Abilify and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Reg...
• September 7, 2016

For Depression "I read these reviews for over a month before even taking these meds. I will say this, you just have to go for it. Best decision I've made in a VERY long time. Abilify has helped me in so many ways! I was at my lowest point. I was severely depressed. I've been taking this medication for over a month & hands down I feel great. Yes, I still have my days but they are for sure getting better. All I want to say is do NOT let what other people say stop you from getting better. Try it for at least 6 wks & judge for yourself. At this point weight gain is welcomed for me. I lost so much weight I'd like to gain at least 30 lbs. I am just happy to feel 'NORMAL' again. I hope all of you get better. Stay Strong & never give up. Stay Blessed"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I feel like a new woman on Abilify! I have Bipolar II, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. I have tried Lithium (gained too much weight and my thyroid went wacky), Lamictal (skin rash), and Topamax (which I currently take 50 mg at night to counteract the possible side effect of weight gain with Abilify). I have NOT gained any weight on Abilify! I was hesitant to take it, and now I’m kicking myself for not starting it sooner because I feel amazing! I have energy, depression and anxiety are GONE, and my bipolar symptoms have vanished. This is a miracle drug for me! Give it a try if you are questioning it because I wish I would have tried it sooner! I’m 46 years old and I am 5’10” and weigh 165 pounds with a BMI of 24 (Average)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2014

For Depression "This medication has been fantastic. My depression was pretty significant as there was nothing I wanted to do anymore other than go to sleep at night. I felt like my life was gone. Someone took it. After seeing the reviews on here, I started taking Abilify (10 mg) and it works fantastic. I started to notice a difference on the second day and I have now been on it for three weeks. I feel great. I feel like my life is back and I want to do things again. It does make you sleepy so I take it at night before I go to bed. I had a very slight increase in hunger but it was totally manageable. As long as you don't feed your face every time you feel hungry, and you stick to your normal eating amount and schedule, you won't gain any weight."

• Koo...
• June 18, 2014

For Depression "I have suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression for years and have been on many different meds. The longest being Luvox. I decided to see a new psychiatrist, and she took me off of the Luvox and put me on Prozac, gradually increasing it to 60mg daily. OCD improved, but depression and GAD didn't. She then put me on 2mg Abilify added to my Prozac daily. In three days, I started seeing improvement and feeling better than I have in many years. Life had been a struggle for me for so long, and now I feel better than I have in years. I sure hope and pray that I continue to feel this way. Yes, my appetite has increased, and I am gaining some much-needed weight. I would still prefer these minor side effects than to go back to the old me. I give Abilify a 10."

• Dav...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 7, 2014

For Autism "My stepson is now 13 years old and has been on 5mg dosage of Abilify for about 2-3 years. We discovered it when we saw a commercial for a study involving autistic children with aggressive tendencies. Since then, his behavior has improved 100% at both home and school. The only side effect, as mentioned by others, is weight gain. To this I say, take a more active role in your kid's diet and force him/her to exercise. This will offset the side-effects while still reaping the benefits."

• Gyp...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 3, 2020

For Schizophrenia "My son was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2017 at the age of 21. He tried just about every psychiatric medication in the market over a period of two years with little improvements and lots of side effects including weight gain, etc. Finally, he was put on Abilify 20mg daily tablets. Within less than a month, his condition started to improve significantly. He is now on a monthly injection, which is very convenient. No side effects whatsoever. It is now almost a year, and we are very pleased with the results. Abilify was a godsend."

• Jan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 8, 2021

For Depression "I took Abilify 10mg for several years. It really helped me stabilize my moods and get my depression under control and took away a lot of my urges of self-harming behaviors. I have found Abilify much more helpful than any other traditional SSRI/antidepressant I have tried in the past like Lexapro, Prozac, and Zoloft. None of those medications really made a significant impact. The reason I stopped taking Abilify is because of the weight gain. Personally, antipsychotic medications have always caused weight gain for me. I gained about 50 pounds while on Abilify. I switched to 50mg Lamictal and have started losing some of the weight. Abilify can really be life-changing, but you just have to be aware of the possible side effects."

• inv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2013

For Autism "After much deliberation and many, many meetings, we finally decided to put our 7-year-old on a low dose of Abilify. My child is officially diagnosed with PDD-NOS, which is an autism spectrum disorder. At first, the low 2mg dose seemed pretty effective in controlling the anxiety and outbursts. However, when our doctor prescribed a higher dose of 5mg, the exhaustion and weight gain were out of control. My child gained roughly 45 pounds in six months, even when we stopped the medication for the summer months. Abilify seems to make my child very hungry but unable to convert any calories into energy, simply storing all food as fat. We came to the decision that the side effects were outweighing the desired effects, and we are trying a new medication."

