dragonfly79 Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 Hello, everyone. I recently switched from Seroquel XR, which was very sedating and caused me to gain a great deal of weight, to Abilify. At first, it seemed like I was losing weight rather quickly due to going off of the Seroquel, but now it seems that I am gaining rapidly again! I am wondering what everyone's experience has been with Abilify and weight in general and specifically compared to other meds you have taken. For those of you who have gained weight, what have you done to combat this? Has anything worked? My appetite has not increased, and I walk often. But alas... Thanks! -Dragonfly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 I gained weight on Abilify. It was at a slower rate than when I've been on Seroquel and Zyprexa but I did still gain. You might want to ask your pdoc about adding Metformin. For me, Metformin slowed the gain down a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brokenchina Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 I didn't gain much weight on Abilify, but I'd already gained a lot of weight from other medications and when I was on Abilify it was impossible for me to begin to lose that weight. That was my only complaint with the medication regarding weight (even though I have so many more for other aspects.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 Abilify was weight neutral for me. Something that just came to mind was have you gotten your thyroid checked (TSH, T3, T4)? When mine went wrong I gained weight at an abnormally rapid weight (worse than from being on medications). Once I got on thyroid medication the weight dropped off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Emperor Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 I gained 40 pounds on Abilify. To combat it, I went on a "diet" which wasn't successful. Well, I lost 15lbs and gained it all back plus some. Hunger is fierce for me on that med. LOVED it though! I went off it because it was making me fat. Took lithium instead and now I'm fatter than I ever was. Stupid meds. I was only this hungry when I was stoned from 2000-2006. Yeah. I was. The whole time. Anyway, the meds make me severely hungry. I feel like I'm starving all the time and PMS week? That's like "EAT ALL THE THINGS!" so, shit. The diet and exercise can work. It has for me. The willpower has to be incredibly strong for me to succeed though. I really have to talk myself out of eating a bunch of SHIT all day everyday. Struggle not too, fail a bit but that's okay. I hate meds. I need them. Good luck. Wish I had some miracle answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MandJane Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Oh no :-( I have been put on Abilify and am dreading being fatter than I am now. Would a diet not help? Like WW ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluechick Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 I gained 30 pounds in three months from Abilify. The only thing that helped was to get off of it. Course, I got off of it for different reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parapluie Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 I've gained 30-ish pounds in a year on Abilify. I'm starting Couch to 5K to try to lose some of the weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DA K10 Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 I stayed with Abilify for four years. Over that period I gained just over 40 pounds -- I was devastated. Oddly, the first two years or so were pretty weight neutral, but then into year three I rapidly put on weight. I had a full battery of tests because I didn't want to have to deal with switching medications, but after so much money spent on tests my pdoc and I concluded that it was almost certainly Abilify. I also had terrible sedation and a reduction in positive emotions throughout. It also caused leg stiffness, cramping, and shin splints, so my former running hobby was put on hold. I'm off Abilify and running three miles per day again. I can't *prove* that it was all due to Abilify, but as the Magic 8 Ball says: "Signs Point to Yes." My experience seems a bit atypical, though, so hopefully it will be weight neutral for you and a bit activating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sjs Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 I gaines 30 lbs on abilify over 2 years. I was eating 1200 calories and exercising and couldnt even just maintain the weight but kept gaining. And not to mention the awful anxiety and paranoia. I had to switch to latuda. I read around here that some people love their abilify and feel the benefits outweigh the weight gain. I agree with the OP that maybe checking thyroid levels. My pdoc added a thyroid med even though i was in the low side if normal to help the depression. Sorry if this is just a ramble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notfred Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Abilify is weight neutral for me, having taken it for several years. It also does not effect my glucose levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonfly79 Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 Thanks everyone! Great feedback! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilnessness Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 (edited) I gained 50 pounds in 5 months, but it came off ok after I quit it. Edited June 29, 2013 by evilnessness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinglessFaery Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 ugh I gained 30 pounds in a month....yeah..and that was with the nausea and vomiting it also caused. just switched to lithium and am prepared to gain alooooot more. meh. ( I havent changed my sig in like three med changes) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamcatcher14 Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 (edited) I lost 10 kg but then that was mostly re-stabilising after having ballooned with olanzapine over half a year. Still, Abilify has been weight neutral or negative for me. Goes to show that it will not necessarily make you gain and it is better than most of the other AAPs statistically speaking. Edited June 29, 2013 by nightbutterfly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterJoshua Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 I actually lost 50 pounds after I dropped lithium and went just with Abilify. I find that I have so much more energy that it is easier to get out in the world and do things. But, I don't sleep. So there is the trade off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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