Seroquel And Weight Gain (Top voted first)

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Is anyone else experiencing weight gain from seroquel? I still work out the same as always, and eat the same way, but I have gained over 20 pounds since i started seroquel 2 months ago. I dont want to stop taking it becasue i finally found a drug that helps, but this is an unacceptable side effect to me, anyone have any tips for dealing with this?

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Seroquel causes weight gain by disrupting fat metabolism. It enhances the storage of fat in white adipocytes and hinders metabolism of brown adipose cells, which are a more active type of fat cell involved in temperature regulation of the body. In short, increased appetite isn't the main issue. Don't think the weight gain is due to poor self control. It is not.

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Thank God...I could not understand why I gained 25 lbs in 5 months. I have been taking this drug and did not know that weight gain was a possible side effect. I am taking Seroquel to help me sleep. I want to get off this immediately. I decrease my eating, been exercising like crazy and not losing a pound. I do not like that all my clothes are tight. I am so glad to find out why I was gaining this weight. Thanks everyone for the information.

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17

I have been on Seroquel for three months and have put on 20 pounds I don't feel like i eat anymore then i did before, but it does make me hungry about 20 minutes after i take it, I try to stay in bed but sometimes i just can't control myself from alittle snack, I can't stand it but it seems to be the only thing that helps me sleep at night

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77

I just started 25mg of seroquel at night and it has been a god send. I was experiencing such anxiety I was ready to go to the hospital. I take it with lithium 900 mg at night and .50 mg zanex. My sleep is improved but it doesn't knock me out and after 3 nights Im actually eating less. down to one meal a day. I'm wondering if since I am so calm after only 25 mg that at 400 mg I would stop exercising due to lack of energy and weight would come on. I wonder if it is the dosage that affects the weight gain.

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11

I was taking Seroquel for about 2 yrs back in 2000-2002 and it worked very well. I did gain about 25lbs and that is because you are retaining water from it. I ended up with a change in meds with a new Dr. I also took 2yrs of Psychiatry along with medical courses. Anyway I switched to Risperdal, Lamictal, Trazodone, Klonopin, Xanax(prn for sleep), Prozac and Adderall. I was taking 400mg at night and it made me extremely hungry and I would pass out immediately after eating. Then I noticed it wasn't lasting a full 24hrs and gave me RLS. Anyway I switched to Trazadone 400mg, one 50mg in the morning, 50mg mid day, 50mg in evening and 150mg before bed. I think it works the same and I lost the weight. With taking the Prozac, Klonopin(which I'm going to be able to stop)and Adderall are the perfect combination. Once I am able to cut out the Klonopin I will be in great shape, and feel great. If you stay on Seroquel, you'll definitely gain more weight. I couldn't stop myself no matter what I did! Even if I lowered my dose. Trazadone has kind of the same effect, but not as bad and taking it steadily during the day works great. You will feel a little bit tired during the day, but nothing you can't handle. That side effect goes away after 2 weeks and that is why you take a larger dose at night, so you fall asleep easily and stay asleep. Taking Adderall and Prozac in the morning gives you a ton of energy and another Adderall in the afternoon you will definetly stay awake and still have a healthy appetite without gaining weight. I take the Lamictal at night and a Klonopin in the morning and at night. With the combination of these meds I feel like myself again and I've been taking it for 5yrs now. You now will have no side effects with taking any other meds. I was injured at work back in 2003 and was put on some heavy pain killers and I don't have any side effects from those either. I take Opana 140mg x2/day, Roxicodone 30mg x6/day, Norco 10/325 x8/day Volteran 50mg x2/day and I'm going to start Lyrica on February 22, 2008. I have no problems with that med regimin. See if you can take the Trazadone, Lamictal, Adderall and Prozac combo. I'll bet you'll feel better and you'll loose the weight also. If it doesn't work for you, you can always go back to the old regimine and play around with ot until you find the right dosing. Good Luck!

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10

when I started taking seroquel in July, I was 135. I weighed myself yesterday and was 168. I have never been this big. Eat a healthy diet and low on fats and sugars, but to no avail. And i can't lose it. It is so frustrating. I'm 5'0 so you can imagine how fat I look. Also, I've never had weight around the ribs, and now it's literally sagging. Although it works very well for the reason I take it, I can't stand this side effect, and every month it seems to be more.

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101

Yes, eating at night and I'm not able to control it! The seroquel i take makes my appetite ravenous! And if I fight to not eat before I fall asleep, then I just end up eating through out the night while I'm practically asleep. Ridiculous!

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13

I gained about 90 pounds. I then lost 35 -40 pounds. I made sure to get enough lean protein in me to keep me from being voracious. I used Power-bars-Protein +/or WHEY PROTEIN POWDER in MILK. Especially for breakfast. Then I ate under 1200 calories a day. It only worked when I ate protein.
I hope this will also help You. It saved my basic self-worth +/or mojo. 207 down to 165 helped - it took time.

