![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LucidDreamer on December 17, 2012, at 22:20:23
Hi everyone. I've been on Seroquel since 2007, when I was 15 for Anxiety. At first I was on about 800 mg and I gradually decreased the dosage to about 25 mg (now). In 2010 I was on about 150 mg at night(for sleeping at that time) until 2011 when I reduced it further and further til I got to 25 mg. One day when I was doing research on Seroquel I stumbled upon a few sites that mentioned Seroquel increases growth hormone secretion. Ever since finding this out I have going mad trying to reassure myself that all the years I've been on Seroquel hasn't caused abnormal growth in me. I know there is a disease where you have too much growth hormone called Acromegaly , and they develop certain symptoms such as a protruding jaw, really thick eyebrows, wide nose, thick lips, and thick bones to name few. Now I don't really have any of these symptoms, except my lower lip is a little thick-not ABNORMALLY thick but compared to my upper lip it's on the thicker side. I keep thinking what if Seroquel increased my growth hormone to the point where it affected my actual growth-not significantly but in a benign way, where it made my nose a little wider than it was supposed to be(although I have an average nose not too wide), my lower lip a little thicker, and my cheekbones bigger(I have big/high cheekbones, not abnormally big, but on the bigger side)? I had my growth hormone checked in early 2009, when I was on I think 600 or 400 mg of Seroquel and it was 502 when the range ended at 526. So at that point if I wasn't on Seroquel it would probably be lower. I would like to point out that my growth hormone has always probably been on the higher side (not out of range though, caused I had it checked 4 more times after 2009 and they all came back well within range), because I am tall, 6'2-so not too tall. Does anyone here think that the increase in my growth hormone caused by Seroquel could have affected my growth in any way? Does that sound too crazy? I do have Body Dysmorphic disorder, and I tend to obsess about my looks-too much. I just want to hear what someone thinks about this from the other side. If let's say all my growth has been normal and due to my genes, I'll be relieved. And no matter how much I tell myself this, there is always a shred of about, either rational or irrational. There really is not any evidence that I have or had Acromegaly, besides my big cheekbones which could just be genetics. I would REALLY appreciate it if you could please tell me your opinion. Thank you so much!
Posted by SLS on December 18, 2012, at 0:07:43
In reply to Worried about Seroquel. PLEASE HELP, posted by LucidDreamer on December 17, 2012, at 22:20:23
Did you read about this on a bodybuilding forum?
- Scott
Posted by Jeroen on December 18, 2012, at 4:36:57
In reply to Re: Worried about Seroquel. PLEASE HELP » LucidDreamer, posted by SLS on December 18, 2012, at 0:07:43
guess what have dentall absess and on antibiotic clamoxyl and feel little better atm
Posted by Phillipa on December 18, 2012, at 17:38:42
In reply to Worried about Seroquel. PLEASE HELP, posted by LucidDreamer on December 17, 2012, at 22:20:23
Lucid Dreamer maybe this can help. Pay special attention to age and big feet and jaw. Phillipa
Posted by SLS on December 18, 2012, at 19:20:42
In reply to Re: Worried about Seroquel. PLEASE HELP » LucidDreamer, posted by Phillipa on December 18, 2012, at 17:38:42
> Lucid Dreamer maybe this can help. Pay special attention to age and big feet and jaw. Phillipa
>
> http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/seroquel/acromegaly
You are kidding us, right?eHealthMe?
Did you even bother reading the webpage you cited?
---------------------------------------"On Dec, 18, 2012: 64,880 people reported to have side effects when taking Seroquel. Among them, 4 people (0.01%) have Acromegaly."
--------------------------------------
Can you imagine if, instead of 64,880, eHealthMe were to use the value for the total number of people actually taking the drug - not just those reporting side effects? My guess is that it is well over 3 million in the USA.
- Scott
Posted by Meatwood_Flack on December 18, 2012, at 20:34:44
In reply to Worried about Seroquel. PLEASE HELP, posted by LucidDreamer on December 17, 2012, at 22:20:23
> Ever since finding this out I have going mad trying to reassure myself that all the years I've been on Seroquel hasn't caused abnormal growth in me.
Nocebo effect occurs when someone expects negative side effects that occur with a certain medication. It sounds like your only concern with abnormal growth was triggered by the article, not noticing anything in the mirror, comments from others, etc. That, to me, is a good clue.
