Abilify and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Abi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 17, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "I had severe PTSD due to childhood abuse and sexual assault, had resulting severe depression/severe anxiety/severe suicidality because of the PTSD. Never been medically psychotic in my life, however. Anyways, I went from a 5'4" woman at 100 lbs to 170 lbs in a year thanks to Abilify. The weight gain was absolutely crushing and completely demoralizing. Abilify did very little to improve or stabilize my mood. When I went on it, I was suicidal. When I finally went off of it, I was obese and more suicidal, and to this day deal with disordered eating because of how horrific such rapid weight gain was. One year off of it, I'm back down to 128 lbs, but holy moly did Abilify ruin my life for a good period of time. My body is still recovering. As for the PTSD? I had to deal with the root grief about the untold pain I lived through. An intense medication meant for psychotic patients didn't help me mourn in the slightest."

• Noc...
• November 12, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm a 21-year-old female and just diagnosed with Bipolar I. It's been a roller coaster ride, especially after gaining 10 pounds in the hospital while taking risperidone and Depakote. I'm still on the Depakote, though I hope to discontinue it as soon as my psychiatrist allows, but I just switched to Abilify. I've got to say, so far I have no complaints. With risperidone, I had no 'lid' to my hunger. It was endless, and that was quite disappointing. There were many other side effects, but the weight gain has added to my self-loathing. Though the painful heart dysrhythmias are a close second. I'm hoping that Abilify makes it possible for me to curb my appetite back to what it used to be as I exercise the 30 pounds I don't need away."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 18, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "I am on 5 mg of Abilify and 100 mg of Pristiq. I have been on this combination for about a year. As a result, I've been the happiest I have been in many years of struggling with severe depression. HOWEVER, I'm torn. I recently recovered from a very severe eating disorder after 30 years! My weight in a lifetime has been as low as 70 lbs and as high as 120 lbs. I am 5' 3'. NOW, after a year of recovery from the eating disorder AND taking the Abilify and Pristiq, I have gained over 50 lbs!!!! As you can imagine, I am totally freaked out. I suffer from arthritis, and it is very difficult to exercise, although I try. At any rate, I don't know what to do. I feel great, but the weight gain is overwhelming, and I'm still gaining! HELP!!!"

• abc...
• July 4, 2012

For Schizophrenia "My treatment for first episode psychosis started with olanzapine (Zyprexa). It was working really well but was leading to side effects, amongst which weight gain was the most significant. So, eventually, aripiprazole was started, and I am on it for a while. It seems to be a good medicine with very few side effects, and it has worked really well."

• Mad...
• October 3, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "So this was honestly the best medicine I ever went on for my depression, BUT it made me gain 60 lbs in a matter of 2 or 3 months. And I have always been small my entire life. Didn't change any habits either when I was on this. I've been off this medication for about a year now and haven't lost a pound of the weight I gained because of it, despite working extremely hard. It really sucks because this medicine made me feel great, until I became really overweight. Now I'm too self-conscious and depressed about myself that I don't even go in public unless I absolutely have to."

• que...
• October 24, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed as bipolar type II, and my nurse practitioner in WA prescribed me Abilify, and I gained 30 lbs within a month of taking it. I blew up like a balloon, and he said he doesn't have that side effect. I looked online, and it says that it clearly does. He said to take it a few more weeks and see how I did. I gained ten more pounds, and my mother insisted I stop taking it. I went from 148 to 188 lbs. It may have started helping with my symptoms, but I was too concerned about my weight gain, so he finally put me on Topamax."

• Anonymous
• January 18, 2012

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "My daughter was taking 10 mg for OCD hair pulling. While it did help with the pulling, she gained 20 kg and could not stay awake, which is not a good thing in school. She had no motivation for anything but to eat and sleep. I have taken her off the medication."

• Kel...
• August 24, 2011

For Depression "I was put on Abilify 4 years ago for depression along with Prozac. At first, it really helped my mood. That only lasted several months, so the doctor raised my dose to 10 mg a day. I gained 30 lbs in 6 months. I am still on the medicine but decided last night to take it down to 5 mg a day and eventually to discontinue it altogether. No matter what I do, eat healthy, exercise, etc., I cannot lose weight. It has to be the Abilify, I can't think of any other reason. I probably only put 1200 calories a day into my body, if that. I should be losing."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 28, 2018

For Autism "This was for my son. The side effects are worse than the original problems: extreme weight gain, immediate food cravings, excessive thirst, high triglycerides made worse, vision changes immediately. Trying to get my son off the medication is making the symptoms worse with behavior and insomnia. He is no longer needing to eat non-stop, and he doesn’t use his glasses all day anymore, if at all, which is how it was before. He has had many almost psychotic episodes, screaming that he doesn’t know what he wants to do and completely unable to go to sleep. He has separation anxiety, cannot be alone, increased aggression, and work refusal at school. It’s been a month of trying to wean him off. Gradually, every step down causes more problems like this. I highly recommend not trying this drug. I was pressured into it by the hospital and my ex-husband against my wishes."

