Obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD)
About Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder. If you have OCD, you have frequent, upsetting thoughts called obsessions. To try to control the thoughts, you feel an overwhelming urge to repeat certain rituals or behaviors. These are called compulsions.Examples of obsessions are a fear of germs or a fear of being hurt. Compulsions include washing your hands, counting, checking on things, or cleaning. With OCD, the thoughts and rituals cause distress and get in the way of your daily life.Researchers think brain circuits may not work properly in people who have OCD. It tends to run in families. The symptoms often begin in children or teens. Treatments include therapy, medicines, or both. One type of therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, is useful for treating OCD.NIH: National Institute of Mental Health
- Frequent, upsetting thoughts called obsessions
- Repeated rituals and behaviors, called compulsions, to calm your thoughts
All Medications for Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Anafranil(clomipramine)Prescription only
Anafranil (clomipramine) effectively treats obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but has potentially intolerable side effects.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Paxil(paroxetine)Prescription only
Paxil (paroxetine) is effective for treating depression and anxiety, but causes more unwanted side-effects than other medicines that work like it.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Extended release pill
- Liquid
- Luvox CR(fluvoxamine)Prescription only
Luvox CR (fluvoxamine) is a first choice treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, but it can lower your sex drive.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Extended release
- Prozac(fluoxetine)Prescription only
Prozac (fluoxetine) is good for treating depression and anxiety. It's more energizing than other antidepressants, so it may not be the best choice for people who have trouble sleeping.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Delayed-release pill
- Liquid
- Effexor(venlafaxine)Prescription only
Effexor (venlafaxine) is good for treating depression and anxiety, but it can cause more withdrawal symptoms if you stop suddenly compared to other antidepressants.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Extended release
- Remeron(mirtazapine)Prescription only
Remeron (mirtazapine) improves your mood and helps you sleep better, but can cause more weight gain than any other antidepressant.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Dissolving tablet
- Celexa(citalopram)Prescription only
Celexa (citalopram) is good for treating depression and anxiety. Side effects are less likely to happen compared to other antidepressants; however, it is not the best choice for people with heart or liver problems.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Liquid
- Lamictal(Lamotrigine)Prescription only
Lamictal (Lamotrigine) is most useful for treating severe seizure disorders, and for bipolar disorder with more depression symptoms than manic symptoms. Just be careful to increase your dose slowly to avoid skin rash.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Extended release
- Chewable tablet
- Dissolving tablet
Tips, success stories, and coping strategies for Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Realize that your thoughts are a result of OCD. They are not rational or accurate. Sometimes you have to get some distance from the thought again to realize that it is not true or a real concern.
Allow the feeling of anxiety to be there. Don't try to argue or reason with the obsessive thoughts. Don't do the things identified as compulsions. It takes a long time for it to get better but it does!
DBT
ERP - exposure response therapy. Similar to phobias, you have to engage and allow the thoughts and fears without doing the compulsion. After about 30 times the obsession usually breaks.
Sometimes rational thought therapy can make it worse - creates more arguing. ERP is the best.