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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Clover on November 1, 2002, at 3:15:02
Hello,
My 13 year old son has severe OCD. His doctor has switched him today from Luvox to Lexapro because of numerous side effects. He is also going to be taking Concerta for mild ADD along with this. Has anyone posting used Lexapro for OCD? What are the side effects like? Nausea, insomnia, delayed ejaculation? By the way, we discovered that if you take 100 mg of 5HTP,(get it at the health food store) it can help improve the sexual side effects, although it takes about 1-2 weeks to notice a difference.
Thanks,
Clover
Posted by johnj on November 1, 2002, at 8:33:41
In reply to lexapro and OCD, posted by Clover on November 1, 2002, at 3:15:02
needs something for sexual side effects?????
Posted by Bill L on November 1, 2002, at 9:37:56
In reply to lexapro and OCD, posted by Clover on November 1, 2002, at 3:15:02
I take Lexapro. It does help with OCD. The side effects are mild. There is delayed ejaculation, but at least for me its not too bad.
Posted by djmmm on November 1, 2002, at 10:19:28
In reply to May I ask why a 13 year old » Clover, posted by johnj on November 1, 2002, at 8:33:41
Im sure it has more to do with Libido, and feeling like a "normal" 13 year old boy, than it has to do with sexual intercourse.
Posted by Cletus2 on November 1, 2002, at 10:40:43
In reply to lexapro and OCD, posted by Clover on November 1, 2002, at 3:15:02
Hi Clover, I am currently taking Lexapro for OCD and so far I am very pleased with it. I had previously taken Celexa 100mg for OCD for about a year and thought it was a good drug except for some drowsiness and very minor sexual side effects (some delay)....Anyway, I currently take 40mg of Lexapro and am very pleased with the fact that the drowsiness is almost non existent and the sexual side effects are virtually gone. I can still tell I am taking an SSRI, but the side effects are significantly diminished compared to Celexa (which, in my opinion, had a more than acceptable side effects profile). I also currently take Dexadrine for some mild ADHD symptoms and the combo definetly seems to be effective. Now, everyone is different but hopefully Lexapro will work out for your son as well. It is just a matter of finding the right dosage (which can sometimes be high for OCD patients). Good luck!
Posted by Clover on November 2, 2002, at 1:20:22
In reply to May I ask why a 13 year old » Clover, posted by johnj on November 1, 2002, at 8:33:41
johnj,
I don't mind your question. The reason the sexual side effects are very important is because not addressing them would basically guarantee that the medicine wouldn't work, because he won't take it. He's afraid he won't develop normally or be able to have children. He has enough to deal with already without having to worry about that.
Clover
Posted by Ed O`Flaherty on November 2, 2002, at 12:11:54
In reply to lexapro and OCD, posted by Clover on November 1, 2002, at 3:15:02
I have seen quite a good response in a 10-year old boy where omega-3 fish oil was added to his SSRI.It may be worth adding 5-10 g daily.Results are usually seen in a few days.Put omega-3 in the search box above for more details.
Posted by Jefff on November 2, 2002, at 17:41:53
In reply to Re: May I ask why a 13 year old, posted by Clover on November 2, 2002, at 1:20:22
> johnj,
>
> I don't mind your question. The reason the sexual side effects are very important is because not addressing them would basically guarantee that the medicine wouldn't work, because he won't take it. He's afraid he won't develop normally or be able to have children. He has enough to deal with already without having to worry about that.
>
> CloverI just wanted to add that I say bravo to you Clover for being honest, open, aware and willing to properly educate yourself of your sons needs and medical issues:
This thread has totally reminded me of when I was 15 years old (Im now 33)... I was so extremely underweight/couldnt gain weight that I had to beg my parents to bring me to a Dr. to see if they could help somehow. Well my mother decided to bring me to a neurologist of all places. Yes I thought it was weird, but I really didnt know any better at that point. I imagine that it was easier for her to try or hope to blame my severe emotional/mental/social issues on a neurological problem rather than to accept the fact that I was a mental/emotional wreck primariliy due to my parents severely "dysfunctional" raising of me.
So I went, had all these neurological tests with the electrodes on the head and it turns out that I was/am completely neurologically normal. : )
BUT... here's what happened next: I go into the Dr's office after the tests and tell him the reason Im there is because I wanted to gain weight. He says he can give me some medication that will help do that, he sends me out and brings my mother in and they talk privately for awhile. Next thing I know he gives me a prescription for Mellaril (which I years later found out was an anti-psychotic drug). I was not then nor have I ever been psychotic. So I take this crap for a few months thinking that its just something thats gonna help me gain weight.
Well, I didnt gain a pound and what happened was I developed retrograde ejaculation (when I masturbated... no, I wasnt lucky or mentally stable enough to have sex with anyone at that point).
Anyway it scared the HELL out of me, I didnt know it was the Mellaril that was causing it, I thought I had a serious sexual or health problem and I was too embarrassed to say anything to anyone. It only cured itself after I stopped taking that crap on my own when I realized I wasnt gaining a pound from it and that it may indeed be the cause of the ejaculation problem.
I was tricked and lied to by my parents and some A -hole neurologist into taking a serious mental medication which I never needed and Im still furious about that.
Good for you for not putting your son through anything like that and for being honest with him.
Jeff
Posted by caring_shari on December 6, 2003, at 6:15:46
In reply to Re: May I ask why a 13 year old, posted by Jefff on November 2, 2002, at 17:41:53
My son has acute OCD and has been taking celexa for four years. He was glad not to have the increase libido for he sees his friends make sexual mistakes all the time. He is now 18 and has just changed to lexapro and so far the side effects are lessoned. My son is an intellectual and has a scholarship to Loyola next year and is an Eagle Scout plus only takes all Honor courses at his private school. None of this would have been possibe if is wasn't for the SSRI. If your son has acute OCD, do not do him the disservice of of taking him off this type of medication. Sex is for marriage. They need to be happy well adjusted boys first. They have plenty of time for sex when they grow up!
This is the end of the thread.
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