Solution to combat weight gain from seroquel?

Hi there, after doing extensive research I have concluded the following:
There are many instances where it can be physically impossible to lose weight on Seroquel no matter how you change your lifestyle whether it be through healthy diet (like vegetables and low fat protein) or tons of cardio exercise or both. Seroquel alters your metabolism somehow (I don't know how) thus preventing you from losing weight (fat) no matter what you do.

Now that we've broken through that barrier, I want to discuss some alternative existing possibilities. Basically it comes down to having to take another medication to counteract the vicious consequences of seroquel. These medications are known as "Anti-obesity medications." With the two most popular being orlistat (Xenical) and sibutramine (Meridia). I am shell shocked that there hasn't been much of any attention drawn to this subject, yet it seems that seroquel and weight gain is the number one complaint with unfortunately no solution

I would like everyone in the community to please give me their thoughts and opinions or preferably their experiences if any regarding this topic
- (Anti-obesity medications) to be specific. Please post about the issue at hand, not about anything else. This thread is strictly to do with Anti-obesity medications as a counter acting substance to the weight gain caused by seroquel. I'm looking for responses such as whether or not this is effective, or whether this is possible or how people have dealt with this situation dosage etc. I will then proceed to discussing this collaboration of ideas with my pdoc, and finally get the ball rolling!

lastly for those of you suggesting that I just simply stop taking it as an obvious solution, please realize that I cannot tangibly sleep, like literally will not sleep without it. It has been the only drug in aiding my insomnia. Therefore I must take it regardless of the consequences!

I appreciate any input on this subject
Thanks everyone

thanks azr

Keep in mind that these medications really don't give you a lot more. People tend to get on them expecting to just drop twenty or thirty pounds in a matter of weeks, assuming that medications will be like the bits on the infomercials only actually working. That's not really the case.

That aside, the two most potent medications that cause weight loss that I'm aware of are Rimonabant (not available in the US due to bureaucratic snarl) and Zonisamide. Rimonabant is a clever design that blocks the endocannabinoid system, and results in the most profound weight loss in trials. Unfortunately, it also tends to make people horribly, horribly depressed. Zonisamide is an over the top potent anti-seizure medication (in some senses viewed as a successor to Topamax, though the medications are actually unrelated). It comes close to Rimonabant in terms of potency, but it's side effect profile is quite brutal. Basically, makes you stupid while you're on it.

Neither of these are really a good option.

What I have seen clinical trials on that have actually been positive are using Metformin, the world's dearest, oldest antidiabetic medication, in trials with Zyprexa (which is apparently quite a bit worse than seroquel in the weight gain department). Metformin's been shown to halt and reverse weight gain caused by this drug with a relatively high success rate in about a half dozen trials. They even tested it in combination with orlistat, but the results of that trial were that the combination was no better than either alone. Metformin has the advantage of being well tolerated, nice side effect profile, and approximately cheaper than dirt. Depending on the dosage you can get a year's supply for less than $40.

Huh. And seroquel for sleep? That's rather... harsh. You went through the usually Z-drug/benzodiazepine path before getting there? I suppose that unlike the above, you're perfectly capable of using low doses of seroquel indefinitely for sleeping.

Unfortunately this is not an option for many people due to insurance coverage, or state asistance not covering. I have heard that zyprexa causes weight loss in most people