[ferelpis]

Hey all,

my pdoc prescribed me quetiapine, we begun with 25mg. I took it last night for the first time and it knocked me out. Slept for 9 hours, which is unusual for me. I had a terrible migraine when I woke up, like I have drunk a lot. Since then I read these horror stories about people on this thing, getting like 40 pounds in some weeks, developing diabetes etc. Sorry folks, but no. Bipolar is terrible, but not being able to exercise or even worse, seeing all my 2 year effort of weight-lifting and having well defined abs getting destroyed because of anti-psychotics doesn't come in question. I know i may sound spoilt and vain but I can't help it! I am pretty sure there are other meds out there which can help without making my self esteem hit rock bottom.

Why would you be unable to exercise?

[ferelpis]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

Why would you be unable to exercise?

Because of feeling too tired as a result of the med. But even if I am able to exercise, a screwed metabolism will be a thing. Once again I apologize if i sound superficial, please don't judge

[jesusplay]

count your calories and you won't gain weight.

I lost 20lbs while on it and counting my calories, then when I said **** it I gained that 20lbs back.

Not judging. I just couldn't understand why you wouldn't be able to exercise. You might give it some time to see if you'll adjust better. Consider taking it earlier in the evening and going to bed a bit earlier so you can function better in the morning. That might help some.

[ferelpis]

Originally Posted by jesusplay

count your calories and you won't gain weight.

I lost 20lbs while on it and counting my calories, then when I said **** it I gained that 20lbs back.

I do so anyway but i read horror stories, really. The kind of ''I do exercise and watch my weight but seroquel made me gain fat anyway''. I will talk bout it with my doc but from your experience guys, is there any other substitute for quetiapine? It will certainly not make me feel better If i see myself being chubby again because of it. And most important of all, the whole side of dad's family is diabetic.

There are quite a few options depending on why you are being prescribed the seroquel in the first place. Talk to your pdoc about it.

[venusss]

Yes, there are other meds. Why is an AP a first med you are prescribed?

[ferelpis]

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

Yes, there are other meds. Why is an AP a first med you are prescribed?

accute bipolar depression with psychotic symptoms and less severe hypomanic episodes.

He seemed pretty concerned about the depressive episodes, cause i get suicidal. He even told my best friend who has been with me to drag me down to his office in case of a new episode

Is this all he put you on? At that low dosage, seroquel doesn't do much except help with sleep. Is he planning on increasing the dosage? There are other AP's for your psychotic symptoms that may have less impact on you side effect-wise.

[ferelpis]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

Is this all he put you on? At that low dosage, seroquel doesn't do much except help with sleep. Is he planning on increasing the dosage? There are other AP's for your psychotic symptoms that may have less impact on you side effect-wise.

yeah, he told we will gradually increase the dosage and he wants to see me once a week

Well, at least you will be seeing him frequently to let him know how it is or isn't working for you. That's a good thing. I'd just keep communicating openly with him and see how it goes.

[hope2010]

I am on Seroquel 25 mg at night for Bipolar Depression. I had have taking for more than 4 years. You are right about the sides effects regarding gain weight, how you feel when you wake up, but for me really works.

After a while, I did what my pdoc suggested take before I will go to bed and don't wait, go to sleep, if I am up for any reason after taking I get really hungry, but it is manageable.

About feeling so tired when I am waking up, well I change the thoughts of being in bed for another 2 hours and jump to the bathroom and clean up. Also helps that I made plans for the next day, so I have a "To Do List", etc. Anything can work.

I am not judging you, the reason I am telling you how I cope with Seroquel is because helps me so much with my anxiety, depression and it is the only med for me, just for me because everyone is different, that stop my racing thoughts.

My humble opinion, check with your pdoc till you find the right medication for you.
My best wishes, get well, stay well.
Alexia

[ferelpis]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

Well, at least you will be seeing him frequently to let him know how it is or isn't working for you. That's a good thing. I'd just keep communicating openly with him and see how it goes.

i am out of a bad depression and quite normal I would say. Now that i am writing exams, i defo not need being drowsy... You get what i mean..

[hope2010]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

Is this all he put you on? At that low dosage, seroquel doesn't do much except help with sleep. Is he planning on increasing the dosage? There are other AP's for your psychotic symptoms that may have less impact on you side effect-wise.

Hi 1914sierra, nice to meet you
I am on Seroquel taking only 25 mg at night and the half of the 25 mg in the morning as needed. Have been years 4 years of taking Seroquel and still can't tolerate more than the initial dose of 25 mg. That is how my body react, every single time my pdoc try to increase the dose to 50 mg I can't get up of bed, I have strong racing thoughts, after all these years and I did ask for second opinion same answers, the conclusion is that for my body 25 mg of Seroquel is good enough.

Amazing how different each individual react to the medication, and is not amazing how much we have to go through to fine the right med and dose.
hugs, Alexia

[ferelpis]

Originally Posted by hope2010

I am on Seroquel 25 mg at night for Bipolar Depression. I had have taking for more than 4 years. You are right about the sides effects regarding gain weight, how you feel when you wake up, but for me really works.

After a while, I did what my pdoc suggested take before I will go to bed and don't wait, go to sleep, if I am up for any reason after taking I get really hungry, but it is manageable.

About feeling so tired when I am waking up, well I change the thoughts of being in bed for another 2 hours and jump to the bathroom and clean up. Also helps that I made plans for the next day, so I have a "To Do List", etc. Anything can work.

I am not judging you, the reason I am telling you how I cope with Seroquel is because helps me so much with my anxiety, depression and it is the only med for me, just for me because everyone is different, that stop my racing thoughts.

