Aripiprazole for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder User Reviews

• Bla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 3, 2019

"I was on Wellbutrin and Zoloft and still experiencing severe chest-crushing anxiety daily. This turned into what was eventually diagnosed as suicidal OCD. This was the most terrifying thing I have ever experienced, and it literally immobilized me and put me on suicide watch on and off for a month. Finally got an appointment with a psychiatrist who started me on 2mg of aripiprazole. The difference was incredible. The spinning obsessive thoughts and suicide planning came to an abrupt halt a few days after starting. It saved my life. I’ve been able to stay on the same dosage for 6 months now with everything remaining stable and no side effects. It has changed my life."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2020

"I have OCD and have suffered with obsessive thinking to the level of almost feeling delusional and being unable to live anything resembling a normal life. Within a few days of taking it, the ruminating thoughts had dissipated and are now easier to control or laugh off. Took myself off it for two weeks, and the obsessions returned. I have to say this medicine is amazing, although I have gained some weight while on it. But it is totally worth it."

• Wbu...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 16, 2024

"This med truly saved my life. I was suffering for 7 months with 24/7 relentless anxiety and OCD ruminating thoughts. Every minute of every day was hell. I tried 12 different meds. I was put on Effexor, and that helped the anxiety somewhat, but the OCD and ruminating were still constant. Added Abilify, and within 3 days, the thoughts lessened greatly. After 6 days, I was finally able to leave my bed and face the world again. I'm now a year on it at 15 mg and living a normal, OCD-free life! I still have some PTSD from how bad my episode was, but it doesn't affect me much. I'll stay on this med for life. Without it, I would not be here today!"

• muc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 16, 2014

"I've written a review when I first started Abilify. I still take 2 mg and 20 mg of Lexapro. I was the person who wrote that it kicked in within 24 hours. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder barely bothers me now. It's under really good control between medicines and therapy. I give Abilify a 10! I originally rated it a 9."

• Rac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 17, 2025

"A lifesaver. I suffer with several themes of OCD and had intense, constant, intrusive graphic thoughts and panic for weeks after a sudden onset. A few days after taking 5 mg of aripiprazole, and I’m calm, and whilst I still get intrusive thoughts, they are massively reduced in quantity, and I can apply ERP techniques to allow the thoughts to pass. My quality of life is back to where I didn’t think it could be."

• mum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2024

"My son has just been prescribed Abilify after being on fluoxetine and mirtazapine for months. He has both low insight severe OCD and an eating disorder. The change has been remarkable in a couple of weeks. He is on 5 mg and is able to interact with the rest of the family for the first time in 10 months and is able to laugh and smile again. It's been truly revolutionary. The only side effect he has mentioned is sporadic nighttime waking."

• Anonymous
• June 19, 2009

Aripiprazole "Abilify works wonders for my OCD, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders, but what's not listed is how much it helps with my eating disorder, which is Purge-Type Anorexia Nervosa, and body dysmorphia. With such low side effects, and such a wide range of disorders treatable with this medication, I consider Abilify a miracle pill for people with mental health problems of many kinds. Several of my friends, including my boyfriend, are also currently prescribed Abilify for a wide range of disorders and we all love it."

• edd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2015

"I had a bad time with obsessive thinking. It almost wrecked my life, my family, and my love relationship. They put me on it in the hospital, and in five days my obsessive thinking was gone. It's still a work in progress, I've only been on it for a little over a week now. I haven't noticed any side effects, but they'll have to be pretty bad to outweigh the good."

• Bra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2022

"I have struggled with existential OCD my entire life. I used to look up what the earth is made out of and other crazy things like if we live in a simulation and all these things that I know aren’t true, but I would tell myself otherwise. I lost my drive and my happiness because I literally had myself convinced that nothing mattered, and I saw no hope. I am on Lexapro, and it helps significantly. However, it just was not enough. I was prescribed 2 mg of Abilify, and this drug has changed my life. Actually, it did not change my life. It saved my life. 100% do not think I would be here without it. Please give this drug a chance. The only side effect that I have is excessive sweat when I am sleeping, but other than that, it really hasn’t affected me too badly. I beg you to try this, it will change your thought process, your life, and get rid of all intrusive thoughts that you may have."

• Khl...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 12, 2021

"I was put on it for what turned out to be panic disorder (didn’t work at all for it), but within a few days, my moderate OCD and severe SAD symptoms had basically cleared up. Raised the dosage after a month and have done phenomenally ever since. Did have to raise the dosage after about 2 years of taking it as I had rebound depression. But for OCD, I no longer have intrusive thoughts, clean compulsively, or have to adhere to weird routines. It has done wonders for my antidepressant-resistant SAD as well. My only regret is that I didn’t go on it sooner."

• Anonymous
• June 3, 2009

Aripiprazole "My husband has been taking Abilify in conjunction with Effexor and Lexapro for obsessive-compulsive disorder. It's amazing - he gets going and out-of-the-house much easier, and has actually been on time for the first time in his life. His productivity is hugely improved, and his compulsions are fewer/shorter. First success we have seen."

