Seroquel Replacement

[Swamp56]

I've been on 400mg of Seroquel to help balance my mood in addition to 200mg of Lamictal for a little over a month. In that span of time, I've gained 18 pounds and have gone up 3 pant sizes. And although I'm currently at a healthy weight, I know from previous experience with Seroquel that this weight gain will continue no matter how much I try caloric restriction or exercising. This weight gain is starting to make me depressed since I am watching myself bulk up daily. As a result, I'm trying to figure out if there is an antipsychotic that is generally as efficacious in treating depression/mixed states as Seroquel is (it works well with the Lamictal for me).

Does anyone have any experience on another antipsychotic that helped treat your depressive/mixed states?

I can't take Geodon (changed perception of time) or Abilify (akathisia) and Risperdal/Invega don't affect my mood.

Thanks for any responses!

[larkspur]

Geodon is so far, so good, and I've lost weight on it.

[netsavy006]

Talking from the FDA information here but Saphris is FDA approved for mixed states from bipolar disorder:

From the Saphris PI Sheet:

SAPHRIS is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for:

• Treatment of schizophrenia. (1.1)

Efficacy was established in two 6-week clinical trials and one

maintenance trial in patients with schizophrenia in adults. (14.1)

• Acute treatment, as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy, of manic

or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder. (1.2)

Efficacy was established in two 3-week monotherapy trials and in

one 3-week adjunctive trial in patients with manic or mixed

episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults. (14.2)

[Guest]

Have you considered adding Metformin? It's commonly used for diabetes. I'm tired so I can't recall the specifics but I know there have been a lot of studies and it appears that it might help with the weight gain associated with AAPs. I'm on it and it does help. It certainly did slow down the gain, which was a definite step in the right direction.

[g8orgirl]

There are many newer aap's that are out now that might not cause the weight gain that Seroquel did. I've been on Seroquel for 13 years and while I did gain weight the first year I was on it, I was able to lose all the weight I gained so it is possible to lose weight on Seroquel. That being said, if it isn't the med for you then definitely talk to your pdoc about other alternatives.

[larkspur]

Have you considered adding Metformin? It's commonly used for diabetes. I'm tired so I can't recall the specifics but I know there have been a lot of studies and it appears that it might help with the weight gain associated with AAPs. I'm on it and it does help. It certainly did slow down the gain, which was a definite step in the right direction.

You're thinking of metformin (Glucophage). Metadate is methylphenidate, aka Ritalin.

[Guest]

Have you considered adding Metformin? It's commonly used for diabetes. I'm tired so I can't recall the specifics but I know there have been a lot of studies and it appears that it might help with the weight gain associated with AAPs. I'm on it and it does help. It certainly did slow down the gain, which was a definite step in the right direction.

You're thinking of metformin (Glucophage).

You're right. I said it had been a long day. I'll go back and edit that so I don't mislead anyone. Thanks for catching that!

[llama44]

Topamax and metformin did nothing for me.

I find it inevitable. Unfortunately, I also have not found anything as good as seroquel or zyprexa for voices and thoughts. You just have to exercise and watch what you eat. That's what I've found.

But of course, you can try those two drugs. It's worth a shot if you have never tried them before.