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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dave1 on September 10, 2004, at 19:11:41
Has anyone had success with EFFEXOR for OCD ?
Posted by BRC on September 10, 2004, at 23:05:44
In reply to EFFEXOR FOR OCD, posted by dave1 on September 10, 2004, at 19:11:41
Hi, I took Effexor for about a year and a half for my OCD and it didn't help. But everyone's body chemistry is different.
A few questions I may be able to help you with (because I have been battling OCD for years and the medications used to treat it).
How long have you been on the Effexor and at what dose?
What OCD symptoms do you have?
Have you tried any other medications for OCD and if so how long were you on them?
Do you have any side effects from the Effexor?
Hope I can help,
BRC
Posted by dave1 on September 12, 2004, at 11:53:01
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR FOR OCD » dave1, posted by BRC on September 10, 2004, at 23:05:44
Hi,
Thanks for your response. I am currently on 120mg prozac for about 6 months. I have mainly obsessions and when I got up to 80mg at the 3month mark, the prozac started cutting my obsessions. Then I went back and between 60mg and 80mg to try to find the lowest working dose. Then I got stressed about money and an unscrupulous job I was doing with my friend. I also developed a death obsession because of the executions in Iraq, and my 69 year old father telling he is about to die.
(even though he really isn't). This stuff happened when I was playing around with dose. I couldn't get rid of death obsession so I increased the prozac all the way to 120mg, but it isn't helping much.I took lexapro - 20mg - 3months last summer and it stopped an obsession I had. But some circumstance involving the obsession brought the obsession to the forefront for about 2 weeks, during this times the obsession completely came back, but then remitted after the 2 week extra stressful period.
I have decided to go back on the lexapro and hope it will help the death obsession. I also think when I get some of these money probs. resolved I will be much less stressed and that will also help the OCD.
My concerns are that the meds. work for a while, then I get really stressed about something and the meds. stop helping the obsessions. Maybe I I should go to the highest allowed dose to try to prevent a relapse when a very stressful event comes along. It seems like the meds help really well, but can't handle a really stressful new situation or obsession. I don't know.
Sorry for all the psychobabble, I'm really interested in seeing what a fellow OCDer has to say about all this. I lived with OBSESSIONs for 20 years, so it is not new to me. But this the first time I've had any success with the meds.
Any input welcome.
Thanks
Dave
Posted by BRC on September 12, 2004, at 20:07:36
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR FOR OCD » BRC, posted by dave1 on September 12, 2004, at 11:53:01
Hi, I am very sorry to hear about what you are going through. OCD can be "hell". I am 28 and have had OCD for most of my life, but didn't know it. When I was a kid I had rituals and would have to touch and tap things a certain number of times, turn the light switch on a certain number of times, etc.
But I did not start having Obssessional thoughts until the age of 22 as a result of a panic attack. I didn't know it was a panic attack at the time and spend years and thousands of dollars going to doctors and specialists for a host of problems that I thought were medical. Turns out it was all anxiety.
I graduated from a major university with two degrees and used to work at a major military intallation. But because my OCD became so severe I was no longer able to function. I to suffered major finacial setbacks with no way to work and pay the bills. I ended up in the hospital five times due to the stress and worry.
I also have an obssession about death. Due to the physical senations my body produces due to anxiety such as heart palpations, muscles spasms, headaches, numbness etc. I am always obssessing that my body will no longer be able to handle all the stress I am putting it through and I will suffer a heart attack, stroke, or develop cancer or something.
So, don't feel alone when it comes to that part of OCD.
I have really never found a mediation that takes the obssessional thouhts away. I take 60mgs of Lexapro, 30mg of Remeron, and 4mg of Klonopin. But this just keeps me stable. It is not a cure.
After being in college for so long I learned how to research and study pretty good. So, I have done alot of research on OCD. Did you know that OCD is actually a nueroligical disorder and is sometimes treated by nuerologist. There are certain parts of the brain that doesn't communicate properly with the other and causes mixed singnals and produces the thoughts and symptoms of OCD. Stress can futher compicate the situation.
So, try not to beat yourself up to bad. It is a medicat condition that has to be treated with medication just as someone with a disease such as diabetes has to have medicine to function.
All reasearch shows that SSRI's are the best way to treat the OCD. But in rare cases with severe OCD a small dose of an atypical anti-psychotic is sometimes used.
Let me know how you are doing and feel free to ask anymore questions. It is nice to have someone to talk to about this condition because most people out of the psychological field to not understand this unusual behavior.
BRC
Posted by dave1 on September 15, 2004, at 11:12:55
In reply to Re: To Dave 1 from BRC » dave1, posted by BRC on September 12, 2004, at 20:07:36
HI,
They have a bunch of OCD Yahoo groups. I was in one where there was a doctor and a psychologist that would answers OCD issues. Also, the other
OCD patients could also answer questions. The doctor runs an OCD clinic at Mass General and is one of the best OCD guys in the world. His name is Dr. Michael Jenike. Anyway, I going to try to get back into it. I just have to figure which group it is, there are so many. I'll give you the name of it if I find it. They also run a website called OCFOUNDATION.ORG, which is very good.Regarding other stuff, I agree most docs don't know how to treat OCD. I tried lots of stuff and then heard that you had to be on the SSRIs for 12 weeks at a high dose, before they work. I tried this and with LEXAPRO and PROZAC and they stopped my obsessions. The Prozac isn't working anymore, so I'm trying LEXAPRO again. 60mg seems really high. I was only on 20mg, but my shrink is very conservative. I'll have to check out how high I can really go.
I've also had troubles working. I have a degree in computer science and worked for a while then quit, now I am working part time for my friend selling stuff on EBAY. I'm trying to start some other businesses but it is hard. My OBSESSIONS cause me to get depressed and that's what really causes me problems.
Bye,
Dave
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