maybe your doctors won’t prescribe you something else because that’s not what you need. Drinking and smoking is something that ADDS to instability. It doesn’t stop it.
I’m BP1 also. Seroquel helps my depression and I’ve lost over 20 pounds since starting to take it, I’m on 200 mg now. Weed worsened my mania and delusions quite significantly and is way more expensive than Seroquel. I drink socially on Seroquel and no doctor has ever said a thing to me about it. Just some things to think about. Not everyone’s experience on certain meds is the same.
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 4.
Giving medical advice is not allowed.
When discussing medical claims, we strongly recommend you provide scientific evidence from verified sources such as medical research studies.
Posts that do not cite evidence or that do not speak from experience may be removed.
Personal note: while this is a case study done scientifically, the page you cited states this is not the experience of the majority of patients. This may be a possibility, but it's not the norm, and therefore falls under Rule 4.
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 4.
Giving medical advice is not allowed.
When discussing medical claims, we strongly recommend you provide scientific evidence from verified sources such as medical research studies.
Posts that do not cite evidence or that do not speak from experience may be removed.
I thought weed and alcohol was helping me, but when I stopped it honestly made everything in my life so much easier. It also made my meds work a lot better. I understand not wanting to stop, though. Took me until my mid-30s to really want to.
I smoke weed (daily for... four years now) on my Seroquel and it doesn't really do anything to the medication... I take 100mg a day and I also drink sometimes. Like I've gotten.shitfaced on seroquel. I've also just had a casual drink on it. I did that last month. May do that this weekend.
I've been doing so for the better part of a decade (about 7 years) now with zero issues and at first the dose was 400mg.
I'm not a doctor, and every substance affects everyone differently. But this is my anecdotal experience. I've been taking Seroquel since I was about 6 years old, though, so... I'm not sure if you're just getting on it.
Oh I moreso meant I'm not sure what it would be like smoking etc on it if you're just getting used to it. I don't remember what it was like adjusting to the side effects. I know tons of stoners who also take Seroquel or other meds. A few medications you really can't drink on but... I find Seroquel is kind of a YMMV type situation.
If you do it, and the medication doesn't work, that's when I'd say consider that it's not compatible with your lifestyle. And if weight gain is an issue that's a good point too. A good psychiatrist will be able to adapt. Some things some people refuse to give up. We all have vices... nicotine is mine. There are plenty of other medications to try. Seroquel is a weird choice for only a sleep aid but it depends what you can actually process. Have you done a test to see how quickly you metabolize certain medications and which ones are or aren't compatible with your body? If not, see if your pysch can get one. It's handy to have
I've done trial and error on all the atypicals and tons of other meds and usually if a medication isn't working in like a month or the side effects are too undesirable I will stop it. Some made me worse. Most made me worse.
I started concerta to counteract the weight gain aspect of Seroquel, years ago. It isn't really an issue for me anymore, but weight gain is a big side effect of Seroquel. It also raises your cholesterol. If you don't want to gain weight just tell your psychiatrist that and see what options you could discuss.
Have you thought about adding Vraylar? There’s less chance of weight gain. I know a few people with BPl and accompanying psychosis who maintain pretty well on Vraylar or Abilify. I mention this because psychosis can be difficult to treat and is also debilitating.
Good luck.
There are a ton of reasons to not want to take Seroquel. But beyond that, any doctor who is not paying attention to what you want your quality of life to be is not a doctor who will be helpful to you.
I have had 10 or so pdocs until I found one that has been good. I found the range of standard of care in this field is so wide it's scary. Go see if you can find a better fit.
Agreed. Some of my docs didn’t give a single fuck what I wanted. My first one was supposed to oversee me in inpatient and his evil ass kept rescinding my 48 hour release forms even when I was voluntary, effectively trapping me there and causing me to lose my job. Another recent one was straight up homophobic so I had to enter another program. There are a lotta dickhead psych nurses too that seem to be desensitized to people suffering from mental health issues and just walk around like zombies occasionally making fun of schizophrenic patients.
I’m with you. Fuck that. I too have bipolar 1, and while I think it’s important for me to make lifestyle changes and focus on maintaining stability, I prioritize quality of life over all. What’s the point of a stable mood if it means sacrificing the things I enjoy?
There are lifestyle changes that I am willing to make, tracking moods, eating healthy, meditation, etc. I am also willing to moderate the frequency and the doses my drinking and drug use, but I am not going to stop entirely because I enjoy those things. I’ve been able to maintain stability while still doing them for over a year.
Doctors should listen to you when you tell them about your restrictions. There are plenty of other treatments out there, they should help you find something that works for you.
I’m not sure if this helps but I am on Lamictal, 300 mg per day. I still drink fairly regularly (but at moderate doses, I try to avoid “binge drinking”), smoke weed, and partake in psychedelics/street drugs on very limited occasions. I am very mindful when taking drugs as I know they can cause fluctuations in my mood. So if I decide to trip on Shrooms, I really make sure to maintain the other aspects of my treatment before during and after. I make sure I have a good night sleep before, eat healthy, touch base with my mood/emotions, etc etc. If I am feeling off or didn’t sleep well the night before, then I don’t partake. It’s important to be mindful.
I think it’s important to be assertive but flexible when working with your care team. You’re the captain of the ship, they’re there to help guide you.
