Seroquel and Increased Appetite: What Users Say

• Mat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 13, 2020

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Seroquel saved my life. I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at 16 (I'm 18 now) and I've tried almost all second-generation antipsychotics since I was 13. All made me experience horrid side effects (extrapyramidal effects, paranoia, vomiting, emotionally flat). Seroquel, within 2 days of taking it, helped me feel relatively normal...with no akathisia/extrapyramidal effects. I can sleep, I don't feel anywhere as paranoid, the delusions have significantly decreased. The only thing that is a little funky is the hunger, but I can manage that. This drug has helped me live a normal life. I'm at 300mg now, and this is my safe spot. For anyone considering this medication, go for it. It's the only antipsychotic that has not made me crawl out of my skin and 'die' mentally. Genuinely a wonderful drug."

• Lig...
• January 31, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "The reason I'm rating this drug 10/10 is that it does not stab you in the back, and it does not ask for increased doses. It works all the time and kicks in fast, making you feel euphoric combined with sleepiness. If you stay awake more than 30 minutes after taking it, you will feel hungry. So, if you are worried about gaining weight, just take it and sleep. Find your correct dose that works well, and remember good sleep equals a good mood. If you feel sleepy the next day, that's okay, drink some coffee + 1 cup of water. And remember to do 20 minutes of exercise every day, just not before going to sleep, and you will feel better 100%."

• Lin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 13, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I take a low dose of Seroquel, and it is helpful as a sleeping pill. It can get rid of bad thoughts. I've experienced weight loss on it. It helps with increasing my appetite, though. I can still drive well on this drug. Insurance covers this drug."

• lit...
• March 15, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel gave me my life back, calms me down and helps me think clearly during the day, and helps me sleep well during the night. Makes your mouth a bit dry and makes you hungry often but definitely worth it."

• Lea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 4, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on this medication for years. The only things that aren't fun are the drowsiness and the increased appetite, but this medication's side effects don't affect me nearly as much as other medications I've taken."

• Mik...
• October 15, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel is great. Been taking it for seven years. I take 200 mg at night for bipolar. It does take time to get used to it. It does cause me to get hungry 30 minutes after taking it. Just eat a healthy snack. At first, I did gain a couple of pounds. Searching online did not help. Everyone complains about how much you need to eat. It's self-control. I make sure to exercise every day. And trust me, it's not easy. There are days I have no energy. But I tell myself I have 3 little girls and have to make sure I do not get fat and unhealthy. I have bad mood swings without it. It caused me to make it miserable for my wife, kids, and coworkers. Driving was a mission every day."

• oct...
• October 3, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been bipolar for 26 years. After my first and huge depression, I have not missed lithium, not even for a day. I have had a really good acceptance of Seroquel, but not of Seroquel XR. The difference is huge, and XR plays with your sleep patterns and more. The insatiable hunger is so, so true, as is the weight gain. I just eat less and less and less, and as a person who has had an amazing metabolism, I still am 105 lbs. After 3 children, my teen weight, I am now at 115 lbs, and I hate it. But I have no desire to stop Seroquel."

• Kae...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 12, 2018

"Let me just say, I hate Seroquel! I was prescribed it for sleep 8 years ago. For the first couple of years, I was on about 300-400 mg a day, and I would feel like I was literally dying when it kicked in. My heart would race, I felt like I couldn’t breathe, and then I’d just black out. It made me feel so sluggish the next day. Also, I gained so much weight on this! It makes you have an insatiable hunger, and it’s terrible. I would walk down the halls and knock into them like I was drunk, my vision was so blurry, and I couldn’t think. It was the worst sensation ever! I’m now down to 50 mg of the XR and trying to wean off, but I’m scared. Last time the doctor tried, I blacked out and my blood pressure dropped, and the hospital said I couldn’t wean off it. Now, a year later, I’m trying again, and it’s terrible. I can’t sleep, restless legs, can’t get comfortable, and feel tired all day. I don't recommend this to anybody!!!"

• Hal...
• May 23, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "So I started on this two weeks ago, may need to go a bit stronger as over time when I was younger, just tried to mellow out on illegal drugs. Seroquel is the best thing I have tried. I am 32 and just been diagnosed with bipolar. Doesn't make me sleepy, makes me hungry a little bit. But has changed my life, stopped the agitation and horrible thoughts that run riot in my head. Just slows it down, and I am able to see clearly. I am only on a mild dose, but in saying this, I'm glad I take one when I can feel my mania coming on."

