Does Seroquel, Lithium, or Depakote cause you to gain weight?

[Athena_M]

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Does Seroquel, Lithium, or Depakote cause you to gain weight?  Has anyone any ideas on how to lose medication weight without going off the meds.

I just read that Seroquel causes hunger after eating a meal.  I know when I eat a meal I am still hungry.  Has this happened to anyone else?  

[freebird227]

Yes yes and did I say yes......Lithium was a moderate weight gain maybe 15 lbs. I needed that weight because I travled around in an elevated mood and burned calories like nobody's business. I weighed a wopping 105lbs. @ age 45.
Today I take seroquel, I gained up to 140lbs. I am 5"5 . Recently I have been cutting back on my seroquel and I am down to 125lbs. again, GOOD weight fot my height, small framed.
Good eating habits help all the way around, meds or no meds, Cut back on sugar because I was never a sweet eater til seroquel, now I have days that I crave it soooooo  Fruit instead

[lynnkay]

My son has been on Seroquel for 6 yrs. Gained some slight weight on it. Was only on Lithium a short while, so not enough time on it to notice any weight gain. He was put on Depakote maybe 6 months or so ago. Ballooned up an extra 50 lbs. on the Depakote. Now, is off the Depakote thank goodness due to excessive weight gain. He is very slowly losing the extra 50 lbs. but it is a struggle.

[Athena_M]

Wow that's a lot of weight lost!  Did you replace the Seroquel with another med?

[jimgreg]

i never gained on lithiem..only serquil 90 pounds in 2 yrs  lost 100 when stopped it..

[Athena_M]

When my Seroquel was 800 I lost weight 50 pounds then it was lowered to 400 and I gained weight.  But I also have a thyroid problem probably from the Seroquel that caused weight gain.  

[starbunny]

I wouldn't be put off starting a drug that has weight gain listed as a side effect unless you had specific reason, such as the one mentioned by Xila.
Not everyone gains weight on the drugs. For instance I am on 500mg seroquel and have been on higher dose. Since starting I have lost 37lb! and am now slightly underweight so it can have the opposite effect as well! But then again I'm weird like that and drugs often effect me in ways their not supposed to!

[zzzmykids]

I take Seroquel xr and Lithium. The Seroquel xr for about two and a half months. The Lithium for over ten years. The Lithium, I do not believe it causes weight gain. Seroquel xr, yes. It, so far is the best antipsychotic I have ever taken, we'll see as the time goes on. I gained about fifteen pounds at first on Seroquel xr! I cut out most colas, I never have been a snacker. It does not make me crave food or sugar, it just adds weight. There is a great solution, eat smaller portions, drink more water and walk or if in warm area, swim. But it is not permanent unless you do nothing to take it back off.
Good luck,
zzzmykids

[Xila31]

Yes, all of those contribute to weight gain. Also Seroquel contributes to raising your blood glucose levels so for instance I already am at high risk for type 2 diabetes due to family history and I'm already overweight, so my doctor will not prescribe it for me. He said it is too great a risk of me developing type 2 at a young age.

There are very few psychiatric meds that do not contribute to weight gain. I think Lamictle, Geodon (sp?), and one that starts with T (but that one I think also lowers the effectiveness of birthcontrol.) If you are concerned about weight gain talk to your doctor.