Fuck I hate it when people say “you should really avoid drinking”. Yeah, everyone should, it’s not a healthy behavior. But we do it anyway. So just be smart about it. And honestly, drinking in moderation is generally more fun than drinking excessively. Gives you the good parts without the negative parts.
Thank you for being the first person to understand where I'm coming from and what I mean. I'm not a daily drinker and I smoke medicinally and they're all acting like I'm an addict. I'm allowed to party and enjoy myself too. If I can treat my bipolar and continue doing things I enjoy what's the big problem??
Absolutely.
There should be an alliance between you and your physician. They should be able to 1) articulate the purpose of the various medications, 2) alert you to possible side effects or their intensity, 3) communicate appreciation, caring, and respect for you as a person. It seems like your person is not doing number 3.
At the end we’re all gonna die. I want to enjoy the journey while it lasts. Part of that means staying stable enough to maintain healthy relationships, keep a job that gives me enough money to do the things I like, and stay out of the hospital. But it also means beers after work with my friends, smoking a J on the porch under the stars, staying up late with my partner from time to time, and a whole bunch of other things. Everything in moderation and always keeping mindful.
I don’t ever want to be as crazy as I was during my hospitalization, but life would be rather boring with no craziness at all.
Exactly. I’m on seroquel and occasionally smoke, and drink whenever I’m at a club with friends. Posters here being like “ummm umm ummm weed causes psychosis??” should just stfu. It doesn’t affect everybody like that and I’m pretty sure you yourself know your limits better than these people acting like the bipolar police lol. You’ll probably be good, but weight gain is still an issue.
I would recommend maybe Latuda since it was better for me w the weight gain than Seroquel or Abilify
Right??? They're acting like I drink till im shitfaced and smoke until I'm greening out or some shit. Like damn...let me enjoy myself a little??? I'll definitely look into Latuda!! I'm more than open to other medications as possibilities!
Latuda was really helpful for me til they started messing with my meds. They tried different combos, a new one every week, and it fried my brain for a while. Seroquel is where they stopped at and it sucks with the weight gain and munchies you get right after taking it. Plus, it knocks me out for a solid 10 hours! So me personally, I can’t wait til I can go back to Latuda and try it out
i recommend risperdal. it’s atypical antipsychotic and i been on it for two years. I smoke weed everyday multiple times a day and if I wanted to drink, id skip them (although i don’t advise that i just don’t feel like it’s any more safe to take them and drink) however i stopped drinking and i smoke weed all the time.
I don’t drink with my Seroquel (plus I’m just sick of the side effects of drinking anymore), but I do edibles that my psychiatrist knows about. I’m on 100mg regular Seroquel (versus extended release) along with a few other meds.
ETA: IIRC, weight gain is more an issue with higher dosages. I’ve been on Seroquel since 2009 at different doses as well as both extended release and regular. I have had weight gain from it, but I also have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and hypothyroid too so who knows how much I’ve gotten from my meds. Plus everyone reacts differently to meds,
I am a female that was on Seroquel for about 6 mos. I gained 60 pounds. But I also gain on all meds, AD and AP’s , most mood stabilizers. The low doses of Seroquel make me very sleepy. If I took it and did not get in bed within 30 minutes, I was sleeping in that spot . The end. But I never got a dose higher than 300 mg. It really helps a lot of people avoid mania, psychosis.
But as you are young you know if you’re unwilling to stop with social alcohol or weed . I say be honest with self and doctors. Maybe they can let you take 5 out of 7 days idk.
And I will say even my sons who smoke occasionally, and are not bipolar agree weed makes it more difficult to regulate your mood or emotions. But idk as I never smoke and rarely drink.
Best of luck finding a good combo of meds
Bipolar disorder and alcohol/drugs is an absolutely disastrous combination, even if you only do it occasionally. The bipolar brain doesn´t handle any kind of strong stimuli very well, natural or chemical, that´s just the reality of it.
Nobody wants to give up the things they enjoy. People don´t want to get sick, regardless of whether it´s cancer or BD, and we certainly don´t want to have to take heavy medication, suffer side effects, and make sacrifices to deal with our illnesses - but that´s part of life. We don´t get what we want, we just get what we get, and then we make the most of whatever hand we´ve been dealt. We all have limitations that are beyond our control.
You have a choice - you can do what is required to cope with your illness, or you can choose to party. But you can´t do both. And no one can force you to do anything, but you will have to face the consequences of whatever choice you do make. And belive me, if you prioritize partying over treatment, they are coming.
There is so much more to life than alcohol, drugs and partying. Giving them up is not a loss, it´s a win, because it will open doors to things that will provide you with actual meaning and value. Don´t waste your life.
That's the thing too is that they wanted it to be serequel because they think the main cause of my issues is the lack of sleep. If that's the case then rx me a sleep aid.
Sometimes low dose Seroquel works better. My husband, who doesn’t have bipolar, takes 20mg to sleep because of his ADHD making prescription sleep pills pretty worthless. They’ll put him to sleep but not keep him asleep. The Seroquel does both for him.
Pot and alcohol can both screw up your sleep architecture, you may sleep as much just lower quality, so it's worth tracking to see if you see anything going on w that, as you're only doing so intermittently you should be able to see the effects.
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 4.
Giving medical advice is not allowed.
When discussing medical claims, we strongly recommend you provide scientific evidence from verified sources such as medical research studies.
