[Don't touch me]

My pdoc just gave me a two week sample( 2mg). I have a few questions... Does anyone know how common Diabetes is in it. Along with the other serious symptoms. And what exactly is anyone's opinion of it.
I have to take it at 6:00 PM today, with my Paxil.

EDIT: I am the most concerned with weight gain. When I was put on Paxil, I lost weight. I am only 17 and would like too be happy with my body. I am thin right now, and terrified of getting fat.

[Skully]

I have took it for a couple years before then recently just started it again. I have not had a singl side effect from the Abilify excpt for weight loss both times.

[Don't touch me]

Originally Posted by Skully

I have took it for a couple years before then recently just started it again. I have not had a singl side effect from the Abilify excpt for weight loss both times.

Okay, good. I had a decreased appetite with Paxil, but I am very very afraid of the weight gain. So.. Do you think it may be similar to paxil? If I didn't gain weight with Paxil, I won't with this?

Gaining weight in one of my worst fears and I'm "high risk" for an eating disorder. Since I see my body fatter than it is.

OMG, if it makes me fat I WILL kill myself. TT_TT

[feary]

well, I am taking abilify, celexa, klonopin and some supplements for the past few months and I have gained 30 pounds in such a short time

I cannot stop eating and feeling starved all the time and craving junk food only

[Don't touch me]

SO maybe I shouldn't take it....

[Skully]

Weight gain comes with the territory sometimes. Everyone is going to react differently to the medication. I cannot say whether you will gain, lose, or stay the same weight. Sometimes the benefits outweigh the risks. There are far worse drugs out there than Abilify concerning weight gain. I cannot say what the differences between paxil and Abilify are because I have never taken paxil. But I do know people who GAIN weight on Paxil. So, like I said, it will be different for each person.

[Don't touch me]

Okay. I took my first one and it made me feel weird.

[Idealsummerluvv]

Hi,

I just started abilify yesterday. Am currently taking cymbalta and wellbutrin. I've been treated for chronic depression as well as pmdd.

The therapist I previously was seeing told me her patients that are taking abilify are doing well and notice a considerable difference (for the better).

My primary care was able to speak to my former therapist yesterday. Weight gain was not one of the side effects mentioned. She did say she was going to keep an eye on blood sugar levels.

Thru the years, my meds have been adjusted from time to time. I purposely do not read all the side effects because I do not want to anticipate having them. It's kinda like when I don't look at the calendar closely because sometimes I can anticipate pmdd symptoms before they're actually starting.

When I took my first pill yesterday- I felt kinda weird as well. But I know it takes time for your body to get used to it. I also had not eaten all day.

I'm going to give this some time and see how I feel. Am seeing my doctor in another 3 weeks. My cousin also started abilify. Of course, you need to go by how YOU feel and what works for you.

Are you getting help for your eating disorder?
My son is 19 and lost almost 100 lbs. when he was 13 and was diagnosed w/anorexia.

take care,

Idealsummerluvv

[Carole07]

I have been taking Abilify for over a year now and I have not had any side effects. The Abilify really helped with the voices. However, it's not for everyone. It might not help you at all. It might take time to find the right meds for you. I wish you the best.

Sincerely,
Carole

[gothham]

I was previously on Abilify and it didn't seem to do anything for me with the exception of gaining weight despite not having changed any of my eating habits...ie. types of food, quanity,ect. My understanding is that it messes with a persons metabolism. I, like you am by nature thin and as soon as I noticed the first weight gain I told my doctor I wanted off of it as gaining weight would worsen my depression and other issues. He then put me on Geodon and I have no weight gain.

[Omers]

My son and I have both been on Abilify. He had no side effects. I had some weight gain (From significantly underweight due to health issues to almost normal). I would love to be able to go back on it as it did help a lot. I can't sleep on it though and can't take any of the good sleep meds because I have to be able to wake up easy if my son gets up in the night. My experience with the weight gain was that as soon as I went off of it 90+% of the weight came off pretty quick so no harm in trying. The weight that did not come off was all in my bra... that I never had to wear pre-meds... so I actually look like a chick now

[Minah Byrd]

I am on this site anonymously because I fear liability from drug companies if I criticize their drugs (I am a psychiatrist). I have to tell you that I have given both Paxil and Abilify to over a thousand patients each. Both work very well in most cases, but both cause weight gain in the majority of cases. With Paxil, some people lose weight at first, plateau for a year, and then slowly creep up. With Abilify, after the first few days of adjusting (it can make you feel weird at first), people then settle in, but MANY report a ravenously increased appetite. When the drug first came out, its dual acting effect as a Dopamine stabilizer (instead of just a blocker like Risperdal, Seroquel, etc) made it a very attractive drug and indeed I had tremendous success with this drug in Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and later on as an adjunctive med with ADHD, depression, and anger management. If you dont get or can manage the increased appetite, which some people have told me is more of a carb craving, then I highly doubt you are at risk of getting Diabetes as is warned. I never had a single patient get diabetes on it because if they gained more than 20 lbs I discontinued the drug and they were able to shed that weight afterward. Why some people have no weight gain on it, or who will or wont is something we really dont know yet. It is interesting that drug companies are working hard to come up with a dopamine blocker/regulator with zero weight gain, because they know it would be a best seller. Doc Byrd