• Sap...
• February 26, 2019

For Depression "I think that 2 mg does not cause weight gain. On the 5 mg, I noticed weight gain. I took 2 mg and when I needed a jolt, I took 2 of the 2 mg tablets for a few days, then went to just 1 of the 2 mg tablets. It's like after 2 years, it wasn't working as well, but I will not go off of it again. It pulled me out of bed for over a month, I was just laying around, not wanting to do anything, and after 2 days of 2 mg tablet, it felt like the lights were turned on again when nothing else would help. I have not gained weight at all on 2 mg."

• JFW...
• December 21, 2016

For Depression "I was in a deep depression about a year ago. I was taking Lexapro and Ativan. I saw very little improvement after five months. My doctor added 2mg of Abilify. Within two days, the clouds had lifted. The worrying started to dissipate. I was able to think clearer with each passing day. I did notice a weight gain, but my doctor said this was because I was feeling better. I dropped the Abilify after about six months. My advice is to stay with it. As with most drugs, you start to feel better and don't need it anymore. Wrong. Circumstances come up and you are in the pits again. I started back on Abilify last night."

• sma...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 7, 2025

For Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed 10 mg. Went for the next visit and told the psych that my thumb was moving on its own. She upped my dose to 20 mg. Some while later, my daughter asked me if I was playing air guitar because my hand was flopping around so much. I didn't even know it was moving. And I'm still on it? Yes. Bipolar symptoms are gone. No hypomania. No depression. Side effects took a while to figure out. My new psych and I found the best dose for me to be 4 mg. Not 10 and for sure not 20. I've been on it the longest and it works with no weight gain, acceptable high blood sugar, no tremors (I'm on an anti-tremor med so can't say 100% - however - 'may cause involuntary muscle movements which may or may not be permanent.'). I rate a 10 because I'm only taking 4, enough to work for me."

• End...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2020

For Schizophrenia "When I was first diagnosed with psychosis, about six years ago, they put me on risperidone. It was only recently that I discovered that, for all that time, even a moderate dose like 3.5mg/night was making me sleepy ALL DAY. I had no motivation, I became completely inert, I gained a lot of weight, maybe 50 or so pounds, which is a lot for my height. They recently switched me to Abilify, and I’ve gotta say, it’s a hundred times better! I’m back to being 'up', I’m interested in things again, in being productive, I can even work. As for the weight, it doesn’t give me the appetite that risperidone did, nor does it mess up my blood sugar levels like risperidone did. There’s still a bit of fatigue, but my Concerta, prescribed for ADD, nips that in the bud. Besides, even without the Concerta, the fatigue levels are just nowhere near risperidone levels. TL;DR in terms of fatigue, motivation levels, and weight gain, Abilify is, by FAR, the better choice over risperidone."

• Hel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 6, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication has ruined my self-esteem and essentially my life. I have gained 50 lbs from this medication. That wasn’t a typo, 50 freaking lbs! I’ve recently stopped taking it, but no weight has come off yet. I’m beside myself. I don’t know what to do. I hate the way I look now."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 19, 2019

For Depression "Abilify is not the answer. I have been taking it for 3 years. I am emotionally numb and have gained 35 lbs. I now have issues with cholesterol, blood sugar, and thyroid function. I still hear voices and have gone through some of my darkest episodes of depression. Blocking dopamine levels is not the answer. It disturbs homeostasis and cures nothing. The psychiatric community is reaching for an answer when they still don’t understand the disease. They cannot measure dopamine levels and have no idea if high dopamine levels are truly the cause of psychosis. The side effects are not worth it especially when it doesn’t cure psychosis."

• kri...
• January 14, 2012

For Autism "This medicine is wonderful! My 9-year-old has been taking 5 mg once a night for almost a year. Total turnaround! The only side effect we have is increased appetite and weight gain. I do worry about his blood sugar... but the changes are seriously unreal!"

• Hen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 28, 2019

For Depression "I wasted a year of my life on Abilify stuff. It turned me into a zombie, made me gain 10 lbs, and compulsively shopped-even on just a 1 mg dose. It was added to my Wellbutrin to help with anxiety and agitation and sure it did help with that, but I found myself becoming more depressed from my side effects. Wouldn’t recommend. It’s an antipsychotic and it feels like one. I was not myself on it. I’m not suffering from psychosis, so why take an antipsychotic at all? I don’t believe in this at all as an add-on drug to augment treatment for depression."

• Psy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2014

For Depression "Beware Abilify, watch your weight. I stayed on Abilify for 7 months faithfully, hoping that the pros would outweigh the cons. The result? I gained 90 lbs in 7 months, and this weight does not 'shed' with discontinued use. I'll be working out hard to lose this. I'm only 25."