>I know there is a disease where you have too much growth hormone called Acromegaly , and they develop certain symptoms such as a protruding jaw, really thick eyebrows, wide nose, thick lips, and thick bones to name few. Now I don't really have any of these symptoms, except my lower lip is a little thick-not ABNORMALLY thick but compared to my upper lip it's on the thicker side.
A slightly thicker lower lip is common. Second clue to me, you say you don't have any other symptoms. Since lower lips are often a little thicker than upper lips, that doesn't meet the standard of a symptom.
>I keep thinking what if Seroquel increased my growth hormone to the point where it affected my actual growth-not significantly but in a benign way, where it made my nose a little wider than it was supposed to be(although I have an average nose not too wide), my lower lip a little thicker, and my cheekbones bigger(I have big/high cheekbones, not abnormally big, but on the bigger side)?
Slightly larger cheekbones are actually considered more aesthetically pleasing and attractive, so you lucked out there, regardless of the source.
<So at that point if I wasn't on Seroquel it would probably be lower. I would like to point out that my growth hormone has always probably been on the higher side (not out of range though, caused I had it checked 4 more times after 2009 and they all came back well within range), because I am tall, 6'2-so not too tall.
Unless your growth hormone was above range while on Seroquel, I don't think the medication is a worry. Six feet two is above average, which would likely equate to higher growth hormone. Unless both your parents are short, your height isn't out of the ordinary. Also, keep in mind, that you're either at the tail end of puberty or just came out of it. This when changes such as growth spurts and increased hormones occur, so a higher level of growth hormone would not be unusual.
>Does anyone here think that the increase in my growth hormone caused by Seroquel could have affected my growth in any way?
From everything else you've written, I would say it's unlikely.
>I do have Body Dysmorphic disorder, and I tend to obsess about my looks-too much.
You probably just answered your own question.
>I just want to hear what someone thinks about this from the other side. If let's say all my growth has been normal and due to my genes, I'll be relieved.
Be relieved, anyway. It sounds like your features are normal. It's unlikely the Seroquel caused abnormal growth. Plus, for me, personally, if I had taken Seroquel at your age and it caused me to shoot up to six feet two, I would have been elated, being only five feet nine...
>And no matter how much I tell myself this, there is always a shred of about, either rational or irrational. There really is not any evidence that I have or had Acromegaly, besides my big cheekbones which could just be genetics.
I think, in this case, your biggest worry is worry, itself.
Posted by LucidDreamer on December 18, 2012, at 22:01:12
In reply to Re: Worried about Seroquel. PLEASE HELP, posted by Meatwood_Flack on December 18, 2012, at 20:34:44
> > Ever since finding this out I have going mad trying to reassure myself that all the years I've been on Seroquel hasn't caused abnormal growth in me.
>
> Nocebo effect occurs when someone expects negative side effects that occur with a certain medication. It sounds like your only concern with abnormal growth was triggered by the article, not noticing anything in the mirror, comments from others, etc. That, to me, is a good clue.
>
> >I know there is a disease where you have too much growth hormone called Acromegaly , and they develop certain symptoms such as a protruding jaw, really thick eyebrows, wide nose, thick lips, and thick bones to name few. Now I don't really have any of these symptoms, except my lower lip is a little thick-not ABNORMALLY thick but compared to my upper lip it's on the thicker side.
>
> A slightly thicker lower lip is common. Second clue to me, you say you don't have any other symptoms. Since lower lips are often a little thicker than upper lips, that doesn't meet the standard of a symptom.
>
> >I keep thinking what if Seroquel increased my growth hormone to the point where it affected my actual growth-not significantly but in a benign way, where it made my nose a little wider than it was supposed to be(although I have an average nose not too wide), my lower lip a little thicker, and my cheekbones bigger(I have big/high cheekbones, not abnormally big, but on the bigger side)?
>
> Slightly larger cheekbones are actually considered more aesthetically pleasing and attractive, so you lucked out there, regardless of the source.
>
> <So at that point if I wasn't on Seroquel it would probably be lower. I would like to point out that my growth hormone has always probably been on the higher side (not out of range though, caused I had it checked 4 more times after 2009 and they all came back well within range), because I am tall, 6'2-so not too tall.
