Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Withdrawal?Seroquel Withdrawal SymptomsDurationWithdrawal TimelineCopingWarningLong-Term TreatmentResources

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Withdrawal?

Seroquel Withdrawal Symptoms

Duration

Withdrawal Timeline

Coping

Warning

Long-Term Treatment

Resources

What should I know about Seroquel withdrawal symptoms?Abruptly discontinuing Seroquel can result in withdrawal symptoms including dizziness, increased heart rate, insomnia, nausea, and vomiting.Never stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor first; your doctor may advise gradually tapering your dose over a period of a few months.

What should I know about Seroquel withdrawal symptoms?

Abruptly discontinuing Seroquel can result in withdrawal symptoms including dizziness, increased heart rate, insomnia, nausea, and vomiting.Never stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor first; your doctor may advise gradually tapering your dose over a period of a few months.

If you stop taking Seroquel abruptly, it is important to know that there have been rare reports of mild or severe withdrawal symptoms. Some of these symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, or restlessness. In rare cases, people have experienced abnormal movements known as withdrawal dyskinesia.

This article discusses Seroquel withdrawal symptoms, including how long they last and what you can do to cope. It also covers why withdrawal happens and warnings you should be aware of before you quit taking Seroquel.

Withdrawal is a term used to describe a collection of symptoms that occur as a result of a substance abruptly leaving your body. The symptoms are unique to the substance but may be similar to the withdrawal symptoms of other substances in the same class.

The impact of withdrawal symptoms depends on the substance you are withdrawing from, as well as how heavily you used the substance and for how long.Withdrawal symptoms from caffeine, for instance, might be unpleasant, but they usually do not lead to serious medical consequences.

In some cases, though, withdrawal from a substance might be dangerous or even lethal. Withdrawal from drugs such asbenzodiazepinesrequires medical supervision.

Withdrawal from Seroquel may require medical supervision as well, especially for any psychological symptoms that may occur.

Withdrawal Does Not Mean Addiction

Withdrawal is a biological response that results from stopping the use of a substance to which your body has become accustomed. The term withdrawal is often stigmatized because of its association withaddiction. Withdrawal implies that your body has becomephysiologically dependenton something, but does not automatically imply the disease of addiction.

Like withdrawal, addiction means that your body has become dependent on a substance. However, addiction creates psychological effects that make someone willing to engage in risky behaviors in order to obtain or use the substance in spite of negative consequences.

Just because you are able to withdraw from a substance does not automatically mean that it is addictive. It should be noted, however, that there are reported cases where Seroquel does have the potential to be misused.

Understanding Withdrawal and Its Effects

Studies have indicated that abrupt discontinuation of Seroquel can result in withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include:

Some people experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, or muscle rigidity. Other psychological features of withdrawal includeirritability, agitation, and restlessness.

How Long Do Seroquel Withdrawal Symptoms Last?

Symptoms can last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks. Those symptoms that last beyond six weeks are classified as persistent post-withdrawal symptoms.

In a study looking at reactions related to stopping a wide variety ofpsychotropic medicationscurrently on the market, 48% of participants experienced some withdrawal symptoms, even if some were quite mild.Seroquel withdrawal is thought to be considerably rarer than this percentage.

Many publications that discuss Seroquel withdrawal are not looking at a large population of patients. Rather, these studies take a deep dive into one specific case. While this type of study is valuable, it’s not applicable to the general population.

Seroquel Withdrawal Timeline

Seroquel withdrawal can be divided into three main categories based on when the phases are likely to appear following abrupt interruption of use.

Phases of Seroquel WithdrawalNew withdrawalRebound withdrawalPersistent post withdrawal disorder

Phases of Seroquel Withdrawal

New withdrawalRebound withdrawalPersistent post withdrawal disorder

New Withdrawal

New withdrawal symptoms typically set in approximately one to four days after a person’s last usage of Seroquel or other psychotropic medications.

These symptoms can include nausea, abdominal pain, sleep disturbances, and other symptoms mentioned above. The intensity of the symptoms depends on the individual, the length of time the drug was used, and the dosage.

These symptoms are short-lasting and reversible. Typically the person is mostly recovered within a week. However, some symptoms may persist, perhaps with less intensity, for up to six weeks.

