Experiences with Seroquel to curb delusions
Hi!
I've written many times about the step we took to move my mother into a MC in April and her struggles to adjust to the environment. My initial worries were that it was too early as she had times when things were manageable, the problem was that the delusions ramped up very quickly and were extreme (e.g. felt she was going into labor every night, fears the house was on first and walking to neighbors for help, belief the cats were warning her of a looming disaster) and she eventually began to fear my father and became physically aggressive. It was all a terrible nightmare.
We moved her into a newer facility this week with a much better medical staff. The doctor has 30+ years experience with Alzheimers and I feel so much better. When discussing her history of delusions with him he was shocked nobody had recommended seroquel along the way to help. She's exhibiting some fears still and he will likely put her on this once he's had more time observing her.
My question is whether others have used seroquel to help with delusions and if it worked. She isn't having the most extreme delusions since moving to an MC so we can't wait and see if having her take this at the facility helps with them. One theory was that something in the home environment triggered her. I'm going down this path because I can't shake the possibility of having her return home. I'm asking for feedback to help me better understand whether this is an option if she were taking seroquel.
I'll be working with the doctor as well but it's been incredibly helpful along the way to hear of real-life experiences!
Thank you!!
Comments
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So glad the new facility is a good one. Seroquel helped a lot with my mom’s delusions and general level of anxiety - we started with a low dose and increased gradually. It helped her sleep better too. I do think that her home was itself a trigger - she was afraid of certain doors, mattresses, neighbors, so many fears! It was awful. Proper meds combined with the MC environment has given her a much happier and more peaceful life (though the adjustment to MC was tough).
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Not with delusions, but Seroquel sure helped with the agitation.
Same with starting with low-dose. It helped, then she got more agitated at something, and it was increased a bit. Helped a LOT!
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Opposite experience. Caused delirium.
Everyone is different. There is no way to tell whether it will help your mother. If you decide to try, my recommendation would be to start at a very low dose and do not increase it fast. Track all changes with her to discuss with the doctor. Best of luck to you.
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@dbarrylewis
In the early late stages, Seroquel helped lessen the delusions considerably and also made it so those he had didn't trouble him as much. It didn't seem to help with his hallucinations, but they didn't seem to be a problem for him; he found some pleasurable.
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Seroquel helped my DH.
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Seroquel is helping my LO with agitation. Same as others: very low dose at first.
I am glad the new place seems good for your mom!
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Hi, hope you are holding up. My mom was put on this med and removed after one dose. Her aggressiveness was 10 times worse. I no longer am trying to treat the hallucinations. It seems as though they are just there 24/7 so me and the doctors are just trying to give meds for anxiety instead and that seems to help with the paranoia and she is more mellowed out. I noticed that it keeps her from exiting so much and it also keeps the irritability down. She still tries to exit because of the delusional state and confusion but she gives up after one attempt instead of trying to break The door down. Hope it works out for you.
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You should definitely try the serequol. It’s their first line of defense and has the least amount of side effects. If it doesn’t work they might want to try rispirodone.
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Commonly Used Abbreviations
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