Intrusive Thoughts caused by SSRI's??

I would like some feedback on something I just learned from my doctor. I went in for intrusive thoughts and she told me that the Lexapro which I have been for two years for OCD was th culprit. Besides manipulating the flow of serotonin, Lexapro causes an increase in dopamine which leads to intrusive thoughts and hallucinations. I am now on Abilify to taper down the dopamine.
My question is if this is true why isn't this major side effect more well publicized in the drug warnings. Knowing this would have saved me a lot of suffering.
Thanks for your attention.

Hello LilacRat

Educated Guesses....

-->Pharmacies and drug companies want to sell as much of the particular medication before the trademark expires so they can capitalize on future drug trails. In addition it is merly consequential that you had this side affect to this particular medication. Try to find the "root" cause of the intrusive thoughts: are there any particular stressors in your life (money, family, illness...etc). Stress can negatively and alter your cognitive abilities.

Take Care

Hi Lilacrat - well I am tentative, as have been blown out before for views on SSRIs. But have read thread so far and I agree that there is a big financial thing going on. I have a degree of psychosis, and went absoltely bonkers, never mind intrusive thoughts, on Prozac. Switched to an old-fashioned tri-cyclic, took it for a few months, plus some sedative against the dopamine, then fine. Stay cool and adjust meds, I say! ss

I can't say that I have ever experiences intrusive thoughts, but have had so many other bad side effects to all AD's that I am not a person that is pro meds.....but I have allergic reactions to even meds like benedryl that are supposed to be for allergic reactions. It doesn't surprise me that you would have that kind of reaction even after that long of being on the med.....sometimes it takes time for levels to build up in the body before a reaction happens.

I know I gave up on meds, but when you can find something that works, that is good.
Debbie

It can be a major side effect, if you experience it, certainly. It is far from being a common side effect, however. Your doctor is being a little bit simplistic in her arguments, even if she is right about the link between the drug and your own adverse symptoms.

Lar

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LilacRat said:
I would like some feedback on something I just learned from my doctor. I went in for intrusive thoughts and she told me that the Lexapro which I have been for two years for OCD was th culprit. Besides manipulating the flow of serotonin, Lexapro causes an increase in dopamine which leads to intrusive thoughts and hallucinations. I am now on Abilify to taper down the dopamine.
My question is if this is true why isn't this major side effect more well publicized in the drug warnings. Knowing this would have saved me a lot of suffering.
Thanks for your attention.

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Hi:
What types of intrusive thoughts did you get?

I'm on Lexapro myself and always on the look out for side effects I could encounter.

Janet

I had some bad thought when i first went on Prozac. God it was hard. But ive been on them since January/Feb and i have to say things are better. I sorta got used to them, the tablets that is, not the bad thoughts. The bad thoughts seemed to go after a few months but it was hard.

When I was taking Lexapro for OCD alone without the Abilify(which the doctor said would counter intrusive images), I experienced flashbacks to bad childhood memories. I felt porous as though I was soaked in the negative recollections and sensations. Now I have on been on the anti-psych for two weeks and those feelings have 95% gone away.