... 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 by 1a2b3c4duck
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52 Answers
1a2b3c4duck
12 April 2024
I not only gained weight but developed serious heart disease (almost fatal). And if you have thyroid problems, your doctor should be advising against this medication. The pharmaceutical company making this drug was fined hundreds of millions of dollars as well as being sued millions by patients suffering various heart diseases after taking seroquel!
HelenaGreco73
31 March 2022
YES! I've been a victim of Seroquel weight gain, unnatural excessive hunger and the Diabetes issue. Yet they keep prescribing it and i finally had to put it in my chart not to give for major adverse side effects: My heart races, my legs twitch like crazy, i get tired, but can't really sleep, wake up feeling dopey, and the weight issue is unacceptable to me. I'm not the only one. All my friends went up over 100 pds in a short time using this med. Not me. Down fifty pounds after stopping my years on it and never felt better!
kathryn0718
22 Feb 2020
I have been on Seroquel for 2 years. I gained 40 pounds and I have been weight conscious even before I gained this extra weight.
Twilights
17 Jan 2020
Yes, seroquel and lithium is notorious for extreme and rapid weight gain. It slows down your thyroid and messes with your natural metabolism. I was on lithium and seroquel 600-800mg per day a year ago. I gained 70 lbs (average amount). I carried this extra weight for 4 years. I finally told my doctor to help me. About a year ago under doctor supervision I got off of lithium, and my seroquel was reduced to 150mg. Within a matter of 4 months I dropped 43 lbs. I'm 5'9, and got up to 213lbs from 150lbs. The last 18-20 lbs I can't lose because I'm on seroquel still. He's switching me to abilify because it's not as common for weight gain. No matter what you do, the weight won't go down. I did it all to try while on seroquel. If you can try something else, as prescribed by your doctor.
Anduri
27 Jan 2019
Hey, the first time I was taking it, I basically became diabetic in two months.
I would get uncontrollable cravings for food.
But the seroquel is not to blame, if you are gaining weight or feeling awful after eating sugary or high carb foods. It means that you are in a bad place in terms of bloodsugar and insulin.
After a year off quetiapine, I started taking it again, and again I was feeling really bad after eating lots of carbs.
So after reading and watching videos about diabetes and weight gain, I found that by using fasting or a ketogenic diet you can reverse insulin resistace.
So I started a 2 day fast only drinking water with sodium potassium and magnesium(very importand to supplement your electrolytes when starting a fast, so you don't feel like dying)
After which I was only eating in the evenings(called intermitent fasting) since that helps keep my bloodsugar low for longer and lowers insulin. If you do this it is very important to not eat anything during your fasting time, I mean for 14-20h a day you can't drink any juice or add sugar to coffe or tea, no calories at all until the evening. Trust me it's easiest to skip breakfast and lunch.
In a couple of weeks eating like this, I have reversed my sensitivity to sugar. I lost a lot of weight, my belly completely flat . And I can take quetiapine all day without getting any cravings.
Keep in mind if you eat only once a day, you need to eat quite a lot of food. So you can do it in a 4 hour eating window to make it easier. The fun part is if you eat some healthy foods like salad and fish to start later you can eat basically anything you want until the 4 hours end. It is really hard to eat too much food this way.
It is really hard to get this right the first time you try, look at this youtube channel "What I've learned" it has many great videos explaining all of this in detail. It is lifechanging.
drjpgpsych
3 Sep 2017
Most definitely! I was taking it to augment my anti-depressants. First I started taking 25mg at bedtime. My depression seemed to respond slightly and I was encouraged by this result. So my psychiatrist increased the dose to 50mg. I was already beginning to notice that my jeans were beginning to get tight around my
waist. Later my psychiatrist changed my anti-depressant to a new one that
had horrible side effects some of which was extreme agitation,anxiety and insomnia. I asked if I could take take seroquel during the day to combat some
of these side effects. He told to take 2, 25mg tablets during the day for
anxiety and increase my bedtime dose to 100mg. Honestly, I never saw it
coming! Because of my lack of motivation and lethargy, I wasn't going out
much and when I did I was wearing my sweats which have elastic waist bands.
Then one day, about 4-5 weeks, after starting the Seroquel, I tried to put on
a pair of my favorite jeans, (the ones that fit me so well) and I could not zip
them up! I was horrified! I got on my scale and my weight had increased by
15 lbs. and it appeared to be all around my waist and even in my breasts!
