I have Bipolar 2, PTSD, Generalized Anxiey, ADD... I am on Lithium 300mg TID, Lexapro 2.5 (weaning off from 5-10mg daily), Abilify 2mg (day 2), Klonopin .50 PRN, Seraqual .25mg PRN
I am have a lot of cognitive issues & am sensitive to stimulants. My pdoc added Abilify to help the ADD. Has anyone had this experience?
Has anyone seen improvement in cognitive functioning with Abilify?
- Asked
- 16 Dec 2017 by BPhighfuntioning
- Updated
- 16 December 2017
- Topics
- abilify, klonopin, lexapro, depression, bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, agitated state, generalized anxiety disorder, lithium, major depressive disorder
Responses (1)
I have a lot of the same issues. I wish I knew if you were taking the Abilify in the morning or at bedtime and what mg. you were up to. I was on 15 mg. I started at half a Tablet for, I think, 2 weeks and then the whole 15 mg.
I was told to take it at bedtime and after about 4 weeks, I started sleep walking.
Since I was asleep, I didn't know what was happening. After about (not sure on this timeline) 8 weeks, the sleep walking became really pronounced and I was walking all around the upstairs of my house. I fell down the stairs and it woke my 15 yr old son up. He tried to help me, however, I was totally out of it. I kept breaking away from him and heading into other areas. I don't remember ANY of this. My oldest son was 600 miles away at College and my 15 yr old called his brother to ask what to do. They said I spoke to him on the phone - I don't remember it.
I want to tell you to make sure that you have someone around you to help if this happens to you.
I spent the rest of that night and most of the next day out of control. My son was terrified and by the following afternoon I was in and out of consciousness. I was having flashes of knowing something was really wrong, but wasn't able to get around or get out of bed or move my limbs. I was like a turtle on it's back!
On top of that, I couldn't put 2+2 together and took my nighttime meds again about 4 hours after I had regained the ability to understand what my son had been through with me. That night was even worse. My oldest son had driven home and that night I was stumbling around in the house and again went down the stairs. I tried to fight my sons off of me when they came to help me. I was banged up all over from stumbling around. It took another day + to come out of it. I was bruised and sore all over.
My oldest son called my G.P., but he knew nothing because my Psychiatrist had prescribed the Abilify. My son talked to the Pharmacist and he said it had to be the Abilify.
When I was able to call my Psychiatrist and he returned my call; he said to stop it.
I'm not sensitive to medicines. I have taken a lot of different meds over my 53 yrs. I've never had a reaction like that to anything.
Beware and be careful. Try to have someone with you. It builds up in your system. Lots of people don't have problems, but I sure did.
Good Luck.

Further Information
- Abilify Drug Information
- Klonopin Drug Information
- Lexapro Drug Information
- Lithium Drug Information
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Thank you Marissa for responding. I just started the Abilify 2 days ago and I am on 2mg. I haven’t noticed any side effects as of yet. I take it in the morning with my other meds. I am 47 and diAgnosed over a year ago with BP2. I was 1st misdiagnosed with ADHD and put on Vyvannse... which caused major mania after taking it a year. I still have ADD sxs and that’s what is bothering me so bad. My doc just put me on the Abilify with 900mg a day of lithium. My brain fog and attention span is severely affecting my job.