How to handle weight loss while on APs?

Medications
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I gained so much weight since I started having APs. I have been on a variety of them, and finally settled on Apilify which relieves my symptoms to some degree. However, it comes with a motley of unpleasant side effects such as rapid weight gain. My body is also genetically prone to gain weight easily.

So to the point: what do you do to help with losing weight? My psychiatrist told me to take Metaformin which is supposed to increase metabolism and help with weight loss. And of course diet and exercise.

Any other tips or tricks?

Thanks ahead

2 Likes
2

i have been on abilify 10 mg for almost 2 months and havent gained any weight
all you have to do is get a food scale and count calories using myfitnesspal and check labels of stuff to find the calories try not to eat at restaurants unless they have nutrition info online i dont exercise but doing that i lost 55 pounds when i was on geodon now im just trying to maintain my weight i also take a b complex with abilify

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Thanks for your help! Unfortunately my response to Apilify is different. I gained too much weight and too rapidly, which led me to think it’s anti-psychotic related. Apilify also opens my appetite too much. I’m on a higher dosage than you though, so maybe that’s why.

Any help with this regard?

I found this article helpful:

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Switch antipsychotics.

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I tried all of them sir. The first generation ones gave me some unbearable trembling and akathisia. Then the second gen. ones made me gain weight as if I’m a balloon. So I’m on the third generation now which is Apilify, and it still causes rapid weight gain!

Any AP suggestions that I can pose to my psychiatrist?

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Have you tried vraylar? It’s supposed to be weight neutral as well.

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Also I agree with @sigarino’s suggestion. Counting calories is probably the way to go. Losing weight takes effort.

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It says weight gain is a side effect on its website

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I weigh 198lbs - 195lbs because I lose 3lbs of water when I do my cardio exercise every 2nd day. I also lift weights to maintain my strength and muscle mass. I also have to look at the labels of the food I buy at the supermarket. I pay close attention to the calories, carbohydrates, fat & protein content.

@Arduous I’ve been taking Abilify for the last 8 months and haven’t gained any weight except for the few splurges of food here & there.

Really, it’s exercise & nutrition that’s going to maintain your weight no matter the anti-psychotics you take.

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Yeah, some people still gain weight on it. Different APs affect different people uniquely. An AP that one person gains weight on, another person will lose weight on. I lost weight on Abilify. You don’t really know how an AP will affect you until you try it. In the meantime, you can still count calories. :slight_smile: Nothing really works better than that.

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Thanks man, but as you might know, it’s sometimes tough to go hit the gym when you’re fatigued or preoccupied with ideas.

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I’ll try. Many thanks :slight_smile:

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@Arduous You make time to hit the gym. Dedication and perseverance to your health is what drives me to exercise. Sometimes you get fatigued or sore after exercise but after you rest/heal, you’re more stronger than you were previously. You have to motivate yourself.

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Yeah I understand where you’re coming from, but it’s easier said than done. Being hit with a schizophrenia diagnosis is enough depressing on its own. But yeah I do my best.

1 Like
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I’ve been on abilify for years. Over a long amount of time I gained and lost 10 pounds. Then I started taking Wellbutrin with it and lost about thirty pounds with very little exercise and counting calories. I take 40 mg a day of abilify and still lost weight. I went from 168 pounds to 139 pounds.

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I find that worrying and stress help me to loose weight on aps

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Don’t give up on exercise. I think it’s an important thing for your overall health and if you can just do a half hour of brisk walking a day then your ahead of the game.