[IdoubtIT]

I just got done with an Abilify trial a few weeks ago. I was on it about 3 months. I gained about 20 lbs while on the med and had a lot of trouble with akathesia (a state of restlessness where in me it felt like my skin was going to crawl off my body...pleasant). I was a little elevated on the med and hypersexual, so I can see how in some people with depression adding the med might cause some well received benefits. You always have to remember on this site that people's response to psych meds are based on the individual; what works great for some people tanks for others.

I sadly stopped taking abilify because of the akathesia. I would have accepted the weight gain because it made me a champ in bed!

[Minah Byrd]

Originally Posted by IdoubtIT

I just got done with an Abilify trial a few weeks ago. I was on it about 3 months. I gained about 20 lbs while on the med and had a lot of trouble with akathesia (a state of restlessness where in me it felt like my skin was going to crawl off my body...pleasant). I was a little elevated on the med and hypersexual, so I can see how in some people with depression adding the med might cause some well received benefits. You always have to remember on this site that people's response to psych meds are based on the individual; what works great for some people tanks for others.

I sadly stopped taking abilify because of the akathesia. I would have accepted the weight gain because it made me a champ in bed!

The restlessness you experienced is part of a collective group of side effects associated with antipsychotics called EPS (extra pyramidal symptoms). These are usually mild and involve muscle twitches, stiffness and sometimes pacing and agitation. Akathisia is related but unfortunately it doesnt usually respond as well to the "antidote" to EPS, which is either Benadryl or a prescription drug called Cogentin. However, it is always worth a try to try these two before giving up on a drug which is useful. Minah

[Jerrypharmstudent]

Originally Posted by Don't touch me

My pdoc just gave me a two week sample( 2mg). I have a few questions... Does anyone know how common Diabetes is in it. Along with the other serious symptoms. And what exactly is anyone's opinion of it.
I have to take it at 6:00 PM today, with my Paxil.

EDIT: I am the most concerned with weight gain. When I was put on Paxil, I lost weight. I am only 17 and would like too be happy with my body. I am thin right now, and terrified of getting fat.

Hello!

Forgive me if this has been answered already as I have not had the time to read the whole thread.

Abilify is a relatively new antipsychotic and has generally fewer side effects than other med in this class like Geodon, Seroquel, Zyprexa, etc. Abilify also seems to be the least likely to cause weight gain and many people usually lose weight on it. However, you never know how it might react for you.

Antipsychotics do not cause diabetes. These meds though can cause significant weight gain and "metabolic disorder" which non-directly could lead to a pre-diabetic state and then full-blown diabetes if weight gain/diet are not controlled. Some APs like Seroquel can mess with your blood sugar levels, but not to the degree diabetes does.

I hope this helps!
Jerry

[Jerrypharmstudent]

Originally Posted by IdoubtIT

I just got done with an Abilify trial a few weeks ago. I was on it about 3 months. I gained about 20 lbs while on the med and had a lot of trouble with akathesia (a state of restlessness where in me it felt like my skin was going to crawl off my body...pleasant). I was a little elevated on the med and hypersexual, so I can see how in some people with depression adding the med might cause some well received benefits. You always have to remember on this site that people's response to psych meds are based on the individual; what works great for some people tanks for others.

I sadly stopped taking abilify because of the akathesia. I would have accepted the weight gain because it made me a champ in bed!

Hello!

What dose did your doctor start you on with the Abilify? Usually they start at 2mg - 5mg. For some people and disorders dosages of up to 10-30mg are common.

SEVERE Side effects of Abilify include severe akathisia (internal feelings of restlessness), restless legs, tardive dyskinesia and hyperglycemia.

UNUSUAL side effect include hyper-sexuality/behavior, libido increase or decrease, impotence, weight gain or loss and trouble swallowing.

COMMON Side effects include: headache, insomnia, anxiety, sedation, dizziness, tremor, dry mouth, fatigue, and akathisia.

Compared to Seroquel, Risperdal, and Zyprexa, Abilify and Geodon are the least likely to cause weight gain. The hyper-sexuality you experienced is unusual but not unheard of because Abilify effects certain dopamine levels one of which could increase libido.

Hope this helps!
Jerry

[feary]

my meds are definitely causing my weight gain and it is awful awful awful. whether it is the celexa, abilify, klonopin, or supplements, it is making me extremely depressed and my life is ruined.

although the stupid meds help with my ocd thoughts and anxiety. it stinks that I have to gain so much weight