Question about psiquiatric medication affecting my playing

Playing Technique
#1

I have been prescribed Escitalopram and Aripiprazole by my psychiatrist.
I feel it’s affecting my playing. Less confidence in my movements, strange feelings in my limbs.

Has anyone experienced something similar?

Thanks in advance

#2

You should ask your psychiatrist. Posing this question to an internet guitar forum is not likely to yield good advice

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#3

Not looking for advice. but similar experiences.

Thanks

#4

I’m not a physician nor have I tried the medications, but I did a quick check by asking some large language models (Claude and ChatGPT). Both indicate that this type of thing might happen with your medications. So, I suspect that (1) what you’re experiencing is likely real, and that (2) you might want to inform your physician so they are aware of it and perhaps can adjust your medication accordingly.

I wonder if it will take a bit of time for you to get used to it, and then if you’ll get back to normal; hopefully your physician will know.

I also was thinking it might be good to ask on a really high-volume music forum, as more musicians are likely to have experience in this area.

Best of luck with this!

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#5

Thanks for your answer!!!

I did not think that (GPT) I already have an appointment scheduled, and my main concern is what I feel might be real or not.

I asked here because I feel somewhat at home, and I have the fantasy that all the members here are somewhat alike; we all have our lives and take guitar seriously.

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#6

I have no direct experience with these meds, but from googling it appears Abilify (Aripiprazole) can cause various muscle issues, most frequently twitching or feelings of stiffness. So I think what you’re experiencing is quite possibly due to that… see what your doc says, and I hope you get it sorted quickly!

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#7

Yeah. Definitely talk to a doctor. I’ve got an ad for tardive dyskinesia meds playing on my other screen on Hulu right now, in fact. What you’re experiencing might be psychosomatic but it’s not impossible for mental health meds to mess with your movement a little bit.

I’m not a doctor and this is not medical advice and nobody else here is giving medical advice – but your doctor is a doctor. Talk to them, if at all possible!

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#8

Thanks to all who have answered my question.
My doctor reduced some of my meds, so let’s see what happens… it will take some days to feel the adjustment

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#9

I recovered my capabilities. I feel the improvement much more than I expected

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#10

I used to take Xanax along with two antidepressant medications. I did feel like it affected my playing. It also made me feel tired most of the time. I was on them for years. I’m still on some medications but no Xanax, which I think was the worst one.

Always best to speak to your doc about these things. Although playing was affected and felt very “slowed down”, it was necessary at the time.