This is a very personal question I feel like.. and I’m not asking for any debate on which is right because I feel like everyone is different and what’s right for you is right for YOU… but, how many of you take medication for your mental health and how many do not?
Fluoxetine worked really well for me! :) The effects were subtle, but it paired with ERP helped me get my OCD more under control in about four months. I was still struggling, but things were definitely easier. I also noticed that I was more relaxed throughout the day. Eventually I made the decision to stop taking fluoxetine because I felt that I was in a good place and that the downsides (which were almost non-existent for me, but more needing to take a tablet every day) weren't worth the benefits. Coming off the medication was a really easy process. If you're considering starting medication, remember that it isn't forever, and it can help give you a boost through your therapy journey and you can stop when it feels right for you :)
@C_Walshie I appreciate your input! I am considering starting some medication to help me through this. I get so anxious about starting medication though because I have taken some in the past and it not gone well.
Hello- I was so against taking medication because of all the side effects, but my OCD got bad and I couldn’t function on my day to day. But at the end I wanted to get better. I have a lot to live for. I love life and I have a lot to see. I choose to do what was best for me and started medication. I was on Paxil 10mg and Risperidone 0.25 starting on them then first week was nausea and headaches by a week I started to feel better and things got clear. I was doing CBT at that time and things got better I would say but I began having harm OCD and my therapist didn’t do ERP. I began ERP in august and was see for a second opinion on medication. I was switch to zoloft 50mg and the first week I was so anxious but I feel I made myself more anxious because I was scared. I spoke to my ERP therapist and my goal is to eventually be off meds so my therapist said this is when we really need to sit with uncertainty and really lean on exposures and that’s what I did. While doing the switch I didn’t have any nausea or headaches more of anxiety, but by the second week things settled . People will say you will gain weight… I was scared.. I actually lost weight and work out 3-4 a week I also follow intermitted fasting I have done this for 3 years so I was used to my schedule. So I lost weight or didn’t gain any weight I am pretty stable. Many will say sex drive is non existence but that didn’t happen. All of the side effects people talked about I was lucky not to have them and the medication and ERP have helped me tremendously. I feel that I deserve whatever I can do to make myself better if that is medication. Let’s do it!! I been doing ERP since august and my OCD scale was at a 17 as of Monday i am at a zero !! I am also withdrawing from the risperdone as I was kept on a tapered off slowly. Medication is a personal decision, but go based on what you want and what you want to achieve. Hope this helps!!
@Anonymous Thanks! Yes it really helps a lot! I feel the same way. I’ve ALWAYS been scared of medication and side effects. I think my OCD really causes a lot of that. The uncertainty of how the medication will effect me really feeds my OCD I think it is slot of the reason I haven’t been able to follow through with medications. I hear so many stories good and bad from the medication side and the non-medication side. I’ve seen people do both so it’s hard. At this point though, I feel confident that it’s what I need, and like you said… I too have a lot to live for and deserve to be happy and if medication will help that, I want that! Thank you for sharing!
@Anonymous Lastly, remember medication won’t fix it all. We all also have to put the work in. Medication can’t do it all if we aren’t pushing ourselves❤️
@Anonymous Definitely!
I don’t take medication, but I think it may be what I need to get over the hump. I’ve been so close to defeating OCD so many times, but always face some sort of setback when it feels like I’m about to cross the finish line. Not to mention, I also have ADHD to go along with my OCD, and I do take medication for that. I feel like it’s helped with some of the rumination and overthinking.
I started taking Lexapro about 3 years ago. I have come a long way with meds and erp! I’m not perfect but am having a much easier time letting my taboo thoughts just be there. Honestly I don’t think im ready to come off. Every time I do come off I start back on them. But I also have a lot of anxiety from church trauma issues as well. Witch has a lot to do with my taboo thoughts. I feel like just simple things like being social and not having high anxiety in social situations. Luckily for me I had no side effects from Lexapro at all really. A few stomach issues that cleared up in a week or two.
@mattyp *childhood trauma
Agreed, I started with CBT and I really worked through a lot of my past and forgiving myself. Since ERP I have accepted the thoughts and just let them be.. I am only withdrawing from the risperodone as it’s not needed and will stay on the zoloft. I don’t plan on coming off any time soon.
I’m currently taking Fluoxetine for over a month now and I recently started having side effects such as hives all over my body, itching, confusion, shivering, twitching, diarrhea, & not being available to sleep at all unless I take melatonin. I’m currently waiting for my next appointment on the 19 🥴 to see what we should do. I feel like lexapro helped me a lot better because I completely stopped having intrusive thoughts and I just wouldn’t think of anything but I stopped taking it because I had thought of not being here.
@Ocdppd I recommend calling your doctor or psychiatrist, whoever prescribed your Fluoxetine. These side effects are indicative of too much medication or serotonin, and are not necessarily “normal” side effects. the same thing happened to me on Fluoxetine.
My therapist recently suggested beginning medication for my GAD/OCD. I am curious and open to the idea, but I think I’m more concerned about what will happen to me negatively. I have this thought that I have no ‘self’, and if I were to take medication, I feel that I’m going to change drastically. Can anyone speak to how medication has impacted them? I don’t know anyone who has used medication (that I know of) and this is the once place I feel comfortable asking for stories. Thank you.
Hello,I'm so on the fence about starting medications or not. I know its a personal choice but what benefits have you all experianced? I also practice ERP with my therapist so I know that should be helpful with my OCD journey. But what made you decide to start or not start? I've been on Zoloft before but not long enough to feel the effects since I got freaked out about reading about withdrawl symptoms so my OCD messed that up for me.
I’m on and off with my OCD. It feels all too real at times, and nonexistent at others. I’m heavily considering going medication as i feel it may be what I need to breakthrough this spell. What is your alls experiences with meds and what did you take? Please share all the good, bad and in-between!
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