Personal recommendations for OCD meds

[volnaya_pesnya]

I'm considering starting pharmacotherapy for OCD/depression. My ruminations have been getting worse over the past year. I know that there are established treatment guidelines with first-line treatment being SSRIs. Fluoxetine seems like a popular choice. As someone who's never been on meds before I just wanted to ask you guys for your personal experience with these meds and if you have any sort of advice or anything, thanks

 

[Sherri]

I take meds for depression, not for ocd. If your doctor prescribes you something for ocd please let me know so i can discuss it with my doc. My ocd is buying everything twice. Like I buy some shoes and take some extra exactly the same as the other. Among other things.

 

[Rabhen]

I'm considering starting pharmacotherapy for OCD/depression. My ruminations have been getting worse over the past year. I know that there are established treatment guidelines with first-line treatment being SSRIs. Fluoxetine seems like a popular choice. As someone who's never been on meds before I just wanted to ask you guys for your personal experience with these meds and if you have any sort of advice or anything, thanks

Personally, my OWN experiences, I will NOT NOT NOT take any of the drugs. Every single one of them gave me worse side effects than having to deal with the depression, anxiety, ocd and autism tics. It starts with one drug, your arms start to raise all by themselves or your mouth starts to grind and roll, or your fingers and hands stop working right and take on a mind of their own. Doc says oh, okay, so now take this drug too, now you are thristy, gaining weight and can't get it up or never feel like having sex with your partner, now take this too, and this and this. Morning pills, afternoon pills, evening pills, pills to sleep, they all make you nauseous, something hard for me to take constant nausea. Within a month I was more suicidal than before the drugs and guess what, they will not let you just STOP taking them, they will INSIST you continue to take them for weeks, sometimes MONTHS before they will agree that 'these meds may not be right for you' and sadly, they will just start you over on a whole new regimine of different drugs. Have fun.

 

[volnaya_pesnya]

Personally, my OWN experiences, I will NOT NOT NOT take any of the drugs. Every single one of them gave me worse side effects than having to deal with the depression, anxiety, ocd and autism tics. It starts with one drug, your arms start to raise all by themselves or your mouth starts to grind and roll, or your fingers and hands stop working right and take on a mind of their own. Doc says oh, okay, so now take this drug too, now you are thristy, gaining weight and can't get it up or never feel like having sex with your partner, now take this too, and this and this. Morning pills, afternoon pills, evening pills, pills to sleep, they all make you nauseous, something hard for me to take constant nausea. Within a month I was more suicidal than before the drugs and guess what, they will not let you just STOP taking them, they will INSIST you continue to take them for weeks, sometimes MONTHS before they will agree that 'these meds may not be right for you' and sadly, they will just start you over on a whole new regimine of different drugs. Have fun.

Sounds terrible, for what it's worth sorry you had to go through that

 

[Mixo]

Personally I think the risk is disproportionately higher than reward when it comes to pharmaceuticals, although I recognize that many on here are experiencing some level of success with them, so to each their own.

I personally have had great experiences in the past when using nutriceuticals/amino acid therapy in managing chronic depression and anxiety. After riding the incessant merry-go-round side effects and suffering at the whim of psychiatrists (and at one point, frightening neurological symptoms from trying lamotrigine), I did some relief in several of the following:

- 5-HTP for chronic depression
- L-Tryptophan for chronic depression, low mood - I can personally vouch for this one!
- Lithium orotate for mood instability/bipolar disorder - definitely be careful with dosage on this one
- L-theanine for anxiety
- L-Tyrosine for dopamine/concentration

Of course, you will need to do your own research regarding safe dosage and it will take some careful testing/trialing. Good luck with whatever path you choose to take.