Seroquel XR and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Joj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "No, dude, it doesn't work. I've been on it for a few months. No, it doesn't work for anxiety. It helps the shaking part. That's it. Doesn't work for depression either. When I was on it, I hurt myself and was thinking about suicide. It didn't stop my racing thoughts. My OCD is the same. Man, just no. I gained 40 pounds in 2 months just with 250 mg. It's the worst medication of its category. I was on Zyprexa before, but besides the horrible weight gain, at least I was doing much better. I hate this medication. Do not take it, people. It makes you fat and doesn't help at all. No, man, just NOOO. I'm going back to Paxil 30 mg and Zyprexa 7.5 mg, which work so much better. Bye, Seroquel."

• Ann...
• October 8, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking Seroquel for a little over a year and a half now, and it has been the best thing for me. I started off at 350 mg when my mania was insanely uncontrollable. But after 2 months, I was able to go down to 250, and ever since, it's been perfect because I don't fight the drowsiness in the mornings and get a great night's rest. I did gain weight, only 20 pounds, but I have always been extremely athletic (2-sport collegiate athlete), and it didn't really affect me at all. Just as long as it keeps the manic/depressive episodes on lockdown, I think I can handle a curvier body. I seriously recommend this if you can handle a little weight gain!"

• Mil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2018

"I'm taking Seroquel XR 100 mg daily, in the evening, before sleeping, and Fluoxetine hydrochloride 10 mg (antidepressant) in the morning. I'm 30 years old and have serious anxiety problems for over 15 years, with a few psychotic breaks caused by stress and anxiety. I tried a lot of different types of medications over the years, and I always felt miserable and weak while taking medications, plus, I had some side effects, like weight gain, and I was more or less a vegetable. Now, I've been taking Seroquel for over 4 months, and I feel like my old self again. My work is in creative fields, in which I achieve great results right now. If you watched the movie 'Limitless,' that is my situation right now. Of course, I have my low periods at times now too, but I have the will and techniques to overcome them quickly. If you are in a similar situation, I recommend you try this therapy. I wish you well, cheers!"

• Anonymous
• April 11, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I take this medication for bipolar, but it also does wonders for generalized anxiety disorder. I have suffered for decades with anxiety and panic attacks, and SSRIs have stopped working for me. When I started taking Seroquel, it was like I finally saw color in the black and white world I was living in. My moods are completely under control, and my anxiety is controlled for the most part. This medication definitely has side effects. It's a tranquilizer. It makes you very tired. It also made me gain a significant amount of weight... but I would rather deal with the side effects than deal with the horrible anxiety I was living with every day. I take it before bed... make sure you're able to get at least 8 hours of sleep so you're not groggy the next day."

• p-m...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 23, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Been on Quetiapine MR for around 9 months. 300 mg at night. Found it far less sedating than Olanzapine. It's been a miracle for my bipolar, absolutely no depression and no manic episodes. Yeah, I put on weight, but the effects on my mood and mental health have been incredible."

• Wha...
• May 15, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I started taking this when I was 12 years old, and the entire time I was on it, I gained probably like 40-60 pounds. But I was somewhat overweight at the time, so probably thought not much about it. I would miss school because my mom had a death wish if she woke me up. It made me tired and foggy for days. Last October, my mom woke me up just a few hours after taking it. And I couldn't even comprehend what she was saying. So along with the schizophrenia, I also have sleep apnea, I stop breathing in my sleep. Thank god I can figure it out pretty fast and wake up. On Seroquel, it's impossible and also makes it worse. Even after more than ten years, I really hate this medication. I haven't taken it for a year or more. But they still prescribe it. They started me on Abilify, which I recommend for anyone with schizophrenia or B.L.P. or B.P. because Abilify does work, and it works fast, and also it doesn't cause any sleeping problems or drowsiness. And even comes in a once-a-month dose."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Great med, weight gain yes 50 lbs over 8 months. Started working out at the gym and watching what I eat and feeling good and hopeful for the future. Down 30 lbs. Does feel a little loss of motivation at 500mg. Trying to lower dose to 300mg. Update later."

• Skr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 27, 2014

For Schizophrenia "When I was 14, I was put on 450 mg/day before bedtime, and within 6 months, I gained 25-30 pounds. It worked super well to get rid of my hallucinations (including the tactile ones), but it made me extremely zombie-like. My grades slipped at school, and I slept as soon as I got home till the next morning. The first day, I slept 22 hours. This medicine made me so hungry all the time, and no matter how much I ate, I was never full."

• Bar...
• August 16, 2019

"Because of my sleep problems, my MD started me with 50 mg of Quetiapine, and it is awful. Had an appointment a week later and requested 25 mg. Even this is horrible, my only issues are that I am unable to sleep 5 hours per night. I have gained 30 pounds around my midsection over the last 2 years. I have cut the pill in quarters, meaning I take now 6.25 mg for sleep. I have also taken Lorazepam for 35 years solely to sleep. Another 2 weeks and I will no longer take Seroquel since this stuff makes me feel sick in the morning."

• Wre...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have suffered from major depression since early adolescence and have been exposed to over two dozen different antidepressants in the last 30 years. Expensive, ineffective, grossly negative side effects to skin and chronic fatigue daily. Trying another high-cost drug, a desperate last resort. Each dirty little pill failed, with an accumulated cost of more than $15,000 to the patient asking for help. Negligent dispensation of Seroquel XR also resulted in a near-fatal car wreck for the patient. Aside from losing my car and job, I was privileged to gain 40 pounds... and counting. Chronic insomnia kills drivers, truckers, pilots, and boat captains every day. Drug companies need to try a lot harder to promote healing rather than just bankroll profits."

