Medication switch

Has anyone here switched from Sertraline to Fluvoxamine equivalent dosage? I got diagnosed with pure o in 2019, sertraline is the only medication besides buspirone and hydroxyzine combined with it that put my ocd in remission and the only medications i have ever tried. Over the years i have gained weight which would cause a small relapse in symptoms and cause my dosage to increase. I have maxed out my dosage of sertraline as of now and since September of 2023 experienced a pretty large relapse (coping a lot better this round due to being in therapy but still experiencing anxiety/ocd daily when before my condition was 99% in remission. seemed to correct its self each time i went up on the medication. i feel like my brain is noisier than usual most days (anxiety related chatter) I am terrified to switch medications, although i know there’s a chance that the fluvoxamine could help me get back to a remissive state eventually. I feel good on sertraline, i feel positive and happy, it doesn’t dull my personality and i have been lucky to not have any side effects at any dosage. I know that taking the leap and trying the new medication is probably best, but i am terrified or side effects and not being able to sleep. Or it exacerbating my ocd. My ocd had me to the point of dysfunctional within weeks of being diagnosed. The intrusive thoughts were so strong that i couldn’t even fill out my own paper work at the doctor’s office because i was so overwhelmed, i would pause long in sentences because intrusive thoughts would interrupt me. OCD caused the ripple effect for me and gave me lack of sleep, depersonalization, derealization and disassociation and intense anxiety because i was so terrified of my own thoughts and was truly scared of everything. I have came such a long way in recovery and have been able to manage this past exacerbation. But do feel like i could be better. I guess i would love some encouragement or to hear a similar story? I know all in all this is just fear getting in the way. I have also considered to accept where i am right now, because i am not dysfunctional, and am able to go to work and attend school, i am just finding that i am getting caught up in the thoughts and experiencing the anxiety more than usual.

Anxiousaddie

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y

I am just now switching from paroxetine 40mg to the same dose of fluoxetine.

Simon

Date posted: 1y

From your description, it does seem that SSRIs have really helped you for long periods of time, even without ERP treatment. But, the give away is your fear of ocd coming back. You need to address the intrusive thoughts and your fear of relapse with ERP. Medication is ultimately best used in conjunction with ERP. I know how you feel- ocd has had me panicking for weeks at a time, unable to eat, thinking I needed to be sent to a mental facility. It’s all just part of ocds scary story, and the more you can agree with the scary story, and allow it to be there, the more irrelevant it will become to your emotional system.

bebecoll30

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y

@Simon Thank you for this perspective on it. I’ve always thought of it as something uncontrollable and scary. When in reality i just need to let it be without fear of judgment to allow my nervous system to no longer care to bring the thoughts up as relevant. The suicidal ocd is so hard because it feels wrong not paying attention to it, it feels wrong not telling myself i don’t want to die when im having thoughts that “i do” when i dont. (Totally opposite from real suicidal thoughts for those who don’t know) i am going to practice what you said and really work hard to expose myself to triggers.

Simon

Date posted: 1y

@bebecoll30 I’ve experienced this same theme, suicidal ocd. It’s usually present in most of my intrusive thoughts: ‘and then this will get so bad that it’ll be the only option’. It’s really scary, I know , but it’s still just more ocd. Take it one small step at a time.

AvsFan95

Date posted: 21w

OCD and Zoloft (Sertraline)

Hi everyone, I’m new to the community. I was diagnosed with OCD just a couple of months ago and have been doing some reading and other research to try and understand the disorder. With this, I have been actively seeing a great therapist who has been helpful to build tools to deal with my intrusive thoughts ( contamination OCD is my worst theme). Do help learn to deal with the compulsions, I start on Sertraline or “Zoloft” I believe since November 2024. Currently I’m on 50mg and have been doing this for just over a month. My question for those who are also taking Sertraline and it has been successful, how do you know it has really provided a benefit and how long did it take to get there? I sometimes feel the medication works, and sometimes I feel it doesn’t (maybe that’s my OCD trying to mess with things). Thanks!

Knickatknite

Date posted: 14w

OCD Relapse

So, I’ve had my OCD mostly “under control” for the past 10 years (I’m 44, battled this all my life). I’ve been on a high dosage of Luvox, but unfortunately it’s lost its effectiveness about 6 months ago. For the past five months I’ve also been doing therapy sessions on this site and have had a fairly good outcome. My main obsessions have mainly regarded around balance and symmetry. Anyhow, I’m in the process of switching to Prozac. It’s only been 6 days, so I obviously feel nothing yet. I made the foolish mistake of googling “What can antidepressants cause?” Unfortunately I found a very recent article of a study showing antidepressant users have a higher chance of getting ALS. There’s also older articles that say the opposite. But this one article FREAKED ME OUT. And I can only focus on the worst outcome. So, now I’m stuck in a repetitive thought pattern of getting ALS from the one medication that is supposed to help me. It’s absolutely terrifying and I haven’t experienced a health anxiety fear like this in years. I want to research more and more online, but I know this won’t help. It will only make things worse. Anyone with health anxiety have any advice on how to conquer this? I’m standing strong and not getting off my medication or doing any research.

Anonymous

Date posted: 13w

Who is on Prozac and likes it?

So I’ve been off sertraline 50 mg for a couple months now after being on it for 3 years. I got off cuz I was getting bad side effects from it like gaining hella weight and low libido. My anxiety has been so bad so I’m considering trying Prozac since apparently the side effects are less. What’s your experience with it/does it help your anxiety from your intrusive thoughts? I mainly have just somatic ocd

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