</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Maven said:
I've been on one kind of meds or another for OCD since age 14, and for panic since age 10. I'm 38 now, and I'm going to try living without the meds. My shrink is slowly weaning me off of them. I didn't know it was the meds all this time, but they caused me to have a breakdown, usually each month around my period. I am on a much lower dosage, and haven't had any breakdowns in MONTHS. I don't like that the drugs lower my sex drive so much. I found that I'd lost my passion for the things that interested me, on the meds. I still liked those things, usually, but didn't care much about them. I'm finding my passions returning as I reduce the meds.

Meds can help control OCD, panic, depression, or whatever ails ya. But there's often a sacrifice to other things, going by the many posts and articles I've read, documentaries I've watched, and people I've spoken with, besides my own experience. If you find side effects you don't like, you can try other meds. If you still have them, you have to decide which is more important--reducing your OCD, or keeping what it is you've lost. Some people are happier on meds. Others are happier off.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

What Maven experienced is not uncommon. SSRIs can cause a "flattening of affect" = feeling plain, not bad, not good - just blah. Anhedonia - or loss of feeling pleasure from activities that used to be pleasurable is another complaint of those on an SSRI. Sometimes to counteract this apathy, a stimulant is added - like Ritalin, Dexedrine or Adderall. Sometimes adding a small amount of Wellbutrin to an SSRI helps as well.

Psychiatric medicine is not an exact science and many times you have to go through a couple meds and/or combinations to find what works for you - which can be frustrating - but in the longterm can be rewarding if your symptoms remit.

Jerry