Is anyone out there taking Seroquel. I have been on it now for about four months. It works like a charm for me. The only problem is that I have gained a lot weight. I was always tetering on the edge of being really, really over weight but now since taking the seroquel it has put me over the top. I am soooo scared that I'm not going to be able to get the weight off. I am scared that my boyfriend will leave me because of my weight gain.
I'm at a loss for what to do. I can't keep gainning weight and I can't go back the way I was feeling before. I try to eat well and I exercise. I've talked with my p-doc and she is hesitant to change my meds because it's taken a long time to find the drugs that actually work for me.
Does anyone have any idea as to what to do. I am desperate. I have evan thought about going off the meds just so that I can loose the weight.

Hi. I'm on Seroquel 200mg too and it basically saved my life. If helped pull me out of a terrible depression. I take it along with Lithium 600mg, Topamax 150mg, Lorazepam .5mg, Zoloft 200mg and Adderall 25mg (for ADHD). I have gained weight too but am not sure if it is from the Seroquel or Lithium. It has been slow but constant, and VERY upseting. What was more upseting was gainning 40 lbs. in 5 weeks last year on Zyperxa. I'm single and am too self-conscious now even to go out. I can't fit into any of me clothes. IT REALY SUCKS! However, I HAVEN'T EVEN CONSIDERED GOING OFF MY MEDS!!!! They keep me alive and out of big trouble. It took 8 years of major ups and downs to get me stable, so I don't take it for granted. Most people walk around taking their health and relationships for granted, but this illness has taught me not to. The Topamax does help you lose weight when you first go on (5-15 lbs). I'm looking for any weight loss pills anyone recommends since I've never been on them. The doctors don't seem to have much sympathy for weight gain issues. I also feel tired all the time and can't get motivated to work out even though I worked out for 454-60 minutes per day for years. Can anybody help?

Hey sarahbear/gotitbad,

Good to hear that you have found something that works for you. I too am on Seroquel (for about three months) and although it is the first BP med I have tried – it is also the very best medicine I have found. I am living a wonderful life again, and it helps me sleep great (perhaps contributing to the better lifestyle). I am so happy to have found this drug.

But I too have encountered the weight gain aspect. I think everyone that has taken this drug has encountered it. And while it almost deterred me from continuing the medication early, I stayed with it. In the last few months I have learned a lot about the drug and weight gain. Perhaps I can pass along this information:

From what I understand and have noticed myself, the reason anti-psychotics (in particular) make you gain weight is because they are taken orally, and thus have to dissolve in your stomach. What happens is that the drug slows down your metabolism to a near halt. Just think of it like this – when you take the drug chances are you are becoming very drowsy… I know I can barely operate sometimes after taking Seroquel because it is meant to shut you down while it does its thing. This is why we take it in the evening. Unfortunately, because it is taken orally, it works “against” much of your body instead of just “for” your mental well-being. But what I have found to work somewhat, is limiting the amount of food I eat at least two hours before taking the pill(s), and absolutely avoiding food within at least a 10 hour span after consumption. The drug has been known to increase appetite too but you can beat this – I know I have. Simply tell yourself that your metabolism is shut down while this pill works on your body… and it is true.

I have found that it is extremely difficult to “lose” weight on this drug. Above I talk about the metabolism factor. What I have found to at least balance my weight gain are exercise and eating right. Exercise is essential – mainly in the morning when the drug is actually still in your system (assuming you take it at night). If you plan on eating in the day, even a bike to work will help rev. up your metabolism. Without it, your metabolism will take almost half a day to get back to even somewhat normal (it will never be the way it “was” on Seroquel). Eating right, while it is hard, is a great habit to form. Eat a lot of fruit, drop off a lot of sugar, and the kicker is losing the carbohydrates. It is really hard for your body to turn carbs into energy when your metabolism is slowed. Another big metabolism booster? Water. Drink lots of it… it definitely helps.

And I don’t know about you, and I apologize if this is front or not, but I have found myself to be extremely constipated while taking this medication. I never have to go to the bathroom anymore. This is a significant problem, and while it may be affected by the metabolism thing, you need to deal with it the best way you can. I talked to my psychiatrist and he didn’t give much feedback. My answer? To take a natural diuretic. Without a regular balance, you can’t expect to lose any weight. When I told my psychiatrist, he challenged me, but I know offset his advice that this is necessary. It works for me. You can try even more natural products like rhubarb (I hear) and even coffee (works for me!).

All in all, just listen to your body. Recognize things that are happening since being on the medication, and look for a reply. Hopefully some of the above information can apply to you too.

PS. You may also want to check out the post I’m doing after this one… for the main BP board on a theory I will be trying - Re: New Method to Taking Seroquel

Cheers,

Matt

Thanks to both of you for responding. I know that I'm not alone in this whole issue.
In regards to the constipation thing...I have had a terrible time just trying to get and stay regular. I'm on presciption strength stool softeners that help somewhat. I find that having a bowl of kellog's bran buds before bed helps a lot. It tends to keep things moving so to speak.
My heart goes out to you gotitbad, I know what it's like. My whole social network disapeared because of my disease. I have very few friends. I find it very diffacult to socialize with people. I don't know why but I have a very diffacult time relating to others.
That's a little off subject. I was reading some where today that there is some new research out there on something called "metabolic syndrome". It can be caused by taking anti-psychotic drugs. I worry sometimes about all the chemical that I'm taking. I worry about the long term affects that they are going to have on my body. I don't want to turn fifty and have someone tell me that the drugs I've been taking for the last 25 years have taken 15 years off my life. I guess that I'm a bit of hypochondriac. I'm rambling a bit as well, good luck to the both of you and thank you so much for taking the time to respond.
Sarah