I could not believe it!
I had told my doctor before he prescribed it that I didn't want anything that caused
weight gain, because I knew of a person who had gained enormous amounts of
weight on Olanzapine and before I would take any "atypical antipsychotic" I wanted to be sure. I had been refusing to take an antipsychotic for years because
of the other potential side effects especially tardive dyskinesia and sudden death
but I've had chronic depression for 17yrs now and I really wanted to feel like I
did before.
So when I experienced all this weight gain so suddenly I was hysterical and
asked my psychiatrist about this. He said that Seroquel is one of the worst
ones for weight gain. 2nd only to Zyprexa (Olanzapine)! I felt so betrayed.
Then I conducted a little research on Seroquel and discovered that once you
gain this weight you may never lose it! How's that for treating your depression!
As another person explained above, the drug alters some pathways in your
brain that not only affect your appetite, but also your endocrine system and
thyroid and alter your metabolism.
I have never been a big eater. I always eat small meals and never eat "junk food" or fatty foods etc. so I can't explain this weight gain by my eating more.
So I quit the Seroquel immediately and in October it will be a year.
I have not lost those 15 lbs yet and I have tried dieting but my weight did
not decrease. My sister told me to try Nutrisystem but by my standards it looks like too much food. I'm considering Cool Body Sculpting.
moninja7
15 July 2013
I gained weight when I was taking 300mg of Seroquel. Now I'm down to 100mg so I'm testing it out too but that was one of my major complaints.
MuseMyself
12 June 2013
Yes, I have experienced weight gain on most anti-psychic meds. Others I am allergic to. I refuse to take them. I have been in recovery for my eating disorder since 2004 and was ok with myself and body. Was put on seroquel then zyprexa w/prozac. I tell doctors and hospitals I am allergic to all of them because I gained 70+lbs in the matter of weeks. It now, makes me not want to be seen I don't go anywhere but Dr. Appt. And just got off two more meds. So, I'm a bit more panicky than usual. It sucks the meds that work best have that one side effect usually weight gain or another one for me vision issues&muscle pain... hope that you find what you are looking for. .. take care!
Nightbird8147
9 June 2012
OH I have! Big time. When I was on it I gained like 80lbs. I was never a big eater either but it also makes you crave food from what I've read, so it's a viscious circle. That and Zyprexa are the worst at making you gain weight.
I've taken both. Exercise is a good way to make your seratonin levels rise and possibly you can go down to a lesser amount. I also have type 2 Diabetes, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which is an endocrine disorder, so it's hard for me to lose weight and when I was on those drugs I was steadily gaining no matter what I did. Good Luck.
shanenjen0214
7 June 2012
Yes I have gained twenty five pounds since increasing my serequel to 500 per day
kacy82
29 May 2012
i also gained 45lbs on seroquel and have not been able to lose it . I had to be taking off this drug because i just couldnt get my blood pressure under control due to my new weight issue.
becca316
2 May 2012
Seroquel will definitely make most gain weight if they're on a dose probably higher than like 200 mg.It is the night eating after you hit the "Seroquel drunk" feeling that you feel like you haven't eaten in a week. I saw my head shrinker today n she's having me wean myself off. But she wanted to replace it with Doxepin which also has the possible side effect of weight gain (and hair loss to top it off).Best of luck to you though. I know it's hard with psych meds.
bipolarandkickin
15 March 2012
yes I have I gained over 55lbs in two years I am now trying to get the lap band done but I have always struggled with my weight so not sure if that helps .. but I switched to ambien10mg and i sleep just as well but was not staying asleep so trazadone was added 50mg..no more weight has been gained
Lahayle
22 Feb 2012
When I took this medication I went from 175lbs to almost 199lbs. I had to ask for something else to help me sleep. I would definitely ask your Doctor if there is anything newer out there to help you as you don't feel comfortable with your weight. Maybe he can help you with adjustments too.
shopgirlly
20 Feb 2012
When I used Seroquel it was 600mg and boy did I gain the weight! I did join a gym at that time too, because of the weight being an issue as well as what you mentioned--Diabetes. I managed to sustain weight, but did not lose ANY weight by going to the gym.
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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