A personal note from Vladimir Fanshil & Eleanor Lyons
Live at Yours began in the most unexpected way — in our own living room. In 2020, when the world fell silent, we refused to believe that music should exist only on screens. So we gathered a handful of people, pulled the chairs close, and performed for twenty guests at a time. Those evenings were small, fragile, unforgettable — and they reminded us why we became musicians: to share something real, something human, something that only exists when people come together.
A New Way to Experience Music
In the first years, we travelled across NSW and the ACT, giving more than 50 performances in lounge rooms, coffee roasteries, tin sheds in the outback, art galleries, churches, synagogues and regional theatres.
It was in those intimate settings that we connected deeply with locals, listened to their feedback, and discovered what Australians truly value in live music: informal yet refined, relaxed yet deeply sincere, intimate yet world-class.
Those conversations shaped everything — from our welcoming tone to having no intervals, allowing the emotional arc to flow without interruption. This is how we crafted the ultimate listening experience we offer today: personal, natural and genuinely shared.
From a lounge room to a national stage
Live at Yours has now grown far beyond our living room — into concert spaces across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Orange, Castlemaine and beyond — yet the essence remains unchanged.
Every venue is chosen for its story and atmosphere. Every performance is lit and shaped to feel close, warm and immersive. And every artist who joins us shares our belief in vulnerability, honesty and connection.
World-class artists, up close
Extraordinary artists, shared in intimate spaces — where every detail comes alive.
Richard Tognetti
Yamen Saadi
Alexander Gavrylyuk
Emily Sun
Elena Kats-Chernin
Andrew Haveron
Kristian Winther
Rosanna Rolton
Vatche Jambazian
Elina Faskhi
Stefanie Farrands
Simon Tedeschi
Committed to the next generation
As Live at Yours grows, so does our responsibility to young musicians. Through masterclasses, mentoring, and partnerships with ANAM and the Sydney Conservatorium, we help the next generation experience the same intimacy and inspiration that shaped our early years.
Thank you for being part of this journey!
We can’t wait to welcome you — up close, and personal.
Seroquel (quetiapine) in Australia: A Doctor’s Practical Review for People Over 30
Written from the perspective of a practising Australian doctor.
Snapshot: Seroquel in Australia
| Item |
Details |
| Active ingredient |
Quetiapine fumarate |
| Drug class |
Atypical antipsychotic |
| Available on PBS? |
Yes — for specific approved mental health conditions, criteria apply |
| Common forms in Australia |
Immediate-release tablets (25 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg) and extended-release tablets |
| Typical uses |
Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and selected off-label uses such as augmentation in treatment-resistant depression or OCD |
| Key caution |
Not first-line for primary insomnia or pain; requires medical supervision and metabolic monitoring |
Attention: You’re over 30, exhausted, and your mind won’t switch off
Do you lie awake at 3 a.m., exhausted but unable to stop racing thoughts? Have you been told you have bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or severe depression — and even after trying lifestyle changes, therapy, or first-line medicines, you still feel unstable, irritable, or trapped by intrusive thoughts? Perhaps your mood swings are hurting your marriage, your children, or your career. Maybe you’ve tried “everything” and still feel broken. As a doctor, I see this every week in Australian clinics. The frustration is real, and so is the hope that a carefully chosen medicine can offer.
If you are over 30, the stakes feel higher. You have responsibilities — a mortgage, a job, ageing parents, maybe kids. You cannot afford months of trial and error with medications that leave you too drowsy to function or too anxious to sleep. Seroquel is not for everyone, but in the right clinical situation it can be a genuine turning point.
Interest: What is Seroquel and why do Australian doctors prescribe it?
Seroquel (quetiapine) is an atypical antipsychotic. It works by helping to balance brain chemicals — particularly dopamine and serotonin — that influence mood, thinking, perception, and sleep. In Australia, it is most commonly prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but it is also used off-label in selected cases of severe depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and sometimes for severe agitation or sleep disturbance when other options have failed.
