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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on August 9, 2010, at 17:31:47
I've been taking 30mgs/day of Abilify for over a month now. My mental stability is great--no psychosis, so severe depression or agitation--but I'm gaining weight like crazy. In the 1 month I've been on this dose of Abilify, I've put on over 25lbs. I'm starting a juice fast tomorrow to help deal with the weight, but I have to ask: is it the Abilify?
I'm mostly vegetarian, but I seem to have lost the ability to self-regulate my food intake. Its pretty crazy. Do you think juice fasting will help my weight, or will it be like this while I'm on this dose of Abilify? Am I just blaming the Abilify when bad eating habits are the real culprit?Thanks
Posted by Phillipa on August 10, 2010, at 0:00:51
In reply to Abilify and weight gain, posted by Christ_empowered on August 9, 2010, at 17:31:47
Yes it is rough but you're doing better now right? Id keep watching what I eat and get some excercise. Maybe soon you can cut down with your docs permission. Phillipa
Posted by Christ_empowered on August 10, 2010, at 1:24:39
In reply to Re: Abilify and weight gain » Christ_empowered, posted by Phillipa on August 10, 2010, at 0:00:51
yeah, you're right...it is rough right now, but the gains I've made in my mental health are well worth temporary discomfort. I'm doing a juice fast, so that should help with the weight gain and maybe help re-set my body so when I stop the fast I'm not tempted to eat as much junk.
Posted by SheilaC on August 10, 2010, at 9:29:49
In reply to Abilify and weight gain, posted by Christ_empowered on August 9, 2010, at 17:31:47
Abilify made me gain weight very quickly. It was one med I just couldn't tolerate.
Posted by emmanuel98 on August 11, 2010, at 21:14:38
In reply to Re: Abilify and weight gain, posted by SheilaC on August 10, 2010, at 9:29:49
How much more could you be eating to gain 25 pounds in a month? 25 pounds is 87500 calories or almost 3000 calories a day extra. Are you eating that much more? I gained weight at the rate of 2-3 pounds per week on abilify without eating any more. It can screw up your metabolism no matter what you do. I went off it after a month, but it worked so well for my psychotic depression, that I tried it again, and again and again. Then I tried risperadal, which caused the same problem, then zyprexa which made me gain 10 pound in two weeks. I got so fat from all these experiments that it will take months to get it off now that I am dieting like crazy.
When these drugs cause weight gain (and they don't for everyone, or even for most users) the gain is rapid and sudden. It's not worth it to stay on this drug. All the APs worked for me, but the side effect of rapid weight gain was unacceptable to me, and to my p-doc and GP.
I finally went to parnate which works just as well and causes no weight gain.
Posted by SLS on August 12, 2010, at 4:39:59
In reply to Re: Abilify and weight gain, posted by emmanuel98 on August 11, 2010, at 21:14:38
Geodon seems to be the least likely atypical AP to cause weight gain.
- Scott
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 12, 2010, at 9:51:30
In reply to Re: Abilify and weight gain » emmanuel98, posted by SLS on August 12, 2010, at 4:39:59
> Geodon seems to be the least likely atypical AP to cause weight gain.
>
>
> - ScottDoes Geodon cause less weight gain than Abilify (in general)?
Amisulpride (Solian) seems to be less offensive than most APs in the weight department. It still causes weight gain though, which may be partly due to prolactin elevation.
Posted by SLS on August 12, 2010, at 12:02:41
In reply to Re: Abilify and weight gain » SLS, posted by ed_uk2010 on August 12, 2010, at 9:51:30
> Does Geodon cause less weight gain than Abilify (in general)?
Yes.
I have gained some 50 pounds since I began taking Abilify. The weight gain didn't start right away and has been more gradual than with Zyprexa. Still, my triglycerides are elevated.
> Amisulpride (Solian) seems to be less offensive than most APs in the weight department.
What about Stelazine? I believe I once read that it was not an offender, even though weight gain is listed as a side effect.
- Scott
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 12, 2010, at 14:16:55
In reply to Re: Abilify and weight gain » ed_uk2010, posted by SLS on August 12, 2010, at 12:02:41
>What about Stelazine? I believe I once read that it was not an offender, even though weight gain is listed as a side effect.
I expect it's similar to haloperidol ie. causes weight gain, but not to the extent of Zyprexa. Trifluoperazine causes Parkinsonism, dystonia and akathisia very frequently, and so it's a drug to use with great care. Perphenazine might be a bit better tolerated, but I expect it causes slightly more weight gain. If a potent dopamine antagonist is thought to be needed, sulpiride and amisulpride cause fewer extrapyramidal symptoms than the typical neuroleptics.
