Posted by yxibow on January 3, 2005, at 17:34:38
In reply to Re: Best SSRI for OCD? Need help for relative.... » yxibow, posted by jerrympls on December 29, 2004, at 15:34:43
Sorry, I hadnt followed the board for this period over the new year
> Thank sso much for your post. I intend to get my brother into some sort of therapy after he's started the med.
Excellent... when both go together, success rates are definately improved... I should say rates of returning to a healthy structured life... OCD still regrettably is to the best of our knowledge a lifetime condition but most with it, with good treatment can control its cycles through life.
His doc prescribed Paxil - so I'm hoping that works for him. Is it true that SSRI dosages are usually higher than those for depression treatment?
Also, my brother's very anxious about the medication working - and when it will kick in and give him some relief. I've told him it can be anywhere from 2 weeks to a month or two for full relief.This is true... sometimes doctors prescribe a small dose of a benzodiazepine for a temporary basis, like Ativan or Klonopin inbetween.
I'm hoping he starts to feel some benefit within the first couple weeks. Also, I don't want to raise hi hopes by telling him that this will take his OCD away (which I kinda think he wants to hear) - do you have any advice as to how I should explain how he'll feel once it does kick in and work?
SSRIs, at least in my case/view, are a very subtle medication.. you dont know how you feel ironically unless you remove the drug. Sometimes there can be a temporary period of manic happiness, Prozac comes to mind, in some people. In general... the feeling is indirect. Rumination thinking may dissipate. One might "forget" to wash ones hands after touching something, etc.
I would agree, to not get ones hopes high over any medication. There are other alternatives. If, and I dont know if your brother has been diagnosed with an extreme end of the "YBOCS" scale of OCD, sometimes doctors will augment SSRIs with a small dose of a neuroleptic to improve effectiveness. But generally, its just a wait and see... they can take up to 12 weeks to build a full neurochemical change.
-- Best for 2005
poster:yxibow
thread:435138
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050103/msgs/437296.html