Rebound Withdrawal

Rebound withdrawal symptoms can also occur within the one to four-day period. However, these symptoms may not actually be “withdrawal,” but a rebound or re-emergence of the underlying symptoms the medication was treating.

Sometimes, therebound symptomsare more severe than the original symptoms present.

Persistent Post-Withdrawal Disorder

Persistent post-withdrawal disorder is when the symptoms of withdrawal persist past the six-week mark.

Coping With Seroquel Withdrawal Symptoms

Sometimes, other medications can be used to ease potential withdrawal symptoms. You should discuss strategies to manage any withdrawal symptoms with a doctor.

Medication

Generally, doctors will advise over-the-counter (OTC) treatment for symptomatic relief. They may suggest that you take ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen to treat symptoms like headaches.For significant cases of nausea, a doctor may prescribe a stronger medication such as Zofran (ondansetron).

Natural Remedies

Natural remedies like ginger extract can help relieve the nausea andvomitingthat often occur during withdrawal.Some people experience side effects from ginger including upset stomach and indigestion.

Be sure to talk to a doctor before supplementing with ginger to be sure it won’t interact with any medications you’re taking.

Checking in With Your Doctor

In some cases, psychotic symptoms may return after stopping antipsychotic medication. Your prescribing doctor or psychiatrist will likely check in with you regularly after you discontinue your medication to be sure any psychological symptoms are managed.

Seroquel Withdrawal Warnings

If you are taking Seroquel and are considering discontinuation, discuss your options with a doctor. Avoid acting independently regarding your dosages, even if you feel that it is no longer necessary.

There is now consensus among clinicians that if used for longer than several weeks, most psychotropic medications can potentially lead to some form of withdrawal.

This should not rule out the use of these medications, but it does mean that careful consideration and frank discussions with a doctor should be part of the process of initiating treatment of medications like Seroquel.

Long-Term Treatment for Seroquel Withdrawal

If you are struggling with what feels like problematic use of Seroquel or another medication, you should know that many rehabilitation and supervised detoxification facilities accept patients who are withdrawing from prescribed medication.

There is increasing recognition that misuse of prescribed drugs is just as debilitating as the use of illicit drugs.

Some facilities also help offer emotional and medical support for those who are biologically dependent on Seroquel and wish to safely come off of it.

Withdrawal Resources

If you think you may be having any symptoms of withdrawal, express your concerns to a medical professional.

If you’re struggling with negative feelings such asguilt or shameregarding your withdrawal symptoms, a mental health professional can help your process those feelings and help you cope with them in a healthy way.

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10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Quetiapine.Cosci F, Chouinard G.Acute and persistent withdrawal syndromes following discontinuation of psychotropic medications.Psychother Psychosom. 2020;89(5):283-306. doi:10.1159/000506868Keks N, Schwartz D, Hope J.Stopping and switching antipsychotic drugs.Aust Prescr. 2019;42(5):152-157. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2019.052National Institute on Drug Abuse.Is there a difference between physical dependence and addiction?Kim S, Lee G, Kim E, Jung H, Chang J.Quetiapine misuse and abuse: Is it an atypical paradigm of drug seeking behavior?.J Res Pharm Pract. 2017;6(1):12-15. doi:10.4103/2279-042X.200987Monahan K, Cuzens-Sutton J, Siskind D, Kisely S.Quetiapine withdrawal: A systematic review.Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2020;4867420965693. doi:10.1177/0004867420965693Harvard Health Publishing.Headaches: What to know, when to worry.National Library of Medicine.Ondansetron.Lete I, Allué J.The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy.Integr Med Insights. 2016;11:11-17. doi:10.4137/IMI.S36273Qiu JX, Zhou ZW, He ZX, Zhang X, Zhou SF, Zhu S.Estimation of the binding modes with important human cytochrome P450 enzymes, drug interaction potential, pharmacokinetics, and hepatotoxicity of ginger components using molecular docking, computational, and pharmacokinetic modeling studies.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2015;9:841-66. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S74669

