This question is kind of specific, so I understand if no one out there knows anything about it!
I have been on the antipsychotic quetiapine (seroquel) for around a month, just on very low doses, for anxiety. And it worked...kind of. I have felt very very sleepy, lacking any motivation to do anything, and when i do get up i just drift around like im sleep walking. I also realised the other day that I have put on a stone just since starting quetiapine. This freaked me out and iv been feeling like i am disgusting and my clothes dont fit :( So now I cant bring myself to take it anymore, and the wound up anxious feeling (like pins and needle in my chest and arms, and tense muscles) is back and is permanently there.
Im not seeing my doc for a couple of weeks, I know i should discuss it with her and I will. But i feel embarassed bringing up the weight issue, it is a big issue for me though and i am too freaked out about losing control over my body weight to take the pills even until then, or even for another day.
Basically I would really appreciate it if anyone might have any experiences they could share about this drug or similar, to help my decision making. Does sleepiness wear off? WHy has the drug made me pile on so much weight when i am eating the same, and is it possible to lose weight whilst still taking it? I dont know which is worse...wound up or zombifed.
Serequel is a mild tranqulizer so it does make you very sleepy. Ive been having this problem for the last year where getting up in the morning is impossible, but it gets easier over time.
You should talk to the doc about the weight gain, they may try you on something else
"Its not how long a star shines, what is remembered is the brightness of the light"
Hey, i've been taking quietiapine for quite a while, 2 years perhaps, and im pretty sure i didnt experience any weight gain, although i did with other anti-psychotics such as olanzapine and abilify.
The tiredness does get easier to manage over time, i understand and can empathise with how hard it is to be motivated to do things and so sleepy all the time. But it will get easier.
Are you able to phone your doctor? This is pretty important and Dr's are always concerned about their patients stopping medication suddenly.
We hope this works out for you.
Seroquel is NOTORIOUS for weight gain! I can easily gain 10 pounds (4.5 kilos) in a month on this stuff, which is why I try not to use it every night. Don't be ashamed to talk to your doctor about this... it's common! If you don't express your concern, he/she wouldn't consider changing meds, which you might need.... or at least want to consider!
Last edited by only2fail : 12-09-2011 at 11:00 PM.
Reason: removing personal details
I woke up late... guess I'm never really early. I hesitate, ONLY TO FAIL. I get so tired of procrastinating. I need a change.
I gained alot of weight on quitapine,. You can lose the weight though whilst still on it, i havent lost it all but have lost 12kgs or so and i am still taking it.
Just did it with diet and exersise, so if the drug works for you then eat healthy and exersise.
I gained weight on Quetiapine too- about 20lb in 6 months. I've come off it now but I still carry it in my bag to use when I'm having psychotic moments or images.
I'd go and see your dr because it doesn't seem like this drug is right for you.
im on 600 serquel, i have gained wheight, some times i have problems forming proper sentances like a stutter, and i seam to have even more psychotic thoughts and i am incredibly suicidal.
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I'm on Quetiapine. 200 at night (to help sleep which amazingly it has and for which I am incredibly thankful) and upto 200 during day for impulsivity, anxiety and self harm. I feel disgustingly fat at the moment. This time last year I was less than a low weight but right now around slightly heavier weight. I'm probably the right weight now. Don't know if it is the Quetiapine or not but I can't deny that it has helped with the impulsivity etc and generally calmed me down (although not at this min). If really finding it difficult, you should talk to your dr.
Last edited by Puppet Strings : 14-12-2008 at 04:17 PM.
Reason: Edited out the weights - please see new ED trial rules, x
"Everything is possible through Christ, who gives me strength". Phillipians 4:13
I have a feeling that antipsychotics interfere with the body's metabolic rate, BUT I AM NOT SURE. My advice is to call your doctor and tell him what is going on. The tiredness will wear off. I eat a lot less than I used to because I appear to need less food to maintain my weight than before. Sometimes when I'm feeling groggy (I'm on Clozapine), I force myself to go for a walk around the block with minimal clothes on so that the coldness of the winter air wakes me up.
PM me if you want a PDF copy of the ICD-10or the Mental Health Act 1983/2007. I ALSO HAVE THE DSM-V BOOK and am a pharmacology student.
I have a visual impairment / neurological problems so I need people to type in clear text and no funny fonts. Also excuse any typos, my vision blocks things out.