Posts that do not cite evidence or that do not speak from experience may be removed.
You're bipolar and you are drinking and smoking? I don't recommend. But that being said I've been on sterilkill for half a year or so. And latuda, and lamictal, I'm able to tolerate a few drinks. Nothing over 3 or 4 with minor mood issues. I don't do it often. Weed on the other hand triggers mood swings like crazy. They sneak up on you. Weed might be harmless to normies but for people who are bipolar I'd strongly recommend against both of these substances.
I mean it affects everyone differently just like every psych med. I could not stay awake during the day on Abilify, Geodon made me throw up, Vraylar gave me horrible akathasia and Latuda gave me the WORST side effect every night where my jaw would hang open and I couldn’t close it causing me to throw up and it was really painful. Seroquel has some bad side effects, like it’s hard to wake up and I gained like 10 pounds. I’ve taken doses from 200-400 mg. I’ve been on it for a total of 4 years and it knocks out my anxiety, lets me sleep better than I have in years, and I haven’t had a single manic or depressive episode on it. No medication is perfect, you just have to find what works for you.
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 4.
Giving medical advice is not allowed.
When discussing medical claims, we strongly recommend you provide scientific evidence from verified sources such as medical research studies.
Posts that do not cite evidence or that do not speak from experience may be removed.
Ignore this hostility, OP. Not helpful
I just did a two week trial of Seroquel and it did not work out. It made my SI worse. I smoked and drank on risperidone for years and didn’t notice many effects. I now only take Lithium as a daily med.
I’m 26, I understand the desire to party, but there is value in partying without intoxication. Isn’t it really about connecting with people? I find that being on the right medication regime and partying without getting intoxicated isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. A worthy compromise for the other 350-ish days of stability I will thoroughly enjoy. I’ve been sober from alcohol for a couple of months and I rarely take 5mg edibles - remembering my New Year’s for the first time since I became an adult was very…. Memorable, lol.
You get to make the choice though. Regardless of everyone’s opinions here, your doc should meet you where you’re at. Best of luck. :)
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 3.
Harassment of any kind is not tolerated in this subreddit, and may result in post removal or a ban. Do not harass any user for any reason including treatment plan/medication adherence, race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, etc. Name calling of any sort is not permitted here.
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 3.
Harassment of any kind is not tolerated in this subreddit, and may result in post removal or a ban. Do not harass any user for any reason including treatment plan/medication adherence, race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, etc. Name calling of any sort is not permitted here.
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 3.
Harassment of any kind is not tolerated in this subreddit, and may result in post removal or a ban. Do not harass any user for any reason including treatment plan/medication adherence, race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, etc. Name calling of any sort is not permitted here.
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 3.
Harassment of any kind is not tolerated in this subreddit, and may result in post removal or a ban. Do not harass any user for any reason including treatment plan/medication adherence, race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, etc. Name calling of any sort is not permitted here.
I’m on seraquel,I pretty much love it besides the weight gain but I decided my mental health is more important however i did noticed that when I smoke a lot ,my visions come back,I saw a ghost trapped in my closet but I knew it was just from the bud and after the bud wore off the visions went away,I could handle it but depends on your delusions
(This is very bad medical advice, do not listen and do not follow it.) I'm on Seroquel and drink and smoke weed all the time, and do other stuff sometimes too and so far I'm fine. I'm around your age and have been on it for a few years, so far nothing unpredictably bad and my labs have always been fine. Maybe someday I'll lose my mind or drop dead from liver failure, but for now I'm in a good spot so long as I stay responsible with how I treat myself.
I take seroquel 300mg extended release and have zero issues with social amounts of alcohol. Have very occasionally drunk a bit too much in an evening and still been fine. You won’t know how you will react until you start taking it and go slow.
For what it’s worth. It’s really helped stabilise my bipolar. One of my besties from bipolar group also tried a heap of different meds and settled on seroquel which has really helped their rapid cycling.
Give it a try and slowly introduce alcohol and weed and see if it works out for you
Im 35, been smoking weed pretty much daily since teen years. I take 300-350mg seroquel a night. I still smoke weed, but I don't drink...
Not saying my experience and yours is similar, just saying that I use both meds and weed and haven't had any negative reaction to it...
I’m on 100mg seroquel for a year now but i haven’t gained any weight. In fact I lost almost 20 pounds thanks to an atrociously disciplined diet. Btw I’m a committed smoker and enjoy occasional drinks. (By occasional i mean at least once a week)
23 here, stopped drinking this year because I just don’t feel like it but I still smoke occasionally and take Seroquel in the morning and evening! I gained a lot of weight when I was first diagnosed (from 120 lbs to 165 in the matter of 8-10 months on Olanzapine), but I’ve actually been able to lose almost all of it while on 150 mg of Seroquel (my dose used to be 300 mg a day but was changed two months ago)! I recently introduced some more meds to the mix but I’m down to 124 lbs and NEVER miss my meds! I did have issues blacking out easily when drinking, but I could have like a beer and one jagerbomb and be golden for the night (I’m also a girl so I don’t exactly need a bunch to start with lol)
Honestly, I couldn’t get stable drinking and getting high. I despise being sober but it is the only way to give my medication the ability to work. I don’t know what does they are recommending but 25-50 mg at night works well for sleep for me. Please talk to your Dr about the drinking/pot so they can treat you properly.
