Seroquel 25 mg Weight Gain: How Does It Cause Gain In Weight?

By - Maryam Fatima

Seroquel (Quetiapine) is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Besides these medical conditions, Seroquel is also used to treat other physiological conditions like insomnia and anxiety. But for these conditions, FDA has not yet approved its use. 

Like all other drugs, Seroquel also causes numerous side effects including weight gain. Our main concern is about Seroquel weight gain 25 mg.

Seroquel 25 mg can also result in weight gain. But, not all patients suffer from an increase in their mass. Many patients have found this drug neutral when it comes to the weight change. Further, the ratio of gaining weight also varies from patient to patient depending on various factors.

Continue reading below to learn more about Seroquel’s effects on weight gain and the factors affecting it.

Can Seroquel 25 mg Cause Weight Gain?

Many patients with psychological disorders ask, Does Seroquel (quetiapine) cause weight gain?

Yes, Seroquel 25 mg can cause weight gain in patients. But it is not always necessary. An increase in body mass index (BMI) is one of the side effects of Seroquel. But, it varies from patient to patient. Not all Seroquel patients experience weight gain.

There are many other factors that influence weight gain. Doses, other medications, diet, daily routine and physiological condition of the body affects Seroquel’s role in changing body mass. 

The duration of using Seroquel also affects the ratio of mass change in patients. Consumption of low doses for a small interval of time can increase the body mass by only up to 4 to 5 pounds. An increase in dose and duration can cause more gain in weight.

Seroquel Weight Gain 25 mg: How Can Seroquel Cause Weight Gain?

Seroquel is an antipsychotic, it can cause an increase in weight by increasing the calorie intake and disturbing normal metabolism in the body. Let’s find out in detail how can 25 mg of Seroquel cause weight gain. 

Increases Appetite

Patients taking Seroquel often experience an increase in their appetite. Patients begin to eat more and more food as a result. You may even end up waking at midnight due to extreme starvation. Increased food intake cause more consumption of carbohydrates and fats. Thus, more calorie intake can result in weight gain.

Antipsychotics also cause cravings in patients. This craving is more for fatty and sugar-rich diets like sweets. This leads to patients consuming unhealthy calorie-dense foods. Consequently, weight gain occurs.

Fat Storage

Seroquel, among other antipsychotics, leads to fat storage in the body, which leads to weight gain. This drug changes the way the body stores fats. It disrupts the redistribution of fat in the body.

Patients begin to store fat in a visceral manner in the abdomen after taking Seroquel. When fats begin to store around the organs, it always leads to an increase in body mass index (BMI).

Hormonal Fluctuation

Every drug you are taking affects the production and secretion of hormones in the body. Seroquel reduces the production of thyroid-stimulating hormones, which further alters the level of thyroxine and triiodothyronine in the blood. Hypothyroidism caused by Seroquel slows down the body’s metabolism. Slowed functioning in the body reduces the burning of fats, causing weight gain.

It also reduces dopamine production in the body. Reduced dopamine causes you to feel demotivated and negatively affects your metabolism, leading to weight gain.

Reduced Physical Activity

Antipsychotics including Seroquel frequently result in stress, depression, drowsiness, laziness, fatigue, and lethargy on continuous use.  All these mood changes cause a reduction in physical activity.

Reduced physical activity restricts fat burning. Fats start accumulating in the body, resulting in weight gain.

Factors Affecting Weight Change With Seroquel

Each drug differently affects the metabolism of different patients. There are many other factors that affect weight gain due to the intake of Seroquel. The main of them are listed below:

Individual Aspects

The genetic makeup of every individual varies widely from one another. The way their body responds to medication is also different. Therefore, the ratio of weight gain by Seroquel fluctuates prominently depending on genetic makeup.

Besides genes, daily diet, sleep routine, physiological condition, physical activities, and intake of other medications also affect weight changes in patients.

Doses

The Seroquel doses are the main factors that influence weight changes. Obviously, a higher dose increases the risk of more weight gain. 

People taking low doses and only 1 to 2 doses are less likely to suffer from weight gain. There are also many patients taking Seroquel but have not noticed any change in their weight.

Time Period

Like the dosage, the duration for which you are taking the drug also affects changes in body mass index (BMI). Longer duration influences more gain in weight and vice versa.

Other Drugs

There are always the chances of medication interacting with each other if you are taking more than one at a time. This interaction can create serious side effects including weight gain.

Hence, if you are taking any other medication before taking an antipsychotic, you should always consult your doctor first.

How Much Weight Can You Gain Due to Intake of Seroquel?

Patients are often curious about, how fast do you gain weight on Seroquel, or how much weight gain on quetiapine (Seroquel).

It is actually impossible to determine the exact value of weight gain caused by Seroquel intake. There are many factors that affect the ratio of weight fluctuation in patients taking Seroquel.

The increase in weight can vary from 4 pounds to more than 7 pounds depending on the duration of Seroquel administration.

Can Seroquel Causes Weight Loss?

It is most interesting to know, does Seroquel make everyone gain weight?

As we have discussed already, Seroquel has not caused weight gain in all patients. Body mass index increases for some users while it remains neutral for others. 

Seroquel’s consumers have also observed a loss of some pounds in their weight. It can be due to the precautions given to them while taking this drug. Many doctors recommend taking physical exercise, getting enough sleep, and eating a balanced diet.

Seroquel Side Effects

Every drug intake always results in some kind of side effects. Similarly, antipsychotics including Seroquel also cause many side effects. The intensity of these side effects varies depending on the dose and duration of drug administration.

Some of the acute and common side effects of Seroquel include:

However, these side effects can be severe and long-term depending on your physiological condition. They include:

Bottom Line

Wight gain is one of the common side effects of commonly used drugs. When it comes to Seroquel, does Seroquel 25 mg also cause weight gain?

Seroquel 25 mg can also result in weight gain. Patients using this antipsychotic have observed an increase of some pounds in their weight. But, there are also many Seroquel consumers who have not reported any kind of fluctuation in their weight. It actually varies from patient to patient de[ending on various factors.

FAQs

Let’s check out some of the frequently asked questions.

Does Seroquel slow down your metabolism?

Yes, antipsychotics including Seroquel can slow down the metabolism. People taking Seroquel have observed a reduction in their physical activities. Laziness and loss of energy are some of the common side effects of Seroquel. Patients can also suffer from stress and depression. All these factors lead to a reduction in the body’s metabolism.

Can Seroquel be taken with other medications?

Seroquel can interact with other medications if you are taking them together. It can result in side effects that vary from acute to intense in their severity. These side effects include nausea, vomiting, indigestion, diarrhea, hypertension, kidney malfunction, and increased heartbeat. Therefore, a patient must consult his doctor if he is suffering from other disorders as well.

How should you increase the Seroquel doses?

You should consult your doctor before increasing the dosage intake of Seroquel. Commonly, 50 mg of Seroquel can be taken by adults. If you are starting Seroquel intake or suffering from hepatic or renal ailments, take 25 mg of Seroquel. Before taking antipsychotics or changing their dose, must visit your doctor.

Does Seroquel cause weight gain in all patients?

No, Seroquel does not cause weight gain in all patients. Many patients have not noticed any increase in their body mass index with the intake of Seroquel. There are also some consumers who have reported losing a few pounds as a result of this drug. There are many factors that influence weight changes from patient to patient.