Am I Ready to take OCD drugs
Am I Ready to take OCD drugs?
You may feel that you cannot cope with OCD any longer, perhaps you have already tried psychotherapy, and have gone to your physician for further help, or he may be suggesting OCD drugs as the next step. It is natural to feel anxious about the prospect of taking new drugs so make sure you have been given as much information as possible.
The first group of drugs to be considered are normally SSRI’s, a group of antidepressants, which will take a couple of months to start working. The normal outcome for this type of OCD drug is that you will, after the initial period, begin to feel more positive and in control; the anxiety should lessen allowing you to stop some of the OCD behaviours.
Clomipramine is a different type of antidepressant, often used if people are unwilling to take the SSRI group of OCD drugs. However this is avoided where possible as Clomipramine comes with many more side effects, some of which are really not good, and potentially make the patient feel worse about the situation. There is a three-month period before the drug starts to work, so this is not an instant fix either.
Why antidepressants are used in the treatment of OCD.
As an OCD sufferer you may feel that you are not depressed, the behaviours you are displaying may get you down, but you may feel a bit confused as to why the professional approach to OCD drugs seem to be a treatment normally used for a completely different condition.
This is a valid concern, and it is not fully understood why this particular group of medications are the most effective, however it is considered to be a result of the effects this drugs have on the serotonin levels in the brain, which in turn seem to help reduce the OCD behaviours. The success rates following the prescription of these OCD drugs are between 70-75%.
Will I have to take this medication forever?
It is likely that you will be prescribed the medication for a year; however, it is unlikely that this will be the only line of treatment offered to you. OCD drugs are normally used in conjunction with various forms of therapy. The idea is that to give a period where the patient feels calm and in control, and is also receiving therapy.
Once the medication has stopped, the OCD behaviours will have been significantly reduce due to the combination of the drug effects and therapy, and it is hoped that the patient will be able to continue living OCD free, or in a much lower state of anxiety than before. It will be necessary to monitor the patient, as there are times when the problems may reoccur, necessitating further intervention.
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