[axelrose]

I was prescribed 400mg per night of Seroquel for Psychosis but mainly for hypomania from Bipolar disorder. I have since gained more than 100 pounds of weight from this medication. This is slowly but surely killing me now, the effect of 100 additional pounds is almost difficult to address.

I have decided to drop this med from 400mg to 200mg WITHOUT my doctor's permission. I am dying and cannot just do nothing about it.

I really would appreciate some feedback.
thanks

[Schatje]

Please speak with your doc about other medications to try. There are a lot of options and perhaps one of them will work better for you. It is true that being severely over weight can be a killer. It is also true that you shouldn't have to trade your physical health for your mental health or vice versa without at least making an attempt to meet both needs.

Losing the weight may be tough. It is always a struggle for me, I'm an emotional eater, and at one point was 85 lbs over weight. I actually had a doctor tell me that I would never be able to lose weight because of my bipolar. I stopped going to him.

Good Luck!

[AAAAA]

I would definately discuss this with your doctor. Decisions like these need to be made at a professional level.

[trippinmickey]

Ive gone from 100 mg. to 800mg. right now im on 400mg of serquel . I have gain 60 to 80 pounds my self but seroquel is one of the best meds. for bi-polar with the least amout of side-effects there are many Meds. that are much worst and will kill you faster with their side-effects trust ive tried them all.

The trick with Sq. is that it make you hungrey once you take it dont eat anything after-wards and most of the weight gain is water once you stop taking it the weight comes off fast but then you may go nuts . It relly is a great med. for bi-polar i love love it out of the 5 meds im on and all the meds. I tried it's worked the best.

So now im looking for to get some of the weight off I going to strat working out & walking to the stores instead of driving and see if I can get some water pills from my doc. Ive lost 40 to 50 pounds before but ive gotting lazy over the winter. They groups i go to for bi-polar having a fat belly means you are on your meds and the peolpe have lost their fats bellys have gone off their meds.I dont like it any more then you i was always in great shape but wth any meds. its a give and take their no magic pill .

[Merlin]

if you do decide to go off/reduce the meds, talk to your doctor about the safe way to do so.

[jattitude74]

I feel the came way, know exactly how you feel. I have been on seroquel since october (50mg then jumped to 800mg for an acute manic episode) I was dropped doen to 600mg. since october I have gained about 65 pounds and i no longer feel comfortable in my own skin. everytime i bring up lowering my dose the pdoc tells me to wait another month, i am tired of waitng so...without his recommendation, I lowered it to 1/2 (300mg) for 7 days and tonight will be my first night withoout it but,,, I also have an appointmentt with him today and i am kind of anxious as to what will come of that. i refuse to take it any longer. What works for me may not work for others so i would talk to your dr first, i know it sounds a bit hypocritical. good luck _jen

[jattitude74]

Just got back from the pdoc, off of seroquel!!!! yeehaa. He did raise my lithium and added celexa back into the mix, I am ok with that. good luck

[dreamkixxes]

<font color="#000088"> Please talk with your doctor. Get blood work done and make sure there isnt anything else going on!! I went down from 100 to 50 and it was hard. </font>

[trippinmickey]

I've been taking Seroqeul for close to 4 years now It works great for when you are manic!! But I'm not always manic so me and my doctor decided together to have 200mgs. taken as needed Seroquel is one of those meds. you can adjust with out much side effects so as I cycle down and low my dose to fit my moods.

I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I am on a combo of meds including Seroquel and I have gained 75 pounds.

Personally I think the drugs alter the metabolism of people and hence why almost everyone gains weight. The drug companies just won't say it.....

Good luck in your decision. I decided years ago that it was better for me to be "mentally ok" and be overweight than to go off meds, become manic and get myself in trouble.

Crappy choice.....