I’ve gained 30 pounds since I’ve started taking this medicine. Up my request my doctor switched me to another medication. I have heard Abilify causes you to gain weight but is it to a lesser extent compared to Risperdal?
I’ve heard of people losing weight on Abilify. I gained more slowly on Abilify.
Abilify has the potential to cause weight gain, but to a lesser extent than risperidone.
I actually lost a lot of weight while on Abilify, but I had to diet and exercise (work) for it.
I was told by my pdoc that abilify was “energizing and weight neutral” but as usual for me being “upside-down” on meds(everything they say does the opposite for me) I slept 20 hours a day and gained 20lbs before I begged to switch to something else.
I gained a ton on risperdol, I looked amazing! (I’m naturally very thin almost too thin) but it gave me really bad dystonia (sp?) And my pdoc didn’t like the weight gain so abilify was the second drug I was put on, I lost all the weight (unfortunately) and was doing pretty well on it, but anymore than 5mg and I was a zombie, I mean could barely even go to work. Since then I’ve tried geodon (absolute nightmate) and zyprexa. Currently on zyprexa but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re not looking to gain weight. I’ve only gained maybe 10 pounds (as opposed to 20-30 pounds on low dose resperidone) but I have no other side effects with zyprexa and we can even raise and lower the dosages without too much fuss so I’m happy. Just waiting for a good drug to come out that helps positive and negative symptoms