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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BRC on January 30, 2005, at 19:58:01
Hi,
I will be seeing my pdoc Tuesday and I really want ot make this visit count.
Mainly I tell him how I have been feeling and he just re-fills my medication. And he ask if I have been experiencing any side effects, etc.
Well I take Lexapro 60mg, Klonopin 4mg, and Remeron 30mg.
My dx is major OCD (mainly unwanted thoughts), major Depression, and Panic Disorder.
I know the Klonopin does wonders for the anxiety. And the Remeron helps with my sleep. But I don't think the Lexapro does anything. I have been on this combonation for about two years.
The OCD thoughts are ruining my life and making my depression unbarable.
I have been going through this for a little over five years now and have tried many different meds.
If I suggest a change in my SSRI, which one is the best for OCD symptoms. I have tried alot such as Paxil, Effexor, etc.
I have read and been told that all SSRI's work about the same. I thought that Lexapro would be the best since it is the newest and supposedly the most powerful. And I hate to go through the long tedious trial of getting off a med and getting another in my system. But something has got to give.
Any comments, Advice, or responses to these questions would be MUCH appreciated.
Thanks,
BRC
Posted by Phillipa on January 30, 2005, at 20:51:12
In reply to REALLY NEED ADVICE!!!!, posted by BRC on January 30, 2005, at 19:58:01
I just started on Remeron l5mg at bedtime for sleep plus .5 xanax. I still wake in the middle of the night. Does 30mg make the difference. I have OCD too, and Luvox used to be used for this. I think it helped mine, but the pdoc's aren't rxing it anymore. Phillipa
Posted by med_empowered on January 30, 2005, at 23:24:28
In reply to REALLY NEED ADVICE!!!!, posted by BRC on January 30, 2005, at 19:58:01
hi! Like Phillipa said, Luvox was once commonly prescribed for OCD, but then the patent expired. Since drug companies don't spend money promoting drugs that have gone generic, other drugs are now often prescribed, which I think is ridiculous. One of my friends swears by Luvox, and another swears by anafranil, an old tricyclic drug that is ONLY rx'd for OCD and can work in drug cocktails or as monotherapy for many people.
Posted by Chris O on January 31, 2005, at 0:30:25
In reply to REALLY NEED ADVICE!!!!, posted by BRC on January 30, 2005, at 19:58:01
BRC:
Not sure if I can suggest which SSRI to try, but I just want to empathize with you about the Lexapro. I was on it at 40mg/day for 6 months last for OCD and GAD, and, beyond making me a little fatigued during the day, I'm not certain it did much. I was on a combo of Wellbutrin 150mg/Celexa 20mg about three years ago, and to my memory, it seemed to do a better job of combatting my OCD than the high dose Lexapro. I totally empathize with you about not wanting to go thru the process of re-experimenting and the hell of OCD. After 6 weeks of being off the Lex, I'm starting to lose control of my thoughts and race toward panic again. Have you tried any of the anti-convulsant meds, such as Topamax, etc.? (Oh, my bad, you're already taking Klonopin, which I think falls into that catagory.) I'm back to trying the naturals--inositol, rhodiola, ashwagandah, fish oil, with not much luck ,as usual. I wish I could help you, but I can totally empathize with you. I hate this disease, or whatever the heck it is that plagues us!
Chris
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on January 31, 2005, at 6:36:39
In reply to Re: REALLY NEED ADVICE!!!! » BRC, posted by Chris O on January 31, 2005, at 0:30:25
I'm not OCD, but I exerience anxiety w/ a lot of rumination. I also take Lex and don't find it to be very helpful. So my pdoc added in a tricyclic (desipramine) and that really reduced my anxiety. She mentioned that it was what they used to use for anxiety and ocd before SSRI's came out.
I would ask your pdoc if s/he thinks that a TCA might help you.
Good luck!
EE
Posted by Bill LL on January 31, 2005, at 8:40:12
In reply to REALLY NEED ADVICE!!!!, posted by BRC on January 30, 2005, at 19:58:01
I take 40 mg Lexapro and 60 mg Strattera. The Lexapro has eliminated all of my depression and most of my anxiety. Strattera is for ADD.
I also had really bad OCD. But this combo has worked very well.
I think that you should try adding an ADD drug such as Ritalin, Adderal, or Strattera to deal with the OCD.
Posted by medhed on January 31, 2005, at 13:23:25
In reply to Re: REALLY NEED ADVICE!!!!, posted by Bill LL on January 31, 2005, at 8:40:12
Luvox works very well for OCD, side effects are quite bearable. goodluck
This is the end of the thread.
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