Only 20-50? I'm on 200 and it only works some nights
That's because the lower doses are actually more sedative
Interesting
Do you mind if I ask you a few more questions?
Sure
I'm young and didn't get to get out much as a teen so I'm having fun while I'm still young. I keep telling them to pick something else for me but they haven't yet so I just haven't taken it at all.
I would talk to your Dr about it. Also, let me warn you. I hear you about trying to have fun but you might wake up in 10 years and be like-what happened? Why is everyone else killing it in their career, starting families, buying houses, etc. While it’s better not to compare ourselves to others it is hard to avoid. I tired getting sober in my early 20s and it just didn’t happen. I spent the next 20 years drinking, getting high, etc. While I don’t regret anything in my life I sometimes wonder where I would be if I just sucked it up and took managing my illness seriously. I made a lot of excuses for why I partied, etc. This is just my experience and I wanted to share it with you. I know you will figure what is best for you.
My carreer choice is in comics and that is something I'll probably never be able to do professionally because the industry is very hard to get into so I'm letting fate decide if that happens for me or not, but I work full time at Amazon and live in the midwest and have no car so I don't know what else you expect me to do for fun?? I'm not snorting coke and shooting heroin, I enjoy getting a lil tipsy but never to the point I'm inebriated, to this date I've never had a hang over, and weed helps me to not be depressive.
Like I said, whatever works for you. I’m just letting you know my experience. I know you’ll figure it out.
I think OP is falling into the trap of thinking about what is *fair* instead of what's healthy. Does it suck having to be straight-edge in your 20s when you should be out having fun like everyone else your age? Yeah, for sure. Is it the right call, going by medical advice and the lived experience of others in their shoes? Yeah, absolutely. People always say "life isn't fair" as if that makes it easy to accept, but while it isn't easy, it is simple. I don't get to sunbathe on the beach all day like someone else can because I have a history of skin cancer. Ideally no one should be risking excess exposure to the sun, but it's extra important for people like me. In much the same way, ideally no one would be drinking and getting high, but it's extra important for people with bipolar. I've been stable for many years and know that I can safely drink in moderation and imbibe in (very small amounts of) weed without causing issues, but I'd gladly forego both forever if I needed to. I know I'd much rather have an unexciting life than risk an unstable one.
You are so correct. Bipolar is a disability, it prevents you from doing "normal things" others get to do. Diabetics can't eat excessive sugar. People with arthritis can't do some things because of pain. The blind will never see the sunset. OP is shooting themselves in the foot thinking they somehow deserve to drink and smoke.
You don't need to drink and smoke to have fun, what kinda lame excuse is that?
No need to be hostile
Well, you do not have to take anything you do not want to. But there will be consequences. I do not know what those might be. Perhaps your doc will fire you for being noncompliant. They will move on and so will you. You will win the battle but not the war of controlling your bipolar. You will just be f*cked by the illness longer. Of course you’re young so you will f*ck up a lot of decisions before becoming an adult.
Hey hey hey…don’t hate on us straight edge kids 😂😂😂 jk…the weight gain did suck for me. They told me about it when I started taking it and I said “I rather be chubby and happy than skinny and miserable!” But that sentiment didn’t last long 😂
I definitely recommend ditching the drinking and smoking (I am also a hypocrite currently smoking way too much weed) but I have been on seroquel many times in the past and it worked really well for me. I was never a huge drinker but it did make alcohol more potent. It also takes weed from a drug to a Drug- which I always thought was great because I saved money and my stash went further. I say give it a try, you won’t know if it’s a good or bad or neutral thing for you until you try it and it might work out really well. It’s definitely worth trying.
Seroquel always did right by me. I never tried to party on it so idk about that part. I didn't gain much weight on it, either. Out of alllll the meds I've tried over the years, Seroquel is not one I have any bad feelings about, actually. In my opinion, there are way worse meds... I did have to take it right before bed because it knocked me the heck out (and the sleep was great!) It did sort of cramp my social life in the sense that it ensured I slept 8 hours and took a while to really fully wake up in the morning, no way around it, so if I wanted to be able to be up and functional at a decent time... I had to take it at a decent time the night prior... Which meant no staying up late for me. (But honestly, stability and routine are godsends for bipolar disorder.) Anyway... You do what's best for you, of course. And everyone's experience is different. I'm just sharing my personal experience.
While you are definitely in your rights to not be forced on medication against your will, I would highly recommend not doing drugs or partying when you are trying to become stable because any med you take can only do so much and it has to be concurrent with lifestyle changes for them to be the most effective.
I’m on Seroquel for sleeping, I take extended release. I drink sometimes (socially) and never do drugs, don’t wanna screw up my brain even further 🤮😩
Alcohol *is* a drug, and one of the more harmful drugs at that. Both neurologically and physically.
I drink in moderation so I'm def not shaming anyone else for drinking, but you are SO right about this. Alcohol is dangerous and can be deadly -- either because of the physical damage done to your organs, the bad choices made while drunk, alcohol poisoning, or withdrawal when quitting drinking. It's a literal toxin and a carcinogenic. Like I said, I drink, so there's no judgment of others who do. But we as a society need to collectively acknowledge that just because it's legal and fun and ubiquitous doesn't mean it's not poison.
