Seroquel with potential of diabetes

I see this question on a regular basis. I am presently taking 300 mg / daily of Seroquel and noticed a 20 lbs. weight gain over time (I started taking it in a lower dose in May 2013. I am still taking it although trying to wean off it to try my new pill of the day (Latuda).
I told my doctor I did not want to gain more weight so he put me on 2000mg of METFORMIN. This is a pre-diabetic drug. So far I have kept my weight fairly stable - although 20 lbs. up. I would like to loose @ 15 lbs. to get to my new NORMAL.
Seroquel makes humans into ravenous creatures, especially at night. Chocoholic/ etc. I am still dropping Seroquel, however I find it harder than I anticipated...

Tigercat,
I eat at night although it is when my dog wakes me up and demands to go out to pee or else I am cleaning a pee mess at 3 in the morning. I have got to get better at taking away her water. I don't consider myself overweight. I have the body of a 50 year old now. I am more accepting of myself. I do want to exercise at least 3 days of the week. Other than that Seroquel works as best probably possible for me. I go to sleep. That's a big thing in helping me be stable as far as night and day switching off. We know how terrible that is. I had my blood checked recently and I am not diabetic. Good news. Take care tigercat. I wish you the best possible outcome. As do I for all of us.

Hi Oliver,
Thanks for your insight to Seroquel. The main problem I am having with it, is the weight gain, but also the constant constipation that I experience.
I find it helps with sleep as well - that's why I take 200mg Seroquel XR at @ 9 pm. I then add 2 mg of Ativan & sometimes Zopiclone 7.5. I am not diabetic either, but my doctor put me on 1000mg of metformin. Metformin is known to treat pre-diabetic people, although I am not diabetic.
Your right though, Seroquel has been a life saver for me -- as far as maintaining a good balance of mood and such.
I am not overweight, at 130 but my weight was 110 lbs before. I was a size 2 or 4.

Tigercat,
Weight gain that makes you not feel like your best self will make you curious. Also reckoned with if it bothers you too much. Senna Tablets for constipation. I buy mine at Walgreens or CVS. They are a natural vegetable laxative. The pharmacist recommended them. If I take 2 a day. I can go. If not I am all constipated. You must be a peanut! Take care of yourself Tigercat. I also have struggled with the weight gain. To the point where I focus in meditation upon temperance, self control. I whisper a prayer to God to have this fruit of the spirit. I also try to drink water at least like a glass in the morning before coffee. Water is good for the intestines. It seems like a not a bad thing that the metformin might be a protective safe thing with the Seroquel.
Take sensitive care Tigercat.

Thank you for all your feedback. I am trying the glass of warm water first thing in the morning. For now, I am taking Milk of Magnesia 4 - 5 times a day. I figure that this is severe & there could be a blockage as of yesterday, I had bouts of severe vomiting. Woe, not good. I think I've ONLY ever vomited a handful of times in my life. Things are better today, but if these symptoms persist, I won't hesitate to seek immediate medical attention. Thanks again for your words of wisdom.
Sincerely Tigercat

Be careful with Senna. See http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-...

It will turn your intestinal lining black taken long term, making it more difficult for the doc to do a colonoscopy. Remember, just because it is natural doesn't make it safe. Arsenic is natural too. You might try Miralax. My GI doc says it can be taken long term, but I find that I only need is for a couple of weeks now and then.

Good luck!

Thank you Artista, I am trying the milk of magnesia for 4 - 5 times daily. I think this is a serious condition. Nothing has helped me that I used before: senekott, ducolox, Metamucil, Resoralax, & more. These are some great laxatives however I am experiencing the very very serious condition which is making me vomit as well. I know that this is serious because, I have only vomited a handful of times in my life. I am seeing my pdoc on Thursday and hoping to work this out ahead of time.
Thanks again for your advice,
Sincerely, TOCwILDCAT

I wish you the best -- it does sound serious. Please go to your primary care physician right away!

I know Seroquel can be a great drug but can cause weight gain and constipation. For me weight gain isn't so much of a problem because I tend to have a low carb diet, which does the trick. Constipation is a real pain in the bum (pardon the pun). And from what I have read - Journal articles from Google Scholar - Senna is ok. In fact it is the only one that works for me and recent research suggests that it isn't the baddy that many have labeled it. Even our pharmacist has said there is new research to say it is ok. I can't take psyllium due to drug interactions. All the others don't work. Everywhere I've read on reputable research says that only stimulants respond to medication induced constipation, all the others are a waste of time, don't work and possibly dangerous as with psyllium (cause blockages). But there are some new ones on prescription that are useful for medication induced constipation. I've also read that they are mighty expensive. Hopefully something is worked out for you. All the best .......

I stopped taking Seroquel because, while taking it, might blood spiked into the diabetic range. As soon as I stopped taking Seroquel, my blood levels went back to normal. Thank God or something!

I was really alarmed about becoming diabetic. Ifeared, loathed and dreaded it more so even than I fear becoming HIV positive.

I can deal with dying but I don't want to live without eyesight, with one or more limbs eventually amputated, and having to treat food like a dangerous medicine for a lethal condition.

I, too, liked that Seroquel made me sleepy. But trazodone also made me sleepy, without causing diabetes.

It's not just by causing weight gain that Seroquel causes diabetes, because I've taken many other mood drugs that made me gain weight but had no immediate effect on my blood sugar. Clearly, Seroquel acts directly, immediatel and negatively on whatever causes diabeted. If your INTENTION were to get diabetes you might get there quicker on Seroquel than by eating ONLY frosted cake!

It's 5:00 AM and I've been awake for hours. People who took Seroquel last night are probably sleeping right now.