User Reviews for Aripiprazole to treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

"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 appt with a psychiatrist who started me on 2mg of abilify. 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."

"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."

"I've wrote a review when I first started Abilify. I still take 2 mg and 20 Mg of Lexapro. I was the person who wrote 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."

"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 & 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."

"I had a bad time with Obsessive thinking. It almost wrecked my life and my family and 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. Haven't noticed any side effects but they'll have to be pretty bad to outweigh the good."

Abilify (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."

Abilify (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."

Abilify (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."

"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 wala! I can sleep so much better! Different times 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."

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

"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."

"I have struggle 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 effects 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."

Abilify (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."

Abilify (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%."

Abilify (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!"

Abilify (aripiprazole) "My daughter was taking 10mg for OCD hair pulling, while it did help with the pulling she gained 20kg 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. "

"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."

"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 10lbs in 2weeks. 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."

"Horrible side affects for first few weeks but this passes I use this for over thinking and bad thoughts. Has aripiprazole helped? Not really but it's has a little, it's just been 6 weeks now so I am going to give it a little more time b4 I give my final answer. From what I've read it takes over 6 weeks to fully work"

"I was prescribed Aripiprazole 10mg for tics originally, and I have been taking it for about four months now together with a pre-existing prescription for fluoxetine 60mg. It's worked great for tics as well as my OCD, not quite in remission but I'd say 80% of my symptoms are gone. Not sure if it's just my depression, but I feel as if I've been a lot more tired after starting the med. Just my two cents."

"Absolutely loving Abilify so far! My doctor added 2mg 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!"

"I have been on this medicine for three months (7.5mg) 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 doctors appointment in a few weeks"

"Horrible drug. Worked initially but totally lulled me into a false sense of security. Yes, I achieved some good things on it but the urges to gamble and intense cravings for nicotine and alcohol were truly unbearable. I have every intention of weaning off this drug with my specialist and trying something far less over-stimulating."

"My psychotherapist recommended it for OCD... but the akathisia it gave me was as awful as it can get. I could not even sit still even though I was tired from the day. This medicine made me wander endlesslesly for as long as I took it. Not to mention the problems it gave me for sleeping, that had to be counteracted with pregabaline and alprazolam. I stopped taking it and thank god the akathisia stopped and I was able to sleep without medication"

"I feel it has helped me with my intrusive thoughts but I feel so restless I can't seem to relax I feel I have the urge to move around when I really just want to watch tv and relax. I have gain 8 pounds since been taking it. Gonna reach out to my doctor. Your never alone were in this together"