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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maxime on December 1, 2007, at 21:22:12
Hi
I've been on 200 mg of Seroquel for 4 weeks now. I am worried about weight gain. What has been your experience with weight gain and Seroquel and what dosage were you taking?
Even if I gain weight I have to stay on the Seroquel. It keeps the voices away and it's my mood stabiliser now. I also read that it is good for depression.
Thank you.
Maxime
Posted by MidnightBlue on December 1, 2007, at 23:12:58
In reply to Seroquel and weight gain, posted by Maxime on December 1, 2007, at 21:22:12
Maxime,
Try not to think about what might happen with a medication. Look at all the good it is doing. Try to take things one day at a time. I'm really glad to hear you have a psychologist to talk to.
MB
Posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2007, at 11:53:38
In reply to Re: Seroquel and weight gain » Maxime, posted by MidnightBlue on December 1, 2007, at 23:12:58
Ugottahave hope took seroquel and I thing he lost weight. Maxime please try and not think about it and agree with midgnight blue good about the psychologist. Please get well. Phillipa
Posted by Justherself54 on December 2, 2007, at 13:46:13
In reply to Re: Seroquel and weight gain, posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2007, at 11:53:38
Sereoquel gives me the munchies about 1/2 hour after I take it, so I take it right as I'm going to get into bed so I'm not hitting the chocolate (it makes me crave sweet stuff)..if you're taking it for sleep, that would be my suggestion..get into bed right away after taking it!
Posted by maxime on December 2, 2007, at 15:43:30
In reply to Re: Seroquel and weight gain, posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2007, at 11:53:38
I don't think people lose weight on Seroquel. I know the dosage makes a difference. I am on 200 mg and some people take 800 mg. I really hope I don't gain any weight from it because it will cause a lot of anxiety!
Maxie
Posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2007, at 17:47:09
In reply to Re: Seroquel and weight gain » Phillipa, posted by maxime on December 2, 2007, at 15:43:30
Maxie I know. Call him on babble he'll see it. Love Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on December 4, 2007, at 13:09:56
In reply to Seroquel and weight gain, posted by Maxime on December 1, 2007, at 21:22:12
My appetite is different now that I have the Seroquel on board and I don't like it! I am craving sweets! I've gained weight. If it keeps up, I am going off the Seroquel.
Maxime
Posted by Racer on December 4, 2007, at 13:35:45
In reply to It's making me hungry, posted by Maxime on December 4, 2007, at 13:09:56
I had that problem when I started Ritalin, and when I started EMSAM. In both cases, it passed pretty quickly.
Before you stop it over this issue, try some other ways to curb the hunger. Some things that helped me: I was constipated, so I'd take a large glass of water with Metmucil -- which made the problem worse, so I switched to Miralax -- that filled my stomach, and stopped the feeling of hunger; green tea is supposed to reduce cravings; I got jars of bread-and-butter pickles, and are some pickle slices; freeze dried apples helped; drinking lots of water; and I'm sure I've forgotten some of the other things I did. Be very careful about the water, that's the one that can be the most dangerous for you, because of the electrolyte imbalances it can cause. I cut way back on diet soda, which also increased my appetite and cravings for sweets. And I got rolls of sugar-free mints, and rolls of Life Savers -- about 5 calories each, and if you just suck on them, they last a long time.
Here's the thing -- and you know I know how hard this is, right? -- you've been in such very bad shape, for so long, if there's a chance this drug will help you, it would be a shame not to give it a chance. Hard as it is, hang in there to let this effect pass -- and it should pass, too. I know someone with bulimia who has taken Seroquel for years without weight gain. If she'd gained weight, she'd have stopped it right away -- she's like us that way. If you can get through about the first two months, this should pass, and you'll be back to baseline with your appetite and cravings. What's more, you may be back to feeling human again, too -- and wouldn't that be wonderful?
Maxime, you know that I empathize with you about the weight gain/appetite stimulation, right? I really do know that saying, "stick it out, it's likely to go away" doesn't really help -- it can feel dismissive, or even downright cruel. I really hope you know that I don't mean it that way -- I mean it in the warmest, most affectionate way possible. I'm not going to tell you it's OK to gain weight if you feel better -- because I really and truly do know that it isn't OK to gain that weight. You may have some fluctuations in your weight until your body adjusts to the drug, but they'll even out once that happens. (I'm finally adjusting, or starting to, to EMSAM, and my weight is stabilizing slightly below where it was when I started the drug. And I'm beginning to feel halfway human again -- if only halfway. That couldn't have happened if I had given up over the initial appetite increase.)
I wish you the very best, and urge you to hold on a little longer with these drugs. If it doesn't get better after about eight weeks, then you can consider if it's worthwhile sticking with them. Maybe you'll feel better about it, maybe your doctor can offer something that will help.
xoxo
Posted by Maxime on December 4, 2007, at 16:57:05
In reply to Re: It's making me hungry » Maxime, posted by Racer on December 4, 2007, at 13:35:45
As always, you give great advice Racer. :)
I will try one more month with the Seroquel and see if the craving go away. It is also giving me headaches, which are getting hard to tolerate.
xxxx
Maxime
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