do ssri's help with ocd and anxiety?

Hi

I have intrusive obsessions and thoughts and images (no compulsions) that really bother me and cause extreme anxiety and distress. In fact, I'm terribly anxious 24/7 and it's been very hard to function normally. I am constantly terrified that my obsessions will reappear and feel like I have to control what I think about all the time. My doc started my on celaxa (my first psychotropic ever) a week ago. I know that ocd can be very resistant to medications. My question is, can the medication take away or reduce the anxiety even if it doesn't take away the obsession? I feel that I could deal with the obsessions more easily and go on with life if the anxiety lessened.

thanks

Veronica

Yes they can help very much so. I've always been on an SSRI to help with my anxiety.

Alot of the time that is what is perscribed to you.

rora85 wrote:Hi

I have intrusive obsessions and thoughts and images (no compulsions) that really bother me and cause extreme anxiety and distress. In fact, I'm terribly anxious 24/7 and it's been very hard to function normally. I am constantly terrified that my obsessions will reappear and feel like I have to control what I think about all the time. My doc started my on celaxa (my first psychotropic ever) a week ago. I know that ocd can be very resistant to medications. My question is, can the medication take away or reduce the anxiety even if it doesn't take away the obsession? I feel that I could deal with the obsessions more easily and go on with life if the anxiety lessened.

thanks

Veronica

Hi Veronica,

SSRIs such as Celexa are often a help with OCD. Usually higher dosages are prescribed for OCD than for depression. If one SSRI doesn't work, another one will sometimes help more. In my case, SSRIs have never completely eliminated my obsessions and anxiety but they have helped with the anxiety and they can often help with sleep if this a is difficulty. I hope Celexa gives you some relief as I know OCD can be exhausting and very depressing.

Take care of yourself

Briain

Rora,

I have been taking 40 mg Celexa (Lexapro) for several months for PTSD related anxiety. Recently my OCD has taken me over causing a major compulsion of a type of trichotillomania. When I told the doc about what was going on, he said that the therapeutic dose for OCD is 60, so my dosage increased. That was about 5 days ago and I am slightly better, but any anxiety sends me back into the OCD.

I am trying to get through this extremely (but hopefully temporary) stressful time and give the upped dose a chance to work.

If the OCD doesn't come under control, I will probably go back to my therapist.

I think this is a fairly standard protocol for treatment of OCD. If your continues to get worse even after the higher dose of SSRI, talk to your doc about changing your meds and/or other therapy options.

Best,

N.