Looking for advice, experiences and support - seroquel

[LosingHope]

Hi Everyone,
Interested in getting your advice/experiences/feedback about medications...

I have been diagnosed with anorexia (B/P subtype) and PTSD. After trialling a few medications (Lexapro worked wonderfully but six weeks in I had an allergic reaction, then tried fluoxetine with no benefit at all), I eventually settled on 100mg Pristiq. To be honest, I don't notice too many changes on the medication but I do notice if I miss a dose (I become an overwhelmed mess! The PTSD symptoms come on strongly as well as feeling dizzy and nauseas) so I am happy to stay on it for now.

My treatment team have been trying to get me to agree to take 25mg seroquel IR to address some of the post-trauma symptoms and also the cognitive dysfunction that has increased quite a bit over the past 12 months (partly due to malnutrition and partly due to mental illness). My reluctance is that I am really scared of gaining weight and it prevents me from taking something that is being recommended to me.

I know that I have to start putting some trust in my treatment team as I 100% trust that they have my best interests at heart. They want me to trial it for one week to see what happens - both to my weight and how I react to it. I have decided that I need to give this a go - one week, surely I can do that?! But I am scared. Looking for advice and support/encouragement.

Have any of you (Particularly those with an eating disorder) tried seroquel IR and what were your experiences? I have heard that it can make you really hungry and put on weight and both things make me feel out of control which then escalate my PTSD symptoms.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Muted]

My experience is that seroquel works very well on anxiety, depression and sleeping. I did experience some weight gain on it, but not anything like I did on pristique.

 

[Sideways]

I have relied heavily on seroqel for years. I use the slow release form so that I can take a higher dose with less side effects (I take 300mg a day, but it’s been as high as 1200mg a day at times). It’s so effective at reducing the anxiety and thought-related symptoms of my ptsd that I also use the instant release (100mg) as needed when things get out of control.

I do get weight gain if I use the instant release too often for too long. But it’s not a 10kg overnight situation. The weight gain I get is related to some sort of change in my insulin levels or something which makes me crave food (any and all food) about an hkur after I take it, combined with the lack of physical movement I have when I’m that sick and sedated.

If you stay active, and don’t change your eating habits, there’s good reason to think that a nominal dose like 25mg isn’t going to cause weight gain. Watch for changes in your food consumption particularly in the 4 hours after taking it.

Seroquel is commonly associated with weight gain, but in small doses it typically doesn’t hqve anything like the dramatic 3kgs per week weight gain type issies that some of the atypical anti-psychotics have.

For what it’s worth? I also use pristiq:)

 

[8888]

I was on Seroquel and it seemed to help. When I was on 25 mg there wasn't too much weight gain. I eventually went up and up to 300 mg and that is when I gained a good amount of weight.

 

[LosingHope]

Thanks for your replies everyone! I am soooo sorry that it has taken me so long to reply.

I made a pact with myself that if 25mg was a bit overwhelming at first, to start with 12.5mg for a week and work up to the 25mg. I started this last night and had a very weird (extremely tired but also restless, vivid dreaming) nights sleep and today I am feeling groggy but trying to push on and look after myself in small steps. The plan is to stay on 12.5mg until my GP appointment on Friday and then review with a little extra support.

I am having huge amounts of anxiety at the moment (I think they would be considered emotional flashbacks) and I am really hoping that seroquel helps to ease it a bit.

 

[shatter eyes]

100mg IR one year 30lbs increase.

Try so hard to lose 10lb then back up again.

 

[Cannottakethis]

I don’t have exp with the er, only the regular seroquel. I gained weight because it made me hungry. I still take it and I’ve lost 40 pounds because I’ve changed my eating habits. I take 400 mg and have taken more. It’s a matter of paying attention to what how and when you’re eating, and making sure to eat right, and trying to exercise.