Seroquel Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, and Support

Alternative to Meds Editorial Team
Medically Reviewed by Dr John Motl MD

What is Seroquel withdrawal?

Seroquel withdrawal is the set of physical and emotional symptoms that can appear when you lower or stop Seroquel (quetiapine). When it follows stopping abruptly, it is often called quetiapine discontinuation syndrome.⁸ Common symptoms include insomnia, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, anxiety, agitation, sweating, and a racing heart.

Most symptoms occur in the first four weeks after stopping.⁸ They often start one to four days after the last dose, and some, like restlessness, can last for months.^6,7,25 Fast withdrawal can also cause rebound psychosis, which is why a slow, supervised approach matters.

Using Seroquel for several months or longer may lead to physical dependence, so withdrawal is your body adjusting, not a personal failure.

Want medical support while you taper? Learn how our residential medication tapering program in Sedona works, or call (888) 907-7075.

Curious about the newest antipsychotic? Read our Cobenfy guide.

Seroquel withdrawal symptoms

People who stop Seroquel abruptly frequently experience a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms.⁸ Even with a slow taper, some significant symptoms can still appear. They may be stronger if Seroquel was taken for a very long time or at high doses.

Physical symptoms can include:

• Sleep: insomnia and interrupted sleep
• Stomach: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite
• Heart and blood pressure: racing heart (tachycardia) and high blood pressure
• Nervous system: headaches, dizziness, and burning or prickling skin (paresthesia)
• Body: excessive sweating and muscle pain (myalgia)
• Senses: sensitivity to light, sound, temperature, and other sensations
• Movement: restlessness and, rarely, withdrawal dyskinesia or other movement disorders

Emotional and mental symptoms can include:

• Anxiety and agitation
• Depression and a dysphoric unease with life
• Mood swings that can change rapidly
• Loss of concentration
• Rebound mania
• Rebound psychosis, including psychotic symptoms that did not exist before taking antipsychotics
• Suicidal thoughts or behavior

What we see most often at ATMC: everyone’s withdrawal is different, but the most consistent symptoms we see are rebound psychosis, rebound mania, insomnia, and loss of appetite.

A warning sign to take seriously: suddenly not sleeping, not eating, and acting manic during Seroquel withdrawal is a sure sign that things are most likely going too fast, and that the pace needs to slow down. Some people with no history of psychotic symptoms have experienced withdrawal psychosis when stopping neuroleptics such as Seroquel.

How long does Seroquel withdrawal last?

There is no single timeline. It depends on your dose, how long you took Seroquel, how quickly it was reduced, and your own sensitivity. Withdrawal can be described in three phases, which may overlap.

Phase 1: New withdrawal (first days to weeks). Most withdrawal symptoms occur during the first four weeks after stopping antipsychotic drugs.⁸ They often start one to four days after the last dose and can last up to six weeks, sometimes easing during that time. Restlessness or hyperkinesia may last longer, sometimes months.^6,7,25

Phase 2: Rebound withdrawal. Rebound symptoms can happen at the same time as new withdrawal or continue after it.⁸ They vary greatly from person to person and are understudied. Without a full history, it can be hard to tell whether symptoms are new or are the original symptoms returning. Research suggests rebound symptoms are often more severe than symptoms before the medication.²³

Phase 3: Post-acute withdrawal (PAWS). Some symptoms can persist for weeks or even months after stopping.⁹ These can include irritability, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, trouble with relationships, pessimism, disturbed sleep, and greater sensitivity to stress.⁹ PAWS is thought to happen because the brain adapts to the drug, and it needs time to readjust once the drug is gone.

How long does Seroquel stay in your system?

Seroquel has a half-life of about six hours. In theory, half of the active drug clears in about six hours, and it is fully cleared within 24 to 48 hours after stopping.¹⁰

But clearing the drug is not the same as being finished with withdrawal. The body adapts to Seroquel over time, and the longer it is taken, the more adaptations are likely. Reversing changes such as antipsychotic-induced dopamine supersensitivity can take much longer, sometimes weeks, months, or even years.

A precisely calibrated diet and supplement plan can provide the neurotransmitter precursors the brain needs to repair and normalize, and may help shorten these after-effects.

Is it safe to stop Seroquel cold turkey?

For most people, no. Stopping Seroquel suddenly is what most often triggers the withdrawal symptoms above, including rebound psychosis and rebound mania. In the vast majority of cases, coming off an antipsychotic should be very gradual, with as much support as possible, including medical supervision.