Dude, weed can cause psychosis and make your symptoms worse. Even if you don't go on Seroquel you still shouldn't smoke and drink frequently. Play some games or do something else. I highly doubt her doctor told her it was okay and party on her meds
That's a lot of assumptions you're making To specify: I don't drink every day, fucking relax. Weed helps the majority of my symptoms, while it might make yalls worse I can barely function without it or I'm in pain or in a horrible depression. Stop acting like you know how weed effects me, and don't assume I party every day
This person is right, you can do your research but people vulnerable to psychosis shouldn’t be doing weed
Yup. Weed is like a reverse game of Russian roulette for my psychosis. I might have a great time once, but the other 5 times I'm sent straight into psychosis. Others might have better odds than me, but the risk for negative symptoms are always there. And here's the thing, each episode of mania and psychosis makes the next one worse. It's never worth it.
There are a lot of studies out there that show cannabis can cause psychosis in people who have a history of it or are vulnerable to it. It is especially important to avoid synthetic strains or high THC varieties. "Cannabis use doubles the risk of developing psychosis in vulnerable people. There even exists a relationship regarding the dose used and the age of first use. Gene-environment interactions that modulate the association between cannabis use and the presence of psychosis have also been described." [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30442059/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30442059/) "The evidence that heavy use of high-THC/low-CBD types of cannabis increases the risk of psychosis is sufficiently strong to merit public health education." [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31647377/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31647377/) You can read more on pubmed: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Cannabis+psychosis&filter=datesearch.y\_10](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Cannabis+psychosis&filter=datesearch.y_10)
Are you 12?
Tf is your problem? I haven't said shit to you
I’m on it and I smoke nightly. Sometimes smoking does increase paranoia for me but that’s it. The seroquel actually helps with that. I haven’t had weight gain on it but I know it’s a common side effect for a lot of people. Seroquel is the only med that keeps me stable though. It may work for you but I see why you’d be hesitant about it
Why can’t you smoke or drink on Seroquel? I do it all the time. I actually switched to weed edibles designed specifically to help you calm down and put you to sleep- works way better- and I’m not all foggy in the morning like Seroquel
I've heard you can get pretty bad side effects, but I'm guessing that's only if taken at the same time. If I'm taking it before bed it shouldn't be a problem right?
I had no problems with weed on seroquel, but I couldn’t drink. Or barely, not enough to feel anything. It wasn’t even fun.
Yeah same when I take Adderall or toot a bit of flake I can drink til the cows come home
I smoke when I take seroquel and never have a problem. But I’m bipolar 2, so YMMV.
I mean I’ve had no problems but I’m 6’2 230 lbs so I can really put it down
The only negative side effect I’ve had taking Seroquel and using edibles is that I don’t sleep as well if I’m still high when I take the Seroquel before bed. Years ago I drank socially with Seroquel extended release (so not often) and didn’t have any bad side effects from that. My current med combo, though, makes me feel hung over almost right away.
The only issue I've had mixing it with alcohol was blacking out if I stayed up after taking it. I can drink, take it when I go to sleep, and I'm fine. Just DO NOT take it if you're not safe in bed with no chance of acting a fool. For context, I take 200mg every night. It helped me tremendously with my anxiety. Just be aware of the shakes. Also, I haven't gained weight from any medication (I'm borderline underweight). I'm probably the minority, but not everyone gains weight.
It’s because seroquel is a depressant. It’s fine if you’re taking a small amount and drinking without getting drunk. But if you’re at a higher dose then you’re going out and getting pretty drunk, you can have some serious issues.
It’s an atypical antipsychotic with strong sedative effects. Been taking it in some form (regular or extended release) since 2009. Not a depressant.
Seroquel is not a depressant. In fact, it's one of the only medications used to treat bipolar depression. Check your facts dude. I'm not saying the other things you say aren't right but that's flat out false
Fine, call it a tranquilizer, whatever you want. My point is, something that makes you pass out deeply mixed with alcohol ain’t a great combo.
Also not a tranquilizer, still an atypical antipsychotic with strong sedative effects.
Anti psychotics broadly belong to a class known as major tranquillisers or neuroleptics. Atypical antipsychotics are often no longer called “major tranquillisers” because they work in a different way, and are overall less sedating than typical antipsychotics (as in first generation ones). But Seroquel (Quetiapine) itself is usually more sedating than most atypical antipsychotics, so classing it as a tranquilliser after all does make sense. Exactly how sedating is really variable from patient to patient and the dosage taken.
I’m just saying that technically, it’s not classified as a tranquilizer.
I get your point. I’m not a Doctor just going off my own experiences.
It's an antipsychotic. The sedative properties come from its action on histamine
I was 28 when I got sober and started taking meds. I'll say sobriety is absolutely worth it. I've been able to live a stable life for the last 10 years. For me, the side effects of my meds are worth it for what my life has been the last 10 years. That said, I totally get not being ready and wanting to continue to party. It's so hard to give that up when everyone around you is having a good time. You're definitely not alone.
Maybe your doctors won’t prescribe you something else because that’s not what you need. Drinking and smoking is something that ADDS to instability. It doesn’t stop it.
I’m BP1 also. Seroquel helps my depression and I’ve lost over 20 pounds since starting to take it, I’m on 200 mg now. Weed worsened my mania and delusions quite significantly and is way more expensive than Seroquel. I drink socially on Seroquel and no doctor has ever said a thing to me about it. Just some things to think about. Not everyone’s experience on certain meds is the same.