One reason Seroquel stands out is its dual effect: at lower doses it tends to be strongly sedating, which can help restore sleep and reduce severe anxiety; at higher doses it acts as a mood stabiliser and antipsychotic, reducing hallucinations, delusions, and the extreme highs and lows of bipolar disorder. This flexibility makes it a useful tool — but also means it must be prescribed and monitored carefully.
Common pain points and how Seroquel may help
| Pain point |
How Seroquel may help |
| Racing thoughts at night, insomnia |
Sedative effect can promote deeper sleep and quiet the mind |
| Bipolar mood swings |
Helps stabilise mood and reduce manic and depressive episodes |
| Schizophrenia symptoms |
Reduces hallucinations, delusions, and disorganised thinking |
| Severe depression that has not responded to antidepressants |
May augment antidepressant effect when used off-label under specialist care |
| Severe OCD anxiety and intrusive thoughts |
Off-label adjunct may reduce anxiety severity, especially when sleep is poor |
Desire: Your most pressing questions answered
How to get a second opinion on Seroquel treatment
If you are already taking Seroquel and wondering whether it is still the best option — or if you have been offered it and feel unsure — a second opinion is a sensible, empowering step. In Australia, you can ask your GP for a referral to a psychiatrist for a medication review. With a valid referral, Medicare rebates apply. Telehealth psychiatry is also widely available, which means you can access an expert even if you live in a regional or remote area. Prepare a list of your current dose, how long you have been on it, previous medications, side effects, and any recent blood tests. A good second-opinion question is: “Is Seroquel still the right choice for my diagnosis, and are there newer or safer options I should consider?” You are never offending your doctor by seeking clarity — good doctors welcome it.
Is Seroquel effective for pain in sickle cell disease?
This is a question I hear occasionally, and it deserves an honest answer. Seroquel is not a painkiller and is not approved for sickle cell pain. The evidence for quetiapine as a direct treatment for sickle cell pain is very weak, limited to a few small reports exploring its effect on central pain pathways or severe sleep disturbance. If you have sickle cell disease, your pain should be managed by a haematologist and pain specialist using proven treatments. However, if your sickle cell pain is made worse by severe insomnia, anxiety, or mood instability, low-dose quetiapine might sometimes be considered cautiously by your specialist as an adjunct — but this is off-label and requires careful monitoring. It is not a substitute for proper analgesia.
Can Seroquel be used in OCD?
Seroquel is not first-line for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Australian and international guidelines recommend specific SSRIs or clomipramine, alongside cognitive behavioural therapy with exposure and response prevention. That said, for people with treatment-resistant OCD — where obsessive thoughts and compulsions persist despite adequate trials of first-line medicines — low-dose quetiapine is sometimes added off-label as an augmentation strategy. Some studies show modest benefit, particularly when severe anxiety or poor sleep accompanies OCD. If you are considering Seroquel for OCD, it should be prescribed by a psychiatrist who can weigh the potential benefit against the metabolic side effects. Note that off-label use for OCD is generally not PBS-subsidised, so you may need a private prescription.
How to get a Seroquel prescription on the PBS
Getting Seroquel on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is straightforward when you meet the criteria. Follow these steps:
- Book an appointment with your GP or psychiatrist.
- Discuss your symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment history openly.
- If your condition matches a PBS-approved indication (such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder), your doctor can issue a PBS prescription. Some scripts may require an Authority approval, which your doctor can usually do electronically.
- Take the prescription and your Medicare card to any Australian pharmacy.
- Pay the standard PBS co-payment rather than the full private price.
Is Seroquel available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)?
Yes. Seroquel, and generic quetiapine, are available on the PBS for certain mental health conditions. The most common PBS-approved indications are schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, including maintenance treatment. If your doctor prescribes Seroquel for an off-label reason — such as OCD augmentation, severe insomnia, or as an adjunct in treatment-resistant depression — it will usually be a private prescription, meaning you pay the full cost rather than the PBS subsidised price. Always ask your doctor whether your prescription is PBS-subsidised, because that can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket cost.
