I love Seroquel but I'm getting fat!

By rayray Thursday, February 05, 2009

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So for a very long time I have been sure, as well as a few different docs, that I have bipolar and ADD. I started Seroquel mid December and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I feel like a normal person now. I am a slim 29 year old woman, never really had issues with gaining weight, even after having kids I got skinny fast. But I have gone from a VERY comfortable size 2/4 to a fat ass tight size 8. Really no offense to anyone, but I only have 2 pairs of pant I can wear and it almost looks like I am pregnant. It hasn't helped that I had a hysterectomy on New Years Eve...all that sitting around eating anything I wanted. But now I am seeing that all of that eating what ever I wanted was due to the Seroquel. I literally will eat almost a whole apple pie in one night with out even realizing it. It is like I am a heroine addict and food is my drug. I have always been able to control what I eat but last night I ate probably 15 mini powdered donuts and a half of a bag of chips. I will not get off of Seroquel, but I am going crazy with my eating! And it's only after I take my meds. During the day, I am fine. I can eat fruits and veggies all day and be very happy, but once my meds kick in, I'm a beast. I am not really asking a question about this, I just had to gripe. Thanks for understanding!

Comments (9) | Add comment

KodyD

2/ 5/09 1:04pm

Gaining weigh with serequel has ben a past topic of discussion on this form many many times, it is a proven fact on that med you have to diet and exercise or you will gain weight, iv read folks who have gained 15lbs in less than a few weeks. The latest topic of sudden death due to cardiac arrest from that med is enought to make me not want it at all. I have not gained any weight with geodon and feal great as well

penguin5711

2/ 5/09 1:59pm

I know you probably know this but there is a book out there and it says if you want a cookie then eat a apple if you still want the cookie then eat a banana and if you still want the cookie then eat an orange and if you still want the cookie then eat the damn cookie! Sara

KodyD

2/ 5/09 2:37pm

that is very bad advice for someone on these types of meds, apparently you care nothing about your health or your livelyhood. Being obese and overweight is very bad and completly unhealthy. suit yourself

penguin5711

2/ 5/09 2:58pm

ouch! did you hear me if you eat 3 pieces of fruit and then you have a single cookie then you have pretty much conquered the bad nutrion in the cookie! But hey it wasn't me who thought of that it was an expert! So please if you want a cookie eat the fruit!

KodyD

2/ 5/09 3:53pm

ok i get it

tabby

2/ 5/09 2:47pm

I hear ya!!

When I was on it... I had the sugar cravings. Yes, I did.

It would hit me and though I managed to avoid actually consuming something sugary and sweet a good deal of the time it was hitting... I couldn't each time.

I wouldn't eat a whole pie or copious amounts of stuff but... a honey bun would yell to me in the store and I'd buy it occasionally. By the way... never look at the back of the package on a Honey Bun.... lol

I gained weight in a relatively short period of time. I didn't eat more than I usually did nor less and I didn't alter my exercise one way or the other. I did, on occasion, eat a sugary thing but not a lot of it or several of them (not judging... just saying) and yet... I still gained about 15 lbs. in 6 weeks from start to finish.

When I stopped the med - with doc's instruction - I didn't have the cravings anymore and to the extent they were so... I do hear ya on that side effect because I too had it.

Point... most of the meds have a weight gain effect. Some are weight neutral supposedly but even those... on certain people... will cause gain and not loss. Meds are different on each person.

talk with your pdoc... maybe he/she can advise you on something or perhaps add something to counteract

coffee421

2/ 5/09 8:20pm

this is one of my biggest fears on this med i have only been on seropuel for a few months and let me tell you this fear came true it matters not what you eat this shit makes you FAT!!!!!! i obsess about what i eat b/c i was 100lbs when i stated i just weighed in at 118...... i had a full blown panic attack in my docs office.... i notice since its a pm drug for me i am good until about one hour into it then i want to eat and i want sweets very unlike be b4 to want sugar! this may be why some people got diabetes while on the seropuel. Although i know they said ther was no merit to the lawsuit..... i wonder!

Mace windu

11/ 9/11 11:16am

Hi there. I understand how you all feel. I'm 16 years old. Been off and on few medicines for 2 years. I am 70 kg, standing at 1.80m. I am currently med free for 6 months. To be honest, it is more challenging living and sleeping without seroquel. However I feel that I am at least in control of my life and moods and can attribute my successes to my own diligence. To face the sleeping issue, I recommend you guys try natural means such as meditation , reading a boring book or listening to soothing nature sounds from your iPod. Let's face it . The main reason we have our moods can be linked to our sleep, or lack of it. Btw, before going on my first dose of lithium at the hospital, I weighed around 62 kg and sported a 4 pack. After 1 and 1/2 years, my weight ballooned to 75kg with seroquel( I stopped lithium after 3 months). 6 months ago, after my granddad passed away, I decided to stop my 400mg seroquel intake totally. Gradually, after exercise, living a balanced lifestyles and trying to maintain my moods, I maintained my weight around 70 to 75 kg range and am still physically fit. To challenge the weight issue, I recommend you guys try adopting a multiple prong approach. Firstly, you must love yourself enough to change for the better. 1. Eat 6 small meals a day instead of 3 big ones. This will jumpstart your metabolism. 2. Sip cold water and unsweetened tea throughout the day 3. Hit the gym and run if you can 4. Lifting weights boost lean muscle mass which helps you burn fat throughout the day. 5. Share your ambitions with your closest kin. They can motivate you continually when u begin to feel down and out 6. Live your life as you would want to live it! Be free and proud of your achievements. 7. Stay motivated and do not expect immediate results Hope this helped. Life is short. But you still gotta plan it. God bless all you. Mace

louisaslow54

11/10/11 11:02pm

Dear Mace, please don't think I am being faceous when I say how much I admire you. I am 64, have been struggling with bipolar 1 all my life, but still am way behind you when it comes to managing my illness. I am sitting here right now, after having done no exercise in a month, guiltily munching on Pringles. I keep telling myself I shall have just a couple more, then low and behold they are all gone. This is all since starting on Seroquel just over a month ago. I love this med. I sleep well, and have never felt normal like this before. I have convinced myself that it is worth gaining a bit of weight (I have gained 5lb.) if it makes me feel well. I only started at 100mg, but last week my doctor lowered the dose to 50mg. So far I haven't noticed any difference, but am still eating all the time. I know I SHOULD do all the things you suggest, but obviously I have no willpower. I am going to copy out your post and stick it on my bathroom mirror. Thanks so much for giving me some encouragement. Keep writing, you are an inspiration to us all.

I love Seroquel but I'm getting fat!

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