help with meds

[Guest Munazza]

Hi,

 

I've had the had-washing and contamination form of OCD for over 10 years now, and it's wrecking my life. I'm on the SSRI, paroxetine (currently at 20mg, but will go up to 40mg soon). In addition, I take the anti-psychotic, risperdal, at 2mg daily. Does anyone know what supplements I could also take to help alleviate the intensity of the obsessive behaviour and at what dosages? The side-effects of current meds make me feel agitated, restless and very sleepy. Is there any way of combatting these unwanted side effects?

[Guest Guest]

Hi

 

Welcome. Can you please let us know your age and if you have other TS symptoms like tics or ADHD too?

[Chemar]

Hi Munazza and welcome to Latitudes.

 

My son was on Luvox for a year to combat the OCD and he too had horrible side effects. Sadly, with prescription meds, the doctors just want to prescribe more meds to get rid of the side effects of the other meds and the whole thing becomes a self perpetuating cycle.

 

My son, as well as many others, has found relief from OCD symptoms by using some natural alternatives that IMO work BETTER than the SSRIs and have the added advantage of not having bad side effects in most people.

However, these cannot be mixed with SSRIs

 

If you intend to remain on the drugs, I can report that ACCUPUNCTURE does seem to dampen the side effects slightly, as does BIOFEEDBACK (not neurofeedback) and REFLEXOLOGY

These techniques do seem to bring some relief from the side effects.

 

If you look at the thread at the top of this board on FINDING MEDICAL HELP you may be able to find a doctor in your area who understands about using natural treatment and can help you move from the SSRIs to something better, like 5HTP plus Inositol and/or GABA, samE(methionine) etc

 

DO NOTE THAT IF YOU DECIDE TO STOP SSRI'S AND START THE NATURAL TREATMENT, YOU HAVE TO COME OFF YOUR MED VERY GRADUALLY. ABRUPTLY STOPPING AN SSRI CAN BRING SOME SERIOUS REACTIONS.

 

If you want more details on the alternative treatments that we have had success with, please let me know.

Hope things get better for you....living with intense OCD is very hard and I feel for you. But there IS a lot of hope!

 

As an extra....many also find that eliminating artificial foods (eg artificial coloring, Nutrasweet(aspartame) Splenda(sucralose) and preservatives, MSG, high fructose corn syrup etc can drastically reduce OCD symptoms.

 

[Guest Munazza]

Hi,

 

I'm 28 and just suffer from OCD. The tourettes forum seems to yield more replies than the OCD forum. Thank you for the replies. I'm glad i've come across a discussion board where other people can empathise with what i'm going through. It's frightening to think that i'll be lumbered with OCD all my life, and this fear is redoubled with the thought of it remaining so intense.

I've read lots of posts about GABA and inositol etc, so I went out and bought some inositol which i take at 700mg daily. Is that safe? I've also started on 50ug vit B supplements, and 1g omega 3,6 and 9 fish oils daily. I'll be going to a cognitive behaviour therapy unit as an in-patient soon. Not everyone comes out better off, and again, i'm scared that i might be worse off. Does anyone have experience of this?

[Chemar]

Hi

Inositol is safe to take with SSRIs and 700mg/day seems ok as long as you are adult weight...otherwise 500mg/day.

 

5HTP is by far the most effective supp for OCD in my experience, because it directly elevates seratonin.

BUT

you cannot take it while you are on the SSRI

 

GABA helps mainly with anxiety

 

Lots of people are reporting good things with samE or the cheaper methionine.

 

 

It is very good that you are taking the extra B vits and the omega supp

 

Cognitive behavioural therapy is a highly recommended treatment, and, provided that you have a caring and compassionate person working you thru it, it should be a very positive experience for you.

 

stay in touch

[Guest Guest]

I take Klonopin for anxiety, anxiety symptoms and ocd. It has seemed to work really good for ocd, irrational thoughts and anxiety. For me though it still isnt doing enough for anxiety symptoms, but i just started and am at the lowest dose.5mg.

(goes to 2mg)

 

I am 20 years old though and understand a lot of the parents probably wouldnt want their young children to experiment with meds. so young.

 

 

can I take 5htp and l- tyrosine with this? klonopin does a lot for my ocd. 5htp ive only took for like 4 days and havent noticed anything yet.

[Guest Guest]

Hi All,

 

Is it save to give a 8yrs old Inositol 1800mg/day (i.e., each cap is 600+ mg, 3 times a day)? Thanks for your input!

[Chemar]

It would be best to check with your doctor if there are any interactions between klonopin and 5HTP. I have NO knowledge of klonopin, only of 5HTP.

 

 

 

From my experience, that dose of Inositol seems VERY high for a child...

My son is 14yo/150lb and only needs 500 mg/day, so I would think that ONE 600mg tablet would be more than ennough for an 8yo.

 

This is only my opinion...if a doctor has recommended that dose then there may be a good reason to continue at such a high doseage.

[Claire]

My Spectracell vitamin list (from my son's vitamin analysis) said 1000 mg is the max for inosotil for a 6-10 year old and an 11+. I got some and if I need to give it to my son, I only plan to give 500 mg per day--same as Chemar's son.

 

Claire

[Guest Munazza]

Thanks for the replies. It helps to know there are other people i can share my experiences with.

[Claire]

Munazza,

 

Most of our experience here on this forum is with alternative (ie non med) approaches, rather than combatting side affects of the meds. Other boards like yahoo have more people taking meds.

 

Treating underlying immune issues can help. I read a study where people with OCD were compared against other pyschological/mental issues, and the people with OCD substantially more immune issues.

 

I recommend food elimination or allergy tests to check for food sensitivities (yes they can cause OCD symptoms), yeast is a big one for this (try the simple at-home 'free' saliva test on another thread for starters) and metal toxicity tests...

 

My nephew had OCD and I found out my brother used melatonin so he slept much better, and started him on reduced carb and he is much better. I think he had yeast issues, but no testing was done.

 

Claire