PBS vs private prescription at a glance
| Scenario |
PBS subsidy? |
What you pay |
| Schizophrenia or bipolar disorder meeting PBS criteria |
Yes |
PBS co-payment |
| Off-label use (e.g., OCD augmentation, insomnia, sickle cell adjunct) |
Usually no |
Private prescription price |
| Prescriber |
GP or psychiatrist |
Psychiatrist for complex off-label use recommended |
Can fathers take Seroquel while trying to conceive?
Many men worry about medication and fertility, and it is good to ask. The current evidence on quetiapine and male fertility is limited. Seroquel can raise prolactin levels in some men, which may reduce libido or cause erectile or ejaculatory difficulties. These sexual side effects could, in turn, make conception harder. However, there is no strong evidence that quetiapine directly damages sperm or causes birth defects when taken by the father. If you and your partner are trying to conceive, do not stop Seroquel suddenly — that can trigger serious withdrawal and relapse of your mental illness. Instead, book a medication review. Your doctor may check prolactin, testosterone, and possibly sperm parameters, and discuss whether a dose adjustment or switch is appropriate while keeping you mentally stable.
What to do if Seroquel stops working
If Seroquel seems to have stopped helping, it can feel frightening and frustrating. First, do not stop it abruptly. Sudden withdrawal can cause insomnia, nausea, agitation, and a return or worsening of your original symptoms. Instead, take these steps:
- Check adherence — are you taking the dose consistently, at the same time each day?
- Review other medicines and substances — alcohol, sedatives, or some other drugs can interfere with quetiapine.
- Consider life stressors — a new job, relationship conflict, or grief can temporarily worsen symptoms without meaning the medicine has failed.
- Book an appointment with your prescriber. They may increase the dose, switch to the extended-release form, add another medicine, or recommend psychotherapy.
- If a switch is needed, your doctor will taper the dose gradually to minimise withdrawal effects.
How to dispose of unused Seroquel safely in Australia
Do not flush Seroquel down the toilet or sink — medicines can end up in waterways and affect the environment. Do not throw it in the household rubbish, where children or pets could access it. In Australia, the safest method is the Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM) Project. Simply take your unused or expired Seroquel, in its original packaging, to any community pharmacy. The pharmacist will place it in a secure bin for safe, free disposal. If a child or someone else accidentally takes Seroquel, call the Poisons Information Centre immediately on 13 11 26.
Action: Take the next step toward stability and better sleep
If you recognise yourself in this article — the 3 a.m. racing thoughts, the unpredictable moods, the exhaustion that no amount of coffee can fix — then it is time to have an honest conversation with a doctor. Seroquel is not a casual sleep aid, and it is not for everyone. But for the right patient, it can be the difference between merely surviving and actually living. In my practice, I have seen people regain their sleep, their relationships, and their sense of control when their medication finally matches their needs.
Here is what to do next:
- Book a long appointment with your GP or psychiatrist.
- Bring this article and a list of your symptoms, previous medicines, and questions.
- Ask directly: “Could Seroquel be appropriate for my condition, and would I be eligible for PBS subsidy?”
- If you are already on Seroquel and struggling, ask for a second opinion or medication review.
- Fill your prescription at any Australian pharmacy and take it exactly as prescribed.
Your mental health deserves the same urgency as any other medical condition. If Seroquel is the right tool for you, getting it prescribed and dispensed through the PBS is a practical, affordable step. Do not wait for another sleepless night or another mood crash. Talk to your doctor today — and take back control of your life.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not replace individual medical advice. Seroquel is a prescription-only medicine in Australia. Always consult a qualified Australian doctor or psychiatrist before starting, changing, or stopping any medication.
liveatyours.com.auliveatyours.com.auliveatyours.com.au
