![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Trepanist on September 23, 2008, at 22:09:23
Hello, am new here and just wanted to share my success story (short version)....
I've had severe OCD for most of my life until it culminated into a crisis. I was living hotels, changing rooms or locations every week, shaving my head, that kind of stuff due to contamination fears. I ended up with substantial debt of course, and was headed to ruin. After a few years working out the meds, I have found that the best combination for me is 20mg of Lexapro w/ 1 mg of Klonopin. The Lexapro helps with teh obsessive thinking, while Klonopin (a God send), mitigates anxiety. I never knew freedom until I found this combination. I did a stint with the neuroleptics, but found they compromised my cognitive ability and lead to gross weight gain. Those are nasty drugs and should be avoided if at all possible.
Of course, each individual needs to find the right mix, but I highly recommend this combination as a starting point!
Cheers,
Mark
Posted by Kimbersaur on September 24, 2008, at 0:39:28
In reply to For Those of You with OCD, posted by Trepanist on September 23, 2008, at 22:09:23
> Hello, am new here and just wanted to share my success story (short version)....
>
> I've had severe OCD for most of my life until it culminated into a crisis. I was living hotels, changing rooms or locations every week, shaving my head, that kind of stuff due to contamination fears. I ended up with substantial debt of course, and was headed to ruin. After a few years working out the meds, I have found that the best combination for me is 20mg of Lexapro w/ 1 mg of Klonopin. The Lexapro helps with teh obsessive thinking, while Klonopin (a God send), mitigates anxiety. I never knew freedom until I found this combination. I did a stint with the neuroleptics, but found they compromised my cognitive ability and lead to gross weight gain. Those are nasty drugs and should be avoided if at all possible.
>
> Of course, each individual needs to find the right mix, but I highly recommend this combination as a starting point!
>
> Cheers,
>
> MarkThanks for sharing Mark! It's great to hear a success story!
Posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2008, at 10:46:15
In reply to Re: For Those of You with OCD, posted by Kimbersaur on September 24, 2008, at 0:39:28
Congratulations will you be posting here? Lots of other topic boards list at bottom of page and welcome. Phillipa
Posted by greywolf on September 24, 2008, at 17:36:41
In reply to Re: For Those of You with OCD, posted by Kimbersaur on September 24, 2008, at 0:39:28
Yes, it is great to hear positive stories, particulary (for me) about OCD. OCD is such a pernicious disease that is so difficult to control, and it's a pleasure to hear from someone who's found personal success. It gives the rest of us hope.
Thanks.
Greywolf
Posted by Trepanist on October 2, 2008, at 18:26:08
In reply to Re: For Those of You with OCD, posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2008, at 10:46:15
> Congratulations will you be posting here? Lots of other topic boards list at bottom of page and welcome. Phillipa
Yep, I hope to. I feel like I've been on a long journey, now finally reaping some rewards.
Other things that have helped me include Al-Anon (alcoholic relative), the Power of Now book, and an OCD specialist by the name of Dr. Bruce Mansbridge. "Big deal, so what" will resonate in my rain until I die".
But it took the meds to open the door and actually assimilate all the wisdom.
Mark
Posted by Phillipa on October 2, 2008, at 20:19:45
In reply to Re: For Those of You with OCD » Phillipa, posted by Trepanist on October 2, 2008, at 18:26:08
Hey that's great to both and did you have a lot of side effects with the lexapro as on 50mg of luvox forever and valium and .5 xanax. Thanks Phillipa
Posted by Trepanist on October 2, 2008, at 21:13:46
In reply to Re: For Those of You with OCD » Trepanist, posted by Phillipa on October 2, 2008, at 20:19:45
> Hey that's great to both and did you have a lot of side effects with the lexapro as on 50mg of luvox forever and valium and .5 xanax. Thanks Phillipa
Hi Phillipa, never took luvox, but lexapro is great for me, no side affects other than a reduced libido. I have heard that xanax is bad all around, short half life, unpredictable. From what I understand and my own experience tells me, Klonopin is mild and consistent. I've been on it for three years and have never had to up the dose.
Best,
Mark
Posted by Phillipa on October 3, 2008, at 18:59:02
In reply to Re: For Those of You with OCD, posted by Trepanist on October 2, 2008, at 21:13:46
Mark that's great. I did take xanax alone for many years and didn't have to up the dose. But then we all are different as klonopin depressed me. Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on October 3, 2008, at 22:34:10
In reply to Re: For Those of You with OCD, posted by Trepanist on October 2, 2008, at 21:13:46
> > Hey that's great to both and did you have a lot of side effects with the lexapro as on 50mg of luvox forever and valium and .5 xanax. Thanks Phillipa
>
> Hi Phillipa, never took luvox, but lexapro is great for me, no side affects other than a reduced libido. I have heard that xanax is bad all around, short half life, unpredictable. From what I understand and my own experience tells me, Klonopin is mild and consistent. I've been on it for three years and have never had to up the dose.
