Antipsychotics (which Seroquel is) are dangerous and brain damaging.
I think Seroquel is over rated. So many people rave about it yet I see them go downhill after taking it for years. They wonder why, maybe they developed a new physical/mental illness or that theirs is getting worse on it's own, maybe it's other meds/drugs they are using, or they are getting older so can't think as well? Or maybe it's the antipsychotics..
People often forget that Seroquel is an antipsychotic, since it's so widely used off label. However this is what it is, claims that is is milder and has less effects than older antipsychotics are wrong. (it's been demonstrated to be wrong in lawsuits against the drug companies for hundreds of millions of dollars being awarded to victims being misled that it's better than older ones)
Antipsychotics cause the frontal lobe of your brain (personality, intelligence, ability to problem solve, take care of yourself, self preservation, creativity and other important things) to atrophy (tissue dies) over long term use. This has been well documented in studies and is irreversible. I've seriously suffered some damage from taking them unknowing about the side effects. I've also seen intelligent people after about 10 years of being on them become literally retarted. Unable to speak properly, huge loss of intelligence, can't take care of themselves anymore (wash themselves, pay bills etc) and end up having to live in institutions the rest of their lives.
It also causes tardive dyskinesia, tardive akithisia, tardive amnesia and tardive dystonia. Tardive Dyskinesia is disfiguring movements out of your control that are repetitive and this has no cure. Like sticking your tongue out over and over, squishing your facial muscles, swinging your arms, thrusting hips, puckering lips, opening mouth etc. Tardive Akithisia is unable to sit still and relax without inner turmoil and being severely uncomfortable to the point some patients suffering it committed suicide. Tardive dystonia is painful muscle contractions that sometimes never stop, it has left people unable to walk, unable to swallow water properly, have their back bent in a strange way such as face looking up at sky and never goes back to normal, etc. Tardive amnesia ranges from inability to remember recent things, chronic forgetfullness, or total memory loss.
They also cause drug induced parkinsons in some cases, which though is reversible upon withdrawal, the withdrawal of antipsychotics is really awful, in long term use, people have described it as worse than heroin.
It also can cause psychosis and development of 'schizophrenia' after very long term use, these symptoms will also emerge upon withdrawal for some individuals making it even more difficult to get off and having psychiatrists often uneducated about the withdrawal claim you've suddenly developed a disease and need to stay on.
I'm letting you know this because I know for a fact the vast majority of drs or psychiatrists neglect to tell patients any of this or some drs actually don't know because they aren't knowledgable about these medications. Unfortunately there is the other group that don't care and have ties to pharmaceutical companies. I've asked a dr before and had them lie to my face about a side effect. I printed up studies, other drs and tons of evidence they finally said it's true but that it's rare.
Well they all will happen but it's a matter of when, the longer your on the medication the more likely.
Sometimes you can experience this but they can go away however if you have the real tardive ones it won't. Tardive means delayed and is permanent conditions all of which have no cures and poor treatment options.
Seroquel especially (but all of them do) has a high chance to cuase diabetes and weight gain. (other lawsuits about this were won against the drug company for attempting to lie about this side effect at first, now it has to be put on the black box warning)
It's also important to note in new studies, taking antipsychotics long term lowers life expectancy signifigantly.
There's many other NASTY effects of antipsychotics which haven't been mentioned.
Resources:
www.breggin.com
http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v30/n9/full/1300710a.html
http://www.ahrp.org/risks/biblio0100.php
http://www.psychminded.co.uk/news/news2008/April08/Antipsychotic_medication002.htm
http://www.neuroleptic-awareness.co.uk/?Neuroleptic_Physical_Side_Effects
http://www.neuroleptic-awareness.co.uk/?Neuroleptic_Psychological_Side_Effects
Please be careful before taking anti psychotics so casually!!!