"i&#039;m a 21 year old female and just diagnosed with bipolar i. it&#039;s been a roller coaster ride especially after gaining 10 pounds in the hospital while taking risperidone and depakote. i&#039;m still on the depakote, though i hope to discontinue it as soon as my psychiatrist allows, but i just switched to abilify. i&#039;ve got to say, so far i have no complaints. with risperidone i had no &quot;lid&quot; to my hunger. it was endless, and that was quite disappointing. there were many other side effects, but the weight gain has added to my self loathing. though the painful heart dysrhythmias are a close second. i&#039;m hoping that abilify makes it possible for me to curb my appetite back to what it used to be as i exercise the 30 pounds i don&#039;t need away."