>
> Best,
>
> MarkLexapro did some pretty bad GI things to me and I abandoned it, but it was more for depression -- and I was/am on a fair amount of other things.
Luvox worked in the past, I guess, for OCD, primarily for depression and a potential idea for a very complex disorder.
It does actually have strengths that it was marketed for, for some, with OCD.
However, Lexapro for most is supposed to be the most "clean" in terms of serotonin profile and other things, of the SSRIs.
I'm glad it has helped you.
OCD is a tough lifelong, for most, condition, since for nearly everyone it may be triggered by something psychological but it has its biological roots.
I had severe OCD as a teenager and was hospitalized at 17 with a YBOCS of nearly 40 out of 40 basically. (There are other scales I think, but thats irrelevant). Through hard work and a program I fought off that without medication. I didn't actually start taking Prozac until after I left the hospital.
My current disorder, which is very complicated, has OC components to it. I do take Luvox but its primarily for something for depression, as Lamictal may be.
The toughest part of my OCD now is constant repetitive words and phrases, and even repeating conversations in my head, or what I'm typing right now, who knows -- especially when the other strong anxiety parts of my disorder raise their level. I tell myself to just let it flow, but that's exactly what happens, it flows.
So there's OCD of OCD or something, I mean it bugs me and distracts me. But there's really nothing I can do, I've had enough medication in my system and I'm now very sensitive to a lot of things.
Its a challenge and a lot of work is not -- I'm not saying for you -- but for a lot of people, not just in merely medication. CBT, if one is ready to do it, is a classic intervention. It takes time and there is resistance as I know.
If one was to make a broad generalization (which isn't really a good thing on the board as everyone is different), nonetheless people who are in the OC Spectrum seem to do better with structure.
College, while I had some trouble rereading passages, etc, dysthymia and the like, nonetheless I persevered I think in part because of the structured nature of things.
As for the present -- there are a lot of things that are real, and a whole host of things that are too complicated to go into at the moment and I'd rather not think about it, building some sort of structure slowly would be a good thing as some sort of pattern (plus building my self esteem) may give me hope.
I wish you well and I wish people with OCD well, it is a tough disorder and roughly I believe at least 2% of people have some sort of Spectrum disorder.If there's a start for anyone in wonder, there is the OC Foundation.
-- best wishesJay
Posted by Trepanist on October 3, 2008, at 23:22:14
In reply to Re: For Those of You with OCD » Trepanist, posted by yxibow on October 3, 2008, at 22:34:10
Thanks Jay. "I tell myself to just let it flow, but that's exactly what happens, it flows." I can relate to that statement. For me, the meds create a "gap" in the barrage of thoughts/emotions where I can break free by simply going on to the next thing. Obsessions that would literally last weeks or even months now dissipate quickly. That's not me, that's the meds. My fear is that somehow I'll be separated from them and everything will come rushing back. It's amazing how these simple chemical reactions have such a profound impact on our lives.
Anyway, I am glad to be on this board and want to be as helpful as I can. We are all different as you said Jay, so not everything I say applies to everyone, but I would like to offer whatever support I can. OCD (mental illness) is needless suffering and we owe it to ourselves to try everything reasonable to have a good quality of life. Everyone of us here deserves that.
Best,
Mark
Posted by greywolf on October 5, 2008, at 2:21:13
In reply to Re: For Those of You with OCD, posted by Trepanist on October 3, 2008, at 23:22:14
I can't recommend CBT for OCD strongly enough. My therapists are the only people who've been able to keep me going the past couple years. Severe OCD is simply pernicious. A complete horror to deal with.
One of my therapists asked me to write how my OCD behaviors typically impact a normal day. After 10 single-spaced pages, I hadn't even reached dinner-time yet.
My heart and thoughts go out to everyone struggling with this disease.
Greywolf
Posted by paddo on October 6, 2008, at 20:15:41
In reply to Re: For Those of You with OCD, posted by Trepanist on October 3, 2008, at 23:22:14
Hi, Ocd at its worst for me..is beyond words as it must for all who suffer. Its the complicated nature, if i can call it that..which causes the utmost misery/distress. Just this past weekend i honestly wonted the peace of peace. I spoke to my therapist who really does understand the condition and just how i do "suffer"with it. I genuinely pray for all who struggle with this so very much misunderstood complicated illness.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.