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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maxime on December 20, 2007, at 16:13:22
I am experiencing an increase in my appetite with the Seroquel. Will this last forever? I crave sweets and there are a lot around my house as my mum is baking. I am slowly gaining weight and it's really freaking me out. Seroquel is really helping me so I don't want to stop it, but I can't put up with this feeding frenzy.
Thoughts?
Maxime
Posted by med_empowered on December 20, 2007, at 16:38:35
In reply to Increased appetite on Seroquel, posted by Maxime on December 20, 2007, at 16:13:22
ask about metformin and/or amantidine. If you have ADHD or need a stimulant, ask about one of those, too.
Posted by Phillipa on December 20, 2007, at 16:51:09
In reply to Re: Increased appetite on Seroquel, posted by med_empowered on December 20, 2007, at 16:38:35
Hi Med long time no see not trying to hyjack thread as I know how devastating weight gain can be can you do any excercise or stay out of the house and water would it dampen it? Phillipa
Posted by Justherself54 on December 20, 2007, at 18:42:01
In reply to Re: Increased appetite on Seroquel » med_empowered, posted by Phillipa on December 20, 2007, at 16:51:09
I don't have any words of wisdom Maxime, other than I hear ya..I've totally banned anything sweet in my house, including jams and honey..I take mine at about an hour before bed and it's a struggle as the sweet cravings get so bad..but it helps so much with sleep that I'm not going to give it up....plus the fact that if I do pig out on anything late at night the Nardil gives me horrible heartburn which interrupts my already restless sleep..
It is an uncontrollable urge to eat carbs..but probably no more than some SSRI's I've been on..I wish I had a magic answer but I'm not sure there is one with seroquel..
Posted by bleauberry on December 20, 2007, at 22:11:55
In reply to Increased appetite on Seroquel, posted by Maxime on December 20, 2007, at 16:13:22
Tough situation.
Here are some ideas. They will work, but only if you take them from suggestions to reality.
Drink tons of water. If you fill yourself up on water you won't be as hungry, and when you do it there won't be much room, you'll get full faster. Drink a couple glasses of water before each meal. Tons of water is good for you. Sure you might gain a little weight in extra water, but that is the kind of weight that would be lost in hours if you stopped. Lots and lots of water is very productive for any kind of healing.
Go on a gluten free diet. Really. Even people who are not gluten intolerant notice increase in enery and wellbeing when they stop gluten. What does that mean? Well, nothing made from wheat, oats or barley. No cereals with malt flavoring in them. You cn have everything you like...pizzas, cookies, brownies, cakes, etc...but they have to be bought or made with gluten free flour. Your staples will turn to rice and corn based stuff, as well as things like almond meal, fava flour, garbanzo flour. If you want sweets, guess what, you have to buy gluten free flour and make them yourself, or buy ready made sweets that cost double what regular ones do. That alone will keep the weight down. You'll splurge now and then, but not all the time. Just too much work. There are good pastas made from brown rice flour that taste just like pasta. Good cereals, both hot and cold. Tell yourself you are gluten intolerant, you get a terrible hangover with even a tiny bit. That's actually what it is like. Stick to it. You'll actually come to like it after a couple months, more than your previous diet.
Load up on veggies. If you get hungry for a cookie, say ok I'll have a cookie later today, but right now I have to pay my dues and eat a carrot or two first. I have to earn the cookies. To do that, I have to eat this carrot, this celery, this salad, or whatever and wait 6 hours for cookie. By doing so, you just loaded yourself with good healthy stuff and bypassed some sweets. You might have them later, but not both now and later.
And of course the protein diet always helps. That is, eat lots of proteins instead of carbs. Or fill up on proteins so there is not much room and not much hunger for anything else. You'll still want a cookie, but you'll only eat a small amount instead of plate full.
Stuff like that. All healthy ideas, healing ideas, and weight control ideas, all simultaneously.
Posted by Racer on December 20, 2007, at 22:42:33
In reply to Increased appetite on Seroquel, posted by Maxime on December 20, 2007, at 16:13:22
I didn't do well with Seroquel, so wasn't on it long enough to know if it would have caused weight gain for me. What I do know, though, is that of the drugs that caused the strongest appetite increases for me, it wore off in every case after a couple of weeks. One of them turned into a great friend for me, and one was EMSAM, which is no longer causing the horrible munchies it did at first. (At first it was so bad I was ready to drop the medication right away. Now, though, it might even be suppressing my appetite a bit, although it's hard for me to tell.)
I hope you do stick with it, Maxime, because you're about due for some substantial relief from all this.
xoxo
Posted by Maxime on December 22, 2007, at 13:11:41
In reply to Re: Increased appetite on Seroquel, posted by Racer on December 20, 2007, at 22:42:33
Thanks everyone. I am not going to give up the Seroquel. I swear it's what's holding me together ever so slightly.
It will be easier when I go back to work. I won't be around food. Until then, I am trying hard to resist, but the cravings are strong.
Thanks again. I appreciate the support.
Maxime
Posted by MidnightBlue on December 22, 2007, at 23:22:46
In reply to Re: Increased appetite on Seroquel, posted by Maxime on December 22, 2007, at 13:11:41
Maxime,
I am glad to hear you are not giving up on the Seroquel. It might not be perfect, but it does seem to be helping you some. <smile>
MidnightBlue
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 25, 2007, at 3:45:15
In reply to Re: Increased appetite on Seroquel, posted by Maxime on December 22, 2007, at 13:11:41
Maxime: I have been reading your posts for years.
I am so glad you have found some relief with Seroquel. I think it is a miracle drug when it comes to insomnia and various other emotional ailments. I really think it is a wonder drug, and as time goes by, docs will find more and more uses for it.
With that said, one of the side effects of Seroquel is a possible weight gain. It just seems there is no perfect med, and each one comes with some sort of side effect. You just have to decide if this drug is worth that side effect, possible (but not definite) weight gain.
For me, it was worth it and I had the same weight issues at you, and it only improved when I made better choices with the foods and times I ate. Praying for you, Michael
Posted by mbluett on December 26, 2007, at 20:31:42
In reply to Increased appetite on Seroquel, posted by Maxime on December 20, 2007, at 16:13:22
> I am experiencing an increase in my appetite with the Seroquel. Will this last forever? I crave sweets and there are a lot around my house as my mum is baking. I am slowly gaining weight and it's really freaking me out. Seroquel is really helping me so I don't want to stop it, but I can't put up with this feeding frenzy.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> MaximeHi there. I am also on Seroquel. I use 200mg before bed. My doctor prescribed metformin 500mg 3 X daily and it works well to stabilize my weight and control my appetite. I am also on 150mg of Effexor. I recommend looking into it with you Pdoc. Best wishes.
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