... around 110lbs now I've gained a conciderable amount of weight. I am a vegetarian I don't do dairy. I do not eat anymore then I ever did. I eat out of necessity I do not over stuff myself. They had me actually writing down my calorie intake daily along with my weight and I wasn't eating more then 1500 cal on a good day. I am stuck at a certain weight which for me isn't healthy and there's the issue of type II Diabetes. Anyone have this problem or any advice. I know I should excersize more
Has anyone using Seroquel experienced a weight gain issue? I started @
Question posted by Mom2Emily10 on 17 Sep 2010
Last updated on 12 April 2024
52 Answers Page 3
janicegayp
10 July 2011
I have taken Seroquel for several years, and the only time my weight was down was when it was combined with Lamictal. Lamictal seemed to make me hyper, but I was also going through trying times. I admitted myself to a clinic, and I was taken off of Lamictal, given larger doses of Seroquel (200 mg. instead of 25 - 50), and given Cymbalta for depression, which eventually made me feel better, but I began to have intense and uncomfortable scalp sweating. Yuk! I have also just been diagnosed as being pre-diabetic. Even on 50 mg. of Cymbalta, I got hungry, and after being switched to Pristiq, same deal, plus it raised my BP. Recently, I was put on Lexapro 10 mg. for depression, and Latuda(sp?) for sleep. The Latuda is a new drug, and it didn't work for me at all for sleep. Now, I'm on a combination of trazodone and Melatonin (3-6 mg) for sleep. My doctor said that Melatonin brings more restful sleep.
Soon after taking the Melatonin, I start to feel sleepy, then I take the trazodone. It took awhile for those to work, but I had other issues causing the wakefulness, such as bronchitis and sinusitis, plus an ill fitting sleep mask (CPAP). The new sleep mask removed quite a bit of the problem. I do sympathize with you. It's not easy for doctors to get it right, and I guess our systems all vary as far as reactions and susceptibilities to medications. It's very frustrating, nevertheless. Good luck with everything.
questing
6 June 2011
I used Seroquel for three days, and I did not have time to gain weight. I could not eat! It put me to sleep and basicly removed my ability to think, the entire time. when the last dose wore off, I swore off of that heavy stuff. But I have heard from a friend it definately caused weigth gain, she is still, doing better , going to the gym, trying to diet but still no weight loss.However, the medication is helping her function much better, and she finds her choice livable. I personally , would rather be a jumpy bundle of nerves, shaking and at least aware of where I was than take that stuff. I instead chose , the gym, therapy, an antidepresant, Wellbutrin & Liberex & diazepam, as these seemed more within my control. I did a lot of research and this was a good choice for me, but we are all diffrent and need to find our our own way. As I feel improvement, mostly , after my third theripist gained my trust. P.T.S.D.
was terrable, but is becomming more livable as she guides me through letting go of the bad and finding a future and all of the good things, that are possible.
scarletpimperquell
4 June 2011
Ive been on it a year and used to weigh 260lbs now am 240lbs,I think being largely vegetarian means you can eat more carbohydrates than you can burn off and so put on weight
Inactive
3 June 2011
My Dad takes 25mg of Seroquel every night, no weight gain in 3 years. Is your dosage high?
YHarlan
3 June 2011
I experienced significant weight gain when I started usuing Seroquel - 48 lbs! The weight gain has leveled out since I started using it 5 years ago. I have been able to lose some of the weight by exercising but has been very slow. I also have type 2 Diabetes now as a result of taking the Seroquel along with elevated cholesterol.
BetsyBee
23 May 2011
I am so glad you asked this question. I take 500 mg at night, and have been wondering if I will ever lose the weight (40lbs) that I gained since the Seroquel. I also take Topamax, but that hasn't actually helped. On top of this, I take Prednisone off and on for recurring bouts of debilitating asthma, so exercise is questionable, and the Prednisone puts on more weight. I am really frustrated with all of this, and have real trouble accepting myself as I am. Of course, this gets me back on the depression and shame cycle... I have eliminated sugar and wheat from my diet, so that at least takes out a significant amount of unhealthy carbs. Anyone else in this quandary?
godeslove
17 May 2011
I am also in the same boat as you are. I am 28 years old and got out of the army with PTSD and since the other sleeping meds didnt work they put me on seroquel 150 mg at night up to 250mg. I have always been the same weight which is 5'7" and 150 lbs even when I was pregnant weighed no more than 160 and I work out 5 times a week and had a trainer that was baffled on why i kept gaining weight. I gained 50 lbs in a year. And I do 2 hours of cardio and still cant lose the fat. My thyroid has been checked and is fine and have been tested for everything and came back fine. I am still in the gym with a mui thai trainner and now he is clueless 6 months later on why I am not shedding the weight either. I burn 1000 cal a work out.
