Medication

I’ve recently started taking medication for my OCD and it has been an interesting journey. I will say watching TikTok’s about other people’s experiences really scared me but once I actually started taking medication, I rarely have the side effects of other people experiencing and that just showed me that everyone’s experience is completely different. That said I started taking Prozac about three months ago. It was very helpful for my depression but only slightly helpful for my anxiety and my OCD. I didn’t really have any symptoms other than libido. But after a month that seemed to start getting better. I still spiraled though, so I told my psychiatrist and he prescribed me Luvox . Luvox has been a game changer for my OCD. About a week into taking it, I was already experiencing the benefits. I’m about three weeks in now the first two weeks I was experiencing a lot of brain fog, extreme fatigue and kind of just feeling spacey, but I am now on week three and I’m feeling a little bit more clear minded so I’m hoping that it continues to get better. I am so glad that I started taking medication and I am an advocate because of how much that it’s changed my life and helped me commit to ERP therapy.

Zoloft didn’t wok for me either but mostly cuz I had terrible side effects. I’m on prozac and abilify now, I’ve noticed some side effects but nothing that derails my life or anything like that. It started working about a week in and miraculously too. I feel so much lighter, and way less affected by things that would’ve sent me into a spiral beforehand. I’ve found SSRIs are individual, what works for one may not work for the other so it may take trial and error

I’ve been on Celexa & Buspirone for 12 years & finally reached the lowest dose 2 years ago. Now I’m dealing with a major flare up & I’m set on not going up or switching. There’s nothing wrong with doing so! This is just my personal preference, based on side effects & experience I had trying to switch in the past. It makes things a bit more difficult, but I’m holding out hope. Taking it day to day!

I think everyone’s brain chemistry and body respond differently. I was put on Paxil (fluoxetine) at 14 and was on it for 20+ years 😞 I didn’t realize the side effects until I cross tapered to Zoloft last year and I feel like my nervous system is extra sensitive after being desensitized for so long. Ive been on Zoloft about a year and just start 200mg which seems to be keeping me more even keeled. I hope you figure out what works for you! 🩵

I have had trial and error with manyyyy medications since 2013, and the one that really helped is Pristiq. Zoloft didn’t work for me for similar reasons and also gave me weird neurological side effects. Pristiq is an SNRI, it works to increase both seratonin and norepinephrine, whereas SSRIs boosts seratonin pretty immediately, so it takes a little bit longer but it has been so gentle and effective. Every time I’ve tried an SSRI it has made things significantly worse before I could ever give it a chance to make things better, so it was too much of a risk to be on those. I’ve been on pristiq for about a year, and I’ve noticed a big difference with my depression and anxiety, and I didn’t have many side effects other than maybe fatigue and a headache at first. I like it because it’s so gradual and easy to adjust to. ERP has been the best thing for me along side that. I would give pristiq a shot with your psychiatric if you feel you are sensitive to SSRIs, or if you feel like they may make things a little worse.

I was on Zoloft once too and same it didn’t feel quite right for me! It left a bad taste in my mouth to try future meds so I was very nervous about trying another. But eventually I started on Luvox and it really did work wonders pretty quickly. I’ve been on it for over a year now and I have to say, this has been one of the best years of my life. Combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and ERP, medication can be an absolute powerhouse. Everyone is different ofc and it’s all a matter of taking things slow and feeling out what is most comfortable for you, but I’m so glad I made the decision to stick with it.