Stopping abruptly should only happen in rare cases where a life-threatening reaction to the drug must be controlled, such as neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).⁵ That decision belongs to a medical professional.

How slowly to go, and in what steps, is different for every person. Our Seroquel tapering page explains why the pace matters. At ATMC, we recommend Seroquel withdrawal be done with our team of health professionals in an inpatient setting, where the plan can be adjusted the moment symptoms change.

Helping a loved one through Seroquel withdrawal

If you are worried about a partner, parent, or adult child, knowing what to watch for and when to ask for help makes a real difference.

• Watch for the warning trio. Not sleeping, not eating, and acting manic are signs that withdrawal is going too fast. Let their prescriber or care team know right away.
• Take talk of suicide seriously. Suicidal thoughts can be a withdrawal symptom. If insomnia comes with mood swings or suicidal thoughts, contact a healthcare provider promptly, or emergency services if they are in danger.
• Keep simple notes. Write down dose changes, sleep, appetite, and mood. A clear history helps clinicians tell withdrawal apart from the original symptoms returning.
• Support steady sleep. Consistent sleep and wake times, morning light, and less caffeine and alcohol can help.
• Don’t let them go it alone. Encourage a supervised plan instead of stopping suddenly, and stay involved.

Family members are welcome to call. Our admissions team can answer your questions about a loved one’s situation, confidentially, at (888) 907-7075.

Coming off Seroquel at home vs. at ATMC

What helps during Seroquel withdrawal

How ATMC supports a Seroquel taper:

• Built around you. Your taper is individualized, never one-size-fits-all.
• Adjusted as you go. We watch how you respond and adjust the pace. Some people move faster; others need to go slower.
• Precise doses. Our medical team plans each dose step, using half tablets or liquid preparations as needed.
• Supporting brain chemistry. Nutrient therapy and neurotransmitter support help make each step easier to tolerate.
• Treating what’s underneath. Nutrition, toxins, and counseling are addressed, with our clinical team on site.

Nutrition. Studies show poor nutrition can lead to depression, and an improved diet can improve mental health.¹⁶ Reducing carbohydrates and following a Mediterranean diet high in omega-3 fatty acids and other vital nutrients have been clearly associated with better mental health.²⁴

Movement. Exercise has proven helpful in preventing depression.^17,18 Yoga has been shown to significantly decrease anxiety, depression, and stress.¹⁹

Toxin testing and removal. Heavy metal toxicity testing and neurotoxin removal are often missed in earlier treatment. For many people, toxicity likely played a role in neurotransmitter imbalances that had no other explanation.²⁰ Once pollutants, chemical residues, heavy metals, food preservatives, and industrial exposures are identified and gently cleared, our clients typically see better sleep, appetite, energy, and mood.²¹

Other gentle therapies we offer include orthomolecular medicine, nebulized glutathione, clay packs, infrared sauna, and acupuncture. See all of our services.

Does Seroquel work long-term?

Seroquel can quickly stop a psychotic episode and may even be life-saving in some cases. However, we are unable to find research showing the long-term effectiveness of antipsychotics like Seroquel.¹¹

A 20-year study by Martin Harrow and colleagues, published in Psychological Medicine in February 2021, followed people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective psychosis. Those who stopped medication within the first two years were six times more likely to recover than those who stayed on antipsychotics.¹²

“These and previous data indicate that after 2 years, antipsychotics no longer reduce psychotic symptoms and participants not on antipsychotics perform better.” ~Harrow, Jobe & Tong, Psychological Medicine.¹²

One explanation is the way the brain adapts to the drug. Researchers including Chouinard, Fallon, Harrow, and colleagues describe an antipsychotic-induced supersensitivity of dopamine receptors, called drug-induced supersensitivity psychosis or tardive psychosis.^13-15 Some long-term research suggests many people with schizophrenia do better over time without antipsychotics.²²

Not everyone does better off antipsychotics, but the research makes a strong case for exploring safe alternatives. Read more about the risks of Seroquel (quetiapine).

What is Seroquel?

Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic available as a tablet or extended-release tablet. Its generic name is quetiapine. The FDA has approved it to treat schizophrenia, acute manic episodes of bipolar disorder, and as an add-on treatment for major depressive disorder.¹

It is also widely used off-label for insomnia, PTSD, OCD, substance abuse and addiction treatment, delirium, anxiety, depression, and personality disorders.² Many people we see take Seroquel as a sleep aid, usually at a low dose of 25 to 150 mg. Seroquel acts on dopamine and serotonin in the brain.

