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Old Aug 28, 2016, 01:52 AM
Miswimmy1's Avatar
Miswimmy1 Miswimmy1 is offline
~ wingin' it ~
 
Member Since: Aug 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 3,791
I'm so glad that you've taken some steps towards getting the OCD under control!

I've heard that it's not that uncommon, with all of the hormonal shifts, for women to experience OCD symptoms after giving birth, especially with their first child. I really feel for you because I can't imagine what it would be like dealing with OCD and having a newborn baby to look after. I really commend you for seeking treatment. You are not "psychotic/schizo" as you put it and you are doing the exact right thing - you are helping yourself so that you can be the best you for your little one

As for medication, I've never heard of Wellbutrin being used to treat OCD. I have however, had extensive experience on both Anafranil and Luvox and am happy to share my experiences on both.

When I was first diagnosed with severe OCD, I started CBT and was put on Anafranil. Anafranil was not very effective for me, but is a very common go-to medication for newly diagnosed patients. It's been around for a super long time and has shown to be very effective in the majority of patients. The only thing that I had a problem with, besides its ineffectiveness, was that it messed with my blood pressure too much. I would stand up and black out. Any quick movements would bring upon a short dizzy spell. The severity of these black outs and dizzy spells lessened over time as I grew accustomed to the medication, but they never completely went away. I was also warned to stay away from hot tubs and saunas and to be careful in the shower (not to make the water too hot) because the heat can also affect blood pressure.

After about a year, I was put on Luvox. I have been on Luvox for almost four years now and it's been a much better experience for me. I had a little bit of nausea at the beginning, I think, but it quickly went away. Besides that, this medication has been very effective at helping me to keep the OCD under control. One thing that I will note is that I've had to increase the dosage in small increments, about every six months or so. I don't know if this is just my body growing accustomed to the dose and so the dose is losing effectiveness, or what? But a small bump will do the trick and I'll be good for another six months.

Lastly, for both of these medications, I found that they made me sleepy. So I switched from taking them in the morning (as originally suggested) to taking them before bed. That lets me sleep off the initial drowsiness.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or just want to chat. I know how scary dealing with OCD can be and I completely understand what it's like to go through CBT treatment.

Good luck!
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