I was on genereric Ability some years ago for depression. I don't recall gaining weight. However my blood sugar soared up to on an average to over 30o fasting blood sugar. I am diagnosed with diabetes type2. I strongly recommend to at least be cautious of you're diabetic. Plus discuss with your prescribing doctor if you're diagnosed with diabetes, especially type2.
Ive been on abilify for abit now, and I have tried all of what you have. I havent gained weight from it. My son and my brother are on the same medications. We all take abilify before bedtime. It makes us tired if taken during the day. Also wellbutron, and other anti depression meds dont mix well for people with bipolar. I had a few friends on it that had really bad reactions from it. It didnt do well with me either, I gained weight from that when I used it. And had weird effects afterwards. I can only describe it like a random brain shock. I had that with a loy of the anti depression medications. I did gain a loy of weight when on serequil.
The lamictal weight gain for all 3 of us. Expecially my son. It didnt do well with me so I quit that. So now for mood I just take abilify. along with adhd med, trazodone, and clonazapam when needed. Ive been able to almost stop with the anxiety meds. Topamax didnt work for me, I was so dizzy I could see straight.
I hope this helps someone. Take care and ALWAYS read studies about your medications before you take them. Its helped me since i had a dr put me on 2 of the same class drugs at once and made me.....well not me.
Just google some of the mood stabelizers and you'll find a ton of info, Try some of the other forums too because they use Abilify for depression as well as bipolar. You might get more answers if you put your question in a couple other forums. I wouldn't worry about my water retention, Abilify is not supposed to cause it so the doc is not 100% certain the water is from the Abilify. The older mood stabelizers almost always have weight gain as a side effect, however, not everyone gains weight on the drugs.
You really won't know until you try and if you see 5 pounds come on, then you can ask your doc to change your meds before you have 20 or 30 pounds to loose. 5 is easy. Good luck, I hope you find the right med the first try!!
Erin
Thank you so much for your reply. I'm so overwhelmed that I dont' know what to do. I've never been diagnosed with bipolar, and I've been to many dr's. This dr. is basing the diagnosis on the fact that I had alot of energy after I had my kids. (instead of post-partum depression, I had post-partum mania). No other manic episodes besides that, unless you count going on wellbutrin. (gave me way too much energy).
I'm terrified of going on a mood stablizer. Water retention will freak me out. I'm having some water retention with the 25mg of Topamax that I'm on (I was on 75 but cut back to 25), and I feel crummy. The thought of being on anything that has the slightest possiblity of making me gain weight is just too overwhelming.
I'd love to hear from others experiences. Anybody else out there?
When I looked up weight gain and bipolar medications, Abilify was at the bottom of the list for weight gain, Geodon people gained the least then Abilify. I'm on 2mg. of Abilify and in the begining you tend to feel sleepy, that's why they start you on it at bedtime. I would be surprised if Abilify caused a racing heart but you definately have to tell your doc about that. I was also on Wellbutrin and had to come off because it caused to much anxiety.
I think either Abilify or Geodon are your 2 best bets in regards to a mood stabelizer and weight gain, or lack there of. I couldn't tolerate Geodon, it made me worse but 2mg of Abilify saved my life! I also now take it with 100mg of Seroquel at night and I feel better than I have in years. I also take lasix because Abilify caused me to retain water but the lasix does the job and I'm still loosing some weight I was trying to get off anyway. If you do notice weight gain, actual pounds, not feeling bigger, talk to your doc about a diuretic and see if that helps but a highly doubt you'll gain on Abilfy. The data I read supports it.
Good Luck to you!!
Erin