"i have been on this medicine since late september of this year (2013). i was on abilify since i was 7 years old. i am now 21. i have gone from being a stick figure to a 254 pound blowfish and i&#039;m 5.9&quot;. since being on tegretol. i have lost over 20 pounds and am eating less and am more on average scale of what a human being should be consuming on a daily basis. i love this medicine. it helps me think clearly meaning i am much more calm and stabilized with my bi-polar. the only complaint i have is i am constantly having heat-flashes. i am male by the way. i have asked many different psychiatrists, pharmacy, and my pcp about it. none have ever found that to be part of the side effects. i rather deal with this then major weight gain from abilify."