• Sar...
• October 4, 2015

"I'm currently on 10 mg to help with OCD and some depression. I mainly wanted to say to everyone who has gained weight -- my doctor told me that it's known to make you dehydrated, so you need to drink A LOT of water. You typically feel hungry when you are dehydrated and eat more, but if you just drink more water, you're fine. To everyone with insomnia - have you tried taking it at a different time of day? I was taking it at night and couldn't sleep. I switched to mornings and voilà! I can sleep so much better! Different times are needed for every person. It's helped somewhat over the last 3 months, but definitely not a magical drug that stops my OCD. I may be taking too low a dosage. Still figuring that out."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2012

Aripiprazole "I have severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. I had been on Lexapro, and I was doing well. After 2 years, I went off it. I was doing well for a few months, and then my OCD spiraled out of control. I started taking Lexapro again 3 weeks ago. Last week I was still doing horribly. My psychiatrist put me on 2 mg of Abilify, and it seemed to kick in for me the next day. I'm not perfect, but my OCD thoughts are much less. I'm not ruminating. I don't have rituals, just obsessive thoughts. They're practically gone in one week. This medicine seems to have done the trick for me thus far. I have just started CBT therapy too. My appetite has increased. I don't know if it's actually from the Abilify."

• Inf...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 9, 2021

"I am now 15 years old, and I've been taking Abilify for about 2 years. I started taking it when I was hospitalized for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), with 2.5 mg. Although the doctors said I wasn't supposed to feel anything at such a low dose, I felt better the next day. I then stayed on 10 mg for about 1 year, and that made me feel better and better as time passed. I just recently started taking 20 mg, and I have to say that my OCD is completely gone. Abilify worked wonders for me, it took away the obsessiveness right away and made me feel more 'free,' without any anxiety. The only side effect I had was intense drowsiness the first 2 weeks I started taking it, but it was absolutely worth it."

• lin...
• April 3, 2008

Aripiprazole "I took Abilify for my OCD symptoms. Though it worked as far as my obsessive thoughts go, I gained 50 pounds while on this medicine. I am currently off of Abilify (no withdrawal symptoms) and have slowly been losing the weight."

• Cha...
• October 19, 2023

"My OCD was ruining my life. My obsessions and intrusive thoughts bordered on delusion, and I was severely paranoid. I couldn't do day-to-day tasks because of this disorder. I got Aripiprazole, and it truly changed my life for the better. My intrusive thoughts have gotten so much quieter, and I no longer suffer from gut-wrenching paranoia and delusions. I am so glad to be put on Aripiprazole, it gives me hope."

• Anonymous
• July 18, 2012

Aripiprazole "I have been on Abilify for about 5 months now. It works wonders for my OCD, but it makes me restless and non-emotional. It might sound good to not be emotional, but when I say that, I mean happiness too. It numbs me. I have also gained 15 pounds, and so I am coming off the medicine slowly."

• Anonymous
• November 20, 2009

Aripiprazole "I take 12 mg per day. Side effects are minimal - slight nausea, slight diarrhea, loss of appetite, insomnia. I'm also taking NuVigil to deal with any sedation and Ambien for the insomnia. I feel like a stable, grounded human being again!"

• ari...
• January 19, 2012

Aripiprazole "I have been going through a tough time in my life, and Prozac wasn't cutting it. A psychiatrist gave me a sample of Abilify. I'm glad it was just a free sample because this was NOT the medicine for me. I would bounce between feeling OK and being suicidal (I have never contemplated suicide before). Things went really haywire the morning after taking my first dose. My legs felt so weak that I could not even get out of bed. It has been about 20 hours since my last dose, and I still feel like I'm going to collapse whenever I stand up. My brain feels like it's turned to mush - I stutter, and I'm very clumsy. The pharmacist said that 2% of people experienced muscle stiffness/myalgia with this medicine, so I guess I'm one of the 2%."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2023

"I have been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). I have tried several medications in the past, including fluvoxamine, fluoxetine 80 mg, Anafranil, Stelazine 2 mg, and Xanax. My current psychiatrist prescribed me 10 mg of aripiprazole, which I have been taking for 10 days now and haven't experienced any side effects. I am now seeing significant improvement in my symptoms. My OCD symptoms have reduced by 50%, and my insomnia has also disappeared. I now sleep better and deeper and don't feel drowsy during the day."

• Anonymous
• January 18, 2012

Aripiprazole "My daughter was taking 10 mg for OCD hair pulling. While it did help with the pulling, she gained 20 kg and could not stay awake, which is not a good thing in school. She had no motivation for anything but to eat and sleep. I have taken her off the medication."

• ocd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 24, 2021

"Absolutely loving Abilify so far! My doctor added 2 mg to Luvox for severe OCD, and literally within 48 hours, I noticed a dramatic improvement. My thinking is much clearer and less scattered. My intrusive thoughts are still there, so I’m thinking about asking my doctor for a higher dose. Absolutely zero side effects too, not even drowsiness!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2018

"The side effects are intolerable and nasty. Drowsiness, restlessness, the feeling where something is going to burst from me. I couldn’t go to class because of the drug. Also, uncontrollable appetite, binge eating. Gained almost 10 lbs in 2 weeks. Made me super sleepy. It does nothing about alleviating my OCD. It only made it worse. I took two 5 mg a day with 250 Luvox."

• Abi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2021

"My doctor prescribed me aripiprazole 5 mg per day. It helped little with my intrusive thoughts, but it gave me extreme anxiety, and I was smoking more while on this medication. Everyone is different, and that was not for me. Getting off and will try another antipsychotic."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2022

"I have been on this medicine for three months (7.5 mg), my mood has been better, but I am always extremely tired and sleepy. Hard to get anything done. Not sure if I even need to be on this type of medicine. Have a doctor's appointment in a few weeks."