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Quetiapine.Cosci F, Chouinard G.Acute and persistent withdrawal syndromes following discontinuation of psychotropic medications.Psychother Psychosom. 2020;89(5):283-306. doi:10.1159/000506868Keks N, Schwartz D, Hope J.Stopping and switching antipsychotic drugs.Aust Prescr. 2019;42(5):152-157. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2019.052National Institute on Drug Abuse.Is there a difference between physical dependence and addiction?Kim S, Lee G, Kim E, Jung H, Chang J.Quetiapine misuse and abuse: Is it an atypical paradigm of drug seeking behavior?.J Res Pharm Pract. 2017;6(1):12-15. doi:10.4103/2279-042X.200987Monahan K, Cuzens-Sutton J, Siskind D, Kisely S.Quetiapine withdrawal: A systematic review.Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2020;4867420965693. doi:10.1177/0004867420965693Harvard Health Publishing.Headaches: What to know, when to worry.National Library of Medicine.Ondansetron.Lete I, Allué J.The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy.Integr Med Insights. 2016;11:11-17. doi:10.4137/IMI.S36273Qiu JX, Zhou ZW, He ZX, Zhang X, Zhou SF, Zhu S.Estimation of the binding modes with important human cytochrome P450 enzymes, drug interaction potential, pharmacokinetics, and hepatotoxicity of ginger components using molecular docking, computational, and pharmacokinetic modeling studies.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2015;9:841-66. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S74669

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Library of Medicine.Quetiapine.Cosci F, Chouinard G.Acute and persistent withdrawal syndromes following discontinuation of psychotropic medications.Psychother Psychosom. 2020;89(5):283-306. doi:10.1159/000506868Keks N, Schwartz D, Hope J.Stopping and switching antipsychotic drugs.Aust Prescr. 2019;42(5):152-157. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2019.052National Institute on Drug Abuse.Is there a difference between physical dependence and addiction?Kim S, Lee G, Kim E, Jung H, Chang J.Quetiapine misuse and abuse: Is it an atypical paradigm of drug seeking behavior?.J Res Pharm Pract. 2017;6(1):12-15. doi:10.4103/2279-042X.200987Monahan K, Cuzens-Sutton J, Siskind D, Kisely S.Quetiapine withdrawal: A systematic review.Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2020;4867420965693. doi:10.1177/0004867420965693Harvard Health Publishing.Headaches: What to know, when to worry.National Library of Medicine.Ondansetron.Lete I, Allué J.The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy.Integr Med Insights. 2016;11:11-17. doi:10.4137/IMI.S36273Qiu JX, Zhou ZW, He ZX, Zhang X, Zhou SF, Zhu S.Estimation of the binding modes with important human cytochrome P450 enzymes, drug interaction potential, pharmacokinetics, and hepatotoxicity of ginger components using molecular docking, computational, and pharmacokinetic modeling studies.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2015;9:841-66. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S74669

National Library of Medicine.Quetiapine.

Cosci F, Chouinard G.Acute and persistent withdrawal syndromes following discontinuation of psychotropic medications.Psychother Psychosom. 2020;89(5):283-306. doi:10.1159/000506868

Keks N, Schwartz D, Hope J.Stopping and switching antipsychotic drugs.Aust Prescr. 2019;42(5):152-157. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2019.052

National Institute on Drug Abuse.Is there a difference between physical dependence and addiction?

Kim S, Lee G, Kim E, Jung H, Chang J.Quetiapine misuse and abuse: Is it an atypical paradigm of drug seeking behavior?.J Res Pharm Pract. 2017;6(1):12-15. doi:10.4103/2279-042X.200987

Monahan K, Cuzens-Sutton J, Siskind D, Kisely S.Quetiapine withdrawal: A systematic review.Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2020;4867420965693. doi:10.1177/0004867420965693

Harvard Health Publishing.Headaches: What to know, when to worry.

National Library of Medicine.Ondansetron.

Lete I, Allué J.The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy.Integr Med Insights. 2016;11:11-17. doi:10.4137/IMI.S36273

Qiu JX, Zhou ZW, He ZX, Zhang X, Zhou SF, Zhu S.Estimation of the binding modes with important human cytochrome P450 enzymes, drug interaction potential, pharmacokinetics, and hepatotoxicity of ginger components using molecular docking, computational, and pharmacokinetic modeling studies.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2015;9:841-66. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S74669

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