Energizerhoney Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Diabetes runs in my family. Both my thin, active, healthy parents both developed type 2 diabetes - so in my family it's genetic based more than overweight/lifestyle based. I checked my blood sugar levels the other day at work (I'm an RN) and it was higher than I'd like. And no I'm not overweight and I'm on my feet 12 hours a day walking, bending over (etc) so I'm very active. Yes, I'm going to talk to my pdoc about this next month, but wanted your advice/experience as well. I really like seroquel, especially for sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancesintherain Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 risperdal was similar for me, though it isn't for everyone. but since it's another AAP, you'd potentially still have the blood sugar issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energizerhoney Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) So anti psychotic meds in general can cause diabetes? Not just seroquel? That's kinda depressing. Thanks for your quick reply. I think I'm going to talk to my GP or an endo if I start noticing a trend with my blood sugar. Edited August 10, 2014 by Energizerhoney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancesintherain Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 I think the AAPs as group can cause blood sugar issues, though it's not a guarantee. But I'm not 100% sure--someone else should be able to clarify. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savannah Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 For sleep alone, try Rozerem. My old pdoc put me on geodon which is supposedly weight neutral. It didn't do anything for me, sleep wise though. I think Abilify is also weight neutral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wonderful.Cheese Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 (edited) I haven't found anything that puts me to sleep and usually keeps me asleep like seroquel. I take lunesta prn but that doesn't work for me much anymore. I really think it's the seroquel and klonopin that makes me fall asleep and usually stay asleep. And seroquel helps my anxiety and mood and psychosis all a bit too. I still have a lot of symptoms but seroquel really helps me a lot as I found out recently when I tried to get off it and onto geodon. It comes at a price though. I have gained a lot of weight and I too am worried about diabetes as it runs in my family too. For sleep and some for more than sleep, I have tried: rozerem (didn't work), lunesta (pooped out), trazodone (poops out every time), klonopin (2mg), risperdal (not sedating), latuda (not sedating), saphris (caused weird sleep eating. But did put me to sleep), zyprexa (helped sleep somewhat but I gained too much weight), invega (not sedating), clonidine, ativan, etc. And more that I'm not remembering right now. I've tried all the AAP's except clozapine and I've never tried a typical AP. But hopefully someone who takes a typical AP will chime in. Good luck. It's not easy to sleep when you have insomnia or other MI symptoms. Edited August 11, 2014 by Wonderful.Cheese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjimjam Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Remeron feels similar to Seroquel for me. I'm not sure if it has an effect on blood sugar. Mine is ok. It can cause craving for sweets though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Geodon is most likely going to be your safest bet. You have to take more before it gets really sedating though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 I vote for Remeron also, but it is an antidepressant and could be contraindicated in people with bipolar disorder. But it is very sedating, and although it makes you really, really hungry, it supposedly does not mess with metabolism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeremonyNewOrder Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 What about switching to trazodone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Remeron is even worse on the weight gain side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KillBytes Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 (edited) For sleep only, trazodone is similar Seroquel. Though neither alone will actually put me to sleep. They help me stay asleep longer if taken with Ambien which does help me fall asleep, but not stay asleep. I prefer Seroquel over Trazodone for my moods. Your on the same dosage of Seroquel as I am, plus I take an extra 25 to 50mgs of seroquel w/ambien for sleep. Edited August 11, 2014 by KillBytes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Trazadone's main sleep effect is as an H2 antagonist. It's like diphenhydramine only it doesn't dry you out as much. If you don't need any of the anti-psychotic properties of an anti-psychotic to sleep, it could help. If you need the seroquel to not just make you sleepy, but quiet racing, intrusive or otherwise annoying thoughts, it's not going to help as much. It never did crap for me. Seroquel and Zyprexa were pretty much the only two things that ever gave me restful sleep. I just managed to gain a shitload on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savannah Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I started taking geodon many years ago due to fear of blood sugar concerns. I am not diabetic. I did not find it sedating at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
confused Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Maybe a lower dose of seroquel would help? I take 25mg. There are a number of sleep meds: ambien, lunesta. You could try OTC melatonin or benadryl. I've taken restoril to sleep. There is a sublingual low dose ambien that i was interested in but my insurance doesn't cover. Of the ones I have taken, seroquel does work the best, though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J718 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Trazodone has been the best for me. I can't even count how many years I've been on it and it hasn't stopped working. I also take Latuda, and that seems to help me fall asleep as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energizerhoney Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 Wow! Thanks for all these replies! I'm lucky in that I've never gained any weight or appetite increase from a psych med and I'm thin. I do need the seroquel because it does help with depression/racing thoughts, and a bit for anxiety. And the sleep I get is ridiculously great. I've tried trazadone and it didn't really make me tired. Melatonin didn't do anything. Ambien makes me hyper lol. Maybe I have a weird metabolism? Lower doses of seroquel are not sedating at all to me. Only 200mg and up. Again, thanks for all the suggestions. It really is helpful to get real life opinions. Hopefully this question and the replies will help others also. I'll just have my Dr keep an eye on my glucose levels and just see. I like to be proactive about my health. He did have me do an A1C and it was a 4.5 which he said was excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energizerhoney Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 I wanted to add, geez, it's a fine line to balance between mental health and physical health. I hate that some of these meds have caused some of you to gain so much weight and increase physical health risks. I know that has got to suck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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