• Cho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I was put on this drug in January 2013 when I was 16 and in October 2008 when I was 12. I have schizophrenia, and when I first took this back in middle school, I don't remember any negative effects but weight gain. I ended up being 150 lbs at 5'1 in March of 2009 at age 12, so we stopped it, and I lost 17 lbs. In 2013, I was prescribed this, and good God, I felt awful! I couldn't keep my eyes open at school, I had severe akathisia and was ravenously hungry! I knew it was the medicine because I wasn't dumb, so they took me off. I ended up going from 145 to 190 in a damn month, all because of this crappy medicine. This, Haldol, Risperidone, and Latuda are the worst antipsychotics ever given to me. I'm on Depakote, Zoloft, and Zyprexa now, and no negative side effects except for nausea. Never taking Seroquel again."

• Anonymous
• April 3, 2012

For Insomnia "I was prescribed Seroquel 50 mg a few years ago after an eighteen-year battle with constant sleep problems. And it does help me get to sleep every night; my dosage has never changed. My only complaints are the rampant hunger I experience before giving in to the fatigue and the dizziness/nausea when trying to stand for too long after the effects have set in. As far as sleeping medication goes, Seroquel takes the cake. I don't notice any psychoactive effects aside from the sedation."

• Anonymous
• October 25, 2009

For Insomnia "I have taken this medication in the past for insomnia, and I admit it works great. If I take 25 mg, I'll go out and fast, but it doesn't keep me asleep, so I have to take 50 mg or even more for it to last. I stopped taking it due to the weight gain. I read about it, and Seroquel causes your blood sugar to drop, which is the reason for the hunger - and the reason I only wanted cereal. That's the reason I stopped taking it, but I am considering asking my doctor for it again because, since stopping, I have tried so many different sleep aids, and nothing works. From Trazodone to Ambien to now Sonata - and nothing works, so then I end up taking like 3 pills, which I know cannot be good."

• Anonymous
• November 27, 2010

For Insomnia "I have had insomnia since I recovered from an Adderall addiction, then used alcohol to self-medicate. Not sleeping makes me frantic. My psychiatrist prescribed Seroquel 150 mg, which I have been using for 3 years, and it works perfectly. Takes effect in less than an hour, during which I read quietly in bed, and I have no issues in the morning, nor have I experienced any hunger. Like others have said, without it I do not sleep, so I have to make sure it is always available. I have had no need or desire to increase the dose."

• K19...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2018

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was on a number of medications. For hallucinations (both tactile and visual, as well as auditory), I’m dealing with more of the schizophrenia part. I’ve been diagnosed for a year now. I’ve been on Abilify, Risperdal, Zyprexa. And nothing until Seroquel. I am completely calmed down and feel much better. Really sleepy and very hungry. Restless legs and arms, but all around a good medication."

• Bri...
• August 15, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel XR definitely helped me with my moods and rapid cycling. But... gave it away because I was forever hungry. I lost all internal compass on whether or not I required food, which is scary for me because I've always been normal weight and relied upon internal hunger cues to direct my eating. These cues were lost on Seroquel. I wanted to eat all the time! I put myself on a strict diet, yet the weight still kept creeping on. In my opinion, Seroquel lowers the metabolism, such that you'd have to restrict your calorie intake quite seriously. I'm going to try Latuda instead, as it's a 'weight neutral' preparation."

