Bipolar Support Group

Anybody else experiencing a LOT of weight gain on abilify? I have gained about 3 5 or 40 lbs since I started it.

Another thing...When depressed and when manic...I feel so much better when I go out and spend. DSM-V says nothing about irrational spending behavior as a symptom of BP II. Can someone answer please? Thanks,

Terry...peace

I have BPII and I LOVE to spend money. LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

As for the weight gain on abilify? I'm not sure. I know something has caused me to gain the same amount of weight as you, but I don't know if it's the abilify or lamictal as I started them at the same time.

I have BP II and like to spend as well.

Lamictal is weight neutral or will even make you lose weight. My son took Abilify for a few weeks and gained 10-15 pounds. I stopped giving it to him.

i have BP and i've been on several antipsychotics/antidepressants abilify one of them many med changes i was about 230lbs and im almost 300lbs now...im 6ft 2in so... and about money spending when i get money it last any where from 30 min. to 1 day. i just feel better after i spend it dunno why.

Post edited by: semo, at: 02/25/2010 01:19 PM

I'm on abilify and lamictal. They are both supposed to be weight neutral, and I haven't gained anything since I started them. Prior to abilify, I was on zyprexa and that made me gain about 10 lbs in 2 months. Once I started on the abilify I lost the weight.

I have taken Lamictal for 5 years, definitely seems weight neutral. When I was on abilify last year I gained 10 pounds in 6 months (5mg). I just have re-started that amount and my pdoc wants to increase it (as to stop mania) ... a bit worried about the weight thing to be honest

I am not sure exactly which med is making me gain so much weight, but the only recent additions to my med arsenal are the abilify and now pristiq, but I have only been on the latter for about a week.

Maybe somebody can answer this question...When I first started the abilify...it seemed that about the 2nd week I started having mental clarity that was very nice, but this went away as quickly as it came. My doc raised my dose of abilify to 10mg last week. I was expecting maybe another couple of days of this "clarity", but it didn't happen. I am lost in a fog most the time and my depression seems worse than ever. My doc also started me on the pristiq and has weaned me off of the effexor, but I am still getting shocked and like I said before I am as depressed as ever. I am not sure what it is like to feel "normal" at all anymore. I have read a lot of posts about taking the lamictal. I wonder if another anti-depressant would work better on me because this current cocktail isn't working very well...lots of depression...small bouts of mania...darker thoughts than ever before and I don't like it. I just want to feel halfway normal again. Thanks for everybody replying...peace

Hello, I love the Abilify, but i have also gained about 40 pounds in the three years i've been on it. It has been a great medicine for me. It really has helped me with the severe mood swings,like no other medicine. I am horrified to go off of it but the weight gain has been severe. I have been walking 2 miles a day, everyday for almost a month and have not lost a pound...ergggg However, we are probably going to make a switch with the meds because of the weight gain and it worries me because it has been such a good med for me. I am on 10mg and it has been an adequate dose for me. It took several weeks for this medicine to really get into my system though. So make sure you give your meds time...it is tough to wait but you should start to feel better soon.

Weight gain is a common trait for almost ALL BP meds. I have gained weight with every new med I have tried. And money spending is a common trait for both types of BPD. Money burns a hole in my pocket, man! The only advise I can give is try to maintain an active lifestyle as best you can, be cognizant of your desire to spend money, and don't beat yourself up. {hug}

I have gained also on abilify and trazodone.. not sure what caused the weight gain.. but now on cymbalta starting to lose weight. guess... lot of us gain weight on these meds eh?