Seroquel vs Alprazolam for sleep

[hqinmaine]

I had horrible insomnia when I was pregnant--I mean like literally awake for 6 days at a time insomnia. A low dose of Seroquel, in combination with Trazodone, helped me fall asleep for a couple hours and sometimes go back to sleep. So, it was probably my most effective solution at the time, which was short-lived. However, it has been linked to weight gain and diabetes. It often gives people the super munchies, and I've known people on it who "sleep ate." They would wake up to find an empty bag of chips and have no recollection of eating it. I can't comment on the effects on hunger, as I was in the third trimester of pregnancy and pretty much always hungry. I did have gestational diabetes, and didn't find that it interfered with my blood sugar, but then I was only on it for a short period of time. The makers of Seroquel were sued for not disclosing the true side effects of the drug and for promoting off-label usage. IMO, Xanax helps with temporary or intermittent insomnia; however, I have found with any benzo I develop a tolerance and daily usage can create dependence. Benzos SUCK to get off of, and are the only drug besides alcohol that can kill you in withdrawal. Have you tried atarax, trazodone, or amitryptiline? Not to discourage benzos if you need the, I just know in my experience daily use caused bad withdrawals.

Thanks for posting that. I DO get the "sleep eats" and always have a bag of chips besides my bed. I wake up and must have food!  Then I knock back out again and only remember it from the crumbs in bed the next morning. Duh, a little slow in connecting it to the seroquel.