Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 374426

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OCD Meds?

Posted by TexasChic on August 5, 2004, at 15:31:14

I take 60 mg Prozac for my depression and OCD. But I feel like its not working for my OCD. I've read that some people take up to 80 mg Prozac, but I was wondering if anyone took any other medication that helped? Either in conjunction or seperately. Any comments are appreciated. Thanks.

 

Re: OCD Meds? - try Luvox

Posted by krybrahaha78 on August 5, 2004, at 15:59:35

In reply to OCD Meds?, posted by TexasChic on August 5, 2004, at 15:31:14

I would highly suggest Luvox!! I have OCD myself and have taken every SSRI, Luvox is the only one that worked. I take 250 mgs daily. My opinion it is alot stronger than Prozac.

 

Re: OCD Meds? - try Luvox

Posted by TexasChic on August 5, 2004, at 16:01:29

In reply to Re: OCD Meds? - try Luvox, posted by krybrahaha78 on August 5, 2004, at 15:59:35

I've asked my Pdoc about that, but it seems like she shied away from it (I can't remember why). Does it have any bad side effects?

 

Re: OCD Meds? - try Luvox

Posted by krybrahaha78 on August 5, 2004, at 23:22:26

In reply to Re: OCD Meds? - try Luvox, posted by TexasChic on August 5, 2004, at 16:01:29

Your p-doc shied away from it? Anyways, the only side effect I got from Luvox was some sexual dysfunction, but it goes away fairly quick, and I also sweat alot sometimes--thats about it. Luvox is a good drug.

 

Re: OCD Meds? - try Luvox

Posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 6, 2004, at 14:58:06

In reply to Re: OCD Meds? - try Luvox, posted by krybrahaha78 on August 5, 2004, at 23:22:26

Just wanted to add my opinion --

I'm sure Luvox (which I believe was recently removed from manufacturing by Solvay... the generic [fluvoxamine maleate] is available, however) can be great for some with OCD, but it has probably the most intolerable side effect profile and discontinuation syndrome of all the SSRIs. Worse than Paxil for me!

Clomipramine (brand 'Anafranil') is also a mainstay treatment for OCD, but carries many of the same problems as SSRIs along with some tricyclic side-effects (i.e., anticholinergia). Quite unpleasant.

I have three suggestions:

1) talk to your doctor about increasing the dose of Prozac, or trying another SSRI (preferably Zoloft, Celexa, or Lexapro) at a high dosage; 120mg Prozac, 200-300mg Zoloft, 80mg Celexa, or 120mg Lexapro would be a good start. It's been shown that doses effective in treating OCD with these drugs are significantly higher than those used to treat depression. All the SSRIs are equally effective in treating OCD if used in adequate doses -- it's just that Luvox is the only one to carry an FDA indication solely for OCD, so many falsely believe that it's the best for the job (though it may be, for some people).

2) some find that a benzodiazepine with serotonergic activity, *when taken along with another effective medication*, works wonders. These include Xanax/Xanax XR (alprazolam), Ativan (lorazepam), Klonopin (clonazepam), and Serax (oxazepam).

3) if you're interested, I'll be more than happy to dig up some information on using narcotic painkillers in treating OCD. Ultram (tramadol) is a combination mild narcotic and selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. I found nothing relieved my OCD symptoms like it, until I gave amphetamines (Adderall, Desoxyn, Dexedrine, DextroStat) a try. Just let me know if you'd like some info to bring your doctor on this approach!

All the best,
~Michael

 

Re: OCD Meds? - try Luvox

Posted by TexasChic on August 6, 2004, at 15:26:53

In reply to Re: OCD Meds? - try Luvox, posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 6, 2004, at 14:58:06

Thank you both for the info. I'll talk to my pdoc about the meds you mentioned.

 

Re: OCD Meds? - try Luvox » Ame Sans Vie

Posted by RetiredYoung on August 6, 2004, at 16:37:14

In reply to Re: OCD Meds? - try Luvox, posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 6, 2004, at 14:58:06

"120mg Prozac, 200-300mg Zoloft, 80mg Celexa, or 120mg Lexapro".

I think you've made a typo for Lexapro. It's recommended maximum is 20mg/day - some pdocs are going as high as 50-60mg (that I know of), so 120mg would be WAY too much, IMO. Remember, Lexapro is something like 4 times the concentration of Celexa.

 

Re: OCD Meds? - try Luvox » RetiredYoung

Posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 6, 2004, at 16:58:34

In reply to Re: OCD Meds? - try Luvox » Ame Sans Vie, posted by RetiredYoung on August 6, 2004, at 16:37:14

I don't buy Forest's assertion that Lexapro is four times as potent, actually. I once was rapidly titrated to 80mg with little effect to speak of. The reading I've done concerning OCD and escitalopram oxalate indicate 120mg as being the mean effective dose. In my experience with both Lexapro and Celexa, I've found quite similar effects from 80mg Lexapro as from ~40mg Celexa. The 20mg Forest recommends is, for many depressives, a pretty darned low dosage; for the majority of OCDers, it's generally placebo.

~Michael

 

Re: OCD Meds? » TexasChic

Posted by Slinky on August 6, 2004, at 20:04:03

In reply to OCD Meds?, posted by TexasChic on August 5, 2004, at 15:31:14

Only paxil has helped my ocd

 

Re: OCD Meds?

Posted by Skotch1 on August 8, 2004, at 15:22:30

In reply to OCD Meds?, posted by TexasChic on August 5, 2004, at 15:31:14

> I take 60 mg Prozac for my depression and OCD. But I feel like its not working for my OCD. I've read that some people take up to 80 mg Prozac, but I was wondering if anyone took any other medication that helped? Either in conjunction or seperately. Any comments are appreciated. Thanks.


Hi there, I have been taking Anafranil for a year and a half now. Before the Anafranil I tried Zoloft and Paxil and had no luck. The Anafranil is an awsome OCD Medication and I have come such a long way, since I started it. However, it does have a lot of side effects and some can be pretty bad. I, myself, get a horrible dry mouth which leaves me feeling like I have cotton in my mouth. So I started taking a med called Salagen to offset the Anafranil - the Salagen makes my mouth moiste... The other thing I noticed was when I was getting the generic I experienced headaches... now that I'm on the brand it's not really a problem. Goodluck!

 

Re: OCD Meds? » TexasChic

Posted by don_bristol on August 9, 2004, at 13:15:04

In reply to OCD Meds?, posted by TexasChic on August 5, 2004, at 15:31:14

>> I take 60 mg Prozac for my depression and OCD. But I feel like its not working for my OCD. I've read that some people take up to 80 mg Prozac, but I was wondering if anyone took any other medication that helped? Either in conjunction or seperately. Any comments are appreciated. Thanks. <<

----------

TexasChick, it's Don here. Take a look at my recent posting to Ace about OCD on this board. It may interest you to follow up the links there as they may answer your question.

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040730/msgs/373215.html

Copied below for your convenience ....

-----

Ace, have you seen this article:

"OCD Medication: Adults" Michael A. Jenike, M.D.
Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School,
Chairman, OC Foundation Scientific Advisory Board
http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocf1050a.htm

It is a little bit dated but I know he replies (briefly) to most of his emails.

ISTR Jenike has written elsewhere that for OCD you needs to use meds like Zyprexa in conjunction with an SSRI.

Also have a look at
"The Expert Consensus Guideline Series:
Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder"
http://www.psychguides.com/ocgl.html


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