Posted by Nanter1 on January 16, 2004, at 13:06:08
In reply to Has anyone found an RX that really helps OCD?, posted by Yogi on January 13, 2004, at 5:09:18
Hi there:
I have been diagnosed with OCD and also have accompanying diagnoses such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. I've run the gamut of the SSRIs and the most effective drug I found was Paxil. At one point on paxil my OCD was completely in remission. I had never experienced such a thing on any other drug. Paxil came with a few big problems, though: It made me very sleepy. Evidently it is more sedating than drugs like Prozac, and if you're sedated on prozac, it may not be the best for you. It also had the greatest level of sexual side effects. Withdrawal symptoms were also the worst.
I am currently taking no medication, and like you, my OCD is worse than ever before. I have become convinced over the years and with my interaction with the mental health profession that these drugs , while being relatively therapeutic, create a dependency by causing neurological changes that worsen our underlying conditions. These exacerbations are seen when we stop taking the drugs and also when we experience so-called "poop out" phenomena.
Have you tried cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)? I have not had much success, but then I have a particularly difficult form of OCD to treat. You didn't indicate how your OCD manifests. If it has a clear and well understood manifestation, CBT could be very effective as an adjunct to or even a replacement for the medication.
OCD is brutal, but we can do things to beat it. I refuse to let this monster run my life.
Best of luck,
Luke
poster:Nanter1
thread:300081
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040114/msgs/301638.html