• DDT...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 20, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I have mixed feelings about this medication. Ambien, Lunesta, Restoril, Trazodone, and so many other medications prescribed for sleep do not work for me. I can go days without sleep even with those medications. Of course, Tylenol PM, melatonin, and all of the over-the-counter brands are totally useless in my particular case. I wish so much that over-the-counter medications would work for me, but unfortunately, they don’t. I have bipolar 1 with rapid cycling a lot, so I am on a cocktail now that finally worked out for me, and I am finally more stable than I have ever been. Seroquel XR is working for me as far as the ups, downs, and sideways that I have experienced over the years. To me, that is great and a relief, but to me, the best result and the greatest benefit is the sleep that I get every night, and I don’t feel groggy like I did when I first started taking it. I am taking 800 mg at night. I get about 7-8 hours of sleep. Just got a lot of weight gain is the con of it. Working for me."

• kin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Took Seroquel XR for about 2 months, experienced help with sleep issues for about a week before that wore off. Gained at least 20 lbs in this time frame, due to increased appetite and general weight gain due to the drug. Never really seemed to help my bipolar disorder-the other medicines I take do that."

• Fat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 4, 2022

For Depression "I have been on 200 mg of Seroquel XR for about 7 months. I am underweight, and it did not cause me weight gain. It has been working miracles for my mental health, but I just started tapering because the side effects are sometimes excruciating. After half an hour of taking the med, I can’t walk or talk. I can hardly breathe, and the RLS is terrible sometimes. But those side effects only last 2 hours after taking the med. I am also stopping it because I have been feeling great, and I don’t think I need it anymore. (I’ve had depression with psychotic features and used to frequently experience depersonalization, derealization, and some delusional thoughts, disorganized thinking). All of which decreased in intensity rapidly after starting Seroquel. Generally, it was a good experience for the most part. It really helped with my memory and information processing."

• CBI...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 24, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "This was a miracle med for me. It lifted my relentless depression, and I was able to be stable on just Seroquel for many months. Almost no side effects except small weight gain and daytime sleepiness, but that went away. Best sleep of my life on this med. I’ve hit a rough patch in life (experiencing some loss) and am in the midst of a breakthrough depressive episode, but titrating back up on Lamictal and considering adding Wellbutrin eventually. I knew at some point I’d probably have to add a med, but Seroquel is still an important piece of the puzzle for me. It’s definitely not for everyone, like all meds, but for me it’s great."

• pik...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 8, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I have a diagnosis of bipolar type 1 (with long manic-psychotic episodes and a long depression that came on when I was put on a depot - Clopixol). After a roller-coaster few years of trying everything except Seroquel XR (well, quetiapine generic), I ended up quitting medication, back in the hospital, and even homeless. Since coming off the depot Clopixol in March 2020, due to suicidality, extreme depersonalization, and a generally nightmarish existence, and since switching to Seroquel XR 300 with lithium 600, I've been stable, and I've enjoyed a degree of stability and consistency I never thought possible with this illness. I realize psychiatric treatment is not for everyone, but with the major diagnoses, it is necessary I feel - I'm glad I persevered through many years of trial and error - the reward, only a bit of weight gain, ability to feel a nice healthy range of emotions (including tears/anger and laughter/humor), and a chance to live life as I intended. Unbelievable drug."

• TyT...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 26, 2020

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was on Seroquel XR 300 mg for a year. It worked for the most part, but the sleepiness during the day was just too much for me. I gained 83 pounds and developed NA Fatty Liver Disease from it. Can’t say I would recommend this medication."

• Jt1...
• April 27, 2016

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Been on regular Seroquel for 4 years, fine. Started this for mania/depression and paranoid thoughts. Awful. Weaned up from 50 mg to 450 mg, then back down to off in 1 week. Stomach pains. Out of touch with reality. Groggy. Weight gain immediately. It helped the symptoms, but no way to live."

• Cck...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 18, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "While on Seroquel XR, my habits, escape mechanisms related to BPD were improved. These related to gambling, alcoholism, and reckless behavior. The side effects in my case were severe and included increased appetite, weight gain, tachycardia, and feeling like a zombie. I found myself questioning why I needed this drug?"

• Sar...
• August 11, 2015

"I was on Seroquel XR 350 mg for 3 years to treat clinical depression and anxiety. The only problems were the weight gain (about 80 pounds in 3 years), a general 'zombie' feeling that made concentrating a little difficult, and some short-term memory problems, but all of that was worth it since my moods were finally stable. Come to find out I was misdiagnosed, and now I'm being treated with Topamax for Bipolar II, but if that doesn't work, it's back to Seroquel. I suggest trying it to anyone who hasn't had luck with other medications. Once you get past 150 mg, it might knock you out pretty quick, so take it at night and give yourself enough time for a solid 8 hours because you might not wake up before that."

• Pix...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 12, 2014

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Unfortunately, after more than a year, pervasive stuff like weight gain, increased lipids, and diabetes all started to be present. Great for a while, but I started to need more of it to deal with psychotic symptoms, and the sedative nature of it got in the way. Swapped to paliperidone ER, which is more focused on the psychotic symptoms and doing well without the sedation."

• nik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 24, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "It worked well, my moods were more stable. The only downfall was that I gained 20 pounds. As a bulimic and anorexic, this terrified me. I ended up going off of it to lose the weight."

• dnc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Not bad, but the weight gain and how tired it made me eventually led me to go off of it."

• mnj...
• November 9, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Great medication helps with bipolar. If I had anything bad to say, it would be that it makes you gain weight like crazy. However, other than that, I sleep better than I have in twenty some years."

• pip...
• January 21, 2010

For Depression "The drug is good at making one feel good, but the weight gain is bad!"

• Ste...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 23, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Worked but made me drowsy and put on weight."