I Was Diagnosed With Ocd 3 Years Ago. I Have Taken Luvox, Paxil Cr, And Klonopin. Nothing Seems To Work. My Obsessions Center Around Symmetry, Germs In Water, Brushing Teeth, Skin Picking, Hair Plucking, Counting, Thoughts Of Harm, Perfection, And Prayers. I Know; Its A Lot. What Medications Have Worked Best For You? Also, Do You Have Any Advice On How To Handle This Without Letting It Take Control More Than It Already Has?
As far as OCD goes, the most effective treatment right now is cognitive behavioral therapy in conjunction with a light dose of medication. First off you should make a trip to your physcian and have some routine blood work done to test your liver, kidney, and thyroid function, as any problems with these organs can sometimes exaggerate the symptoms of OCD. Once your doctor gives you the ok, as him/her to refer you to a cognitive behavioral therapist. A CBT is different than a regular therapist in the fact that they work with people specifically who have anxiety disorders, such as OCD. A CBT will help you "re-train" your brain to think in a different way to decrease your symptoms of OCD. You can also check the OC Foundations website, as they have listings of CBTs in all areas of the United States.
If you're not already seeing a thearpist, make an appointment with your primary care physcian to get the ball rolling and get into therapy. When choosing a therapist, make sure you ask a few questions before starting therapy like: 1. Do they use exposure therapy? 2. How long have they worked with people who have OCD and anxiety disorders? 3. Do they belong to the Association for Cognitve Therapists? 4. What is their stance on medication treatment for OCD? Let us know how you're doing.
hi prahda~
...I agree with BadMalibu and the sooner you get started the sooner you will improve your symptoms. Have you told your doctor that you feel that the meds are not working?
I have years of experience with OCD as my 24 year old son has had it since he was 11. It came out full bloom after a bout of strep, although it runs in the family.
He has found that a combination of Luvox and Buspar for the OCD and Klonopin for panic and anxiety seems to work along with weekly CBT.
It is a lot of hard work, but anything worthwhile is hard work.
Talk to your doctor-
Thank you both for your responses. I stopped taking the medication about a year ago and the ocd seemed to subside temporarily, but they are back just as bad as they were before. Do you recommend speaking with my family physician or should I speak to a psychiatrist? Thanks again for the support and information! It helps just to know that I have people to talk to who understand what I'm going through.
Medication And Tips 
