OCD or Zoloft? HELP! - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

roma00172 · 06-01-2008, 11:19 AM

My daughter is 19 and was put on Zoloft a month ago because of depression due to the loss of her father. She has always displayed symptom of OCD but has not been formally diagnosed. Now, she has started having side effects to the medication and it worries me! She has intense nightmares, as if she IS in the dream and cannot separate, her obsessions and the compulsions are stronger and she says she cannot control them anymore, as she used to and sometimes they frighten her because they are real to her (like water invading the room she is in or something happening when a light goes off, etc) Also, she says she talks to herself in her mind, like an author would narrate a story but it is HER story, her life, as it is happening. A couple of nights ago, she also had an allucination. I am incredibly worried and, although I know these can be side effects from the Zoloft, I wonder if they can also be from the OCD.
Anyone has suggestions? Thank you!

horrorshow · 06-01-2008, 11:31 AM

ok, first off, have you tried lowering her dose? Is she talking to a therapist? I've been on many many medications, zoloft being one (and my OCD has been moderate to severe for 19 years) and I don't recall having these symptoms. It seems to me that this medication doesn't work well with your daughter's chemistry...of course I'm no doctor, but I'd think that she should be stopping this asap and trying a different course of drugs.

Actually, I just recommend cognitive behavioral therapy, and the use of meds as a last resort. Just my suggestion. (although this is coming from someone who's about to go back on luvox or whatever in a few days). Keep in mind this may go as fast as it first came for your daughter. I've had weird "out of body" experiences and feelings of major psychosis etc. They are very quick, or that has been my fortunate experience.These episodes are recorded to last a day...if you google it. This could just be an adjustment period.

Hang in there! I'll keep your daughter in my prayers //

roma00172 · 06-01-2008, 11:44 AM

Thank you so much for the reply! I called the doctor who put her on Zoloft, just a little while ago and she said to half the dosage. In the meantime I am lost. My daughter told me last night that she does not do anything in multiples of 3 and 6, because something bad will happen and that she has to turn the lights on and off so many times and touch things so many times otherwise I will die...etc....She is a very intelligent young woman and just finished her freshman year at a University but these things caused her to not do very well with her grades. I am afraid her life will be focused on all this, rather than her growth.
Thank you for your prayers....

horrorshow · 06-02-2008, 05:34 PM

Believe that she will get better! I used to be so so ill...my mother had to wash my hair for me while I bent over the bathtub when I was 14/ 15. Talk about feeling degraded, but it WILL get better. This is just a rough patch.

ps. I also want to mention that I was held back in the first grade, had severe ocd, and pretty poor grades for a number of years. I'm now about 1-2 weeks shy of graduating college and I'm on the dean's list. Things do look up. I promise.

roma00172 · 06-03-2008, 06:14 PM

Thank you for your words, thay mean a lot, really, and Congratulations on your degree, it is a big victory. Thanks again.