Inactive
27 Feb 2011
Mom2Emily10~I took 900 mg of Seroquel along with my psych coctail and had some weight gain. My doctor put me on Topamax which was my life saver. He did not put me on it for weight loss but knew it would help control wt gain, which I freaked out. I too had the night eating and a stressful job so emotional eating did not help. I was an avid exericer and wt conscious. At the time, I was active with a eating disorder so despite the Seroquel did wonders for me and helped me sleep, I was somewhat resistant. I take Lamictal and it works great for me, know weight gain for me. I have been on it for years and take lithium as well. They are the only two meds that help me stay stable with a dz of BP
When the diagnosed me with Type II, I was a balloon. I was so overweight I could hardly walk 10 min. Since they told me to walk the 10 three times a day it became easier to build to 15 twice a day and then 30. The more I leveled out with my blood sugars the more weight I loss but it took time. I discovered new eating habits which were new to me. Sounds like you have that down pat. My thyroid was off too but the Synthroid made me lose rapidly and I had to quit. They are thinking about putting me back on. You seem to have many factors that can contribute to the weight gain. Perhaps seeing someone that can put the whole picture together and listen well could really help. You are doing everything right but if you can manage walking without triggering your MS that might help. Looking at all your meds and their possible SE and combinations could be helpful. I have learned the hard way that just because a SE is listed does not mean you will develop it and SC of a drug that is stated low on the list can turn into a problem. I wish you well in your search and hope my experience will give you some ideas. My best advice is be your own advocate and you are doing that by gathering information here.~
Darling Di
23 May 2012
I've been taking 150mg to 300mg at night for insomnia because over the years I have literally gone thru all the insomnia meds & while they might have worked in the beginning they would stop working. I started taking the Seroquel when my husband & I split up for several months & my anxiety/panic & hysterical crying was improved dramatically over the 1st night I took it & continued to help everything more since. I tried to get help from the pharmaceutical company but they were not very helpful & kept telling me I didn't fill out their forms entirely or correctly which was not true as I kept a copy of everything I sent them. I was in the donut hole at the time & since the med so dramatically helped me it was a godsend & I had to pay up to almost $500 several months until I got into the catastrophic phase of my insurance which made almost all my meds practically free so I stocked up on all that I could.
I have been able to get tons of samples from several of my m.d.'s otherwise I can't afford it again this year. I have gained a lot of weight as it has increased my appetite & I was highly depressed for quite awhile. I am planning on joining the YMCA now that their yoga classes are no longer extra fees. I was at the lowest weight of my adult life in the best shape of my life when I was going to yoga 3 times a week. I hope my little story helps in some ways. It is reassuring to hear others stories & suggestions. Best wishes to all. :)
fblackwell
15 Feb 2011
Dear Mom2Emily10,
With each new medication comes a few more pounds. Now the pounds I have gained are beginning to look like they will never come off. I am 5'7" and weigh 185 pounds. I used to be slender at 145 pounds and felt good when I went out, but now I almost hope my husband doesn't ask me.
I take Seroquel, Depakote, Lithium, Gagabentin, Lyrica and a few others. I think that all of these have weight gain as a side effect. I have never been one to exercise much, but had to have a total hip replacement last May. I have begun to exercise more and feel a little better.
Maybe you should talk with your doctor and voice your concerns. Maybe he/her could change your medication and get you on an excersice routine.
fblackwell
iluvpuck
22 Jan 2011
Uggghhh!!! YESSS!!! I feel your pain. I take 500 mg of Seroquel each night and my Bipolar cocktail includes several other weight gainers as well. It's downright frustrating. I eyeball the gym every time I drive past and think I must join or I won't fit behind the wheel of my car much longer! My newest medication Saphris is making many of the foods that are healthiest (like yogurt and veggies) have a weird lemony taste, and the rotten stuff like ice cream still tastes good. Drats! I've had my thyroid checked (lithium gave me Hypothyroid so I now take Synthroid as well- Yay - more meds!)... I think eating carefully and exercising are the only defences against the poundage- either that or happy plumpness! To heck with health and vanity!!!
Chiquita45
4 April 2013
I just started taking Saphris for sleep. Did you gain weight?
reg364
17 Jan 2011
I was taking 800 mg of seroquel at night and I noticed a rapid weight gain , my Doctor didn't want to take me off of it but it was making me depressed , so I just went down to taking 200 mg and eventually i will just stop . It puts the weight on you very fast but they don't tell you that and when you ask them about it , they say well it could be something else but it wasn't . So good luck
Suicidalblonde
3 Jan 2011
I lost about 30 pounds taking 150mg everynight just was sleeping alot but I was a total different person . My mom saw the change I didn't care if I was dating or had a bf . I have suffered from traumatic child molesting by a family member and when it finally came out in 2002 right after I got married I tried Prozac and tried to kill myself so they switched to wellbutrin. .. Same lexapro same every one and to top it off I get migraines where I end up in the ER all the time ... I have just wanted to give up .. Well left my husband the end of 2006 and started to smoke pot alot ... Didn't help depression only helped the migraines... That lead to other things like oxcy.. I was blind and with a real jerk ... Well almost died on a motorcycle in 2008 and had to be on pain meds I broke my back in 2 places ... I'm ok left him and got off the perocets and all the others but I need the Xanax ...