My humble opinion, check with your pdoc till you find the right medication for you.
My best wishes, get well, stay well.
Alexia

Thanks a lot guys.. I am new to all this and feel a bit weird, you know..

I don't mind having cravings, cause i can control myself as well as my appetite. I just don't want to mess up my metabolism by taking meds. And I don't want to trigger my body into developing diabetes, which runs in our family as mentioned above. I guess i will talk to the doc on moray, cause i need to change the appointment anyway

[Skitz13]

Originally Posted by ferelpis

Hey all,

my pdoc prescribed me quetiapine, we begun with 25mg. I took it last night for the first time and it knocked me out. Slept for 9 hours, which is unusual for me. I had a terrible migraine when I woke up, like I have drunk a lot. Since then I read these horror stories about people on this thing, getting like 40 pounds in some weeks, developing diabetes etc. Sorry folks, but no. Bipolar is terrible, but not being able to exercise or even worse, seeing all my 2 year effort of weight-lifting and having well defined abs getting destroyed because of anti-psychotics doesn't come in question. I know i may sound spoilt and vain but I can't help it! I am pretty sure there are other meds out there which can help without making my self esteem hit rock bottom.

Welcome!
I have to agree with what everyone else is saying. I've been on it for a few years now at 75mg for sleep and I managed to lose 100lbs, wasn't easy. Now I'm up to 200mg and I've gained 5lbs but that's in 2 months. It's the cravings for sweets that get to me. I just need some will power. I count calories as well.
It can be controlled, it just takes work. I hate the med myself, but I hate my BP symptoms even more.

[pawn78]

Originally Posted by jesusplay

count your calories and you won't gain weight.

I lost 20lbs while on it and counting my calories, then when I said **** it I gained that 20lbs back.

This is correct, no drug in the world can "make" you gain weight. It can lower your metabolism, yes, and it can make you hungry, yes, but NOTHING IN THE WORLD can break the Law of thermodynamics. However, a drug messing with your metabolism and increasing the hunger stimulus can make it VERY DIFFICULT not to gain weight, so I understand your frustration. Yet, if you count calories meticulously, and get some exercise, and weigh yourself regularly, you can control body-weight. The hard part is that you'll have to adjust your calories as your metabolism fluctuates, hence the regular weight-checks to make sure you are on track.

[pawn78]

Also, quetiapine made me really tired and sleepy too, so I quit it immediately. I can't live with that, I have to work and feed my family.

[ferelpis]

Originally Posted by pawn78

Also, quetiapine made me really tired and sleepy too, so I quit it immediately. I can't live with that, I have to work and feed my family.

Bingo! I can't afford BP,e specially depression... but i can't afford drowsiness either!

What are you on now, instead of quetiapine?

Seroquel has a paradoxical effect when it comes to the drowsiness side effect. It causes more drowsiness at the lower dosages (generally 100 and under) and as the dose gets larger, the drowsiness side effect actually becomes less prominent weirdly enough. It knocked me on my butt at 100mg, but at 300mg it wasn't nearly as sedating (still somewhat though). My husband takes 400mg every night and is able to get up at 4AM to go to work each day.

There is a extended release version that I've also tried. What I liked was that it gave me a few hours after I took it before I had to go to bed and I didn't find it quite as sedating in the morning. On the other hand, my husband can't take the extended release as it really sedates him (go figure).

[pawn78]

Originally Posted by ferelpis

Bingo! I can't afford BP,e specially depression... but i can't afford drowsiness either!

What are you on now, instead of quetiapine?

the inpatient facility put me on it 3 years ago, after I had an extreme manic episode with psychosis.
Now I am stable, and on 250mg lamotrigine. I love lamotrigine (lamictal), it works wonders for me, and I am on nothing else at the moment.

[hope2010]

ferelpis, thank you for posting about this issue with quetiapine (Seroquel). I totally get what you mean, you know what is best for you and that is a plus!
You also know what you can afford and what you can't another good thing.
Takes time as you well know, but we all here in this post are looking to be able to be stable, and talking about our medication and dose helps.

I am in a special situation myself, because I am recovering from breast cancer, all fine as much as can be fine, and Cancer Free. In my situation I can't afford the racing thought and depression so I am tired and dizzy but not only because of Seroquel, we all have our own daily challanges, I hope you can stay as good as you are right now!
With the right medication we can cope better, for me is Seroquel and Clonazepan. For you and anyone else here can be any medication and dose, any other treatment that your pdoc and yourself find out that is the right one.

It's not easy! Follow your feelings and what you want ferelpis, mean time thank you too.
Get well, stay well, Hugs
Alexia

[ferelpis]

Originally Posted by pawn78

the inpatient facility put me on it 3 years ago, after I had an extreme manic episode with psychosis.
Now I am stable, and on 250mg lamotrigine. I love lamotrigine (lamictal), it works wonders for me, and I am on nothing else at the moment.

of course i cannot tell my doc what to do, but i can tell him what not to do.. we'll see. I am not sure if get it tonight, to be honest

[hope2010]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

Seroquel has a paradoxical effect when it comes to the drowsiness side effect. It causes more drowsiness at the lower dosages (generally 100 and under) and as the dose gets larger, the drowsiness side effect actually becomes less prominent weirdly enough. It knocked me on my butt at 100mg, but at 300mg it wasn't nearly as sedating (still somewhat though). My husband takes 400mg every night and is able to get up at 4AM to go to work each day.

There is a extended release version that I've also tried. What I liked was that it gave me a few hours after I took it before I had to go to bed and I didn't find it quite as sedating in the morning. On the other hand, my husband can't take the extended release as it really sedates him (go figure).

I can't take the extended release too, totally sedates me like your husband. Yes, go figure.