>
> Unless your growth hormone was above range while on Seroquel, I don't think the medication is a worry. Six feet two is above average, which would likely equate to higher growth hormone. Unless both your parents are short, your height isn't out of the ordinary. Also, keep in mind, that you're either at the tail end of puberty or just came out of it. This when changes such as growth spurts and increased hormones occur, so a higher level of growth hormone would not be unusual.
>
> >Does anyone here think that the increase in my growth hormone caused by Seroquel could have affected my growth in any way?
>
> From everything else you've written, I would say it's unlikely.
>
> >I do have Body Dysmorphic disorder, and I tend to obsess about my looks-too much.
>
> You probably just answered your own question.
>
> >I just want to hear what someone thinks about this from the other side. If let's say all my growth has been normal and due to my genes, I'll be relieved.
>
> Be relieved, anyway. It sounds like your features are normal. It's unlikely the Seroquel caused abnormal growth. Plus, for me, personally, if I had taken Seroquel at your age and it caused me to shoot up to six feet two, I would have been elated, being only five feet nine...
>
> >And no matter how much I tell myself this, there is always a shred of about, either rational or irrational. There really is not any evidence that I have or had Acromegaly, besides my big cheekbones which could just be genetics.
>
> I think, in this case, your biggest worry is worry, itself.
>
>First off I'd like to thank you for taking the time to address my concerns in my thread. I really appreciate it. You made some very good points such as the fact that I suspected abnormal growth after I read those articles. All your other points were equally good too. It's just so hard and deceiving to have body dysmorphic type thinking about your appearance. When it gets severe enough, it's kind of like losing tiny touch with reality, cause your perception is so screwed up. Well anyways thanks.
Posted by Phillipa on December 18, 2012, at 22:17:56
In reply to Re: Worried about Seroquel. PLEASE HELP » Meatwood_Flack, posted by LucidDreamer on December 18, 2012, at 22:01:12
I agree with above and my link was only to help show you what a person with your concern really looks like. Several websites had the same pictures. Only Link seemed to be larger than large feet. Hope you are reassured now :)))
Posted by Phillipa on December 18, 2012, at 22:20:54
In reply to Re: Worried about Seroquel. PLEASE HELP » LucidDreamer, posted by Phillipa on December 18, 2012, at 22:17:56
And to Boot was the link without the pictures. Be assured I would find it highly questionable if you did. Phillipa
Posted by Meatwood_Flack on December 18, 2012, at 23:37:30
In reply to Re: Worried about Seroquel. PLEASE HELP » Meatwood_Flack, posted by LucidDreamer on December 18, 2012, at 22:01:12
You're welcome. It sounds like a very difficult circumstance to try and deal with. Asking for other opinions was a good idea, and acknowledging your perceptual challenges is a positive sign, although I understand severity of that perception can overpower that ability sometimes. Maybe this experience could be a good tool for you to keep tucked away in your mind, that you can use to challenge future perceptual dysmorphic episodes. Thought patterns don't change, overnight, but they can change. A good counselor who can challenge you to challenge yourself in the right ways may be of help, if you've not yet gone that route. Good luck to you and I wish you well on your path to recovery.
Posted by LucidDreamer on December 19, 2012, at 4:41:22
In reply to Re: Worried about Seroquel. PLEASE HELP » LucidDreamer, posted by Meatwood_Flack on December 18, 2012, at 23:37:30
> You're welcome. It sounds like a very difficult circumstance to try and deal with. Asking for other opinions was a good idea, and acknowledging your perceptual challenges is a positive sign, although I understand severity of that perception can overpower that ability sometimes. Maybe this experience could be a good tool for you to keep tucked away in your mind, that you can use to challenge future perceptual dysmorphic episodes. Thought patterns don't change, overnight, but they can change. A good counselor who can challenge you to challenge yourself in the right ways may be of help, if you've not yet gone that route. Good luck to you and I wish you well on your path to recovery.
Thanks again.
Posted by SLS on December 19, 2012, at 5:54:13
In reply to Re: Worried about Seroquel. PLEASE HELP, posted by LucidDreamer on December 19, 2012, at 4:41:22
Hi.
Meatwood_Flack has said some very insightful things, and I hope you are able to internalize them. I cannot fully appreciate your condition, but I am impressed that you recognize it, understand it, and are motivated to make difficult changes to combat it.
I wish you only the best of luck. Thank you for posting on Psycho-Babble and being so honest. Your honesty will help others. It has already helped you.
Be well.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.