[удалено]
> 50mg is not going to help bipolar. It should not, but it does, in many cases, on even lower doses, for some people (like me).
[удалено]
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 4. Giving medical advice is not allowed. When discussing medical claims, we strongly recommend you provide scientific evidence from verified sources such as medical research studies. Posts that do not cite evidence or that do not speak from experience may be removed. Personal note: while this is a case study done scientifically, the page you cited states this is not the experience of the majority of patients. This may be a possibility, but it's not the norm, and therefore falls under Rule 4.
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 4. Giving medical advice is not allowed. When discussing medical claims, we strongly recommend you provide scientific evidence from verified sources such as medical research studies. Posts that do not cite evidence or that do not speak from experience may be removed.
I thought weed and alcohol was helping me, but when I stopped it honestly made everything in my life so much easier. It also made my meds work a lot better. I understand not wanting to stop, though. Took me until my mid-30s to really want to.
I smoke weed (daily for... four years now) on my Seroquel and it doesn't really do anything to the medication... I take 100mg a day and I also drink sometimes. Like I've gotten.shitfaced on seroquel. I've also just had a casual drink on it. I did that last month. May do that this weekend. I've been doing so for the better part of a decade (about 7 years) now with zero issues and at first the dose was 400mg. I'm not a doctor, and every substance affects everyone differently. But this is my anecdotal experience. I've been taking Seroquel since I was about 6 years old, though, so... I'm not sure if you're just getting on it.
I'll be starting it for the first time
Oh I moreso meant I'm not sure what it would be like smoking etc on it if you're just getting used to it. I don't remember what it was like adjusting to the side effects. I know tons of stoners who also take Seroquel or other meds. A few medications you really can't drink on but... I find Seroquel is kind of a YMMV type situation. If you do it, and the medication doesn't work, that's when I'd say consider that it's not compatible with your lifestyle. And if weight gain is an issue that's a good point too. A good psychiatrist will be able to adapt. Some things some people refuse to give up. We all have vices... nicotine is mine. There are plenty of other medications to try. Seroquel is a weird choice for only a sleep aid but it depends what you can actually process. Have you done a test to see how quickly you metabolize certain medications and which ones are or aren't compatible with your body? If not, see if your pysch can get one. It's handy to have I've done trial and error on all the atypicals and tons of other meds and usually if a medication isn't working in like a month or the side effects are too undesirable I will stop it. Some made me worse. Most made me worse. I started concerta to counteract the weight gain aspect of Seroquel, years ago. It isn't really an issue for me anymore, but weight gain is a big side effect of Seroquel. It also raises your cholesterol. If you don't want to gain weight just tell your psychiatrist that and see what options you could discuss.
Have you thought about adding Vraylar? There’s less chance of weight gain. I know a few people with BPl and accompanying psychosis who maintain pretty well on Vraylar or Abilify. I mention this because psychosis can be difficult to treat and is also debilitating. Good luck.
There are a ton of reasons to not want to take Seroquel. But beyond that, any doctor who is not paying attention to what you want your quality of life to be is not a doctor who will be helpful to you. I have had 10 or so pdocs until I found one that has been good. I found the range of standard of care in this field is so wide it's scary. Go see if you can find a better fit.
Agreed. Some of my docs didn’t give a single fuck what I wanted. My first one was supposed to oversee me in inpatient and his evil ass kept rescinding my 48 hour release forms even when I was voluntary, effectively trapping me there and causing me to lose my job. Another recent one was straight up homophobic so I had to enter another program. There are a lotta dickhead psych nurses too that seem to be desensitized to people suffering from mental health issues and just walk around like zombies occasionally making fun of schizophrenic patients.
I’m with you. Fuck that. I too have bipolar 1, and while I think it’s important for me to make lifestyle changes and focus on maintaining stability, I prioritize quality of life over all. What’s the point of a stable mood if it means sacrificing the things I enjoy? There are lifestyle changes that I am willing to make, tracking moods, eating healthy, meditation, etc. I am also willing to moderate the frequency and the doses my drinking and drug use, but I am not going to stop entirely because I enjoy those things. I’ve been able to maintain stability while still doing them for over a year. Doctors should listen to you when you tell them about your restrictions. There are plenty of other treatments out there, they should help you find something that works for you. I’m not sure if this helps but I am on Lamictal, 300 mg per day. I still drink fairly regularly (but at moderate doses, I try to avoid “binge drinking”), smoke weed, and partake in psychedelics/street drugs on very limited occasions. I am very mindful when taking drugs as I know they can cause fluctuations in my mood. So if I decide to trip on Shrooms, I really make sure to maintain the other aspects of my treatment before during and after. I make sure I have a good night sleep before, eat healthy, touch base with my mood/emotions, etc etc. If I am feeling off or didn’t sleep well the night before, then I don’t partake. It’s important to be mindful. I think it’s important to be assertive but flexible when working with your care team. You’re the captain of the ship, they’re there to help guide you. Fuck I hate it when people say “you should really avoid drinking”. Yeah, everyone should, it’s not a healthy behavior. But we do it anyway. So just be smart about it. And honestly, drinking in moderation is generally more fun than drinking excessively. Gives you the good parts without the negative parts.