• woo...
• August 11, 2008

For Bipolar Disorder "In the hospital, I received treatment for a significant manic episode with psychosis. I was on Geodon, but it had stopped working, so I switched to Seroquel. At low doses, it was ineffective, however, now I'm taking 600 mg at night, and it has worked well. At this dose, after a couple of days, I felt like myself again. I've noticed some drowsiness, but in my experience with antipsychotics, it will fade as I become acclimated to it. However, I am extremely hungry all of the time. Hopefully, this will go away."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I love it for sleep. Honestly, I was on Ambien, and I took way too many, and it wasn't safe. I honestly thought nothing could work like it, but Seroquel was a lifesaver. I sleep like a rock. It does make me hungry, though."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 2, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Worst medication I have ever been on. If you want to test how a lobotomy feels, try Seroquel. When I first started on a lower dose for sleeping, which was fine. I didn’t find it very helpful but it did help increase my appetite as I was underweight. If you are on 25 mg for anxiety/depression/insomnia, do not let your doctor increase this dosage. Every time my psychiatrist saw me, he increased my dosage more and more. After about two years of having my dosage increased every month or two, I began having serious side effects. I felt like a zombie, caused a lot of relationship issues as I wasn’t able to hold a conversation. It’s like I lost all my opinions and could no longer think for myself. Lost all creativity, which worsened my depression as I am a designer. I eventually was taken off it when I was taken to the hospital for losing control over my body. I lost all bladder control and would wet my pants frequently. Developed tardive dyskinesia. In the end, I was on 300 mg."

• Anonymous
• November 25, 2011

For Insomnia "Taking 25 mg. Works fantastically! Takes about an hour on 25 mg (used to take 50 mg, and it put me out in 30 mins, however, I was required at least 8 hours of sleep. Many times my alarm wouldn't even wake me up on 50 mg). However, like just about everyone else said, if I don't take it, I will NOT sleep. Also experienced weight gain (25 lbs in 2 months), so I am going to see if another sleep medication will work the same with fewer side effects. Does make me quite hungry about 30 mins after taking it, and I can't sleep on an empty stomach."

• Anonymous
• March 29, 2011

For Depression "I am 49 and have Bipolar II. Been on Seroquel 400 mg for one year. Initially very drowsy, restless legs, dry mouth, and blocked nose, most side effects lifted after 3 months. This medicine controlled my racing thoughts, helped me concentrate (I thought I had ADD). Ironically, despite the drowsiness, it lifted my extreme exhaustion (I used to have weekly Vitamin B injections because I was so tired). I no longer feel drowsy, managed not to gain weight with the help of a dietitian and an exercise program. I do get very hungry but refuse to give in to the hunger. I also take Wellbutrin and Zoloft to help with the depression, tearfulness, and agitation. I would recommend Seroquel to bipolar patients."

• Anonymous
• December 13, 2011

For Depression "Have been on Seroquel for 4 weeks for depression. I take it before bed. Still experiencing a 'hangover' type feeling in the mornings. I gained 8 pounds in the first 3 weeks I took it. Makes me want to eat even when I am not hungry. However, I am not crying as much, can handle day-to-day life better, and I haven't had chest pain or racing heartbeats since I started, which is a great improvement."

• Pau...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 23, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Only reason I gave this medication Seroquel 3 stars is because, if you have trouble sleeping, this pill will knock you out! Other than that, it makes you extremely hungry, causing weight gain, may feel sluggish and irritated in the morning, and also I noticed vivid dreams and sometimes nightmares. Sidenote: I experience post-nasal drip that suddenly got better over time. Seroquel makes my allergies worsen, causing extreme post-nasal drip!"

• Anonymous
• November 18, 2010

For Borderline Personality Disorder "This medication is adequate compared to others in its class, despite still causing significant side effects such as weight gain (which is very undesirable). At first, this medicine seemed very strong and made me 'zombie-like' (e.g., slow, unemotional, sleepy), but after a couple of days, these were significantly improved. I was on a dose of up to 75 mg, and as far as the effects of each individual dose; 25 mg helped with sleep and 'anger management,' 50 mg increased my hunger (a lot), and 75 mg helped a little more with anxiety and emotional stability."

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2010

For Insomnia "I have had insomnia for almost 30 years, since puberty. Having a child made it worse. Diagnosed with hypomania, which explained why I woke up and started having racing thoughts once the sun went down. Tried every sleeping pill there, in combination at times. This is the only thing that worked. I am doing 50 mg with 4 mg clonazepam 2 hours before bed. I take it on an empty stomach as I have learned within an hour of taking it you will get hungry. So I simply eat my dinner late. Have not gained weight yet."

• Oli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm 18 and was diagnosed with Bipolar type 1 about a year ago. I've been using 200 mg of Seroquel for a couple of months now, and it's really helped my mood. I was suffering from a bad manic episode, and it calmed me down within 1-2 weeks or so. The only bad side effects are increased appetite, sleeping a lot, and nausea, but I got over those within a couple of weeks."