Abilify

@Just trying to survive Along with lexapro, and does it make you tired or focused

@GMAN Tired

@Mike6060 About 10 years so far

@GMAN - If you're comfortable - try upping the Lexapro to 30mg. I havent been on Abilify long and dont really want to give any feedback on that just yet. Be mindful that you may experience temporary side effects; for me it was temporary stalling of ejaculation but went away in a week or so. Me, I virtually experienced little (what I mentioned) to no side effects with Lexapro. However, Lexapro kept me from breaking down but not entirely the anxiety when triggered. Klonopin always helped with anxieety despite the reluctance to prescribe due to its potential long term effects and addictive properties. With that being said, I had taken Klonopin not always consistently but when so would help me function and work. I know people including myself at a point was taking it for years. Understandably, not everyone would be comfortable doing so and Abilify or even something like Lamictal that I tried would replace Klonopin and supplement with Lexapro. I have been taken Lexapro since I was like 20 yrs old - now 40 yrs old. I like it. For me its like a foundational medication that sometimes needs a supplement. Abilify seems to be ok so far. Its also I was told not targeting the same receptors as other antipsychotics (they need to change this name ASAP), so eventually my PNP finally got me comfortable taking it (I don't like antipsychotics FYI).

@Mike6060 - FYI - I fought medication for years (had apprehension and they are not vitamins) until finally my mindset changed and I look at it as vitamins to help my body function as it needs. The quality of my life is much more important than my prior reluctance to taking medication. I don't get comfortable taking anything right away still but I am with Lexapro and medications that don't give me side effects and work.

@Mike6060 - Of course counsel with your prescriber first.

@Mike6060 I just feel like I have constant brain fog and that makes it hard to work through the anxiety

@GMAN Dont up it, you’ll be more tired and brain foggy

@truetrev May ask about stopping it

@truetrev May ask about stopping

@GMAN - I feel like the brain fog may be with the abilify if it were the medication. Not the Lexapro. Do you feel like you have to over exert yourself to think or push your thoughts so to speak?

@Mike6060 Yes

@Mike6060 And my rumination is constantly present

@GMAN - If it is medication related, I had that experience with other antipsychotics and not sure about this just yet for myself with Abilify. If I had to say, it is the Abilify not Lexapro. People have some different experiences but then there are the common side effects. I was told Abilify hits different receptors and is not a "thought-blocker" like the others. If the brain fog started around when you took the Abilify or a week or two after it kicked in maybe Abilify is not the way to go. Without knowing much more about you and your lifestyle, I would talk to your prescriber about the Abilify. The brain fog can also be just depression. Even anxiety state. Not necessarily medication I don't want to alarm you about the medication. If you had the brain fog before the Abilify and it didn't improve then we know it's not the Abilify and the med is not working at it's current dosage.