Posted by yxibow on December 29, 2004, at 15:19:19
In reply to Best SSRI for OCD? Need help for relative...., posted by jerrympls on December 28, 2004, at 17:56:11
> HI all-
>
> My brother has OCD and has for 15 years but never got treatment. His symptoms are obessive thinking, anxiety, ritualistic behaviors (turning the lights on and off a certain number of times, etc). He called the other day and said that he's sick of having to do all these behaviors, that they interfere with his life tremendously and wants to start a medication. He talks to his doctor tomorrow and I suggested LUVOX. I know all SSRIs work the same - but are any more effective for OCD than others?
>
> Thanks much
> JerryAll SSRIs are related to each other in some ways... they each affect a series of transmitters in different amounts. Luvox was the only one initially to get labelled for OCD use, Prozac followed. However all were used off-label. Anafranil, introduced in the US in 1990 though available ages before in other countries, is a tricyclic which some consider an SSRI, and some consider a gold standard for severe OCD. It also comes with some more unpleasant side effects as a tricyclic and an older drug, but thats a tradeoff. I've personally used Luvox and must say that it does do work on ruminative thinking, but for me it was more a choice at the time that I wanted an SSRI which was least activating (I have anxiety).. other SSRIs are more activating with Prozac probably being at the top.
So... you have choices to make... sleep->active, weight gain->weight loss, generic->currently patented (and pricier), side effects->less. Beyond those (and agreeable a lot of factors).. I would say they all work to some degree for OCD, its a matter of dosing. But if I picked one out of a hat.. I suppose I'd say (generic) Luvox. But thats just my experience. Yours is to discuss those variables with your doctor.
And as a postscript, as a lifetime OCD sufferer (as most are), it follows you wherever you go, you just learn to turn it off and move on. So, its not just drugs, but behaviour therapy has to follow along with medication -- medication is a tool to take the "ahh" out of the agony so one can focus on fading away the compulsions that come with the obsessions.
best wishes.
poster:yxibow
thread:435138
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041228/msgs/435375.html