Abilify and Weight Gain

[Miss Jen]

See, I was anorexic for two years before I landed in the hospital. I was extremely unmedicated (hence the hospital stay and the manic phase that lasted almost a year) so they upped my Abilfy from 2.5 mgs to 20mgs. I've gained 15 lbs in 1.5 months. Which wouldn't be a big deal except none of my clothes fit and I can't afford a brand new wardrobe. Plus, I'm prone to diabetes, and all the anti-psychotics can lead to that dis-ease. My question is, I'm beginning to exercise and eat a little better. Are any of you on Abilify who've tried to lose weight and had success? TIA

Jen

[Phyllis]

I'm on Abilify and can't say for sure that is what has caused my weight gain I'm sure it has probably attributed to it. Just about all of my meds cause weight gain, but I think the Seroquel has been the main med that has caused my main weight gain. I know 95% of us here have a problem with weight gain and are struggling with shedding pounds (Or stones, if the case may be). Right now I'm on a product called Alli which  is a fat blocker and I have lost a couple of pounds. However, I have at least 50 pounds if not more that I need to shed. I know one o our members here, Chelibi, has just lost 50 pounds here recently. I guess what I am trying to say is, most of us are struggeling with the weight issue. Some of us more than others. The battle is uphill. Continue to eat right, excercise and cross your fingers - that is the only thing that we can do.

[Miss Jen]

Thanks, Phyllis. I'm going on the South Beach Diet as soon as I get paid and can go grocery shopping. Hopefully that will work! 

[Ramji]

I was on Abilify for months ... the doc took me off of it but just recently put me back on it because my moods have been a little up and down.  I don't think it contributed to my weight gain.  In fact, I think I lost some when I was on i the first time, but I was also on Welbutrin and Paxil .... I still am.   The South Beach diet is good ... I did it years ago and it was the first time I had seen my abs since high school.
Lately I've been eating eggs (I'm a lacto-ovo-vegetarian) and drinking a protein drink (Isopure) 3 times a day and I seem to be losing my belly fat again.  "They" say eggs are good for you now and studies have shown eating 2 or more a day will facilitate weight lost when combined with a low carbohydrate diet.  I was eating lots of eggs on the South Beach diet and my cholesterol actually went down.

.... oh... and hi everybody!