Posted by cpallen79 on August 14, 2004, at 22:03:15
In reply to I Really need some Help or Advice?, posted by BRC on August 13, 2004, at 17:32:44
Hi there, I have read your post and am very concerened for you. I sincerely hope that you get better. I have some ideas!
1) Try a different SSRI. Lexapro may not be the one for you. There's a million of them out there. If your PDOC refuses, move on.
2) Keep the trileptal or try a different mood stabilizer... Perhaps lithium or Depakote may be in order (don't be scared of them- they may be just what you need). Perhaps Lamictal will work too. take this with your SSRI. Another option if meds jsut aren't workign is ECT... Don't be scared of it! It's much mroe humane and has brought people out of absolute despair.
3) Perhaps try a different benzo... Xanax XR perhaps?
4) Happy Girl's advice of trying an atypical AP is also excellent! I may try adding in Zyprexa myself if my current meds don't work out.
5) Keep the remeron, it's a good sleep med. Perhaps alternate it /w a benzo to keep it doing it's job.
6) You are NOT your ocd, meaning you are not a sexual deviant, a violent person, nor a sacriligious person (note that these are all common OCD fears)... what you are is someone who happens to have OCD. There is a book called "Brain Lock" by Jeffrey Schwartz... I highly recommend that you read it. Again, even if CBT has failed you in the past, you must go back to it... you have to come out of the OCD shadows and be open and confront your fears, you have the power.
7) Have you had any manic or hypomanic episodes induced by your medications or without medications? I had to dig back thorugh my history and also recently endured a really interesting hypomanic episode as a result of upping my SSRI for me to see the obvious, that I was bipolar. Have you looked at a BP diagnosis?
I have had OCD since I was about 11 years old, and I am 25 now so I've had quite the rollercoaster with it. I take Luvox to control it... does it work? a bit I suppose but I haven't been on it long. I also take Trileptal for my BP II and ativan occasionally as a "treat" for anxiety attacks. I can relate to you and understand the pain and anxiety that you are suffering. I want to say this... I firmly belive that once you get your med situation under control that you will once again be thinking about what to do on weekends with your friends and not thinking about OCD or panic attacks. I believe that for all of us because new things are constantly on the way and there's so many things to try.
I wish you the very best and know that everything will work out.
Chris
> Hi, I have been posting here for a number of months asking alot of questions about medications and responding to alot of other people's questions. I have found this site very informative and the people very helpful.
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> I have posted numerous questions about medications, side effects, and such. I have been trying to educate and learn as much as I can about what I am going through. But I cannot get a grip here lately.
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> I need some advice or help as to what I should do. I don't mean to be so personal by telling this information, but here it goes.
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> I have been diagnosed with panic attacks, GAD, and severe OCD. It all started about four years ago when I had my first panic attack. I didn't know what had happened and literally spent years going to doctors and specialists looking for answers to complex symptoms. I have had every medical test known to modern science.
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> Before I was a very active and normal 24 year old male with not too much to worry about. Just trying to finish up college and what I was going to do on the week ends.
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> But now my life is totally transformed. I suffer everyday from horrible unwanted thoughts and physical symptoms that paralyze me. I suffer from tremors, feeling like I am going to pass-out, aches and pains, and terrible headaches. I know there is nothing biologically wrong with me because all the medical tests come back negative--(I have been to the hospital so many times I am embarressed to go anymore). But the symptoms really make you feel like you are about to die.
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> I have been to a in patient psyche hospital four times hoping for relief to my problems. But each time was a failure. I have tried every medication combination you can think of with no help.
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> My symptoms are what they call OCD thoughts in which I experience awful, unwanted intrusive thoughts that repulse me and cause me significant anxiety. Thoughts such as thoughts against my religous beliefs, inopropriate sexual thoughts, etc.
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> I just wish I didn't have to think any more at all. I can't believe I have went from having it "all together" to not even being able to leave my house.
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> I see a psychiatrist on a regular basis. He is one of many I have seen. He is supposed to be one of the top in my state. This entire illness has taken a hard toll on both me and my family. For one there is the fincancial burden it has created. The other is my family watching me struggle with this illness and not getting much better. I do not let them know how bad it gets sometimes because they have been through so much with me I don't want to upset them anymore.
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> My doctor has me on 60mg of Lexapro to help with the OCD thoughts, but they do not stop. I take 4mg of Klonopin for the anxiety and that does seem to help. I take 1,200 mg of Trileptal as a mood stabilizer but I don't know if it works or not. And I take 30mg of Remeron mainly to sleep.
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> I have tried counseling and support groups but they just don't seem to work. It is like I don't control my mind or emotions anymore. I can't help but feel so guilty for my thoughts. And the pysical symptoms scare the "hell" out of me. I can't control my thoughts, so I don't trust myself anymore. I can't sit still because I feel the pounding of palpatations in my chest and the tremors and jerks in my body. I am no longer able to drive. I just can't believe this has gotten so bad.
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> I have never done drugs and I do not drink.
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> I am very sorry for anyone who reads this long personal post. But if anyone has any input as to what I should do or any alternative that can be done PLEASE feel free to respond. I am soooo tired of being sick!!!!. I am 28 now and I don't want to have to live like this another day. THANKS
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poster:cpallen79
thread:377338
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040811/msgs/377775.html