Need help! - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

bptjr · 10-25-2003, 02:23 AM

First let me say that i have never been to a Dr.(no insurance) to see if i have OCD. I'm getting ready to start paxil without the supervision of a physician. I know this isn't the smartest thing to do and i would not recommend it to anyone but i need relief from this and i'm getting free samples( 12.5mg Paxil CR). I know every case is different but any help would be appreciated. My question for those of you who take paxil. In you opinion how many mg should i start out with and how long should i wait to increase the dose. I was thinking of starting out on 12.5 mg per day for the 1st week and increasing my dose 6.25 mg( by cutting the in half) each week until i feel it working. If you don't feel right giving me advice on how to administer this drug could you let me the example of how your DR. started you out and increased the dose. Thanks

mank · 10-25-2003, 08:09 AM

First of all -
May I ask why you feel the need to take this medicine? What problems are you having?
2nd of all...no one can really tell you what you need in less they are a doctor. Each person is different to the medicine.
If you are tolerant to medicines then you will probably have no problems. But my concern is How long can you get this Paxil CR for? Once you start taking it you need to make sure you just don't go cold turkey off it as you can have complications. You have to be weaned off antidepressants ust as they start you out at a certain dosage and then increase.
I took Paxil to the highest dosage then switched over to Paxil CR at 62.5 mg. I was up to before I witched to another medicine.
I am currently on 300 mg. of Effexor and 100 mg. of Zoloft, which I was just added the Zoloft as of yesterday. I am taking these for Trichotillomania and Depression. I also take .25 mg. of Xanax twice a day.

MANK

franjava22 · 10-25-2003, 12:12 PM

Pardon me while I say something very frank that will probably get me on your bad side... Don't be an idiot!!!! You need the supervision of a doctor because you have to gradually start the medicine, - especially if you need a higher dose. You need to know what the drug is doing to you and if it's normal. Some people have doctor's tweaking their doses for a year or more! Also, if you decide to go off, you need to wean yourself. Besides, how do you know Paxil will be THE DRUG for you? Some people need trials of a few different meds before they find what works for them the best with the fewest side effects. How the heck are you getting these samples, and how do you think you can get the amount you "need" for the next couple years?!?! I understand your insurance problems, but I think it's best not to do this on your own. Okay, I'm done ranting. :-) Thanks for listening.

bptjr · 10-25-2003, 03:09 PM

MANK, Thanks for responding. Let me try to answer some of your questions by telling you abou myself.

It all started about 4 yrs ago although now i've come to realize it started much earier. I think i've always suffered from religious scrupulosity but did not see it for what it was. Also from a very young age i would obsess about my features so much so that it affected my social life( pretty much non-existant). Now i've come to realize how irrational these thoughts were considereing that i had my share of attractive females who wanted to date me. I had one girl who liked me say " i just can't understand you" but i couldn't tell her the truth that it was me not her. With these i also sufferd from social anxiety to the point i would do anything (lying about an illness or faking an injury) to avoid going places. If i did interact with others i constantly would be aware of my facial expressions, how i stood, held my arms, what and how i said things. Always wondering what they thought of me and what i was saying. What was even worse was the obsessing i would do after. Even if i left thinking the conversation went well and he/she didn't think i was an idiot my mind would find a way to change that. As much discomfort and to a certain extant pain these things caused me and how much it robbed me of certain experiences growing up it doesn't even compare to what i've been through the last few yrs. I'm not sure when or what exactly kicked it off. All i know is i no longer live but just exist in a life of long showers, excessive hand washing, constant fears of contamination and Aids, scared that i'm always sinning and offending God, unable to use the restroom without worrying about hurting others, horrable and discusting sexual thoughts with family and also with a religious content. i can't eat or sleep. I went from 220 pds to 155 in less then 6 months. I would obsess 24/7. I am Even scared of my dreams. I thought i was going crazy. what made it worse was i was too embarrased to tell anyone. If it wasn't for the internt and sites like this i believe i would of been locked up in a mental hospital. It's amazing how important it is to put a name to it and realize your not crazy and your not the only one with these type thoughts and rituals. I have gotten some what better since finding out about ocd. I'm tying to force myself to confront my fears. I have cut my shower time down from 4 hrs to 2 and i still wash my hands more then i should it's still much better. Yhey no longer bleed from being too dry. Also i'm able to go periods without obsessing. My anxiety level is always very high it never leaves me. It's starting to really take a toll on me physically as well. A person can only take so much stress. From time to time i've heard people use the expression " my nerves are shot" and could never understand it, until now. I have no insurance , way over my head in creadit card debt (some of it is due to what i'm goin trought but thats another story) and am only able to work part time. I've never been to a Dr. to be diagnosed for anything i've stated but i do believe i have ocd. Because of my financial situation i'm unable to go see a professional at this timne. I have checked into my states funded mental health care but was told it could take as long as 6 months to see someone. Someone close to me who is in the medical field said they could get me as many samples of paxi i needed.As of now they gave me a 7 month supply and said they would get me more. I figure that should last long enough for me to get into my staes mental health program where a Dr. can take over. But until that time i'm qwilling to take Paxil on my own if it will help get some relief. Because right now I'm tired , frustrated , andangry with myself for not being able to stop. When i was young i knew something was wrong and couldn't talk to anyone about it and convinced myself i would grow out of it one day and be able to enjoy life. Now it's worse than i could of ever have imagined. It's amazing to think i was able to hide this for so long. I don't kow who i am and how much of what did growing up was me or OCD. What ever i have has robbed me of my first 34 yrs and i'm scared to think what it may do to my next 34. I feel like i'm damaged goods unable to have a normal life. That's why i asked for some advice on how to administer this medication

fm5 · 10-26-2003, 01:27 PM

Yes, it sound to me, that you do have obsessive compulsive disorder for sure, especially if you are spending 2 hours in the shower.

I give you credit for figuring it out on your own.

Definitely get in touch with a mental health clinic/hospital about your condition. They many times, do have special programs for people who are in need. I was twice in such bad economic situations where the clinics charged me only half the cost. If you are on medicaid, it is very often completely paid for.

There is also a program at the University of PA (an excellent program I might add) run by Edna Foa (an expert on ocd) where they many times have study programs where you pay little if anything. Also, there often is study programs at Massachusetts General Hospital. Contact info for both of these:

The phone number for the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety in Philadelphia is: (215) 746-3327. Their web: [url="http://www.med.upenn.edu/ctsa/."]http://www.med.upenn.edu/ctsa/.[/url]

OCD clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital (617)855-3371. [url="http://www.mcleanhospital.org/Adult/ocdinstitute.htm"]http://www.mcleanhospital.org/Adult/ocdinstitute.htm[/url]

Also, go to this site on the OC Foundation website, for different study programs that are paid for: [url="http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocf1510a.htm"]http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocf1510a.htm[/url]

Know that there is hope for this illness. No matter how long you have had it.

Best wishes to you.

[This message has been edited by fm5 (edited 10-26-2003).]