I have autism and have problems communicating, PMs included.
Just becasue I type well doesn't mean I speak well. I am only part time verbal.
I have experianced no weight gain or loss on it, as far as I know. It is a newer anti-psychotic, and has a lesser effect on appitite and weight gain than many of the older ones.
Most people dont experiance weight gain on this, but some do.
There are other anti-anxiety treatments such as SSRI's which are a class of anti-depressant, but many have anti-anxiety properties.
Physical symptoms can be treated with beta-blockers if you have severe physical symptoms such as palpitations, over sweating and high blood pressure. (I am currently on beta blockers, an SSRI (fluoxetine 60mg for OCD depression and anxiety) and quetiapine)
Can I ask that nobody posts weights on here. It is against the rules and there is no warnings.. which is triggering.
You need to see your dr as soon as you can, stopping prescribed medication is not ideal, and you need some sort of treatment for anxiety. Has the gp ever refered you for CBT. Its a therapy used for anxiety and other conditions.
xx
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I gained a lot of weight on Quitiapine. And was so tired during the day I wasn't functioning properly. I stopped it suddenly and I didn't get any effects from that apart from less sleep. But I wouldn't reccomend stopping it straight away like you have without talking to your Dr first. It can affect you in many ways so best to do it under medical supervision. Also your Dr can look into other medications that may help you instead.
I want to kiss the bottom of the ocean before I burst through its surface into the sunlight, otherwise I will always be wondering about what was left unseen at the bottom
i'm tired of chasing my dreams. i'm just gonna ask where they're going, and hook up with them later.
I have a feeling that antipsychotics interfere with the body's metabolic rate, BUT I AM NOT SURE.
I think it may only be olanzapine that actually does this but I'm not sure either.
What dose are you on? I don't find it makes me especially hungry. I have gained weight recently but I think it's ED related also, when I first started it, I lost a lot of weight. *shrugs*
I was on this and they increased the dose too quickly - i went from 200mg twice a day to 400mg twice a day (total 800mg) and it COMPLETELY knocked me out. I was actually IP at the time and would get up have my morning meds and then by the time i'm had breakfast i could hardly move and couldn't keep my eyes open at all - i found it almost impossible to put one foot in front of the other - and it took them about a week to notice this! And they finally reduced it and increased it more slowly - it still made me tired after that but didn't knock me out the same.
I completely empathise with feeling so tired. This could also be why you're gaining weight as you're not so active and if you are eating the same but not burning the same you will gain weight.
It definately sounds like this might not be the right drug for you. Can you try and get an ealier appointment with doc? Please don't stop taking it without their advice. Also, please don't feel embarrased talking about the weight with her - this is so common they here it from people all the time and i'm sure they'll be very understanding.
Life breaks most of us in the end, but afterwards some of us are strong in the broken places
~ Ernest Hemingway
hi, i'm on 500 quitiapene (spelling sorry!) have been on it for nearly a year. and i'm having similar problems as you, i found the sleepiness gets better with time, still sucks tho, as for the weight gain, its awful! i'm trying to get reasigned to my pysch to see what other options i have, i had reached a healthy weight i was happy with and now i feel fat and gross. i'm also eating the same as i did before and still do exercise - i walk my dog alot! but have still gained weight.
apparently the sleepiness gets less bad the higher the dose your on, weird i know! i found this true to a point, but its not a huge difference.
hope you get an appointment with your doctor soon,and they have alternatives for you.
all the best!
I think it may only be olanzapine that actually does this but I'm not sure either.
What dose are you on? I don't find it makes me especially hungry. I have gained weight recently but I think it's ED related also, when I first started it, I lost a lot of weight. *shrugs*
I was on 25mg olanzapine, which is above the BNF maximum.
I am on Clozapine now and I've lost a few kg. I have a very poor appetite and I only eat one meal a day.
PM me if you want a PDF copy of the ICD-10or the Mental Health Act 1983/2007. I ALSO HAVE THE DSM-V BOOK and am a pharmacology student.
I have a visual impairment / neurological problems so I need people to type in clear text and no funny fonts. Also excuse any typos, my vision blocks things out.
I have autism and have problems communicating, PMs included.
Just becasue I type well doesn't mean I speak well. I am only part time verbal.
