hi i was put on abilify and in one month i gained almost 30 lbs, i finally quit taking them a week ago and i have already lost 3 lbs!
I have been on Ibilify for abou 2 weeks, and have managed to do more papaerwork and housework in that time then in 1 year. i dont know if im a touch manic or just happier. I do know that my brain has slowed enough to make me think. My weight is the same, although I now have trouble eating breakfast. I used to have a massive bowl of porridge in the morning now I am lucky if I can stomach a slice of bread. My sleeping is a nightmare even though I take serequel 25 mg nightly. My legs constantly ache. I play a lot of sport and a finding I am a lot more tired and have always been a bit hypo so dont know if the ibilify is doing that or not and sweating, well I live in Queensland in Australia and play a lot of sport so yah well you work that one out. In the long run so far I am happy with ibilify and am going to make a go off it. I ama 45 years old single mom and weigh 60 kg with bipolar and a son with sutism just to top thiings off and things are looking ggood. Kelly
I can understand your predicament. It helped my depression too but I have gained so so much of weight & hate it. I would not want anyone to start this medication but try something else. This medicine has an awful tendency to make you swell up. STAY AWAY FROM IT. I plan to check with my doc. & stop taking this medication.
My psychiatrist said it is unknown whether weight gain is attributed to increase in appetite/intake or changes in metabolism, but that it was probably both. I guess you know a lot better, huh?
I call bogus. This post sounds like it is by someone from the pharma company- not a real patient.
I definitely think it does! I was put on a very low dose of Abilify, in order to treat severe OCD and depression. Taking Abilify was a terrible decision! Not only did it cause weight gain (about seven-ten pounds), but it also made me feel so lethargic. I am a college student and literally went from having a ton of energy to being unable to get out of bed. With the permission of my psychiatrist, I stopped taking Abilify. It took months for me to get back to my pre-Abilify weight. I really do think that it messes with your metabolism. If it's not absolutely necessary for you to be on an antipsychotic, please consider all of the possible side effects! This drug literally made me miserable and further added to my anxiety and depression.
I have been on Abilify for a couple of years ( I am also on Lamictal and Cymbalta) I never had any trouble with my weight until the Abilify. 142 to 191 in the last 18 months. My mood is stable (BiPolar 2) but I'm depressed and in tears about my weight. I've been working out at the gym since November and still haven't lost an ounce. Frustrating.
I started abilify in conjunction with my cymbalta 5 days ago. I was severely depressed to the point of suicide attempts. I have suffered with depression all my life. For the first time in years, I woke up the very first morning after I started it with a feeling of content and normalcy. I'm already overweight due to lack of exercise and proper eating habits. I was a fitness instructor until a foot tumor required surgery and now I have difficulty walking for long periods of time. Every ounce of muscle I had worked so hard for, had been reduced to fat.
I asked my husband, "is this what normal people feel like when they wake up?".....I am watching my weight like a hawk and seeing my Dr. weekly at the moment.
I just decided, that having a wonderful figure is too big a price to pay for not having a life at all. I've gained 30 lbs in 6 mths and it just added to the depression. I think this is harder for most women to accept. The world says we have to be one thing but at what cost?
I plan on telling my Dr. tomorrow that I will stay on this medication as long as it's necessary. I want to be present in my life and I want to actually have a life. I will sacrifice what I have to in order to be alive. My only other option would have been to pack life in. I am so grateful for Abilify.
Today was also my first day that I got outside and walked 2 miles. Maybe not much for some but a huge accomplishment for me.
My behavioral therapist and psych both said that yes. Honestly it does cause weight gain, It's an issue because I am OCD and have a huge fear of gaining weight. They both decided it was best to warn me ahead of time so I would know where the weight is coming from. I weigh 110lbs right now and I am supposed to start abilify tonight. My psych said I should expect to gain about 15lbs.
My sister has schizoaffective disorder and was put on abilify. It started the weight gain trend for her. She gained 25lbs very quickly, they changed the meds to another anti-psych... She has gained approximately a total of 60-70lbs.
Now she is miserable. She used to be so small and now she looks pregnant and has just recently started getting a heavy double chin. She has no choice but to take these otherwise she relapses into psychosis and is put into the hospital. I have OCD and an Acute Anxiety disorder... I am going to monitor my weight closely. If i gain more than 5lbs in the next 2 months I am going to search for something else to take.
Also, I am scared to take the med because my sister experiences stiff muscles that hurt so bad it was hard for her to walk. There are many more issues that i have observed through my sister... weight gain is the most prominent and though she isn't anti-psychotic she is depressed and self-conscious.
This is exactly what I am experiencing. I work so hard and I am still gaining weight. I feel like if I stopped eating altogether I would still gain weight.
I have gained 20lbs and I am only on 5mg! Going to the DR tomorrow to get off. I hope that the weight comes off quickly my diet hasn't changed. was 120 now 140%-)
I have been on abilify for about a year. I have gained 15 lbs in the last 2 months, a total of 25 since I started taking it. I will ask my therapist to try me on something else, as the cost of $850 for a 90 day supply doesn't help either.
Hi Pomplum, I have been on Abilify for many years 30mg, and has not caused me to gain weight. However, everyone acts differently to different meds...
Kelly
Definitly the Abilify, I have been on Cymbalta for years and have actually lost weight. Ability does work and if you can afford to gain a few pounds then it will work for you. But, if you are overweight or just above your BMI I do not recommend using abilify.