Catastrophic Withdrawal: An Insomniac's Attempt to Withdraw from Seroquel and How It Dramatically Altered Her Life

by Kathleen A. Shea

While Kathleen A. Shea is best known for starting the first national nonprofit organization for tardive dyskinesia, TD is only part of her story. Be ready to be shocked by Kathleen’s account of her cataclysmic attempt at Seroquel® withdrawal and how it altered her life forever. From the physician who told her to taper off her 14-year experience with Seroquel (quetiapine) in less than 14 days, to the holistic drug withdrawal clinic where she spent almost three months and left much worse than when she arrived, no one seemed to realize they were tapering her at too rapid a pace for her brain chemistry to maintain equilibrium. Though she was on Seroquel for insomnia, and rebound insomnia is the most well-known effect of Seroquel withdrawal, what Kathleen experienced was beyond the wildest imagination of any Seroquel patient and most psychiatric physicians.

119 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2020

Reviews

[William Cote · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story that never should’ve taken place . Kathleen went through Hell at the hands of uncaring physicians. Her story is tough to read but you’ll find it hard to put down. For anyone taking any antipsychotic drugs this is a must read. This dangerous drug should never be given for insomnia. I would think she would have quite a legal case against this drug company or at least against these doctors for malpractice but apparently that’s not the case because she took it off label. It’s hard to imagine living through the hell she went through. Every psychiatrist should be made to read this book. Her doctor thought she would be able to get off of this drug in less than two weeks without a problem. What was he thinking?!

[Eve Meys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathleen's book reveals one individual's harrowing repercussions from the improper prescribing and dosage of and the harmful effects of too rapid withdrawal from certain medications, particularly some psychotropics. The potentially permanent side effects of some of these drugs can have devastating consequences and these risks are frequently not well documented nor conveyed to consumers. Kathleen's experience is a cautionary tale for all.

[Carol Cote · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I found it so enthralling I read it in one day. I so sympathize with her struggle since I too have been through the mill with many physicians and diagnoses and suffer as a insomniac.