Posted by Adam on October 10, 2001, at 18:11:52
In reply to OCD, posted by Shelley on October 9, 2001, at 6:52:51
I'm assuming you have tried behavioral therapy. If you haven't, I think it's vry worth it to try.
Some unconventional (or previously conventional) approaches to treating OCD are:
MAOIs: Phenelzine would probably be the drug of choice in this class, because of its anxiolytic properties. Isocarboxazid is roughly analogous.
There have been a few limited reports that gabapentin augmentation can be helpful.
Lithium (strangely enough, since it mainly targets a different "second messenger" than is implicated in the biochemistry of OCD) has been used, and according to some, is effective in some cases.
Other TCA's besides clomipramine: I think drugs such as amitriptyline, which, like clomipramine, inhibit reuptake of 5-HT and NE, are used occasionally with good results. Imiprimine technically might fall under this heading, but it is rapidly metabolized to desipramine.
Venlafaxine: Some have used this successfully.
ECT: Believe it or not, electroconvulsive therapy has been used as an effective treatment for some people with refractory OCD. Of all the "non-standard" treatments, this might be the best, overall.
TMS: Transcranial magnetic stimulation has been tried, and seems to work for some people.
Psychosurgry: This option remains controversial, though it seems to be the only line of treatment for some that works. Certainly a last resort, but the benefits outweigh the costs in certain cases.
Hope this helps!
Adam
> I suffer from severe OCD and ADs aren't enough to solve the problem. I don't want to take neuroleptics since a small dosage of perphenazine in the past has resulted in tardive dyskinesia.
> Is anyone here on something else that helps ocd? Even if not conventional?
> Thank you in advance.
poster:Adam
thread:80733
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011007/msgs/80905.html