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What Causes Weight Gain And Lethargy After Taking Seroquel?

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Posted on Tue, 23 Dec 2014
Question: My 24 year old son is in early recovery(110 days) from opiate addiction. He is prescribed Seroquel to help him sleep. He is experiencing the side effects of weight gain (about 40 pounds) and it makes him very lethargic during the day. Is there an alternative medication that would help him sleep that can also not be addictive?
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Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (15 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
There are many drugs

Detailed Answer:
hi, thanks for your query.

I have read your query and understood your concerns.

Your son has problem with sleep because of detoxification from opiate addiction.
Giving benzodiazepines and other sleeping pills may be habit forming. There are drugs which can be used as a sedative but are not primarily sedatives like, seroquel, trazodone, chlorpromazine, olanzapine etc. Olanzapine will have similar side effects of weight gain and lethargy during the day.

In my opinion, your son can have trazodone or chlorpromazine as a sedative agent. Visit his doctor and discuss about this option. He will be benefited with these drugs. I personally use these drugs for the purpose of sleep in my patients.

There are side effects of these drugs which will be informed to you by your psychiatrist.

Hope I have answered your query. If you have further query then feel free to ask.

Wish you good health.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Ravi Soni

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 538 Questions

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What Causes Weight Gain And Lethargy After Taking Seroquel?

Brief Answer: There are many drugs Detailed Answer: hi, thanks for your query. I have read your query and understood your concerns. Your son has problem with sleep because of detoxification from opiate addiction. Giving benzodiazepines and other sleeping pills may be habit forming. There are drugs which can be used as a sedative but are not primarily sedatives like, seroquel, trazodone, chlorpromazine, olanzapine etc. Olanzapine will have similar side effects of weight gain and lethargy during the day. In my opinion, your son can have trazodone or chlorpromazine as a sedative agent. Visit his doctor and discuss about this option. He will be benefited with these drugs. I personally use these drugs for the purpose of sleep in my patients. There are side effects of these drugs which will be informed to you by your psychiatrist. Hope I have answered your query. If you have further query then feel free to ask. Wish you good health.