I USED TO BE a size 6. That was this summer. Within 2 months I was a size 12. I eat normally and work out. WTF? I went off Abilify and my body has NOT recovered from this POISON.

just recieved lab results indicating elevated cholesterol and triglycerides–my MD wants to start lofibra for high cholesterol–what is known about the interactions of Abilify and anti-cholesterol meds? Is there a better way to deal with this–weight gain has occurred too–what is the cause of this–how does Abilify cause weight gain? metabolic disturbences? I plan to go on a long hike soon–should I be concerned about danger from overheating etc?

After taking abilify I develope movement disorder chorea…please tel me if this is reversible..
I am28 years old and I am scared.

I took Abilify 2.5, then 5, then 19 mg for a little over a year. I developed a Parkinson like tremor and went to see a movement neurologist. He had me stop Abilify. The tremor went away. Dyskinesia started and will probably be irreversible, according to the movement neurologist. Now what do I do? Should I sue them? This is forever.

Correction: not 19 mg but 10 mg.

Sometimes you can take an anti-parkinson med like amantadine with atypical antipsychotics which usually makes shakes and tremors go away. Stimulants too can keep Akathisia at bay. For example, despite the controversy, phentermine, the pseudo-amphetamine diet med has been very effective for me in keeping away shakes, tremors, tics. It also improves my Lexapro. I know there is a lot of bs about phentermine causing “serotonin syndrome” but other tests show that not to be true. For me, after 60 some meds–phentermine made those horrible shakes disappear, controlled the weight gain associated with atypicals, and has a very good antidepressant value as well. There’s just no “money” in testing or using this med, but many psychiatrists have experience with it. Hope this helps. As for TD, it is often reversible or decreases over time. Depends on how much A-pscyh you took and for how long. Overall, I try to live without antipsychotics now. The risks from side effects are too frightening.

I’ve tried a few atypical antipsychotic medications, most of which hit me so hard that I felt like a zombie (Rispedal, Geodon). Abilify has been the least zombifying med of the bunch for me. The most irritating side effect is the heat intolerance: I take it at night and wake up stuffy with heat, and this not pleasant for an obese person in a Phoenix summer. On high doses, Abilify makes me lactate (not cool), and when that happens it makes me think I have a brain tumor causing that, which makes me wonder if the pill is actually working if I still have that sort of delusion. Then there is the actual physical illness (not side effect imho) it brings which is high blood pressure and riskier numbers on liver tests. Overall I hate taking anything that gives me a physical illness, but Abilify wipes up the mess in my mind on the worst days.

I have a child (13 years old) who has been diagnosed with, among other things, bi-polar disorder. One of the medications she has been prescribed is abilify.

The side effects described are frightening. I feel hopeless about her future.

Any one out there who has a child with similar problems or who has been treated with medications as a young person for bi-polar disorder?

My best friend started taking Abilify for bipolar disorder a couple years back. She developed shaking of her hands/tremors immediately. Her doctor said they should maintain at this dose and she would just have to put up with it. Of course there was the large amount of weight gain that came along with it. Recently her tremors have gotten much worse and she was sent her to a neurologist, who diagnosed her with Parkinson’s. I knew that poison was going to hurt her. I begged her to discontinue the med, but she would not if her doctor would not stand by her. He, of course, advised against it. Now she has irreversible damage and they want to give her even another drug on top of that one. I wonder how many cases of Parkinsons can be linked to this drug or another one of its type. Bad stuff!!

I was on Abilify for 12 yrs. It helped me so much when I was paranoid & in a severe mixed episode. It helped stabilize me (along w/other meds including Lamictal & Klonopin). BUT after those 12 yrs. I have gained 50 lbs. & now have to take meds for high blood pressure & high cholesterol & am testing in the diabetic range in my blood sugar levels. Needless to say, my self-esteem (never very good) is in the gutter.

Got off Abilify. STILL trying to get the weight off.

It is very helpful & I believe life-saving for me & helped me to think rationally enough to participate & learn in therapy & DBT. But in my support groups ALL the women on Abilify have gained weight. A couple of the men gained & a couple lost weight.