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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blahblahblah on July 14, 2009, at 23:57:23
hey, my pdoc prescribed me seroquel today to help with my emotional and aggressive episodes, irritation, and anxiety. can someone please give me anything they know about this. i'm particularly worried about weight gain and loss of sex drive. thanks all.
Posted by yxibow on July 15, 2009, at 10:01:09
In reply to seroquel, posted by blahblahblah on July 14, 2009, at 23:57:23
> hey, my pdoc prescribed me seroquel today to help with my emotional and aggressive episodes, irritation, and anxiety. can someone please give me anything they know about this. i'm particularly worried about weight gain and loss of sex drive. thanks all.
Well, everyone's reaction is going to be different to Seroquel... I don't see a real diagnosis here, just a set of symptoms, which sometimes is all that is seen to start with...
But it can be a powerful anxiolytic when other options haven't worked.
Weight gain is an issue with at least three atypicals, it can be significant, and the important thing is to watch intake.Hunger creeps up on you, I know personally.
An exercise program, even modest, would help, and cutting down the food you would normally eat to compensate for the possible metabolic slowdown.
As for sex drive, its not particularly known as a medication that affects this -- yes, some APs affect "prolactin levels" but Seroquel is not heavy on this.
That's a more common way of sex drive loss in APs.Its theoretical I suppose to say that cutting dopamine can reduce certain sensations and feelings, I believe what is called "blunting" of affect.
This actually is often a desired outcome with the medication's original purpose, to regulate schizophrenic and other psychotic spectrum disorders.
But for affective disorders it sometimes can come off as a bit of dull senses and cloudiness. Still this can be something that can be gotten used to and its not necessarily a deal breaker if the medication is important to you.
As for other EPS (side effects) for Seroquel, it is probably among the lowest for movement issues -- it may cause pseudoparkinsonism (shaky hands); akathisia (a feeling of a need to walk/run when sitting still) in my experience hasn't been there but that's individual.Except for weight gain its probably the lowest AP in terms of liability/long term problems.
-- Jay
Posted by Zana on July 15, 2009, at 14:04:10
In reply to Re: seroquel » blahblahblah, posted by yxibow on July 15, 2009, at 10:01:09
I am on Seroquel and have not found weight gain a problem. However, what I do notice is that it turns off my appestat meaning that I lose my sense of fullness and just keep eating. I manage that by having liquid shakes of protein powders and other nutrtional suppliments during the day and eating a ton of veggies at dinner. I also try to put in 40 minutes or so on the treadmill.
I would agree with Jay that it does have a dulling or blunting effect. I'm not wild about it but for me, right now, that is helpful as I tend to be hyper-emotional and easily overwhelmed by my feelings. I haven't noticed any effect on sex though I did feel more interested in sex when I added on Pristiq. Pristiq, sadly, has killed any sexual sensation at all. But that was not a problem on the seroquel alone.
Hope this helps.
Zana
Posted by JayBTV2 on July 19, 2009, at 12:37:27
In reply to Re: seroquel, posted by Zana on July 15, 2009, at 14:04:10
I take 100mg of Seroquel at night (mainly for sleep). Been taking it for over a year now.
No significant weight gain
No sexual side effects
Your mileage may vary though...
This is the end of the thread.
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