Weight gain ??

I was recently diagnosed, 4 monts agom with BiPolar Type 1. I have not changed my eating habits,,,but my scale showes 12 lbs over ny usual...this may sound like a massive wtg. gain...bur when you are only 5ft 1inch.....it is allot of wgt, gain,
My meds are Seroguel100 mg at supper & Seroquel 200 at bedtime,Thiamine 100 mg Daily & Folic acid x 1 daily.
Has anyone else experienced weight gain on similiar meds ??
Look forward to your reply.
Thanks,
Val

[ILADVOCATE]

Yes Seroquel like all currently available antipsychotics can cause weight gain and the potential of diabetes. I did gain weight on Seroquel as I did with other antipsychotics. You could ask your doctor about a specific diet that would help you cut back sugar and carbohydrates and help reduce weight and regular exercise is essential as well. Every antipsychotic has a different potential to cause weight gain (Abilify, Fanapt and Saphris being the least) and if it becomes a severe concern you could ask your psychiatrist about other currently available options but each person reacts differently to each medication.

[Jessimot]

I am on 300mg of seroquel and 200 zoloft, and yes there has been weight gain somethign i struggle with. I'm all about the sugar especially at night time. One thing i did start that actually has been really great was a Vitamin B complex, and it has really curbed my appetite especially at  night. Been on it just over a week and have lost 3 pounds. might be worth a try.

[Athena_M]

Yes the weight gain is from Seroquel.  I've been on it for 6 years.  The weight gain is supposed to be less than from depakote and lithium.  The Seroquel will make you hungry after you eat a meal, so watch for that.  My psychiatrist said to do a calorie diet, but that's hard to do.  When I worked out an hour a day, I lost a lot of the Seroquel weight.  

[cowgirlnerd]

I used to take Abilify and while I was on it, I gained almost 50 pounds.  I had an unquencable appetite.  I ate constantly.  After coming off of that - i have lost all of my weight.  He put me on Geodon after Abilify didn't work and I have lost weight like crazy in the last 6 months.  I am tapering off of Geodon now and will only be on Lamictal for the first time since my initial psychotic break a few years ago.  I hope I don't gain weight again!  :)

My pdoc says that the drugs don't cause weight gain - eating and increased calories do.  I think that if a drug makes you hungry and increase your calories - the medicine makes you gain weight.....

[paranoid_cataclysm]

I don't think this is entirely true because I gained some weight from Abilify and my eating habits didn't change.

[feelingblue65]

Yes. It is the seroquel definetly. I have been on seroquel for 5 years now. I take 150-200mgs at nightime. In the last 5 years i have gained 100 pounds and my life has changed so much. It is a very bad drug cause even though it slows your brain down to help you sleep. It causes so many health issues and it makes you so hungry you could eat and eat and eat and its not that you are actually hungry it makes your brain tell you you're hungry. Not to mention how hard it is to wake up in the morning. I want to try and get off of this medication but it is so hard to find a phyciotrist to ween you off of it and im scared i wont sleep without it. Any tips on what drug is one that helps your brain turn off but doesnt have all these awful side effects?

[adel_ezz]

of course it's the seroquel that put a lot of weight like it did to me. but mind you all the other antipsychotics do the same thing. only a few drugs don't, like some anticonvulsants. in general all bipolar drugs cause weight gain.

Had it been for weight gain only then OK but what about diabetes it's worse

[feelingblue65]

Yeah i have developed diabetes as i have been on seroquel too. Im glad someone actually answered me on here. Im new to this site.