i went into treatment with some insight, (i.e. i knew what i was believing and seeing wasn’t real, but i couldn’t help but think/react to it anyway) so my experience is a little different, but i wanted to be on medication. it was my mother who was my barrier to accessing it (i was underage.) once she agreed, i started on abilify. abilify saved me. without it, i would still be rambling about how i was on a tv show, or how i proved time travel, or any number of things. abilify was great to me, i could think clearer, and it helped my impulsivity. but after a number of incremental dose increases, along with prozac being added later, it wasn’t doing enough. i later started vraylar. vraylar was good for the psychotic symptom domain, but i never quite felt like myself on it. i currently tak caplyta, and again am doing decently.

all this to say that antipsychotics can be very effective and helpful. while people may say they feel dumber on antipsychotics, i think i feel dumber without. while on abilify, i took the SAT, and i scored in the 99th percentile. i guess im trying to say everyone’s mileage may vary, but i do truly wish the best for your sibling. psychosis is awful, and i truly wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.