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Does Abilify (drug thats used to treat Bipolar disorder) cause weight gain and increase appetite/slow down metabolism

by JaySuper666, Nov 28, 2008 07:36PM
I have been taking Abilify for reasons that the doctor thought it was necessary to put me on it.  It seems like  there has been  some benefits with the drug that others around  me have noticed, but there is one bothersome effect that I believe the drug is causing. Although i am not fat, I seem to be gaining weight way too rapidy.  Before starting on the drug i was 148 now I am 155 and its only been one month.  it doesnt make sense why i am gaining weight like this except that this medication being an antipsychotic is making me gain weight.  Could it be possible that it is from the medication  and  if so, what can I take that would counteract the weight gain effect.
Member Comments (4)

by ILADVOCATE, Nov 28, 2008 08:19PM
To: JaySuper666
What you are noticing is a standard side effect of atypical antipsychotics which are metabolic changes leading to weight gain. That will happen with all of them although Abilify is the least likely but its still common. There's a new one about to hit the market but I believe its has the same side effect profile but we'll see when it comes out. Its important to see a nutritionist because the weight gain if unchecked can lead to diabetes so you'll have to modify your diet for sugar intake and the like but a nutritionist could give more specific advice. Its important that you ask your psychiatrist what were the reasons he put you on Abilify. If you have bipolar with psychotic features then you absolutely need an antipsychotic but if you have straight bipolar then there are a wider option of mood stabilizers. Antipsychotics are used as mood stabilizers too but if a person does not have any form of psychosis the standard mood stabilizers such as Lithium, Lamictal or Depakoate can be tried and two of those are likely to cause weight gain but Lamictal is not.
   But if you discuss it with him and he states specifically why you need an antipsychotic then a reccomendation to a nutritionist might be a good idea. You can also keep of new antipsychotics as they come out by googling "psychmeds123" and hopefully newer ones will have a better side effect profile as regards weight gain. Fortunately, in the coming years there will be a new generation of antipsychotics, the glutamate antagonists that do not cause weight gain, diabetes or tardive dyskinesia and promote a fuller recovery. I am on glycine, a Phase II antipsychotic in FDA study and have made a full recovery from schizoaffective disorder. My psychopharmocologist will be publishing the results and I will make them available but in the meantime you can find the official study by googling "Dr. Javitt, glycine".

by trickandcontrol3, Nov 29, 2008 02:20PM
I am on Abilify 10mg..and have been for a while and I have no noticed any weight gain. Are you on any other meds? It may just depends on who you are.

by ILADVOCATE, Nov 29, 2008 07:11PM
To: all
Abilify as I said is the least likely of the new antipsychotics to cause weight gain but it can happen. It happens to a reasonable percentage of people but less than than the other atypicals because its a SDA (Serontonin Dopamine agonist) and works in a somewhat different manner than Risperdal, Zyprexa and Olanzapine which often cause weight gain (Geodon less but its the same class as those). So Abilify is a slight update and the side effect of weight gain is less common. But it can happen which unlike tardive dyskinesia which is a risk that increases at the rate of "2.5 percent per person per year" (and should be monitored for by people's psychiatrists at regular intervals with a movement disorders test) to quote my psychopharmocologist with all atypical antipsychotics, weight gain and diabetes thankfully are not something that will happen over time and are less common with Abilify but are still within a reasonable realm of proabability. If people want more specifics look up the medication online (on a medically reliable site, the medications themselves usually have websites of their own as well) or the package insert and read more there.

by JaySuper666, Nov 29, 2008 08:56PM
To: everyone
Thanks for the posts.  Yes, I do understand that the abilify is the least likely out of the antipsychotics to cause weight gain but in my case, I think it is slowing down my metabolism.  I have never been fat, but the weight that I  gained within a month is substantial.  However, I do not know for sure that it is the abilify, but since it is an antipsychotic drug, then the nature of the drugs has weight gain as a side effect.  The probem is even if it is the culprit in the matter of my weight gain, people around me said that I seem more calm with it and not  as nervous as I once was.  So because it might be benefiting me a little, I would like to stick with the medicine as long as I can find something that will counteract the effect of the weight gain.  Meaning, I would like to know of any safe medicines or supplements that can be used to keep the weight down.
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