Does 2mg Abilify cause weight gain?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Does 2mg Abilify cause weight gain?
2 mg Abilify can cause weight gain as a side effect. Abilify is an antipsychotic with minimum potential for weight gain as compared to other atypical antipsychotics.
However, some people can gain a significant amount of weight while being treated with Abilify. Make sure you monitor such weight changes and report them to your healthcare provider.
How does Abilify make you gain weight?
Abilify can make you gain weight for a number of different reasons. Some of these include:
- Increase in appetite
- High blood glucose levels
- Slow fat-burning metabolism
- Unusual cravings for unhealthy foods
- Possible hormonal changes
Increase in appetite
Abilify, like other antipsychotics, can increase your appetite. People have reported this side effect and have defined it as nerve-racking hunger that doesn’t go away. If you continue to eat more than your body needs for its normal physiological functioning, you will gain weight (1).
Your body will simply store the unused calories in the form of fat. This side effect can become quite bothersome for certain individuals. Abilify can also cause tiredness in such people.
High blood glucose levels
Abilify has also been shown to spike blood sugar levels during clinical trials. It’s not certain why it happens, but it does. However, not everyone will experience this side effect but for those who do, these high blood sugar levels can facilitate weight gain in such people.
This is why Abilify should be used cautiously in people who already suffer from diabetes mellitus or who are taking other medications that may also increase their blood sugar levels like corticosteroids.
Slow fat-burning metabolism
Some research studies have revealed that Abilify can slow down your body’s fat-burning processes and slow down your metabolism. It can also increase fat storage functions in your body. This effect combined with overeating can make significant changes in your weight.
Unusual cravings for unhealthy foods
Abilify, a medication that can affect the levels of certain chemicals in your brain, can trigger unhealthy cravings. People may start to crave junk food or high sugary foods, over and over again. If you continue to give in to such cravings, you will keep gaining a significant amount of weight.
Possible hormonal changes
Abilify is also associated with hormonal changes, especially in post-menopausal women. These hormonal changes can also trigger extreme hunger and unusual cravings. Make sure you try to stay strong when you begin to feel this way and reach out to your healthcare provider.
What to do if Abilify makes you gain weight?
If you’re gaining weight on Abilify, there are a few things you can do to reverse it. These include:
Consult your healthcare provider
The first thing that you should do is reach out to your healthcare provider. Your doctor can determine the exact mechanism through which Abilify is making you gain weight and will look for the most appropriate way to manage this weight.
If your weight gain is significant, your doctor may switch you to another antipsychotic medication with a lower chance of causing weight gain as a side effect. People who gain a significant amount of weight while taking Abilify may lose some of it after drug discontinuation.
Weight loss is not a typical withdrawal symptom, and only people who gain weight during the course of their treatment will end up losing some of it.
Don’t give in to emotional cravings
When an episode of unusual cravings hits you, try to be mentally strong. You are the only one responsible for your health and should always make good choices. If you’re craving something sweet, you can choose healthier choices like fruit smoothies or keto desserts.
Opt for good food to satiate your hunger
If Abilify increases your appetite, make sure to choose good foods that can make you feel full for a longer period of time. Start your day with a good protein-based breakfast. It’ll help you start your day with all the necessary nutrients you need.
Incorporate lean protein, good fats, and light carbs into your daily routine. This will limit the number of calories you will consume throughout the day and the calories you will take will be good ones.
Exercise
Exercise should be an important part of your daily routine. It can help you lose weight, boost your metabolism, and release happy chemicals in your brain.
Exercise can strengthen your body and your physiological systems which can help you become more resistant to getting sick. You don’t need to have a difficult workout regimen to see a difference. Just walking 30 minutes a day would be a great start.
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References
1.-
Singh T. Aripiprazole-induced weight gain. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2005 Jun;2(6):19. PMID: 21152150; PMCID: PMC3000187. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3000187/#__ffn_sectitle
2.-
National Library of Medicine (US). Aripiprazole. Bethesda (MD): U.S. National Library of Medicine; 2021 Mar 15 [updated 2021 Mar 15; cited 2022 Oct 2]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a603012.html
