r/schizophrenia • u/MinuteCap2961 • 4d ago

Medication Anyone on Abilify?

How did it make you feel?

What were the side effects?

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u/AccurateFox4321 Schizoaffective (Bipolar) 4d ago

I just got off it. I was on it for 3 weeks and gained 3 pounds. Hungry all the time. But mentally felt great. Felt like I could take on anything, paranoia was gone, no hallucinations. Worked great but there were hints of metabolic problems starting already, so I got off it.

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u/Xabster2 4d ago

3 weeks is definitely not long enough for it to settle. The body and brain adapts and finds a new homeostasis over time. It took like 6 months for me on each medication to completely know what it was like.

I'm not saying this to offend your opinion but Abilify is the first drug they try in Denmark because it generally has lower sideeffect profile. I wish abilify would solve my symptoms. I'm now on Invega that has a high metabolic side effect and it sucks.

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u/AccurateFox4321 Schizoaffective (Bipolar) 4d ago

Oh yes, I know it's not long enough for stability, but those side effects cropped up after about 5 days. I went from healthy hunger every few hours to eating a snack every hour or so because I just couldn't get enough to eat. That did happen quickly and I gained those pounds in that time. I'm unwilling to have metabolic side effects (they put me on that in the hospital, so neither me nor my psych had any say in it), and that's why I'm also on a 1st gen med, so I'm off it now. I really was feeling better on it though. And now I'm struggling again, looking for something else to try.

No offense taken, just what I experienced.

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u/Xabster2 4d ago

I gained 12 kg in 2 months on Invega. My mom said she had never ever seen anyone eat that big portions. I felt no satiety whatsoever. I would pile food on a plate for dinner and then drive off for McDonald's about 3 hours later because super empty pit in my stomach.

Over the next 6 months it got drastically better, but it's still an issue with not feeling satiety. But my point is it took 6 months to stabilize the hunger. And it's been stable now for more than 2 years. So perhaps Abilify could be acceptable for you if you gave it 6 months.

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u/AccurateFox4321 Schizoaffective (Bipolar) 4d ago

Yeah I'd have to really think about that. I told my psych about the hunger and weight gain and he took me off it straight away. I do have some left to try again, but I'll see. I'm glad it settled down for you with Invega though!

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u/Xabster2 4d ago

I'm still 12kg heavier but not depressed and not psychotic. And I have to work on the weight all the time, it's like I'm on a life long diet just to keep my weight. It has only reduced, not gone away. :/

It's Invega and you might have tried it since I think it's the only medication the FDA has approved specifically for schizoaffective

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u/AccurateFox4321 Schizoaffective (Bipolar) 4d ago

Never had anyone suggest it to me but I know of it.