Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Anyone with side effects of Abilify

I recently went off Depakote due to weight gain of 50 pounds.  I was started on Lamictal and within the first two weeks gained another 5-6 pounds.  I stopped that immediately.  My doctor wants me to start on Abilify but I declined after I read the side effects.  Has anyone had any uncontrolled movements, weight gain, tardive dyskinesia, etc. with this medication.  If so, please let me know.  I really need a medication to replace the ones I went off of but my doctor is giving me no other choices.  I'm absolutely scared to death about the side effects of this medication.  Any and all responses will be greatly appreciated.
14 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
3123787 tn?1384180687
As far as i am concern, this drug can kill you, if u have problems with heart & stroke issues. The doctor who put me on it was a quack! Actually there were 2 of them. I was suppose to have an appointment with my neurolist for an anurism, & i arrived a few hours early with my brother, cas what i thought might be cluster headaches, were actually multible strokes. No one had told me in the past, so like i said got there early, & told my brother to drop me off right here, right now! I was having another attack, & i thought i would be safe in the ER. Turn out my neurolist never showed up, & the ER staff didnt know what was goin on? Finally after 3rd cat scan?, i go what r u doing to me! They laugh, & i am crying with pain, can u please give me oxygen! Not 1 knew protocal for clusters which i thought was odd? Then they cath me, so i could pee, & probably do the standard pee test for drugs?, which came out negative. I did pass out, either from pain, or a coma? On my discaharge paperwork it said DNR!, which i did not order! Woke up, & wasnt even in neurology?! I was in the mental ward! Go where is my neurolist?, & they said to me & my family screw him! your dealin with us! THIS IS WHERE THEY DECIDED TO PUT ME ON ABILIFY! They saw what it did to me! I would go into a spastic mode, & not walk right, plus i gain like 20 lbs. over nite! Turns out any nearuleptic drug is bad for a stroke victom, & they had to know it! Even 1 of their interns checked my eyes out, sneakin in with out sayin a word. Turn out after 6 days told my brother where out of here! Even top nite nurse question me n asked why were u even in here? Told her it was just a mistake. I ended up with the weight gain, cateracts, glacoma, & nuclear scerosis, & even myelin sheith damage. Think this drug is for people that suffer dilusions, & other disorders? All i know was this ws an easy cover-up for something i never had a history of, & $20,000 in child support for a divorce now the state has no records of?!! I have perm. damage, & 1 of the hosp. was hiding the MRI's. I am still tryin to find out if they can fix part of the damage! I was shocked when my lawyer even admitted, no wonder u were upset! I wasted 3 years of my time for a baby i raised, & a corrupt DCF, But no one seems to care of the long term damage it has done to me, & i dont know how long i even have, but i do know it is finally time to forget, & hopefully i will find someone to me how much physical damage i have suscumb to, besides my now vascular dimentia! I am sure this is a great drug for certain people that need it!, but u dont give it to heart, or stroke victoms, without doin proper blood work first! I got funny feeling in a few years this drug will be off the market or more studies done on it?! Definately a weight gainer, & good for sleeping, if that's what u want out of life. Just be careful, & have someone with you to help u understand about the side effects! Good luck to everyone!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
After a few months on Abilify, I developed tremors in both hands and a month down the line the legs started.  They took me off (tapered) and after a short period they went away.  However ,  I've heard the longer you have them the more likely they are to become permanent.
Helpful - 0
3123787 tn?1384180687
You r very lucky. A ll i can say is my short stent with it, & then the Mayo clinic mess up, each day NOW, is worse than last day. Trying to get nerve up, to go to ER, & let them do there thing, cas i cant even take care of myself. Some apologies r starting to come, but it ws my life, & they or 1st hosp. goes just do it for 2 more weeks. Told them "NO" u saw what it ws doing to me! At least they admit it ws a cerebral onclusion/ cerebral something?!! Dont have the strenghth or power to go get mt paperwork. I am typing this on my knees! Good luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well, what a lot of different opinions. I am on Depakote and Lamictal (7 years)
and find that works for me. No weight gain. As soon as my doctor convinced me that I also needed Abilify all hell broke loose. I couldn't stop jerking, spilling most of my food on the floor when i ate, even having to use to hands to hold a cup. I ended up so bad I had to get a shot of Benedril in the ER. Out with Abilify.
Helpful - 0
3123787 tn?1384180687
Same thing, but worse! I gained the weight, slept for like 20 hours, got cateracts, glacoma, STROKE, & now cant stay awake for more than 3-4 hours, & developed brain damge. The doctor suppose to do bloodwork first, BUT that never happenned! Went to ER, & they tried to cover it up, & DNR! Finally getting people to listen, when the stroke society mention, i should sue! Sooooooo tired!
Helpful - 0
5279806 tn?1365916564
I hate Abilify. Within over two years of taking it I went from 5' 2" & 115 lbs to gaining 65 pounds and ending up at a whopping 180 lbs. Look into the Fisher Wallace device at www.fisherwallace.com. It is an at home version of tns therapy like Neurostar and Harvard studies have shown it effectively relieves bipolar disorder, major depression, ptsd, anxiety and even sleep disorders. No side effects!!! Good luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I took Abilify for a while but every time I had to take a pee test it showed that I had PSP in my system but I was taking Requip with it as well. As soon as I had 2 pee test 2 months apart I stoped the Abilify and have had no more PSP show up on my test.
Helpful - 0
574118 tn?1305135284
>>>I gain over 80 lbs. in one year. Eventually I decided happiness was more important than looks. I went to a healer a few weeks back and heard that you can replace these meds with flaxseed oil.

