[Zebra821]

Has anyone switched from abilify to something else because of weight gain? I am normally a very petite 5'2 woman, ranging from 115-120 lbs. I lived the first 23 years of my life never knowing what insecurity REALLY felt like. I am now 200 lbs because of abilify. At first the weight gain wasn't a problem because abilify saved my life and helps my bipolar, but 80lbs later and a million stretch marks, I'm starting to hate myself and my body.

My question is- does the weight come off after stopping abilify and going to something like latuda? I can't be 200 lbs anymore- maybe I forget what it's like to be off of Abilify and how bad it was, but I feel like I would do anything at this point to be back to 120.I can't even look at myself in the mirror anymore... I recently switched to a much more active job and eat very little and am hoping that helps, but I know it's so hard to lose weight while taking abilify and I just am losing hope that anything will help besides stopping it altogether.

I gained 30 pounds on clomipramine and abilify together in 3 months. I'm not sure which is the culprit, but the doctor pulled me off both. I am still gaining weight, but much slower off of abilify, but I take risperidone and I think that packs on the weight too.

I guess I'm not much help, but if you find something that works for losing the weight please let me know.

[still_crazy]

I've gained weight on Abillify. Adding high dose (400mgs) of wellbutrin SR (the generic, 2x daily version) has helped. Supplements have helped me, too (high dose antioxidants and b-vitamins).

All antipsychotics can cause weight gain I think, except maybe molindone, and I don't know if that's even on the market now. The newer, "atypical" ones are worse than many of the older ones.

Some people say that carefully dose perphenazine, an older tranquilizer/antipsychotic, works well for them. Its generic and cheap(ish), which is always a good thing. I don't think it causes nearly as much weight gain as many of the "atypicals."

Geodon is regarded as mostly weight neutral. Its "atypical," but I think its generic now.

I dunno. I take Abilify because all the other tranquilizers caused problems, but Abilify causes far fewer problems for me. The Wellbutrin has helped the weight gain stop and now I'm slowly dropping some pounds.

I hope your situation improves. :-)

[BlessedRhiannon]

I switched off both because of the weight gain and because it helped with depression but not hypomania. Actually made me more manic when I wasn't depressed. I'm also finally at a lower dose of Seroquel and the weight is finally, slowly starting to come off.

For me, the only thing that I have tolerated well, has worked well, and seems to be weight neutral is Vraylar.