On Abilify now and extremely happy about it

Hi, until a few weeks ago I felt really in a rut, just briefly, I have been schizophrenic since late teens, now 57 although very young at heart with it albeit very overweight, 18 stone until six weeks ago, when I sought the advice of my consultant whom I knew to be very concerned about my weight and it wasn't just that I felt I was becoming lethargic and complacent, and a real drag to be with.  

I had wanted to go on topiramate but its not licenced for use in this country, UK, so he suggested what he said would be the next best thing, Abilify and I agreed to give it a go.  Well start of the New year the course was begun and I similtaneously started a strict diet and exercise routine and with the help of abilify, which is a great deal less weight gaining than clopixol, which I'm still being weened off as these things have to be done gradually, but I've been on abilify, small start dose for about four weeks.

Well I've lost a stone, over the six weeks of the New year, I am going out more and attending more groups, spured on by the new set of chemicals so to speak, I'm more active than I've ever been, I get on my exercise bike three or four times a week, attend a womens group where I paint and sketch, an activities group run by MIND, I'm having Rethink in to help me declutter my flat, and we've already made a start, and also meeting up with my meetups group for (salads of course!!) lunches once a month, plus my usual LIVE poetry slot at a local venue, again monthly and I really genuinely feel that being on the Abilify has allowed me to turn a corner.

I should add, the drug may not suit everyone, but I also have a friend who has been on it for some time and she says similar things about it and even warned me it may make me take on too much and in some ways I can see exactly what she means there and am gaurding against it in some ways.

So a stone lighter and a success story in a sense, I also feel very calm, relaxed and stable whereas on clopixol I felt agitated and depressed, a lethal mix if ever there was one.  I hope this can help anyone else thinking of going on Abilify as I can only speak very highly of it.

All the best, Fiona

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