Seroquel And Weight Gain (Page 5)
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Is anyone else experiencing weight gain from seroquel? I still work out the same as always, and eat the same way, but I have gained over 20 pounds since i started seroquel 2 months ago. I dont want to stop taking it becasue i finally found a drug that helps, but this is an unacceptable side effect to me, anyone have any tips for dealing with this?

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72

I started taking seroquel one year ago. I quit drinking and couldn't seep. I never ate sweets and always have eaten a proper diet. I have gained 30 pounds ... Always hungry and craving sweets and carbs... Can't sleep without it. Please someone give me a way to sleep and get off this medication. I have been on celexa for 3 years with no side effects but doesn't help the sleeplessness.

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71

I have been on 50mg of seroquel for about 3 months now. It is the ONLY medication that has helped me sleep. I normally weigh 110lbs, I currently weigh 135lbs and am not doing well emotionally. I have also been taking celexa for 11 months for depression. The weight gain is making me more depressed. HELP! Any advise is welcome!!!!

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70

I was taking 400 mg for 5 months and gained 63 pounds I couldn't do anything to get the weight off so now I take only 50 mgs of Seroquel just to ease the withdrawl and my doc put me on Topamax 100 mgs 2 times daily ive lost 30 pounds in 3 months with out changing diet or exercising because I have stomach problems and a broken foot etc. so im ok now.

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69

I weighed this morning, and I’ve lost almost two pounds in less than a week! It is not easy to lose weight on an antipsychotic, but I am slowly succeeding. So far I've lost 15 pounds in about three and a half months while taking Seroquel 300 mg and Klonopin 1 mg three times a day.

So, you might be wondering how I did it. I’d have to say I did it by education and trial and error. These are some of the things I did:

Created accountability. I started a blog that has made me accountable for my actions. If I give up on my plan, I will be very disappointed in myself. Writing every day to my readers encourages me to keep on a straight path. But that’s only one type of accountability.

Ate early in the day. I started eating breakfast, trying to front load my food intake to earlier in the day, and having my supper before 5:30 pm if possible. Your life schedule might be different than mine–just try eating within an hour of waking and having your last meal 4-5 hours before you go to bed.

Drank coffee to kill cravings. Not giving in to evening and night food cravings was quite the challenge, but I found that drinking a cup of fresh-brewed coffee with a little cream and sweetener dampened my appetite and made sticking to my plan easier.

Cut carbs. I cut out sugar and refined flour. I made my food choices by examining the content of what I was eating. I tried to get some protein in every meal and snack I had, and I chose foods that were not high in carbohydrates. I also tried to eat foods that have a lot of vitamins and minerals in them, like nuts and berries, chicken and salad, grilled steak and mixed vegetables.

Cut calories. I kept a food diary and jotted down what I ate, how much I ate, and how many calories I’d consumed in order to keep my intake at 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day. You can google your food and how much of it you ate, and it will tell you how many calories you had.

Exercised vigorously. I upped my exercise routine to include stairclimbing with walking for cardio. I also added more weight machines to my regimen and raised the amount of weight I was using for each one.

Relied on support. I leaned on my friends, family, and my psychologist and psychiatrist. I shared my frustrations and small victories with them. It is important that you have social support, too.

Changed negative thinking. There were times when I felt really bad about myself, that I had let my weight get out of hand. But I consciously stopped those negative thoughts through positive self-talk, distractions, and healthy behavior like playing with my son or playing music. It’s like this — stay busy, and don’t be your own worst enemy.

Stopped weighing myself every day. I went from daily weighing to weekly weighing, and I found it to be a much more encouraging experience.

Had a “cheat” meal. Once a week I let myself eat a meal of whatever I wanted and as much as I wanted. I don’t want to feel like I can never eat food for fun again. And let me tell you, I enjoyed every bite of those cheat meals!

These were the most important things I did to lose this weight. I hope this is helpful to you.

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68

I have been taking Seroquel for nine years. I started with 25 mg and went up to 300 mg. I gained nearly 40 pounds over six years, but then reduced my dosage to 100 mg of the extended release version and lost 30 pounds in a couple months with zero exercise. Seroquel made me painfully hungry, all the time, and I craved sugar nonstop. I am finally back to my original weight, but that is because I started taking Concerta for A.D.D. Unfortunately, Seroquel is my lifeline for treating bipolar disorder. I cannot sleep, at all, without it. Lack of sleep caused severe mood swings and it wasn't until I could treat the insomnia that my mood leveled out. I found that the extended release helped in many ways, one being that I was significantly less sedated in the morning. It takes longer to fall asleep, but I don't feel like I am in a coma and unable to function in the middle of the night. The weight gain was horrible, but I was going crazy before I took Seroquel.

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67

I have been taking Seroquel XR 400 for about 3 years. I was always skinny and never had a problem with weight or swelling. I have gained 90 pounds and I experience extreme swelling in hands legs feet and ankles. I have been training to do triathlons for a while now and eating a 1200 to 1500 calorie diet. Nothing helps it only seems to get worse. My doc told me yesterday that taking this med there is no way I will lose weight. So we have made the decision to go off of it by increasing another one of my meds. This is my only chance to drop weight.