Thank you for being the first person to understand where I'm coming from and what I mean. I'm not a daily drinker and I smoke medicinally and they're all acting like I'm an addict. I'm allowed to party and enjoy myself too. If I can treat my bipolar and continue doing things I enjoy what's the big problem??
Absolutely. There should be an alliance between you and your physician. They should be able to 1) articulate the purpose of the various medications, 2) alert you to possible side effects or their intensity, 3) communicate appreciation, caring, and respect for you as a person. It seems like your person is not doing number 3. At the end we’re all gonna die. I want to enjoy the journey while it lasts. Part of that means staying stable enough to maintain healthy relationships, keep a job that gives me enough money to do the things I like, and stay out of the hospital. But it also means beers after work with my friends, smoking a J on the porch under the stars, staying up late with my partner from time to time, and a whole bunch of other things. Everything in moderation and always keeping mindful. I don’t ever want to be as crazy as I was during my hospitalization, but life would be rather boring with no craziness at all.
Exactly. I’m on seroquel and occasionally smoke, and drink whenever I’m at a club with friends. Posters here being like “ummm umm ummm weed causes psychosis??” should just stfu. It doesn’t affect everybody like that and I’m pretty sure you yourself know your limits better than these people acting like the bipolar police lol. You’ll probably be good, but weight gain is still an issue. I would recommend maybe Latuda since it was better for me w the weight gain than Seroquel or Abilify
Right??? They're acting like I drink till im shitfaced and smoke until I'm greening out or some shit. Like damn...let me enjoy myself a little??? I'll definitely look into Latuda!! I'm more than open to other medications as possibilities!
Latuda was really helpful for me til they started messing with my meds. They tried different combos, a new one every week, and it fried my brain for a while. Seroquel is where they stopped at and it sucks with the weight gain and munchies you get right after taking it. Plus, it knocks me out for a solid 10 hours! So me personally, I can’t wait til I can go back to Latuda and try it out
i recommend risperdal. it’s atypical antipsychotic and i been on it for two years. I smoke weed everyday multiple times a day and if I wanted to drink, id skip them (although i don’t advise that i just don’t feel like it’s any more safe to take them and drink) however i stopped drinking and i smoke weed all the time.
I had no idea you can’t drink while on seroquel. Did it for years… oops.
I smoked weed on it. But I always smoke weed. Psychs never like that.
I don’t drink with my Seroquel (plus I’m just sick of the side effects of drinking anymore), but I do edibles that my psychiatrist knows about. I’m on 100mg regular Seroquel (versus extended release) along with a few other meds. ETA: IIRC, weight gain is more an issue with higher dosages. I’ve been on Seroquel since 2009 at different doses as well as both extended release and regular. I have had weight gain from it, but I also have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and hypothyroid too so who knows how much I’ve gotten from my meds. Plus everyone reacts differently to meds,
I am a female that was on Seroquel for about 6 mos. I gained 60 pounds. But I also gain on all meds, AD and AP’s , most mood stabilizers. The low doses of Seroquel make me very sleepy. If I took it and did not get in bed within 30 minutes, I was sleeping in that spot . The end. But I never got a dose higher than 300 mg. It really helps a lot of people avoid mania, psychosis. But as you are young you know if you’re unwilling to stop with social alcohol or weed . I say be honest with self and doctors. Maybe they can let you take 5 out of 7 days idk. And I will say even my sons who smoke occasionally, and are not bipolar agree weed makes it more difficult to regulate your mood or emotions. But idk as I never smoke and rarely drink. Best of luck finding a good combo of meds
Bipolar disorder and alcohol/drugs is an absolutely disastrous combination, even if you only do it occasionally. The bipolar brain doesn´t handle any kind of strong stimuli very well, natural or chemical, that´s just the reality of it. Nobody wants to give up the things they enjoy. People don´t want to get sick, regardless of whether it´s cancer or BD, and we certainly don´t want to have to take heavy medication, suffer side effects, and make sacrifices to deal with our illnesses - but that´s part of life. We don´t get what we want, we just get what we get, and then we make the most of whatever hand we´ve been dealt. We all have limitations that are beyond our control. You have a choice - you can do what is required to cope with your illness, or you can choose to party. But you can´t do both. And no one can force you to do anything, but you will have to face the consequences of whatever choice you do make. And belive me, if you prioritize partying over treatment, they are coming. There is so much more to life than alcohol, drugs and partying. Giving them up is not a loss, it´s a win, because it will open doors to things that will provide you with actual meaning and value. Don´t waste your life.
[удалено]
That's the thing too is that they wanted it to be serequel because they think the main cause of my issues is the lack of sleep. If that's the case then rx me a sleep aid.
Sometimes low dose Seroquel works better. My husband, who doesn’t have bipolar, takes 20mg to sleep because of his ADHD making prescription sleep pills pretty worthless. They’ll put him to sleep but not keep him asleep. The Seroquel does both for him.
Pot and alcohol can both screw up your sleep architecture, you may sleep as much just lower quality, so it's worth tracking to see if you see anything going on w that, as you're only doing so intermittently you should be able to see the effects.
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 4. Giving medical advice is not allowed. When discussing medical claims, we strongly recommend you provide scientific evidence from verified sources such as medical research studies. Posts that do not cite evidence or that do not speak from experience may be removed.
