[junon]

This is a gross misunderstanding of what Seroquel is used for. It's one of those medications that several different side effects depending on the dosage.

Yes, it can be used as an anti-psychotic. However, in most of the cases I've heard, it's used as a sleep aid.

This was the case for me, too. I was on it for 10 years and ultimately went off because I grew out of my chronic insomnia. Aside from a muted personality and nightmares (the latter controlled by another medication), it was pretty fool proof and had very little consequence in my particular case.

As always, it depends on the person, but the blanket statement you quoted doesn't seem fair.

[DanBC]

Seroquel is quetiapine. People are calling it an anti=psychotic because it is an anti-psychotic. That's its main use, and that's what it's licensed for.

https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/quetiapine.html

https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Mental-...

> Quetiapine is a medication that works in the brain to treat schizophrenia. It is also known as a second generation antipsychotic (SGA) or atypical antipsychotic.

If doctors are prescribing seroquel for sleep problems i) that's pretty scary and ii) it's an off label use.

EDIT: here's the FA information showing that seroquel is an antipsychotic and is not licensed to treat sleep problems. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/02...

[jaijaihanuman]

Quetiapine is labaled an anti-psychotic yes, but its pharmacological characteristics are not that straight forward. It has a much higher affinity for H1 (histamine) receptors than for D2 (dopamine) receptors. Meaning that in low doses it acts like an anti-histaminergic drug, having a very limited effect on dopaminergic systems. Around 60% of D2-receptors need to be blocked for a typical anti-psychotic effect, and that is nowhere near what is happening with say 50mg of quetiapine, which is a normal dose for sleeping aid. In those low doses it mainly acts on H1, alpha-1, M3, M1, and some 5HT type receptors. At a minimum of 300mg per day, it pharmacologically starts to act as an anti psychotic.

There is a nice brief summary of this in Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology.

To be clear, I am very much against prescribing anti-psychotics as sleeping aids. But I don't think there is a strong case for calling quetiapine anti-psychotic in low doses.

[dumpsterdiver]

> Yes, it can be used as an anti-psychotic. However, in most of the cases I've heard, it's used as a sleep aid.

I've never taken anti-psychotics. I've asked my doctor for anti-depressants a few times (usually during relationship issues) and they are not my thing.

You're not a medical doctor, right? Obviously, or you wouldn't be giving out such frivolous advice. Dude... it's an anti-psychotic drug.

[smabie]

And? Do you even know what that means?

[dumpsterdiver]

If you're referring to anti-pyschotic drugs, then no, I don't - at all. I meant no offense, I was just suggesting caution that's all.

Edit: I just wanted to acknowledge that there are probably a lot of beautiful people who find this drug helpful. I didn't mean to get down on you, I struggle too. I'm sorry if I jumped the gun with my statement.

[junon]

Please point to where I gave advice.