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Seroquel (Quetiapine) Weight Gain?

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Posted 12/16/2010 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

I'd just like to ask about other's experiences taking this drug. I Have only been taking it Since September after being admitted to Hospital. I lost a lot of weight In hospital, and throughout the year my weight seemed to drop slightly. Any way as Soon as my third week came on this Drug, I have just ate and ate and ate. I have never Liked Chocolate, but Now i can't get enough. In the past if iv skipped meals, Iv never felt hungry. Now if i do so, i feel starved. Or If i felt a little hungry it was usually because i was thirsty So id have water and then be fine.

The reason I am asking now, Is my partner has just told me iv put weight on. And never has she said this in the past, but im noticing too. I try Leave the bad stuff and substitute with Fruit however Still hungry, almost as though i crave sugar? An hour or so after taking I find myself looking in the cupboard/Fridge for stuff. Never ever ever have i been like this, Iv never overly eaten.

Is it definitely the Seroquel. Im sure my psychiatrist Mentioned something when I had been In hospital but can't quite remember.
Anyone else had this problem?

Thanks so much for reading
:)

Just to add, Im only taking 300mg. (150mg morning, 150mg night)
Posted 12/16/2010 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, weight gain is a problem with Seroquel, as is high cholesterol and triglycerides. My doctor said to be aware and careful with good food choices and not worry about it. I have not gained weight on Seroquel XR.

I have a crazy sweet tooth and filling up on sweet things will definitely leave you hungry in an hour! Even natural or fruit sugars will do that. Limit your snacking to high fat, nutrient dense snacks. They're filling. Some cheese cubes and some peanuts (not honey roast) is a good snack for me.

Getting away from sugar is hard once you've gotten onto it! If you can keep off of sugar for 2 weeks, those cravings will go away.

I keep sweet gum in both mint and fruit flavors around. I don't keep EASY sweet treats in the house. I can cook up yummy warm chocolate pudding in 10 minutes. 10 minutes delay is enough to keep me from bingeing. I still gain weight when I'm depressed for a few days in a row, but once I get balanced out I can eat a little less and come back to my normal weight.

If you don't buy it, you won't eat it. :)

Good luck!
Posted 12/17/2010 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Seroquel worked very well for me.  I also gained 15 pounds in two weeks and have a strong family history of diabetes so PDoc changed meds.  Other than the weight, I liked the med, really had no side effects from it and slept very well on it.  If it works and you want to stay on it, you will need to really get involved with an exercise program that you will do and change your diet.  Maybe that would help..

Good Luck!

Gem

Posted 12/18/2010 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your replies.

Definitely going to have to go with the exercise and diet once the Holidays are over. Because the Seroquel working wondered with regards to Mood, sleep. & I wouldn't want to mess that up. Bye Bye chocolate.
Posted 12/18/2010 4:59 AM (GMT 0)
ummm... why wait until holidays are over?! :D Don't torture yourself with diet/exercise or you'll be unlikely to stick with it. I found exercise that is FUN for me - dancing... and sex. Whoops, did I say that out loud?! lol

Find a way to love something or be passionate about some activity that promotes your health. If you love air guitar, then do that rather than go for a walk. Don't think exercise, think "move."

Don't stick yourself on a strict diet regimin - you'll crash and rebound. Most people only need to drop 100 - 200 calories per day to lose weight. That's getting rid of one flavored drink (soda, fruit juice, sweet tea, sweet/cream coffee). Or skipping the fries with the sandwich. Little things. Drink a glass of water 20 minutes before a meal. Or eat an apple, salad, cheese cubes, whatever first before your meal.

You're bipolar, so sticking to any routine is going to be hard or impossible. So have a screw-up plan. When you are overcome by a craving or a mood swing, what are you going to do? Make a plan. I switched my depression-binging snack from (a box of) cheese crackers and (a 1/2 gallon of) milk, to salsa, sour cream and chips. I love, love, love salsa like this. Which is great - it's healthy! So if I eat a 1/2 jar of salsa, a 1/4 cup of sour cream (about 150 cals) and some chips, I'm not doing too badly.

Tootsie rolls are surprisingly low-cal way to get chocolate flavor when you are desparate. :)
Posted 12/18/2010 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
Seroquel did the same thing to me. I was binge eating all the time, I ended up gaining 30 pounds in 4 months. I was put on Seroquel after I took myself off of zyprexia but seroquel was horrible for me, I had to have half of the smallest dose available cut in half and it still made me a zomby and I ate like there was no tomorrow and slept more than half of the day and I was still dead tired... I had a quack for a doctor! It doesn't get better or ever mellow out. Might I suggest, Lexapro and maybe a mood stabilizer. That was the best psychotropic pill I ever took. Now, I take kava for my anxiety.
Posted 12/18/2010 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again for your replies.
tortoise11 - sticking to a routine is definitely a challenge. Done the drinking water before meals today. If I feel hungry, just drinking Water too. Keeping mind of 'Food' when they're not Necessary.
Trying to keep active, however sleeping a little more than usual on these, in fact a lot. & Panicking when going out means I can't get out for say a walk, so restricted to the house. WII fit ;)


Jennifer Lynn 25 - I was taking Lexapro and it helped for a while, but then DR, decided to change to Cymbalta and everything went a little wrong from there. The most My psychiatrist will put me up to on this is 450mg. But if the weight really becomes an issue, then I think Confidence will drop a lot more, which will have an impact on mood regardless. I was told if i really have issues with it, then to speak to her again and we'll possibly try something else. But i suppose I have to help myself also. :) Going to try a few tips you guys have given me & hopefully can keep the weight gain to a minimum.

Thanks once again.
Posted 12/19/2010 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
Wii Fit is awesome. Have a dog? It makes a huge difference for getting outsde of the house with panic attacks. I do alright sometimes, but other times I can't leave the house without my dog.
Posted 12/19/2010 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
My pdoc told me that exercise would help me sleep less (when I was stable), but sleeping more can be oncoming depression, so take care of yourself?
Posted 12/19/2010 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you. & I will :) You too. Just trying to keep a active as possible. I see my therapist twice a month and my doctor twice a month, so it's only time i actually get 'out out'..
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