Mom was fed up with suicidal thoughts and crying ... I had no insurance and didn't know what to do ... Family doctor thought maybe seroquel would help ... Boy did it... I don't understand why it changed me so much I loved myself again... Met a great guy and was doing good still can't handle stress or working .. But my new program for my county cause I have no job or income and I do live on my own I applied for disability 4 times already still waiting... The county won't cover it so the but me on risperidone 2 mg and it's not working I still haven't gained any weight idk I need to get back on seroquel ... Please help me anything would help
Inactive
27 Feb 2011
May I ask what program you are on for your meds? I was on Medicare while on Seroquel and I had hit the doughnut hole... paying cash for everything. You can find out who makes Seroquel... I can try to find out for you and let them know you cant afford it. There is paperwork involved but it was well worth getting the medicine I needed for free. Many drugs companies will do it. Ususally if you are on some type of insurance plan they will denie it but I sent a letter of hardship stateing my meds cost more than my disability. It took about a month or two. Sometimes they will do it over the phone. I got many of my meds that way a couple of times. Sometimes your doctors office will help you. You will need your doctor to fill out part of the form and attach it. I hope this will help you get the medicine you need so life will feel good again. Take care
tinytinatiny
17 March 2012
Oh you poor babygirl! youve been thru hell it sounds like... I was crying everyday and really couldnt tell ya why and then I got on wellbutrin 150mg. and lithium 300 mg. and man it was like night and day. Almost over night I stopped crying. I meet w/ a therapist too.I really think that talking has helped me.Even talk here helps... Oh and Ive lost weight being on the wellbutrin... I stopped taking my lithium bc it gave me stomach aches so now I just started back on the lithium~ 450 mg CR ... its suppose to NOT hurt my stomach(sarcasium)but Dr. says take it anyway and you guys say take it.So I started back taking it last nite... I was on and addicted to xanax for 10 years... man its hard to get off of them... i havent sleep like that since 1999... sometimes I wish I had one... lol... I do smoke my pot... It helps me with my IBS and migraines... and sanity... I wish they would just go ahead and legalize medicinal marijuana in Texas ... anyway I dont mean to ramble:) I hope you get it worked out and Ill be waitung to hear how your doing... you can message if you want.Tina
questing
18 Dec 2010
Weight gain seems to be, the common reaction, for most of us, who deside to take medications for better mental health, with one exception, once I used Wellbutrin, with no side effects. The health food stores have a number of things to try, that I understand have worked wonders for for some people.
mister_marbles
17 Dec 2010
I took seroquel for 2 1/2 years and gained 80 pounds. No joke. I have been on too many psych meds to count since the age of 12, and this is the only medication that has ever affected my weight like this. I have been off of the seroquel for almost 3 months now, and my metabolism is already returning to normal and weight is consistently coming off. So in a nutshell, you're not alone :)
Asiancarp
5 Jan 2020
my problem taking 450mg Seroquel at night is I lay in bed and decide to get up and eat those candy bars and pie then I pass out. I got up today and just realized that last night was a success, then, I remember I at 1/3 of a smore pie. and this was my new years resolution. I am not going to beat my self up I was 3 1/2 miles per day and cook healthy soups and a salad every day. I gained 15 pounds then got on contrave and lost all of it. contrive has lost its effectiveness guess I will go without contrive for a month then go back and take it late not at 6pm. I go to bed at ten thirty and by then the sweet tooth comes back. I never had a sweet tooth before
cheerbear11
29 Nov 2010
I did, for the first few years. I went all the way up to 250 pounds. If you drink
alot of juice and soda try drinking more water. Right now, I actually lose the weight rather than gain, because the doctor put me on a med called Topamax
to help control my seizures. In fact in some cases, they actually use Topamax to help a person stop gaining weight from other medication. So, if you want to, you can ask your doctor about Topamax. I lost 100 pounds from Topamax.
jody333
4 Jan 2011
Topamax, huh? I don't have seizures, but my doctor put me on Lamictal which is an anti-seizure medication that is also a mood enhanser. Do you know anything about Lamictal? Could I maybe switch? I know you're not a doctor, but I'm just asking for your thoughts. I will of course discuss it with my doctor. Thanks! jody333
Related topics
seroquel, depression, bipolar disorder, weight loss (obesity/overweight), post traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, weight
Further information
- Seroquel uses and safety info
- Seroquel prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Seroquel (detailed)
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