Does Abilify Cause Weight Gain?

Antipsychotics are a class of medications that can treat many medical conditions. These include schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. If you’ve ever taken an antipsychotic medication, you may know they can have lots of side effects. From weight gain and high blood sugar to movement disorders, many people can experience side effects that affect their daily lives.

Abilify (aripiprazole) is one commonly prescribed atypical antipsychotic. If you’re taking Abilify, one side effect you may notice, or worry might happen, is weight gain.

In this article, we’ll review what you need to know about weight gain from Abilify and what you can do about it. We’ll also briefly cover other Abilify side effects. 

What is Abilify?

Abilify is an atypical antipsychotic. It’s FDA-approved to treat several medical conditions, including:

• Schizophrenia

• Bipolar 1 disorder

• Hard-to-treat depression

• Irritability for children on the autism spectrum

• Tourette syndrome in children

Atypical antipsychotics work by changing how chemical messengers connect with receptors (binding sites) in the brain. The main chemical messenger that atypical antipsychotics affect is dopamine. They also have effects on other chemical messengers, like serotonin. Changing how these chemicals send messages in the brain is thought to help lessen symptoms of the conditions listed above.

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Abilify can be taken by mouth once a day or as an injection (Abilify Maintena) once a month. There’s also an oral form called Abilify Mycite. It includes technology in every pill that tracks when you took your dose. All dosage forms of Abilify can cause side effects because they’re absorbed into the body.

Does Abilify cause weight gain?

Yes, Abilify can cause weight gain. It’s one of several medications known to raise body weight. But it seems to cause less weight gain than several other antipsychotics.

You can gain weight quickly after starting Abilify. Generally, weight gain may be noticed during the first few weeks after starting the medication. Weight gain can continue for several months after that. In one small study, about 14% of people who took Abilify for 26 weeks (about 6 months) reported significant weight gain (gained 7% or more of their initial body weight). 

Other studies also show that weight gain continues to happen over time while taking Abilify. Most people find that Abilify weight gain levels off after about a year of taking it.

It’s not completely clear how Abilify causes weight gain. But how fast you gain weight and the amount of weight gained may depend on unique characteristics, like your genetics.

How much weight will I gain while taking Abilify?

Short answer: It depends.

In the study mentioned above, people who gained weight while taking Abilify gained 7% or more of their starting body weight. This weight gain was seen during the first 6 months of taking it. So if a person initially weighs 200 lbs, this could be a total of 14 lbs or more.

Other studies have reported different results. A review of several studies found that short-term use of Abilify (6 weeks or less) only caused weight gain of a little over 2 lbs. Longer-term use was reported to cause weight gain of close to 9 lbs after a year of taking it. 

Some antipsychotics cause more weight gain than others. For example, Zyprexa (olanzapine) caused significant weight gain in 37% of people taking it in one study, compared to 14% of those taking Abilify. On the other hand, Abilify and Rexulti (brexpiprazole) showed about the same amount of weight gain in several studies.

Can Abilify weight gain be prevented?

There’s not a guaranteed way to prevent Abilify weight gain. Your healthcare provider will often determine a recommended treatment based on what may work best for you with the least amount of negative effects. 

If you’re already taking Abilify, your healthcare provider may be able to switch you to a different antipsychotic if side effects like weight gain are bothersome. There are also several prescription medications that could be prescribed off-label to help lower weight gain from Abilify, including metformin and topiramate (Topamax).

You can also do a few things at home that may help prevent weight gain from Abilify:

• Behavioral strategies: These can include goal setting, monitoring exercise routines, and building a social support network to help encourage you to meet your goals.

• Nutritional counseling: This could include working with a nutrition specialist who can help you find a healthy diet that works for you.

• Exercise: A typical recommendation is to complete 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week. But this can vary for everyone, so discuss what exercise routines are right for you with your healthcare provider.

Talk with your provider about any weight gain concerns you have. They can help you figure out the best way to manage your weight and meet your goals.

If I gain weight while taking Abilify, can I lose it?

Yes, you can lose weight if you’ve gained while taking Abilify. The recommendations for preventing Abilify weight gain can also be used to help lose weight you’ve gained. If you’re not seeing the progress you were hoping for, let your healthcare provider know. They may be able to suggest changes you can make.

What other side effects are common with Abilify?

Abilify has many other side effects. It’s one of the atypical antipsychotics with less risk of movement disorders and problems with your metabolism.

Common side effects of Abilify include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Dizziness

• Feeling restless

• Trouble sleeping

• Movement problems

Less common but serious side effects of Abilify include:

• Suicidal thoughts

• Higher risk of stroke or death for people with dementia

• Trouble moving your body normally

• Higher risk of falling

• Higher blood sugar

• Changes in cholesterol

• Low blood pressure

• Low number of white blood cells (cells that fight infections)

• Seizures

If you think you have a side effect from Abilify, talk to your healthcare provider. They may prescribe a different medication, lower your dose, or suggest lifestyle changes to help ease side effects.

Are there other atypical antipsychotics that don’t cause weight gain?

As mentioned above, some atypical antipsychotics tend to cause less weight gain than others. The table below shows the relative risk of weight gain with most atypical antipsychotics.

Abilify is actually one of the atypical antipsychotic medications that has a low risk of weight gain. Your healthcare provider can help choose the best atypical antipsychotic for you. They will consider your medical condition, possible side effects, and your preferences when prescribing one.

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Written by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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