Is Seroquel addictive? Quetiapine is prescription-only but not a federally controlled substance, and in general it is not considered addictive. However, a 2013 study in rats found clear evidence it can cause psychological dependence in animals.³ Some people have also reported feeling addicted to Seroquel, known on the street as “Susie-Q” or “quell.”⁴

Seroquel side effects

Side effects range from mild to severe and vary by person. This is not a complete list; discuss any changes with your prescriber.⁵

• Common: dizziness or vertigo, lightheadedness, weakness, nausea, constipation, appetite changes, weight gain, drowsiness, dry mouth, low sodium, nightmares, sleep disturbances, and a fast resting heart rate.
• Complex sleep behaviors: sleepwalking, sleep-driving, sleep-shopping, or sleep-texting with no memory of it.
• Less common but serious: suicidal thoughts (especially under age 25), tardive dyskinesia, movement disorders, tremors, cataracts, slowed heartbeat, sleep apnea, diabetes, liver problems or liver failure, seizures, stroke (especially in elderly patients), pancreatitis, amnesia, hepatitis, and, rarely, neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
• High blood sugar: possibly extreme and linked to diabetic acidosis, coma, or death, has been reported.

Get help with Seroquel withdrawal

Alternative to Meds Center has specialized in antipsychotic withdrawal for nearly 20 years, and our outcomes are documented in published evidence. Many clients were put on psychiatric medication for medical conditions, drug-induced psychosis, or factors that have since changed, and some were misdiagnosed.

Our residential program in Sedona averages about 60 days, with our clinical team on site. Each plan combines an individualized taper with nutrient therapy, neurotransmitter support, and care for root causes such as nutrition, toxins, and counseling. Learn more about our antipsychotic withdrawal program, how we treat medication withdrawal, and our Sedona facility.

A client’s story: this former client had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, but his earlier treatment did not lead to recovery. His issues turned out to be food allergies complicated by recreational drug use. He came off medication and became an international speaker on mental health. This video was filmed 10 years after his time at Alternative to Meds.

Watch: Seroquel withdrawal, explained.

Seroquel (quetiapine) withdrawal FAQs

Sources:

1. Maan JS, Ershadi M, Khan I, et al. Quetiapine. [Updated 2021 Sep 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459145/ [cited 2026 April 13]

2. Rowe DL. “Off-label prescription of quetiapine in psychiatric disorders.” Expert Rev Neurother. 2007 Jul;7(7):841-52. doi: 10.1586/14737175.7.7.841. PMID: 17610391. [cited 2026 April 13]

3. Cha HJ, Lee HA, Ahn JI, Jeon SH, Kim EJ, Jeong HS. Dependence potential of quetiapine: behavioral pharmacology in rodents. Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2013;21(4):307-312. doi:10.4062/biomolther.2013.035  [cited 2026 April 13]

4. The American Journal of Psychiatry. “Quetiapine Addiction?”  [cited 2026 April 13]

5. FDA label Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate) tablets for oral use  [cited 2026 April 13]

6. Dilsaver SC, Alessi NE. Antipsychotic withdrawal symptoms: phenomenology and pathophysiology. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1988 Mar;77(3):241-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1988.tb05116.x. PMID: 2899377.  [cited 2026 April 13]

7. Monahan K, Cuzens-Sutton J, Siskind D, Kisely S. Quetiapine withdrawal: A systematic review. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2021 Aug;55(8):772-783. doi: 10.1177/0004867420965693. Epub 2020 Oct 16. PMID: 33059460.  [cited 2026 April 13]

8. Brandt L, Bschor T, Henssler J, et al. Antipsychotic Withdrawal Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:569912. Published 2020 Sep 29. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.569912  [cited 2026 April 13]

9. Cosci F, Chouinard G. Acute and Persistent Withdrawal Syndromes Following Discontinuation of Psychotropic Medications. Psychother Psychosom. 2020;89(5):283-306. doi: 10.1159/000506868. Epub 2020 Apr 7. PMID: 32259826.  [cited 2026 April 13]

10. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. “Seroquel.”  [cited 2026 April 13]

11.  González-Rodríguez A, Monreal JA, Natividad M, Seeman MV. Seventy Years of Treating Delusional Disorder with Antipsychotics: A Historical Perspective. Biomedicines. 2022 Dec 18;10(12):3281. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10123281. PMID: 36552037; PMCID: PMC9775530.   [cited 2026 April 13]

