In this article, I’m going to teach you how to use Seroquel for opiate withdrawal. Though Seroquel is not typically prescribed for this purpose, it’s still a powerful medication and one that you may want to use to reduce your opiate withdrawal symptoms from home.
I remember the first time I heard of Seroquel.
My friend Scotty Boy came into the Philly Cheesesteak deli I worked at. He appeared drunk, but when I asked him if he had been drinking, he said “no, but I took some Seroquel.”
I made him a Chicken Ranch, the sandwich he always ordered when he came to the deli.
He ate his food, then I looked over and he was almost asleep with his face on the table!!!
Seroquel is a powerful medication and one that has been shown in studies to help with opiate withdrawal. Now let’s dive right into the basics on Seroquel.
Table of Contents
Seroquel Overview
Seroquel is a brand name for the medication known as quetiapine.
Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic used for the treatment of:
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar Disorder
- Major Depressive Disorder
Note: Seroquel is also sometimes used as a sleep aid due to its sedating effect. This use is typically not recommended.
Does Seroquel Help With Opiate Withdrawal?
Over the years, I’ve had several people email me to ask, “does Seroquel help with opiate withdrawal?”
Yes, Seroquel does help with opiate withdrawal.
How do I know this?
In a study from 2005, researchers wanted to determine the effectiveness of Seroquel in a population undergoing ambulatory detoxification from opioids.
Patients were given eight 25-mg tablets of Seroquel and instructed to take 1 or 2 tablets every 4 hours as needed for symptoms of withdrawal or craving (with a maximum daily dose of 200 mg).
A medication questionnaire was instituted for quality-assurance purposes after some apparent initial success with Seroquel.
A retrospective analysis of this data revealed the following of the 107 patients evaluated for medication response:
How To Use Seroquel For Opiate Withdrawal
Now that you know Seroquel could very well be useful in the treatment of opiate withdrawal, perhaps you want to use the medication for this purpose.
Here are some important facts about Seroquel:
- Everyone is biochemically unique; so while Seroquel works well for some people, it doesn’t work for everyone.
- Many individuals say Seroquel helps them calm anxiety and fall asleep, though others complain that it makes them too much like a zombie.
- Seroquel can be habit-forming.
- Taking too much Seroquel can lead to an overdose.
Adhere to the following guidelines when using Seroquel for opiate withdrawal:
- Always take Seroquel under the supervision of a physician.
- Seroquel comes in film-coated tablets in the following dosages: 25 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, and 300 mg.
- The Seroquel dosage using in the study was one to two 25 mg tablets every 4 hours with a maximum daily dose of 200 mg. This is a good dosing regimen, to begin with.
- Due to differences in severity of addiction and biochemical uniqueness, there is no set Seroquel for opiate withdrawal dosage.
- Take the least amount of Seroquel necessary to achieve opiate withdrawal symptoms relief.
- Discontinue Seroquel after 4-5 days; the worst of the withdrawals should be over by day 5, and this way you won’t develop a physical dependence on Seroquel.
- Always start with a low amount, then use more if it’s not helping with opiate withdrawal.
- Some people use the extended-release formulation of Seroquel (Seroquel XR), which can also help with opiate withdrawal.
Seroquel For Opiate Withdrawal Conclusion
Many people have used Seroquel for opiate withdrawal symptoms. It can be very effective when used properly, however, there can also be significant side effects and dangerous interactions, so it’s important to ask your doctor if you should use Seroquel for opiate withdrawal.
For people that can’t use Seroquel, or choose not to use medications such as this one, there are natural alternatives that may help.
Many individuals going through opiate withdrawal have obtained relief from anxiety and insomnia, as well as many other symptoms, by using a popular Opiate Withdrawal Supplement.
Getting yourself a 30-day supply of this powerful formula might be just what you need to help you get your life back on track.
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If you have any comments or questions on the use of Seroquel for opiate withdrawal, please post them in the comment box below.
Have you heard of using seroquel to help with gabapentin withdraws? I’ve been on a high dose for years and want to taper off.
Haha!! I can’t wait to show this to my husband and friends, cause see several years ago I used seroquel to help me come off methadone. I admit I had no idea it had any good properties for withdrawal except for its a very strong sedative for me. I was told by a Dr. That’s pretty much all I could do, was sedate myself and hang on, so I did and low and behold now everyone’s using my trick. My husband and friends laughed at me cause I went out and found me some.. who’s laughing now??
Wonderful story Kamisha! I’m so glad it worked for you to help you get off methadone. And your husband and friends will love reading the science and research behind using Seroquel for opiate withdrawal. Take care!
Wow, Seroquel. It was such a horrible medication for me. It does have zombie like effects and its not pleasurable in any way. It will put you to sleep at higher doses and caution should always be exercised. I think the worst side effect of all is weight gain. I gained 5-10 pounds a week while on this drug and gained 50 lbs overall before I figured out it was the Seroquel. As soon as I stopped it, I lost the weight. Perhaps they use it in opiate treatment to punish people, because you feel so sick all over, the entire time you are taking it you don’t even think about cravings or opiates.
Wow Fred that sounds awful!!! Even though I abused lots of drugs in my past, Seroquel was never something I was interested in. There are far better medications for opiate withdrawal, that’s for sure. Glad you got of it and lost the weight. And thanks for leaving a comment on your experience using Seroquel.