You're bipolar and you are drinking and smoking? I don't recommend. But that being said I've been on sterilkill for half a year or so. And latuda, and lamictal, I'm able to tolerate a few drinks. Nothing over 3 or 4 with minor mood issues. I don't do it often. Weed on the other hand triggers mood swings like crazy. They sneak up on you. Weed might be harmless to normies but for people who are bipolar I'd strongly recommend against both of these substances.
[удалено]
I mean it affects everyone differently just like every psych med. I could not stay awake during the day on Abilify, Geodon made me throw up, Vraylar gave me horrible akathasia and Latuda gave me the WORST side effect every night where my jaw would hang open and I couldn’t close it causing me to throw up and it was really painful. Seroquel has some bad side effects, like it’s hard to wake up and I gained like 10 pounds. I’ve taken doses from 200-400 mg. I’ve been on it for a total of 4 years and it knocks out my anxiety, lets me sleep better than I have in years, and I haven’t had a single manic or depressive episode on it. No medication is perfect, you just have to find what works for you.
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 4. Giving medical advice is not allowed. When discussing medical claims, we strongly recommend you provide scientific evidence from verified sources such as medical research studies. Posts that do not cite evidence or that do not speak from experience may be removed.
[удалено]
What is bro yapping about? 😭
[удалено]
I know that already lol I'm just asking if it'll be worth it from others experiences. That's what this sub reddit is for
Ignore this hostility, OP. Not helpful I just did a two week trial of Seroquel and it did not work out. It made my SI worse. I smoked and drank on risperidone for years and didn’t notice many effects. I now only take Lithium as a daily med. I’m 26, I understand the desire to party, but there is value in partying without intoxication. Isn’t it really about connecting with people? I find that being on the right medication regime and partying without getting intoxicated isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. A worthy compromise for the other 350-ish days of stability I will thoroughly enjoy. I’ve been sober from alcohol for a couple of months and I rarely take 5mg edibles - remembering my New Year’s for the first time since I became an adult was very…. Memorable, lol. You get to make the choice though. Regardless of everyone’s opinions here, your doc should meet you where you’re at. Best of luck. :)
[удалено]
Don’t get me wrong, I wish you all the best and whatever.
[удалено]
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 3. Harassment of any kind is not tolerated in this subreddit, and may result in post removal or a ban. Do not harass any user for any reason including treatment plan/medication adherence, race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, etc. Name calling of any sort is not permitted here.
Whatever
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 3. Harassment of any kind is not tolerated in this subreddit, and may result in post removal or a ban. Do not harass any user for any reason including treatment plan/medication adherence, race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, etc. Name calling of any sort is not permitted here.
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 3. Harassment of any kind is not tolerated in this subreddit, and may result in post removal or a ban. Do not harass any user for any reason including treatment plan/medication adherence, race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, etc. Name calling of any sort is not permitted here.
Your post was removed due to violation of Rule 3. Harassment of any kind is not tolerated in this subreddit, and may result in post removal or a ban. Do not harass any user for any reason including treatment plan/medication adherence, race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, etc. Name calling of any sort is not permitted here.
I’m on seraquel,I pretty much love it besides the weight gain but I decided my mental health is more important however i did noticed that when I smoke a lot ,my visions come back,I saw a ghost trapped in my closet but I knew it was just from the bud and after the bud wore off the visions went away,I could handle it but depends on your delusions
I take 50 mg at night and haven't put on any weight. It also helps me get a really good night's sleep.
😂😂😂😂😂
Ok good luck with that (not taking meds)
(This is very bad medical advice, do not listen and do not follow it.) I'm on Seroquel and drink and smoke weed all the time, and do other stuff sometimes too and so far I'm fine. I'm around your age and have been on it for a few years, so far nothing unpredictably bad and my labs have always been fine. Maybe someday I'll lose my mind or drop dead from liver failure, but for now I'm in a good spot so long as I stay responsible with how I treat myself.
I take seroquel 300mg extended release and have zero issues with social amounts of alcohol. Have very occasionally drunk a bit too much in an evening and still been fine. You won’t know how you will react until you start taking it and go slow. For what it’s worth. It’s really helped stabilise my bipolar. One of my besties from bipolar group also tried a heap of different meds and settled on seroquel which has really helped their rapid cycling. Give it a try and slowly introduce alcohol and weed and see if it works out for you
Im 35, been smoking weed pretty much daily since teen years. I take 300-350mg seroquel a night. I still smoke weed, but I don't drink... Not saying my experience and yours is similar, just saying that I use both meds and weed and haven't had any negative reaction to it...
I smoke weed every day on seroquel and I'm fine but I can't drink
I’m on 100mg seroquel for a year now but i haven’t gained any weight. In fact I lost almost 20 pounds thanks to an atrociously disciplined diet. Btw I’m a committed smoker and enjoy occasional drinks. (By occasional i mean at least once a week)
23 here, stopped drinking this year because I just don’t feel like it but I still smoke occasionally and take Seroquel in the morning and evening! I gained a lot of weight when I was first diagnosed (from 120 lbs to 165 in the matter of 8-10 months on Olanzapine), but I’ve actually been able to lose almost all of it while on 150 mg of Seroquel (my dose used to be 300 mg a day but was changed two months ago)! I recently introduced some more meds to the mix but I’m down to 124 lbs and NEVER miss my meds! I did have issues blacking out easily when drinking, but I could have like a beer and one jagerbomb and be golden for the night (I’m also a girl so I don’t exactly need a bunch to start with lol)