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Quetiapine is giving me Fatty liver, I need to quit taking it but I’m scared to

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jeremy1979
jeremy1979

I was pretty healthy before taking Quetiapine, well, physically healthy. I was a mental wreck having panic attacks daily and Quetiapine has been my life saver for two years. I function again, and run my businesses almost as well as I did before. I’m having liver pains in my back and side, I had a scan done and they said I had fatty liver and t could be from the medication. (I’m only 38, and I don’t drink alcohol) This medicine also makes me hungry all the time, I’ve gained 20lbs on it. I really have to watch what I eat because I just ballon. I know I need to quit it, but I’m scared I’ll relapse and have panic attacks again and not get any sleep.(Quetiapine has been amazing for sleep, I would only get maybe 3 hours of sleep a night before, now I get 7-8) Has anyone tapered off this medication? Was it bad? Did you get onto anything else that helped and dosent cause fatty liver? I tried ssri’s before this and non helped. So I don’t want to try any of those. 

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • tom_46383
    tom_46383 jeremy1979

    Posted

    Quetiapine was a wonderful med for me. Until it wasn't. 300 mg. dose for 5 years or more. I had side effects from the beginning. I called them "crazy legs". Eventually had to call 911 for severe chest pains. Nothing wrong with my heart, they said. After doing the research online, it was the Seroquel. Tapered off. Not one chest pain since. I've lost 30 lbs. in a year. I encourage those who have side effects to find alternative medicine.

    • jeremy1979
      jeremy1979 tom_46383

      Posted

      Tom, what medication did you switch to? Did you have bad withdrawals from quiting the Seroquel? How long did you taper to get off it?

      Thanks for your response and help!

    • tom_46383
      tom_46383 jeremy1979

      Posted

      1. I switched to lamotrigine, but have since stopped that also.

      2. No withdrawls.

      3. Long taper. Maybe 3-4 months. 300 to 200 to 150 to 125 to 100. All at 2 week intervals EXACTLY! Then 75, 50, 25. Also at 2 week intervals. Maybe took more than 4 months??

      However, please refer to my stated side effects earlier. Thought it was a heart attack. Only 2-5 % of patients report this side effect.

      Hope this helps.

    • tom_46383
      tom_46383

      Posted

      I forgot to mention that I take Trazodone 150 mg. at bedtime for sleep. Works well for me.
  • Liz748123
    Liz748123 jeremy1979

    Posted

    please could you say what happened with you Jeremy? Same thing for me. No problems before and

    now 7 months after starting on quetiapine, I'm 3 stone heavier and just been diagnosed with fatty liver

    • chris58946
      chris58946 Liz748123

      Posted

      Is it possible the fatty liver is because you have gained 21kg and not the quetiapin?

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