Tips on medication induced chronic fatigue

[TotallyAddictedToLurking]

I take 300mg Quetiapine (anti psychotic) I had to fight with my doctor to be on this low dose. I was on 600.

The biggest problem this medication has given me is what he calls chronic fatigue. The reason I asked to reduce the dose was because on 600 I could sleep all day. Literally all day without waking.

Now on 300 I can wake with a few alarms (i usually sleep through the first) but it's so hard. Getting up at 12pm is just as hard as getting up at 7am. I feel like I cannot move any limbs, they are so heavy. I usually find my mornings are so rushed because I haven't been able to get up on time.

What would you recommend I do apart from the usual going to bed early. (I am asleep by 9)

I cant stop taking the meds and my doctor says it's something I have to live with. He didn't tell me how to manage it. He didn't really seem concerned.

It's affecting my life, at the weekend I'm sleeping through most of it and in the week I'm rushing around because I've overslept.

Sounds awful, are there really no alternative meds you could try?

Maybe try posting on the MH board. Do you have a partner who can wake you with a cuppa so you can acclimatise for a few minutes. I do this as amytriptiline means I have to drag myself awake. Not as bad as you, though. Otherwise can only suggest you jump in the shower but realise this could sound unhelpful.

I think you need to discuss with Drs again and explain exactly how you are feeling. One other thing is that with the amytriptiline I have definitely got better, at first I would nod off if I sat down. Now I just sleep very heavily.

Good luck.

Thank you for posting, I'll post in MH too.

The shower idea is a very good one, I just need to get myself out of bed in the first place. I would put my alarm out of reach but I'm afraid I'll just sleep through it.

DP has to get up at 4.30 for work so he is no good. I sleep through all of his alarms!!

My Psych has said there is no other medication that wouldnt make me feel like this. To be honest the MH services in my area are not very good. I have a care coordinator and I've met her twice on a year. When I do contact her she gives me stupid advice like watch TV to distract you