Seroquel Weight Gain

[mnn82]

How much weight can you gain on seroquel alone without the craving issue?

[mnn82]

Awe, thank you for your help :) I always appreciate good advice especially from people that are actually taking it or have in the past. Thanks oncce again.

-Malena

[Nighthawk61]

I gained a whole lot of weight, which i am trying to get rid of now. Of course this could be because of a slower metabolism to do with my age.  Since you are so aware of the weight issue, plus your commitment to being a vegan, i'm very sure you'll be able to control your weight gain. It's will be good training for you when your own metabolism changes in your 40's and 50's.  Any new drug is just a trial to see what side effects, if any, you have. Should you choose to take Seroquel, I hope that it works well for you!!  Best wishes.

[witheredrose]

And it never subsided for me, i guess it just really depends on the person

[witheredrose]

That was when i took the rugular seroquel..i am now on seroquel XR and that doesnt make me near as drowsy.

[mnn82]

I also heard about those two side effects as well. I also am a sugar-addict, so I try to keep away fro, that and any super sugary fruit (pineapple, mango,etc). When you say you feel drowsy...is that a constant thing  or does it subside after the initial introduction to the med?

[witheredrose]

I am on 400 mg seroquel, I only gained 5 pounds from it but for some reason I lost it along with more weight.. But everyone is different, like said. Maybe youll get lucky and not gain any at all!!
Im surprised im not diabetic from it, because it effects your pancreas which is responsible for producing insulin...im a sugar fanatic and I pack that stuff away when given the chance I hope that isnt going to contribute to diabetes!!! ;) The only side effect I get is drowsiness now, so much to the point where I fell asleep standing in line at the grocery store with my dad once!
I hope it benefits you, GOOD LUCK

[nursegirl6572]

Well, it sure sounds like you have your bases covered hon!  You're already being proactive about paying attention to your appetite, etc...that's great!  'I think you'll do just fine.  Hope the Seroquel does the trick for you!

Let us kow!

[mnn82]

Thanks for your advice.

[mnn82]

Thanks for you answer :) I definitely agree with you. I have been doing quite a bit of research on this and to answer your question, I have not started taking it yet. Later in the month I will be . My psychiatrist highly recommends it and she had warned me about that side effect and so I chose to take other meds to avoid that. They do help but are not getting to the main problems that I am still experiencing: mania (which has dramatically decreased since taking Lamictal) and sleep (trileptal). My depression though, is still there at times and it can be pretty unbearable. I am looking forward to this medication and I do have a feeling as you stated before that I will not have to worry too much about the weight gain because I am practicing more self control and discipline with my eating habits, so I am becoming a lot more aware of when I am really hungry or not. Once that is ingrained in my brain( I still have a month to practice) then it shouldn't be a problem. That and I have been much more active now. This is definitely a great thing for my new and improved lifestyle. Thanks again for your help.

[nursegirl6572]

There's no way your doctor would be able to predetermine how a med would affect you, including if you would experience the side effect of weight gain.  

There are a few commonly listed side effects of Seroquel, which can be found on any educational monograph included with the medication.  Keep in mind that it is a general list, and again, everyone responds differently to medications, there is just no way of knowing.

Again, just try not to get hung up on worrying about it.  It very well may not even happen to you.  Seroquel can be very effective in treating depression, and if yoiur doctor is recommending it, I say give it a shot!

[RainLover71]

some meds will cause weight gain and others may cause weight loss--it all depends on the person and the dose.Your doctor would know more about this.

[nursegirl6572]

Hello there!

Seroquel is actually not an SSRI.  It is an atypical antipyschotic that is commonly used to treat depression, most often as an adjunct med (meaning it is prescribed along with another med, like an SSRI or SNRI antidepressant).

One of the commonly listed side effects is an increased appetite, which can lead to weight gain, however, this will greatly vary from person to person.  Some people even report some weight loss.   Have you started taking the Seroquel, or is it something your doctor has just recommened at this point?

Try not to get yourself hung up on worrying about side effects that may never occur.  If you are very worried about it, it's also pretty simple to just be extra vigilant during the adjustment phase of the Seroquel about your appetite and diet.  If you ARE noticing an increase in your appetite, be mindful to watch what you're eating.

Lastly, in my opinion, sometimes a few extra pounds is a worthy trade off when you're talking about improving your mental well being.  I'd rather be chubby and not depressed or anxious, than skinny and miserable, but that's just me.

Let us know if you need anymore information.  Good luck!

[RainLover71]

There are many ssri's where you will gain weight but every person is different and it will affect you in different ways.