Posted by SLS on August 12, 2010, at 14:35:47
In reply to Re: Abilify and weight gain » SLS, posted by ed_uk2010 on August 12, 2010, at 14:16:55
> If a potent dopamine antagonist is thought to be needed, sulpiride and amisulpride cause fewer extrapyramidal symptoms than the typical neuroleptics.
I know that sulpiride can produce hyperprolactinemia. I believe that amisulpride can as well, but not to the same degree.
As always, thanks for the information.
- Scott
Posted by emmanuel98 on August 12, 2010, at 19:57:25
In reply to Re: Abilify and weight gain » ed_uk2010, posted by SLS on August 12, 2010, at 12:02:41
I didn't gain on geodon, but it had no effect on my, unlike the other AAPs, which worked within days. Stelazine and other, older neuroleptics do nto usually cause weight gain. I currently take trilafon (perphenazine) and it doesn't impact my weight at all. But you have to watch for extra-pyramidal side effects - tics and jerks -- some of which can be permanent (called tardive dyskenesia). This is much less likely to happen at low doses though. Higher doses used for psychosis can have these very devastating side effects.
Posted by conundrum on August 13, 2010, at 6:27:31
In reply to Abilify and weight gain, posted by Christ_empowered on August 9, 2010, at 17:31:47
my pdoc recently added abilify to the drugs I am taking and it really makes me hungry, especially since I am taking mirtazapine. I feel like I can always eat something more.
Posted by Christ_empowered on August 13, 2010, at 22:03:42
In reply to Re: Abilify and weight gain » Christ_empowered, posted by conundrum on August 13, 2010, at 6:27:31
I've gained so much weight since I went on the 30mgs/day dosage of Abilify. Common sense would say "cut the dose," but this dose works really, really, well, and not just on my moods; my thoughts, too, are positively affected, and I'm willing to work off 25lbs if it means having clear thoughts again.
I'm considering a juice fast--I've done one before for a couple weeks, but I had to stop (I wasn't medicated and problems kept popping up). What do you all think?
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 13, 2010, at 22:38:26
In reply to Abilify: fatty pill, posted by Christ_empowered on August 13, 2010, at 22:03:42
>I'm considering a juice fast--I've done one before for a couple weeks, but I had to stop (I wasn't medicated and problems kept popping up). What do you all think?
Short term solutions are no good. You need a healthy diet which you can stick to for.......well.... for ever.
Posted by emmanuel98 on August 14, 2010, at 3:21:28
In reply to Re: Abilify: fatty pill » Christ_empowered, posted by ed_uk2010 on August 13, 2010, at 22:38:26
I don't think you should blame yourself or your diet for the abilify-induced weight gain. Try a diet. Maybe it will help. My experience was like yours. I felt better than well. I felt completely normal and untroubled on abilify. But eventually I had to make a decision -- fat and happy or normal and depressed. When I got to 40 pounds overweight, I chose the latter. Lcky for me, I also found parnate which is almost as good as abilify was (for me).
Posted by olivia12 on August 15, 2010, at 18:53:00
In reply to Abilify and weight gain, posted by Christ_empowered on August 9, 2010, at 17:31:47
I'd take feeling "normal" over pounds gained. The latter is manageble.
Posted by Christ_empowered on August 16, 2010, at 15:11:48
In reply to Re: Abilify and weight gain, posted by olivia12 on August 15, 2010, at 18:53:00
I appreciate all the helpful input on my post. My decision is to follow olivia (and others') advice and take being a reasonably normal, functioning member of society (w/ some unfortunate weight gain) over being an agitated, unproductive outcast (whose weight falls in the "normal/healthy" range).
I have started a rather severe (but healthful) diet, so I'll see how this works. My guess is that if I can just seize control of my appetite and re-program my body to *want* better food in smaller quantities, I'll see this weight start to drop off quickly.
Posted by puravida on August 21, 2010, at 6:37:52
In reply to thanks, everyone, posted by Christ_empowered on August 16, 2010, at 15:11:48
I'm in the same boat - just posted a "review" of my experiences, which is basically the same experience as yours.
I have done juice feasting before with excellent results. I did it mainly to boost my vitamin intake, but I lost weight and it seemed to hit the reset key on my metabolism (until now). If you want to do one with me for a few days or a week, let me know!
PV
Posted by olivia12 on August 22, 2010, at 22:06:40
In reply to thanks, everyone, posted by Christ_empowered on August 16, 2010, at 15:11:48
I hope you continue to feel better:)
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 22, 2010, at 23:58:02
In reply to Re: thanks, everyone » Christ_empowered, posted by puravida on August 21, 2010, at 6:37:52
> I have done juice feasting before with excellent results.
To consolidate replies, I'd like to redirect follow-ups regarding juice feasting to Psycho-Babble Alternative. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20100812/msgs/959305.html
That'll be considered a different thread, so if you'd like to be notified by email of follow-ups to it, you'll need to request that there. Thanks,
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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