Serequel for Hallucinations

hhoward66 · Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 1

I am a frequent visitor to "Ask the Dr.", but this new forum will be good to talk to others who have PD or their caretakers. My husband was diagnosed with PD approx. 16 years ago, and has been on comptan, senemet, and pergolide for several years. His dr. recently took him off of pergolide, because of risks of heart disease. He was recently put on serequel for his hallucinations that have occured within the last 2 months. Does anyone have experience with serequel? He is hesitant in taking this new drug, but if it helps with the hallucinations and helps in his confusion it may be worth the side effects. Please let me know.

sonna · Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 62 Location: Selinsgrove, PA

My suggestion would be, stop the comtan. It can be a big problem for some. You would probably have to increase the Sinemet dosage. I have had no experience with Serequal, but others have reported some success with it. I am a "keep things simple" person and am not into adding all the drugs folks take. One drug causes side effects and another is added to conteract the first set of side effects, leading to more side effects, and we end up with a toxic mix of drugs. I'm all for the least the best. If the comtan is causing the hallucinations, there would be no need for the Serequal. Sonna

wick903 · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 12

I have been on seroquel for about three years and have had good results. I was having problems sleeping and weird dreams. You need to read the insert given with the drug, because there is somethng about blood glucose.

seahorse · Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 3

this is my first time to write on this forum, my husband has had PD for 20 years and is 60. he has been hallucinating for about a year and refuses any help at all from me or the doctor. i'm the one that's crazy. it is destroying our lives togeather, so i just need a way to convince him to get meds or conseling.

zmunn · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 77

Interesting topic and timely for me. My Mom's neurologist just today refused to prescribe Seroquel for my Mom's daytime hallucinations and confusion. He was quite insistent that it has not proven to be effective for PDers, it causes excessive sedation, and in his own practice he has observed problems with pneumonia (maybe because of the sedation?--I'm not sure of that).

My Mom's meds are quite simple (Sinemet, 1 dose of Paxil in the AM and Klonopin in the PM). So the neuro suggested first a trial without Klonopin, which can be a culprit in causing confusion and memory problems. If that doesn't help enough, then we will add Clozaril which has pretty stringent weekly blood testing requirements but otherwise has been clinically shown to help significantly with hallucinations. So...that's what we're doing.

I should also mention that Mom's PD is quite advanced and she requires 24/7 nursing home care. She still speaks clearly and swallows food and meds without a problem. That has been a blessing. The neuro also pointed out that less frequent dosing of Sinemet would also help with the mental problems. Mom is dosing every 2 hours, but even that often doesn't always keep her comfortable, so I feel like I can't take the physical support away from her at this point. There's not a right answer in her situation.

Best, Zae
daughter of Elaine, 77-year-old PWP

seahorse · Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 3

i can't even get my husband to tell the doctor about the hallucinations because he dosn't think that they are. he beleaves they are really happening. he takes sinamet and miripex 5 or 6 times a day. he falls asleep in the middle of conversations sometimes. he is being very stuborn and in deniel. my mom also has PD and is a nursing home, he dosn't want to go to one when it's time. i'm still working full time and can't be here with him all the time. i will be going to a support group soon but he refuses to go. i need him to realize ther are other symtems to PD. thank you for replying, ifeel a little better already.

kmcclung · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 123 Location: Michigan

Seahorse,
Mirapex can cause one to have hallucinations, sleep attacks, edema, compulsive behavior and more. If at all possible you need to speak with your husband's doctor. If you have not already done so, please address these issues with Ask the Doctor.
I am a PWP and I had all of the above symptoms with Mirapex plus weight gain. My hallucinations were mild and I knew what was happening and seen them as a little humorous. I am no longer taking Merapix
One must cut back on the Mirapex under the supervision of their doctor. Ken

seahorse · Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 3

ken, i would love to get my husband to a doctor to moniter him , but he dosn't beleave the doctor. he feels and hears these hallucinations so they are very real to him, i've contacted ask the doctor to try to get my husband to see and understand this is normal for PD. he's had it for 20 years and still on the same meds only alot more times a day

Beth27 · Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 1

In response to your question of Seroquel: It has helped me with anxiety and onsomnia. However, I noticed that I must go to bed immediately after taking it, because I tend to get hallucinations. I only two other people who have taken Seroquel, and their response is the same. I have also read this occurance on a PTSD web-blog. Seroquel does work, but keep in mind, that it may impair your thinking within the first few hours, of each dose.
Beth27