12. Harrow M, Jobe TH, Tong L. “Twenty-year effects of antipsychotics in schizophrenia and affective psychotic disorders.” Psychol Med. 2021 Feb 8:1-11. doi: 10.1017/S0033291720004778. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33550993.  [cited 2026 April 13]

13. Chouinard G, Samaha AN, Chouinard VA, Peretti CS, Kanahara N, Takase M, Iyo M. “Antipsychotic-Induced Dopamine Supersensitivity Psychosis: Pharmacology, Criteria, and Therapy.” Psychother Psychosom. 2017;86(4):189-219. doi: 10.1159/000477313. Epub 2017 Jun 24. PMID: 28647739.  [cited 2026 April 13]

14. Fallon P, Dursun S, Deakin B. “Drug-induced supersensitivity psychosis revisited: characteristics of relapse in treatment-compliant patients.” Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2012 Feb;2(1):13-22. doi: 10.1177/2045125311431105. PMID: 23983951; PMCID: PMC3736929.  [cited 2026 April 13]

15. Harrow, M. “Factors involved in outcome and recovery in schizophrenia patients not on antipsychotic medications.” J Nerv Ment Dis 195 (2007):406-414.  [cited 2026 April 13]

16. BMJ 2020;369:m2382. “Food and mood: how do diet and nutrition affect mental wellbeing?”  [cited 2026 April 13]

17. Harvey SB, Overland S, Hatch S, Wesley S, Mykletun A, Hotopf M, Exercise and the Prevention of Depression: Results of the HUNT Cohort Study [3 October 2017] American Journal of Psychiatry [cited 2026 April 13]

18. Annual Review of Public Health. “Environmental Exposures and Depression: Biological Mechanisms and Epidemiological Evidence.” Annual Review of Public Health Vol. 40:239-259 (Volume publication date April 2019) First published as a Review in Advance on 2019 Jan 11 [cited 2026 April 13]

19. Falsafi N. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness Versus Yoga: Effects on Depression and/or Anxiety in College Students. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc. 2016 Nov;22(6):483-497. doi: 10.1177/1078390316663307. Epub 2016 Aug 26. PMID: 27566622.[cited 2026 April 13]

20. Farina M, Aschner M, da Rocha JBT. “The catecholaminergic neurotransmitter system in methylmercury-induced neurotoxicity.” Adv Neurotoxicol. 2017;1:47-81. doi:10.1016/bs.ant.2017.07.002  [cited 2026 April 13]

21. Collaborative on Mental Health and the Environment. “Mental Health and Environmental Exposures.” from the Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative, November 2008.  [cited 2026 April 13]

22. Rappaport M, Hopkins HK, Hall K, Belleza T, Silverman J. “Are there schizophrenics for whom drugs may be unnecessary or contraindicated?” Int Pharmacopsychiatry. 1978;13(2):100-11. doi: 10.1159/000468327. PMID: 352976. [cited 2026 April 13]

23. Fernandez HH, Trieschmann ME, Okun MS. Rebound psychosis: effect of discontinuation of antipsychotics in Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord. 2005 Jan;20(1):104-5. doi: 10.1002/mds.20260. PMID: 15390047. [cited 2026 April 13]

24. Young G, Conquer J. Omega-3 fatty acids and neuropsychiatric disorders. Reprod Nutr Dev. 2005 Jan-Feb;45(1):1-28. doi: 10.1051/rnd:2005001. PMID: 15865053.  [cited 2026 April 13]

25. Amore M, Zazzeri N. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome after neuroleptic discontinuation. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1995 Dec;19(8):1323-34. doi: 10.1016/0278-5846(95)00269-3. PMID: 8868212. [cited 2026 April 13]

Originally Published March 3, 2022 by Lyle Murphy

This content has been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician.

Dr. John Motl, M.D.

Dr. Motl is currently certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Psychiatry, and Board eligible in Neurology and licensed in the state of Arizona.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biology and minors in chemistry and philosophy. He graduated from Creighton University School of Medicine with a Doctor of Medicine.  Dr. Motl has studied Medical Acupuncture at the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and at U.C.L.A.

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Diane Ridaeus

Diane is an avid supporter and researcher of natural mental health strategies. Diane received her medical writing and science communication certification through Stanford University and has published over 3 million words on the topics of holistic health, addiction, recovery, and alternative medicine. She has proudly worked with the Alternative to Meds Center since its inception and is grateful for the opportunity to help the founding members develop this world-class center that has helped so many thousands regain natural mental health.