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14

seroquel was the first thing that i found that had worked for me after many trials of sleep meds that actually put me to sleep and kept me to sleep with my pain from migranes and fibromyalgia and neck and back pain. unfortunately, it started making me gain, quickly. i eliminated everything else that it could have been because my neuologist swore that that just could not be the case with saroquel and if it was it was rare. by then, it was too late and went from a size 2 that i have been all my 35 years to a quick size 6 before i could do anything. i have gone back on lunesta, but it just does not work as great and now i am depressed because i had put on 20 lbs in 5 months and can't get it off. any suggestions for sleep instead of lunest or seroquel.

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16

I am on efflexor and seroquel and gained weight. At first l was a bit and stayed there but now I look like the good year blimp or michilen man. :( I am only 5' . I have been on it for sometime but the last two months I have piled on the lbs and have not changed my eating habits. I am very uncomfortable and it is depressing. I have very vivid techno coloured dreams. Some very scary, some just plain off the charts and some that I actually have to stop and think if it was a dream or reality. I also get the sweats I look like I just came out of a sauna most of the time.

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18

I also have been taking seroquel (600 mg) a night for about five years now.. I started out in a size 3, weighing 135, looked great. Before I knew it, bam, now I weigh 165 although I am 5'8, I am still very thick and that has depressed me.. I can't even stand to look in the mirror. I have weaned myself off as of two days ago.. No more late night eating.. I have lost 2 pounds and hope to god I lose even more. I now take ambien or halcion for sleep.. And take lamictal now for a mood stabalizer instead of seroquel.. Will keep you posted on the weight loss..

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19

I take 12.5 mg of Seroquel for sleep. I experience an immediate
weight gain that in my opinion can
only come from fluid retention. I
then use an alternative med and the
weight goes back to normal. So I
alternate the Seroquel with alternative meds to prevent permanent weight gain and avoid
tolerance to the drug.

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90

I been on sequel for over 5 years and never has issues with weigh gain. I am a weight loss surgery participant so this might be the reason why?

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100

have been taking 100 mg of Seroquel for 4 months now. And I've gained about 25 lbs! But its got to be because it gives me a ravenous appetite and I take it at night and then uncontrollably gorge on carbs!! I flushed them down the toilet today. I'd rather stay awake all night until I can naturally sleep again then turn into a huge cow!

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102

OMG! I know exactly what you mean...I gained so much weight, probably 25 lbs., in 2-3 months, it was horrible. Nothing fits, I can hardly stand to look in the mirror...but I got off of this med in February...I refuse to take it ever again...The weight gain happened without a diet change or anything...I have been dieting like crazy, eating only steamed veggies, fruit and some baked chicken now and again...walking 2-4 miles a day, doing yoga and on days I don't do yoga I do my own floor stretch for 30 minutes...being a former Dance Educator, I know what works....I highly recommend that you implore upon your Dr. to find something else that will work for you.

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108

Hi, I just read your post and I was wondering if you are losing weight now that you are off seroquel? I have gained 17 pounds in 2 months while taking 200mg every night. I eat healthy, jog and do Pilates regularly, but the weight gain is unstoppable. It is making me more depressed at this point.

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134

I was on 300 mg of Seroquel for 9 years. I was weaned off over about 5 months and took my last dose in May 2015. Before I started taking it, I was between 120-125lbs. At my heaviest (around 2012) I weighed 180-185. I made some drastic lifestyle changes and managed to drop some weight and settled at 155-160 by May 2015. However, since my last dose, I've lost over 20lbs.

Seroquel is a dangerous drug with frightening side effects and AWFUL withdrawal. My brain essentially doesn't know how to sleep from being on it so long, but there are natural treatments for insomnia and less damaging meds you can take to get zzz's. Really do your research before agreeing to be put on Seroquel. I wish I'd never taken it.

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1

Tell your doctor he might be able to help.

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4

I HAVE ALSO GAINED WEIGHT ON SEROQUEL. 50 POUNDS. I HAVE TRIED TO DIET,EATING HEALTHY FOODS. NO LUCK. NOW I'M GOING TO START EXERCICING.

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7

\I have been taking seroquel for about 4 yea rs,I was under weight when I began, so when I gained 10 lbs the first year, I didn't think anything of it, then the 2nd year I found I needed size 14 jeans, not twelves-I didn't freak out until last summer when 14s were tight and this summer getting into 16s is an effort. I can't tolerate looking at myself in a mirror , because the weight is evenly distributed ,so just look thick and frankly, awful. My diet has not changed, and is heart healthy, I walk 1 mile 4 x/week as usual. I have gained 35 to 40 lbs and am only 5-3. I am 59 and have always weighted around 135, which I feel and look good at. I am sick over this.

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