• Mit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2022

For Agitated State "I have to say I was very skeptical. I have crippling anxiety that spirals, was on .5 Ativan for panic attacks, I would take 2 to 3 mg in a day on a very bad day. My doctor suggested Abilify, I told him if this changes me permanently, I’m going to absolutely lose it and wind up in a mental hospital. I did a lot of research, and it’s the atypical antipsychotic that has the least amount of weight gain and metabolic side effects. If they show up, they show up by the second or third week, and nothing happened to me. I take 450 mg Wellbutrin on top of the 2 mg Abilify for anxiety. It has absolutely changed my outlook on life, I felt a difference in 3 days. Before Abilify, I cried every day, multiple times a day sometimes, and had panic attacks. The worst was the spiraling intrusive thoughts when I overthought situations, the thoughts that just wouldn’t go away. I was beating myself up every single day for decisions I’ve made, conversations I have, you name it. All of that is 92% gone."

• Anonymous
• August 27, 2011

For Autism "My 10-year-old son was on Risperdal, and it was horrible for him. He started taking 2mg Abilify along with Celexa, and in 2 months at school, he was doing 70% better. This medication did make his appetite increase, and he did gain weight, but not too much weight. Once his body got used to it, he began to have trouble sleeping, so his doctor increased his dosage to 4mg a day, 2mg in the morning and 2mg at night. He is sleeping well again, and his appetite seems to have stabilized. This medicine has been great for my son."

• coo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 5, 2013

For Depression "Abilify, along with Prozac, has worked amazingly for me. But there is a downside to using Abilify. WEIGHT GAIN! Once I started it, my appetite increased like crazy, and now I've gained about 60 lbs. It's like, do I want to quit taking it and go 'crazy' but be thin or keep taking it and be fat and happy, literally!"

• San...
• November 17, 2020

For Depression "I was put on Abilify, and it made me feel very strange. I went off it after a few days and was very glad I did. My daughter, who also suffers from depression, was put on it, and she went from weighing 120 pounds (at 5'6') and gained over 100 pounds in 8-9 months. During that time, she voluntarily went into the hospital for suicide ideation. I could hardly recognize her personality and was appalled to see her so morbidly obese when I saw her for the first time when I visited her to pick her up from the hospital once she was released. She looked like a zombie - pale, dark shadows under her eyes - and she was only 26 years old at the time. She went off it, and it took her a long time getting her weight down at a stable 150 pounds. Her poor body went through a really hard time, not to mention the bad effect it had on her mind. AWFUL!!"

• Tra...
• February 9, 2018

For Depression "After suffering with depression for 10 years, this has finally helped me. I also take Wellbutrin 300mg. I hated being on SSRIs because of the weight gain and lack of sex drive, which is not a problem with these drugs. I'm so thankful for Abilify 5mg, it has given me my life back!"

• Bec...
• March 28, 2013

For Depression "I started Abilify on 2mg with Prozac and Klonopin. After just 3 days, I felt the energy that was lacking for so many years. Before Abilify, I had been on so many different antidepressants. I felt there was nothing for me, so I chose drinking. Wrong choice, but it was the only thing that would make me feel normal. I finally quit with help from my family. I was put on Abilify, Prozac, and Klonopin. I have now switched Prozac with Effexor 75 mg and Abilify 8 mg, 4 mg in the morning and 4 mg at night, 37.5 mg of Effexor in the morning and night, also 2 mg of Klonopin 2 times a day or as needed. I do suffer from vivid dreams and have gained a little weight, but when I was drinking, I wouldn't eat and lost a lot of weight. Overall, it is a godsend."

• Exh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 23, 2015

For Autism "The doctor of my 13-year-old autistic daughter put her on 5mg of Abilify last October. The first three months were great. Her mood swings decreased. She was less destructive, and it was a lot quieter at home and in school. We started seeing the behaviors coming back a little at a time. At month 7, the behaviors were back full swing and much worse than they were before she was put on Abilify. She also gained 42 pounds, and we couldn't keep her out of food unless we locked the cabinets and refrigerator. She has been off of Abilify since mid-July, and her behavior has turned around completely. Now she is on an 'as needed' medicine that we only give her when we see a meltdown coming, and that is not very often."

• in ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 19, 2013

For Depression "I have taken Abilify for one year. It was prescribed as an add-on to Cymbalta after a suicide attempt. I feel it boosts my mood. BUT I have gained 35 pounds. I can't imagine continuing on a medication with this side effect. It is not worth it to switch my angst over life circumstances to feeling depressed over a continual weight gain."