Avatar Posted by pazzo123 54 days ago (Question)
After many decades of living with Bipolar mixed and ADD
I can say that now at the age of 47 (male) I am doing better.

Insomnia has always been my major symptom.

When I sleep well I am most fuctional and stable thru the next day.

My bed time meds are :

Seroquel 1200mg
remeron 45mg
Tegretol 500mg

My morning Meds are:

Tegretol 200mg
Abilify 5mg

My biggest problem is one side affect that is becoming most difficult to bear. OVEREATING at bedtime when I take the bedtime doses. I feel I am 50 lbs. overweight due to meds. despite of exercise. Seroquel Remeron are the culprits.
Does anyone know any sleeping meds beside benzodiaziapines, Lunestra, Sonata,Ambiem or anti-depressants that do not have over eating side affects like:
Senoquan. I have tried them all including Depakote which had other unbearable side affects?
I have taken Topamax with the Existing meds. to lighten the overeating side affect,which worked altho it kept me from sleeping which turned out to be useless!
I know there are alot of sedating non-narcotic meds mant many of which are anti-depressants and anti-psychotic
meds. But are there any that do not make u overeat?
BTW my sleep hygeine inc. in light of caffeine intake is well managed.

Plz forward any info. Thanks.


Answers

Written by psyguy 52 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

Unfortunately, I can't suggest an alternative medication to Quetiapine (Seroquel), as doing so would be, in essence, offering medical advice. I'm not licensed in that respect. Being familiar with the drug's interactions by way of psychology clients, I am familiar with it's weight gain interaction, and other side-effects conferred.

In those that I have known whom take Seroquel, weight gain was somewhat common and noticable over time, but not uncontrolled. In one particular instance, a client complained of the same bedtime binge-eating that you've mentioned. Her offset was to incorporate food and drink that offered healthier nutrition.

Of her own accord, when the urge to binge came about, she would begrudgingly eat vegetables or fruit, like celery or an apple, washed down with a large glass of water. This would often subdue the impulse towards less healthy food choices. However, she admitted that her cravings for sweets and fatty foods were foremost in her mind, and occasional she would cave-in.

It seemed to work for her, as she also mentioned some months later of having lost between 15 to 20 pounds of excess weight. We both concluded that this was a good system across-the-board, both with regards to her medicated life experience and general health.

I've always said to clients to "live within their life's parameters", meaning adapt to the variables we are given. If medication is necessary, and is causing an impulse or urge towards unhealthy behaviors, seek out alternative options to the fruition of the impulse. A simple guideline in counseling is...

A... Accept your reactions and be present

C... Choose a valued direction

T... Take action

In other words, accept that the problem exists (which you do), consider alternative options, and take action with your best choice. If overeating is a problem, it simply exists and the urge can be strong. So, come up with a healthy food/drink option, or activity, to do in it's place.

Being that you live a medicate life experience, a good consideration would be to adapt within your life's parameters to what serves your physical and mental health most optimally, given your circumstances. And the changes could benefit you in more ways than one.

I wish you all the best, my friend.

Written by Aneohoh 52 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

mY ADVICE IS TO STOP ALL MEDICATION!

DIET

DO ALOT OF EXERCISE.

YOU'LL SLEEP!

Written by Clyde 45 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

My advice is not to completely stop all medication...you need to check with your doctor and he/she can help you wean off it that is what you wanted to do.

However--while I do agree that the Seroquel is most definitely the culprit, the doctor probably will tell you to eat healthier, and try not to snack before bed.

And to exercise.

Best,

Clyde


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