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Mental health

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Flip

Original poster

quetiapine/seroquel.......................

17 replies

blushingm · 07/12/2010 19:02

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone has had any experience of quetiapine. I have been taking it for about 8 months but in october I increased my dose. Since then I have been eating everything in sight. If it doesn't move I will eat it - I just never seem satisfied.

Is this a common side affect of this drug or is it just me? If it is common how do you control it?

OP posts:

liath · 07/12/2010 20:53

Pretty common I think, DH is on it and has difficulty controlling his eating; having been slim all his adult life he's definitely putting on weight. He's been eating sugar-free sweets and also doing loads of walking but it's a problem so you're not alone.

GetDownYouWillFall · 07/12/2010 20:59

Poor you, it's a horrible side effect. I was never on this myself but I was on olanzapine for quite a while.

I found my appetite increased at first, but after a while it did settle down. Hope it does for you too.

Grockle · 07/12/2010 21:43

Was a problem for me too. Hope you are ok.

Original poster

blushingm · 07/12/2010 21:45

that liath and getdown - i'm already over weight and can't really gain any more but i just can't seem to help myself. It's not just chocolate i am going for it;s everything - i will have to discuss with my consultant i think as i can't go on like this - i am supposed to be seeing him after christmas.

I didn't really want to stop taking them as they seem to have really made a difference and this is the only side affect i seem to be getting - i've tried risperidone and aripriprazole but didn't get on with them atall

is olanzapine atypical anti psychotic too?

OP posts:

Original poster

blushingm · 07/12/2010 21:46

grockle - what did you do about it? - did it settle down or did you have to switch to another medication?

OP posts:

Grockle · 07/12/2010 22:16

It helped me so much I stuck with it, despite gaining weight. I think it settled down after a few weeks. It was a bit different for me because I was underweight at the start - I am now at the top end of an okay weight but have been off the quetiapine for several years.

FreddiesMum09 · 07/12/2010 22:35

I take quetipine and have put on 3 stone since i started. I'm going to see my doctor about it tomorrow as i can't stop eating! It is really getting me down but taking it really helps so i'm loathed to stop it. I'm hoping my gp will be able to help. If i get any good advice i will let you know.

GetDownYouWillFall · 08/12/2010 09:05

yes olanzapine is an atypical anti psychotic too. But it also has weight gain in it's side effects list.

electra · 08/12/2010 12:13

It didn't cause weight gain for me but then I was only on 150mg which is a small dose.

dontrunwithscissors · 08/12/2010 15:23

For those who gained weight on quetiapine, do you mind me asking what dose you were/are taking? I'm currently taking 150mg of the extended release version, but there's talk of it being increased. So far I haven't experienced any weight increase/change in appetite, but I'm really worried about that happening if my dose is increased.

Original poster

blushingm · 08/12/2010 16:42

scissors I started on only 50mg but am now on 350mg (i think it's the extended release sort) - consultant told me most people find between 200mg and 600mg most effective

OP posts:

dontrunwithscissors · 08/12/2010 20:55

Thanks, blushingm - did you start to experience the increase in appetite at 350mg?

MitchyInge · 08/12/2010 21:01

olanzapine is much much worse, have recently stopped it

the older ones not much better

my quetiapine dose ranged from 300 - 800mg and it just made me fat and dopey but wasn't particularly good antimanic for me, was taking it with lamictal which is fairly weight neutral. Just taking my chances with lithium alone for now. Good luck!

Grockle · 08/12/2010 21:09

Thinking about it, I was put on something like Ritalin as an appetite suppressant so it must have caused me enough weight gain and upset that my dr felt that was necessary. That was not in the UK though.

Original poster

blushingm · 08/12/2010 22:00

yes the weight gain/increased appetite started at about 300 but has got a lot worse since the increase to 350

sadly enough lithium didn't help me much - i'm on a combo of fluoxetine and quetiapine and they seem to be helping with my mood but i am just getting fatter too

maybe i could ask about an appetite suppressant - starting to feel like the more meds the merrier at the minute though - i wish i could just be normal

OP posts:

Original poster

blushingm · 08/12/2010 22:01

grockle - do you mind me asking which country you were in when you were taking the appetite supressant

OP posts:

Grockle · 09/12/2010 20:31

I used to feel like that, too. I've lots count of the number of meds I was on but at one point I had antidepressants, anti-psychotics (because the ADs weren't helping much), appetite suppressant (because the APs made me so hungry) & sleeping tablets. I hated it. But I am better now and it was worth it.

I was in the US. Are you ok?

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