you mean looks are more important than happiness as you were happy on meds but not happy with the weight gain.

it's common knowledge that omega3 can help depression and fish oil better than flaxoil (linseed). But can it substitute them !!.

Finally what is the meaning of a healer, another sort of pdoc but not graduating from the medical school ?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been on both Depakote, Abilify, and countless other meds for bipolar disorder. Unfortunately they have ALL made me gain weight rapidly. I gain over 80 lbs. in one year. Eventually I decided happiness was more important than looks. I went to a healer a few weeks back and heard that you can replace these meds with flaxseed oil. hope this helps.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I  take Abilify ( 30 mg) once in tha A.M. & have for the past few years. It is a
wonder drug as far as I'm considered. I HATE Depakote, the side effects alone
I hate (weight gain).  I & I  speak only from my view that the Depakote is, (for me)
the instigator of the weight gain. I AM on Depakote (for seizures). currently & I  
am SLOWLY going off it WITH my Doc's advice. I am on a HIGH dose & they
have me withdrawing from it (250 mg) at a time. The amt. of Depakote withdrawl
is consistent every month so I  don't suffer rebound seizure! Hope this Helps!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I  take Abilify ( 30 mg) once in tha A.M. & have for the past few years. It is a
wonder drug as far as I'm considered. I HATE Depakote, the side effects alone
I hate (weight gain).  I & I  speak only from my view that the Depakote is, (for me)
the instigator of the weight gain. I AM on Depakote (for seizures). currently & I  
am SLOWLY going off it WITH my Doc's advice. I am on a HIGH dose & they
have me withdrawing from it (250 mg) at a time. The amt. of Depakote withdrawl
is consistent every month so I  don't suffer rebound seizure! Hope this Helps!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I  take Abilify ( 30 mg) once in tha A.M. & have for the past few years. It is a
wonder drug as far as I'm considered. I HATE Depakote, the side effects alone
I hate (weight gain).  I & I  speak only from my view that the Depakote is, (for me)
the instigator of the weight gain. I AM on Depakote (for seizures). currently & I  
am SLOWLY going off it WITH my Doc's advice. I am on a HIGH dose & they
have me withdrawing from it (250 mg) at a time. The amt. of Depakote withdrawl
is consistent every month so I  don't suffer rebound seizure! Hope this Helps!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I  take Abilify ( 30 mg) once in tha A.M. & have for the past few years. It is a
wonder drug as far as I'm considered. I HATE Depakote, the side effects alone
I hate (weight gain).  I & I  speak only from my view that the Depakote is, (for me)
the instigator of the weight gain. I AM on Depakote (for seizures). currently & I  
am SLOWLY going off it WITH my Doc's advice. I am on a HIGH dose & they
have me withdrawing from it (250 mg) at a time. The amt. of Depakote withdrawl
is consistent every month so I  don't suffer rebound seizure! Hope this Helps!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I  take Abilify ( 30 mg) once in tha A.M. & have for the past few years. It is a
wonder drug as far as I'm considered. I HATE Depakote, the side effects alone
I hate (weight gain).  I & I  speak only from my view that the Depakote is, (for me)
the instigator of the weight gain. I AM on Depakote (for seizures). currently & I  
am SLOWLY going off it WITH my Doc's advice. I am on a HIGH dose & they
have me withdrawing from it (250 mg) at a time. The amt. of Depakote withdrawl
is consistent every month so I  don't suffer rebound seizure! Hope this Helps!
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Bipolar Disorder Community

Top Mood Disorders Answerers
Avatar universal
Arlington, VA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
15 signs that it’s more than just the blues
Discover the common symptoms of and treatment options for depression.
We've got five strategies to foster happiness in your everyday life.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.