• Vir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2018

For Depression "Was good for like a month. I had energy and was waking up early. After that, I started gaining weight (25 lbs) and got so depressed that I didn't want to go out and was even suicidal. I'm off now, and in less than a month, lost 15 lbs. I'm starting to feel better and back to taking only Celexa 20 mg since six years ago."

• Mom...
• July 17, 2011

For Agitated State "I take this for borderline personality disorder. This medication helped a lot with my mood swings, anger, purging (but not binging), as well as keeping my somewhat delusional 'thoughts' in check (such as thinking that I am morbidly obese, an evil person, that people are following me, etc.). It did make me very tired at first (and still does a little). It is somewhat related to weight gain as well, though less than most other antipsychotics, and I have gained 10-15 lbs so far (in 2 months). Overall, I think this medication is pretty good, despite the weight gain and fatigue."

• Ski...
• June 5, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "My experience with Abilify was destructive. I am 25 now and have had MDD since age 10. Four years ago, I took Abilify for about 3-4 months. During that time, I experienced paranoia, delusions, worsened depression, and extreme weight gain. I'd never had paranoia or delusions before, and it brought my normal baseline from a 5/10 to a 1/10. That still hasn't changed. I also experienced an extreme compulsive desire to eat (did not go away after I stopped the medication) as well as total thyroid shutdown (atrophy), as can be affirmed by my endocrinologist. In about four months, I gained 80 lbs (more than 60% of my original body weight). I will be on multiple medications the rest of my life to treat damage from Abilify."

• Anonymous
• May 17, 2009

For Depression "Over the years, I've tried a number of different medications. I tried switching to Abilify from Seroquel because of weight gain. My mood on it was good, but the side effects far outweighed any positive reaction. I couldn't sit still, and I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. As far as all of my experiences with medications, it's probably the worst I've ever felt. I literally did not sleep for DAYS, I couldn't concentrate, I couldn't get comfortable in ANY position (standing, sitting, or even lying down), and I felt like my thoughts were out of control. But it was worth a shot. I went on to a combination of Zoloft and Lamictal, which works very well for me."

• mon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Was placed on Abilify this past May due to continued symptoms of depression and anxiety related to body dysmorphia. My doctor started on 5 mg Abilify along with Pristiq. Within a week or so, I started noticing less preoccupation with my appearance and less depression. Unfortunately, my penis felt rubbery and no libido. No other side effects except maybe some weight gain. Told my doctor, and he said the more you take Abilify, the better you’ll feel, and your libido will improve. Continued to feel better, but libido never improved. Then I found out I have low testosterone, which I believe is from Abilify. I’m 41 years old! Started researching and found that many antipsychotic meds affect prolactin, which affects testosterone. This medication helped but affected my sexual health. Now I’m depressed and anxious again-can’t win!"

• Sto...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 10, 2021

For Depression "This is a miracle drug for me. I have been on so many antidepressants over the years for major anxiety and depression with no relief. Within a day or two of Abilify, I feel human again. I've been on it for about 8 years, and my dosage is between 2 to 4 mg. I have gained a lot of weight, but I'll take it over the nightmarish way I feel when I don't. No side effects other than the weight gain. I also have found that the brand name works much better for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2020

For Agitated State "I was recently prescribed Abilify (the generic) during COVID. I have PTSD, BPD, and depression, so with everything going on, it has made me insane. I had rage outbursts and would want to hit people, not to mention the stress and lockdown. Every time I left the house, there were signs and masks everywhere. Anyway, I needed a change. I tried Abilify, I'm on 5 mg now. I found it actually increased my appetite, I gained at least 10 lbs, which I'm not fond of, but I've been eating again. I find it has worked great as far as a mood stabilizer. I've only had 1 panic attack since being on it. The first few weeks, I was really agitated and paranoid, though. If I don't take it at the exact time every day, I feel sick. Overall, it does help with my mood and rage, so I'll stay on it. I don't like the always having to move, it's nice at work, but not if I ever want to relax."