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66

Thank you for saying that 25 mg of seroquel made you gain weight! I have been on many different dosages, 800mg at night, 600, 400, 200, 100. I have gained 40 lbs, developed diabetes, tachycardia and worsened depression. Unbeknown to my pdoc, i weaned myself off "Serokill". Yes, it helped with sleep and non stop thoughts but, I BECAME FAT!! Craved carbs and sweets. I excersize now and diet, lost 25 lbs BUT now some symptoms are back... Hard time sleeping which led to overactive thought process. So, i brokedown and took a 25 mg Seroquel, yes I slept well but started to wonder if Just taking 25 mgs would cause weight gain. Now, thanks to you, my question was answered! Goodbye 25mg, no thanks, no more unwanted weight!! I will take 50 mg of Benadryl tonight, thats is all a low dose of Seroquel is anyway, same as Benadryl, Seroquel at 25 mg is nothing but an antihistamine. Thank you for sharing. P.S, I have been on Abilify, Geodon, Respiridol, Zyprexa, Abilifyand they all suck!! All cause weight gain, and most cause diabetes. Hope I, in turn have helped someone else get off this evil drug!!! Lorraine

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65

Hi there
I have been taking Seroquel but in tr cheaper version in Australia for a week now, and I actually have my zest for life given back to me, I want to eat healthier and exercise, whereas I was already binging and sleeping on the
couch all day. I only have 25mg though and the other drug I'm on Pristiq actually dampens my appetite. I already have to be careful with refined carbs and sugars as it is so I hope with eliminating those, I won't gain weight. I think I'm actually better off, for now, on Seroquel.

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64

i got off the sarequel and got on topamax and ive lost 15 pounds in 3 weeks.

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63

I have a theory regarding the dosage level of Seroquel taken and weight gain. I was taking 200 mg or less at night for four years and never gained weight, but when I doubled it to 400 mg I started to gain weight in a few months. I wasn't eating or exercising any more or less, and b/c I also have Crohn's disease it's always been extremely difficult for me to gain weight. I know the Seroquel changes your metabolism and puts you at greater risk for diabetes, thus it affects the insulin or sugar levels in the body. My theory then is perhaps there is a level in which your body will tolerate additional insulin caused by the med, but then if you exceed that level your body has too much of it and you gain weight. It's the only thing that makes since for me b/c I was on it for 4 years at 200 mg or below and my weight remained at 105 Ibs, but when I went over that level on a regular basis, my weight ballooned to 120-125 Ibs in less than a year and for the first time in my life. So perhaps it would help to lower the dosage level and then add in another med that doesn't cause weight gain to counter the lowered dose?

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62

I have been taking seraquil for about 5 months or so now 400 mg and I have gained 63 pounds with diet, excersice, etc it doesnt help to do any of that im sorry--- i know the drug helps because it helped me in so many ways with my bipolar but i had to get off of it and now im on topamax which i started a week ago and have lost 8 pounds on it--- one side affect to it is weight loss thats why im on it now and its great also....

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61

yes I started taking seraquil back in september of 2012 and gained 63 pounds, it helped me in sooo many ways being on that drug but i just recently got off of it and was put on TOPAMAX---I Am BIPOLAR.

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60

Being previously very light (110 lb) I thought the weight gain (now 135 lb) would be a silver lining to the circumstances that made me start seroquel.. Unfortunately the type of weight you put on isn't pleasant. It's going to be the nastiest fattiest looking weight. Look for another way.

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59

oh my God i've gone up to 209 pounds from 175/i've narrowed it down to serequel as the culprit/i'm starting abilify and trying to taper off serequel..it is a crappy drug.

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58

Ben,
PLEASE read my comment below yours; #56,,,,This Rx Med. most definitely affects the brain as it's an A-Typical Anti-Psychotic over-prescribed imo. Usually, Rx'd for mood stabilisation and/or sleep induction. If you do NOT have need for psychiatric meds. do not go there.... ~ Di

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57

Hi,I am very lean so I wish to add weight fast within 1month. Can seroquel be of help? I also wish to know if it has effect on brain

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56

Dear Catherine,
I live with Bi-Polar Disorder along with quite a few Auto-immune diseases. I realise you're probably ready to snap at this point,,,,I was given an Rx for Seroquel in 2007. WONDERFUL results. However, the results were ONLY with mood and better sleep. The HORRIBLE results were an enormous weight gain; I gained somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 pounds!!!! I'd NEVER been so heavy in my life....I noticed my ankles and calves were swelling and was experiencing heart palpitations. I saw an ad-locum M.D. one who only comes to our hospital occassionally. He tested my Thyroid. Quite the different M.D. this man actually phoned my house personally; Not his nurse. HE phoned. My Thyroid was barely functioning. He told me Seroquel is a drug which the negative effects far outweigh the good. In short, he told me to stop or I might die....Please, these A-Typical Anti-Psychotics, like Seroquel, Zyprexa et al can be BAD. Google "Defective Drug List" and you'll find, both are listed. Not good. Personally? I don't believe they should be Rx'd I do know a few people who take one or the other and they seem to work well with little negative side effects. I wish you the best ~ Di

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55

I have been on Seroquel for about 6 months and i am definitely gaining weight in a very slow sneaky way that I hardly even notice, until today when I went shopping for pants. I have gone from a size 12 to 14, I cursed out my shrink in the changing room. I really like this drug for it helps me fall asleep really easily, also my intrusive thoughts are minimized to the point where I can now function better. I am still depressed though and remain extremely reclusive. Today for the first time I am thinking of cutting out the seroquel completely because of the weight gain, that is a side effect that is totally unacceptable to me and I actually find it devastating. Please, if anyone has any advice, it would be truly appreciated.

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54

I'm on 25mg since my Dad took his own life three years ago, I have always been skinny and have put on 8kg, have not changed my diet, if anything eat less but don't know how to sleep without it! I have never had a psychiatric problem but dealt with terrible trauma, I know weight gain is not the end of the world but I don't feel like the same person

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53

Ive been on seroquel for a little over 4 years I was on 100mg. I thought it was fine. But presently I couldn't sleep.so I went up yo 200mg. I have been on that dowager for 2 months.ive been having the same pronouns.cant sleep still.j gained about 25 lbs.n when I take it it don't make me drozy, it makes me really hungry and I usely dont have an apatite.but I font now why.

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