I’ve been advised by my NOCD therapist to go back on medication to give myself a little help. Just wanted to ask people’s opinions on what’s worked and what hasn’t. I was on meds in March I was on stertaline but it was just making me numb and destroying my sex drive even further which was then making my theme worst (HOCD)
For me Lexapro is being wonderful. I started taking the 10mg dose on June 16th and the effect was almost immediate (maybe a bit of placebo?) But my anxiety prior to it was crazy high, which kind of made erp impossible since my anxiety was always extreme - prior, during and after exposure. I was always spiraling and ruminating. Now I still have bad days but nothing comes close to what I was going through. And my only side effect was being a bit more sleepy than normal, but now that I think of it, I think I'm already back to normal. My doctor said I could feel nausea and lack of appetite but I didn't.
This is exactly my experience too. Really helped remove the edge of the soul crushing pain that was constant.
I recommend erp, a healthy diet and mindfulness, not medication
@Anonymous These things are super important too!
@Anonymous I’m the exact same mate. I never want to try medication but my therapist said it’s defo for the best she’s seen how distressed I am. I do have a healthy diet but erp and mindfullnese are tough for me as I also have adhd
@JoeG1146 Maybe you could try something natural like Rhodiola or saffron. Both are can be good for anxiety, depression and ADHD. I saw someone say “Happy Saffron” helped their intrusive thoughts. Hope you find what helps you
I've had terrible experiences with Prozac which gave me suicidal thoughts and panic attacks. My chest was burning and so was my head. I tried Sertraline but it made me very angry and tired. I've heard good things about Lexapro but haven't tried it yet. Typically medication is a short term thing and not really prescribed a lot for OCD itself. It helps mostly with depression and anxiety. Idk they made my symptoms way worse and threw my nervous system off for a little bit.
@Jacquelinda Zoloft is approved to treat OCD. Obviously it doesn’t work for everyone though. ERP is the good standard treatment for OCD but there definitely are meds that are people are on long term that help OCD. Sometimes people like myself need that extra help, everyone is different.
@MeggieMeg Zoloft is Sertraline. You're right everyone is different but I'll never take that again.
@MeggieMeg I feel I do need the extra help right now I just can’t function without the thoughts coming up or the feelings I’ve done something. I’m just worried I take the meds and I can’t do ERP properly cos I won’t be able to feel the feelings
@Jacquelinda I didn’t react great to zoloft either. I felt nothing off them just really numb
@JoeG1146 Ive tried a lot of different meds because not a lot have personally worked that well for me. None of them (for me) have made me feel so numb I can’t feel anything. I assume really high doses may effect may make you feel like that but you can always let your doctor know and switch to another med or switch doses. If you can f in d a med that works for you in my opinion it’s totally worth it.
@JoeG1146 The only thing that concerns me is medication potentially being used as a crutch or compulsion to avoid the intrusive thoughts. Then wondering if the medication is working or not. Isn't the whole point of ERP to acknowledge the feelings and sit with them to help them pass? I'm confused why a therapist would suggest medication if they aren't a psychiatrist? Maybe get a second opinion from another person that's medically certified and knows what different medications do what. Typically OCD specialists will say 80% of it is therapy and addressing core beliefs and 20% is behavior related.
@Jacquelinda I’m really worried about going to the doctors I’m booked in at 4pm UK time I really don’t want the meds but I don’t see another helping hand
@JoeG1146 I hate the doctor too. It can feel like a money pit but maybe they'll tell you that you don't need it or they give you a better nutrition plan?
I’m doing okay with citalopram and propranolol. I still have off times but I get by okay.
Thanks to everyone for their words it really does help. It makes me feel less alone. I think my NOCD therapist wants me to go on meds because of the depression more than the ocd
I was on Citalopram (also known as Celexa) for OCD, anxiety and depression. I had very little side affects going on it and it worked well for me as it took the edge off so I could focus. After roughly two years, I went off it recently and it rocked my world mentally a bit as I had stopped with therapy and ERP. I’m still off the meds and back in therapy\ERP and doing better , but know meds are an option if I need them. Sometimes people need both and that’s okay, you have ti find your balance. BUT you know yourself and what is best for you.
They’ve given me mirtazapine does anyone know if that’s any good??
Question to those who have taken ssri or any other medication for ocd. Did they help you with the obsessive thoughts becoming less frequent? My therapist who I was seeing said they can lessen the frequency. I started with prozac back in May but it scared me cause it raised my anxiety and the suicidal thoughts so I've been against them ever since. I was seeing a therapist but she wasn't erp trained and I wanted to give erp a fair shot before considering medications. I start erp soon just waiting to hear from the NOCD therapist. Sorry long post.
Hi I have tired erp therapy not for long enough tho helped to a certain extent but has anyone tried any medications that actually work ? I have never tried any and just want to see if anyone’s notice good amount of difference with their ocd /rocd once taking medication ?
What is everyones experiences with medication for OCD? What has worked for you/ what hasn't? TIA!
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