Will Getting Off Seroquel Help Me Lose The Weight Again?

Hi!

I don't know if I belong here... seems like everyone's got the opposite problem than me. But, you see, I've been taking Seroquel on and off for a while now. I think I started taking it four years ago when I was in an Eating Disorder Hospital in Utah, then I stopped sometime later for whatever reason. About a year ago or so, I started taking it again, and my weight has shot up to around 170 lbs (from 115lbs.) I'm 5'4". I finally, on Tuesday, convinced my pdoc to take me off of Seroquel (slowly, of course). I can't wait to be totally off. Part of me wants to just quit it without his permission, but he insists I stay on until our next meeting. And to be honest, since I've halved my Seroquels, I haven't been sleeping at all. Sad to say. I don't want to be on anything that's going to make me obese. I do exercise and eat healthy, but it doesn't seem to help. Anyone out there in my boat?

MrsLovett

Hi MrsLovett,

No I have never taken Seroquel . I was given it once for sleep and anziety issues I had durring a very difficult time of my life . I was given some sampes I recognizeed the name form others who had take it. So I googled it. Not a great drug for a person strugling with an eating disorder IMHO ad remembered a few other women who were really sruggling with the weight gain . So I tossed them . I got through it with out the drugs.

Because Serquel it cause cravings and weight gain. Maybe if someone is very underweigt that May be okay but if you are a binger compulsive overeater type Like I am carbohydrate craving is a nightmare. Its a daily struggle if I indulge in those kinds of foods.

I woud really try to get someother kind of meds that can help you with what ever else your struggling with . There may be another place here On PC you can post about getting off of Seroquel and your halving your meds.

You may well loose the weight after you get off the seroquel ,or lets say it will lesson the cravings. The main way to deal with the cravings though is to stay away from those food that trigger it . thats what works for me. I try to eat the right foods every day . If i had my way Id just eat carbs.


Patricia

I was on seraquel for a year and my weight went up alot and I got high blood pressure. I didnt eat any different either. I heard that it changes the way you process suger and stuff. I have lost over 40 pounds and am back to my weight. I had a hard time sleeping afterward also. I used benadryl for a while. Dont go off cold turkey that is so bad for you. I know you want to get off but you hav to do it the right way or you could get very ill.

Thanks! I will try the benadryl. I definitely need *something* I'm going crazy without sleep. Just toss and turn all night, and when I do sleep for a couple of minutes or so, I have these crazy nightmares (usually about having seizures. I've had real seizures in the past.) Benadryl might help with that. Thank you!

MrsLovett

I used to take Seroquel. I don't know if it caused weight gain because I was put on some other meds at the same time. And I was put on Zyprexa for a bit-a huge weight gainer.
Could you replace Seroquel with Abilify if you still needed something? That's supposed to be weight neutral. I take it. Works great.
I'm also 5'4 and I got up to 191 pounds. Then I developed anorexia after a while. I'm at a healthy weight currently.

Oh I already take Abilify... darn I'm on so many prescription drugs, really I'm just grasping at straws here. Any one (or just myself!) could be the culprit for my weight gain. On that topic, my weight gain has stopped since my psych halved my Seroquel. Even lost a couple of pounds! I'm going to make sure I call him on Monday about that Benadryl. I would have called him earlier, but my mind is mush and I have so much going on right now...

MrsLovett

Weight gain is caused by the medication making you crave carbohydrates. Try a low carb diet and eat all you want without gaiing weight. I went from 208 to 165 on a modified Atkins diet. 6 weeks to get my weight down over 40 pounds.

I am on seroquel and jusyt decided to stop. It was for sleep and anxiety. But even iff I am anorexic I don,t wanty to take something I,ll pork out on I need help. I'm quitting cold tury after years of use is that going to be a problem?

I don't know much about Atkins, but I am pretty much vegetarian. Is that a problem?

I'd love to get my weight down 40 lbs....

MrsLovett

My doctor told me to take it off I have gain 15 pounds on it.

I'm on Seroquel XR 150mg(and Deprevix 150mg) and my weight hasn't changed much. If anything, I have lost around 5 pounds since I started taking it.

For the record I was already underweight before taking Seroquel, so it would be easier to put on weight if it caused weight gain.

Idk, are you sure that your weight gain is caused by the meds?
Have you checked your thyroid?
It really affects sleep though. One day I forgot to take my meds and I litteraly didn't sleep all night. Pure torture.

I had been dealing with a trauma which caused the anorexia I had to be hospitalized for....my pdoc put me on seroquel because of the nightmared caused by the trauma.....a really high dose which completely knocked me out for most of the day.....I didn't gain anything for about a year, then I just got up to a safe weight.....seroquel had no effect on my weight even though my pdoc hoped it would on top of handling the PTSD.