Seroquel 50mg. Does it cause weight gain? & does it mess w/ your memory or ability to function?

Question

Off lexapro 50mg, & put on Seroquel now for about 3 weeks. Oh my gosh I don't hear what people are telling me sometimes. It goes through 1 ear & out the other & I gotta ask what did you say. No weight gain just yet thank god. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Seroquel is the root of all evil! lol. I gained almost 90 pounds in 5 months while taking it. The memory problems are horrible.

Hopefully this won't happen to you. I've been trying to shed the weight I gained for about 3 years now. :(

Answer 2

50 mg is a low dose, but when you are just starting it can do a number on you. Sometimes doctors start it as low as 12.5.

I take 50-100 at night..it kind of serves double duty with me because it helps with my insomnia and also helps stabilize my moods (I'm bipolar.) I can't take it during the day, it really knocks me out, even at such a low dose.

I've been on it for about 4 years or so. No sexual side effects (the antipsychotics are not known for them the way antidepressants are). No weight gain for me (thankfully), although it does happen to some people - it's less of a risk than similar medications, specifically Zyprexa. It hasn't effected my memory and it improves my ability to function because it let's me get a decent nights sleep, slows my racing thoughts and helps keep my mood level. It causes major drowsiness, but it's never given me that drug-hangover fog that some meds have.

It's a completely different medication from Lexapro, which is an SSRI antidepressant. Seroquel has been found to have antidepressant effects though in addition to being an antipsychotic.

If you aren't taking it at night, that could explain why you are having trouble comprehending what's going on around you.
It's not impossible that it is effecting your memory and ability to follow conversations. Some meds can do that. For me, Lithium kept causing me to lose track of what I was saying in the middle of a sentence, which was highly annoying. But Lithium is yet another catagory of meds.

If you are finding this really bothersome, and have tried taking it at night, you might want to ask your doctor about halving the dose to 25 mg. Either way, let him/her know what you are experiencing. Also, 3 weeks isn't that long. You may just be having annoying side effects that will go away as your body adjusts.

Answer 3

First of all, Seroquel is listed as an Antipsychotic.It can be helpful for distorted or psychotic thinking. It may also be used as a mood stabilizer.Side effects are listed as:headache,drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, dry mouth, weight gain,rapid heart rate or low blood pressure,upset stomach,altered liver or thyroid function. Talk with your doctor about liver and thyroid function blood tests. Do not take Seroquel and then try to drive as it will make you sleepy.

Answer 4

What are the possible side effects of Seroquel?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Seroquel and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats;

jerky muscle movements you cannot control;

sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;

sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;

increased thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger, or weakness;

thoughts or suicide or hurting yourself;

feeling light-headed, fainting; or

urinating less than usual or not at all.

Continue taking Seroquel and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

dizziness, drowsiness, or weakness;

dry mouth, runny nose, sore throat;

nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation;

blurred vision, headache, anxiety, agitation;

sleep problems (insomnia);

breast swelling or discharge;

missed menstrual periods; or

weight gain.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Answer 5

I took seroquel for several years. I think i took around 300mg at night, but I can't remember exactly. When I took 600mg I was about 20-25 lbs heavier than I am now, and when I took about 300mg I was about 15 lbs heavier. It didn't affect my memory at all.

Answer 6

my son was on seriquel and he gained weight and also ended up in the hospital for 3 days because he had an drug induced seziure, in other words he overdosed because the dose was to high. He was properly monitored as well. I would recommend finding something else

Answer 7

seroquel cause weight loss, insomnia, headache and sexual dysfunction. no memory loss from what ive learned

Answer 8

the answer varies from person to person. depending on...other medications you may take and the diagnosis for which you are taking it for...webmd.com may answer these questions or pick yourself up a mini pdr. Good Luck!