My daughter takes 1/2 of a 25 mg Seroquel to help her sleep some nights and she does indeed sleep on it!! Like a rock!! She is bipolar but is doing pretty well on Lamictal, and a fairly low dose of that. She had a lot of weight gain on Zoloft, then Lexapro, is now off both of those, takes only the Lamictal (20 mgs) and Seroquel occasionally. I think she's just developed real bad habits about eating late and making poor food choices & not exercising.....but it always worries me when someone says they want to go off their meds to lose weight....you risk losing a lot more than that. She is not totally happy with her current weight but I am proud of her in the fact that she can look at herself and find beauty in herself that's not "traditional"...meaning she's not rail thin and she knows she never will be and she's ok with that. And actually, she has tons of guys who ask her out so I know that a lot of guys are attracted to girls who exude confidence and self assurance & don't weigh 110 lbs. My daughter could lose 40 lbs and she'd be happy, but she's gorgeous and most of all---stable emotionally (most of the time). I think she'd trade the weight for the stability any day.

Sarah thanks for the response. Some days are better than others, but mostly I just feel alone. I don't think anyone in my life really understands the self-doubt that goes on in my mind keeping me mildly depressed all the time just thinking about what bp has done and can do to my life.

gotitbad...I understand how alone you feel. I know that feeling too. Sometimes people say that they understand but they really don't. I know what that lonelyness is like because I fight with it on a daily basis. Know that there are people out there, like me, who do understand what it's like. You can always come on the boards if you feel like no one understands. There are people here who get you, so please take some comfort in that.
Sarah

Thanks. I do keep coming back.

ive been on 500mg for the last year i tell you one thing if your worried about weight DONT TRY ZYPREXA ive actually lost weight on seroquil ride it out and see what happens dont go off unless you HAVE TOO

liz49 - it is touching to hear you say such wonderful things about your daughter! she is lucky to have such a supportive mom!

matty - thanks for the seroquel tips, because i have just started taking seroquel, so it is good to know these things!

trintin - i just stopped taking zyprexa (made me gain 23 pounds in a month!) and hope i have the same weight loss reaction to seroquel that you had- that would be GREAT!


i got off of my meds to try to lose weight about 2 and a half months ago, ended up having a really bad mixed state, and after taking seroquel for about a week, am feeling a whole lot better than i was. i wanted to try it because i heard it didn't cause as much weight gain as zyprexa. today was the first day i woke up without the feeling of "dread" in the pit of my stomach. i remember how great i felt when i was on zyprexa and i hope i feel just as great on seroquel. it was really, really stupid of me to get off my zyprexa so that i could lose weight. really dumb! i don't recommend it. :rolleyes:

I've been on Seroquel for several years I have been on everything at one time I was on 600mg I think now on 200mg. Last year in FEB I weighted 258 i'm now 194 as of last friday. I don't exersice i hope my Dr. dosn't read this I eat the same food but my appatite is decreased and have dry mouth all the time so I drink water all the time. want to know what it is? I have been take Topamax 300 mg for over a year. "( Well my Dr's are also on my butt all the time i think if they got off i could looose 50 from there weight of the shadows oflooking over the scale) :D i also had been on it before I didn't eat except for 3 or 4 bites a day for a while so depressed. got better thou.

Hi all, Punji here. I have just recently been diagnosed as manic depressive. I had a major episode on Memorial day at family function. Panic attack I think is what the 2 daughters that are RN'S said. I was put on seroquel 7 day dose pack and am on the 800mg. thing today and tomorrow. I was taking forteo shots for bones for 9 months, weight gain 27 lbs. Do weight watchers for last year and less than 1,000 calories per day. Nasty side effects from the shots, have now quit taking them and hoping that I can get back to a semi-normal state. I had tests on stomach and heart as thought was having heart attack in Feb. But apparantly was anxiety and panic attacks, because nothing showed on testa. I am having a hard time funcioning on seroquel, but doc says may take months to get shots out of my system. I did not talk or see anyone last week, just did not care. My husband is a wonderful man. We will be married 2 yrs. in Dec. He has really been put thru a lot. But he is a very understanding man. He works out of town a lot has been in Iowa since I had my nasty episode at family function. So have been kinda of alone. But probably for the best, because I have cried non stop since then. I did pick myself up enough to go to doctor last Monday. So this is all new to me, but apparantly I have been like this for quite a while and the shots just brought it to surface. Well guess that is enough for now. Have to go take meds and lie down, they make me really BLAH, for lack of words to describe.Thanks to all for letting me vent..........Punji

sarahbear,
hi. yeah i know what you mean about the weight gain on seroqueol. my son who is 11 wants to eat all the time but he is very active in karate too and has adhd so that keeps him running around still he hardly gets tired til at night .. so i was concerned when he first was on the meds too on a smaller dosage then when dr said to raise it im like eek.. he is eating so much now but then i have to help stop him when he says he is hungry after 20 min and eat a big meal so he does wait.. sometimes he says his stomache hurts and thinks he has to eat i tell him wait and then eat in a 1/2 hr to and hr depending on how long he can.. i think he is around 60 to 70 lbs.. which is good,., well it does regulate as time goes by at least it does for my son and he is right at his weight he should be i think with him being active in sports etc.. that is why he doesnt gain it so quickly .. seroqueol is a lifesaver for him.. wish ya luck ..