• Gre...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 12, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "I first tried this drug about five years ago and have been on it consistently for two to three years. The good: this drug really changed my life. I'd tried a laundry list of antidepressants, and they were mostly like popping sugar pills--they didn't do much at all. My psychiatrist suggested adding Abilify, and it did something that no drug had ever done for me: it stabilized my mood (which was all over the map). It allowed me to be happy and productive for the first time ever in my adult life. The bad: I have consistently gained weight every year I've been on the drug, with no sign of a plateau. I'm experimentally discontinuing it to see if I can lose the weight (which is, counter-productively, making me depressed again)."

• Han...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 14, 2023

For Autism "It was awful. I was on it on/off from age 13 to 20. It made my depression worse, there were days I would come home from school and start crying even when school was going really well for me. I also gained a lot of weight (about 60 lbs total) despite living in a household that served healthy portions and encouraged exercise. It helped short-term with impulse control when I was getting in trouble at school and had anger issues, but the pros definitely didn’t outweigh the cons. I’ve also noticed doctors tend to give it out to kids as young as 6 years old who have autism or bipolar or even just have a troubled life. They hand it out like candy. This needs to stop."

• Noe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm not an easy patient, unsatisfied with the weight gain from the typical atypicals, lacking an 'oomph' from lithium, allergic to lamotrigine, and anti-depressants give me a one-way ticket to the manic rollercoaster. I started Abilify and within 3 days, I was hypermanic and nauseous to boot. No sleep, spending $400 on some bed sheets seemed like a marvelous idea, thrill-seeking etc., and throwing up every 3 hours. However, my psychiatrist guided me through it with sleep meds and something to settle the stomach, and I'm so glad I pushed through. Yeah, the restlessness is an issue, but I'd like to consider myself an 'experience and going out' person now. Anything better than the listlessness of depression or meds that are supposed to cure it."

• tre...
• May 7, 2009

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This medicine is truly great. It helped to stop my bipolar swings and keep me level. The only reason that I did not give it a 10 is that it only lasted 3 years. Then the symptoms came back, but while it worked, it was great. Hardly any side effects except some weight gain that may or may not be attributed to this drug. I would recommend this drug to anybody."

• ven...
• June 19, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "I took 2.5 milligrams of Abilify for a month, then the generic came out, and I had to use that because the insurance wouldn't pay for the brand name. It was the worst experience I've had, I couldn't stay awake, so I started taking it at night. Still, really bad result, so I called my insurance company, and I called my doctor, and I'm now back on the regular Abilify brand name, 5 milligrams. However, I'm afraid of the weight gain. I've already gained weight on Cymbalta, and I'm afraid I'll gain more on the Abilify. However, it does make me active enough for hopefully I'll be able to walk a lot of it off or something. Does anybody have any suggestions for keeping the weight off?"

• bea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 30, 2014

For Major Depressive Disorder "I take this for depression. It keeps me from having major depression, but I have had weight gain, increased acid reflux, and changes in my menstrual cycle. Unfortunately, the weight gain is the deal breaker. I am looking for something that doesn't have that side effect. Otherwise, Abilify would be a 9. The same is with Zoloft. It cures depression, but the weight gain is even more rapid. Am looking for something that can do both-stop the depression and prevent the weight gain."

• Anonymous
• July 19, 2009

For Depression "Abilify has caused some weight gain, and I feel like a slightly depressed zombie throughout the day. I am taking an extremely low dose of this medication. I want to feel better, but some days it is difficult."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 14, 2021

For Autism "My son is 14 now. He was on 1 mg of Abilify for about two years. It was a nightmare, but he'd become suicidal when we'd try to quit it. His personality changed. He went from being a vegetarian to wanting to hunt and ate meat every meal. He developed bizarre sexual interests, craved alcohol, became so aggressive I couldn't get him to school, and suffered a manic episode and psychotic break requiring hospitalization. He craved sweets constantly and gained 50 pounds. Please think twice before letting your child try this drug. He's on Zyprexa and Depakote now and has never been better."

• LaS...
• September 1, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Wow. I took it, and many of the reviews here could have been me. Was on it for 3 weeks, couldn’t take the side effects. My tongue was swollen 2x its size, uncontrollable salivating. Anger outbursts that were uncharacteristic of me, impulsivity, akathisia, horrible kicking legs as I tried to go to sleep. Doc was kind enough to pull me off it as I gained 20 pounds in this month. Ridiculous. It was not a “life saver” for me either."