Both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and when necessary medications, like Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI), have been shown to be effective in reducing or eliminating rumination.
Medication. If frequent rumination is damaging the esophagus, proton pump inhibitors such as esomeprazole (Nexium) or omeprazole (Prilosec) may be prescribed. These medications can protect the lining of the esophagus until behavior therapy reduces the frequency and severity of regurgitation.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are a type of medication people may use as a treatment for depression. People may also use SSRIs to treat mental health conditions that can cause intrusive thoughts, such as: OCD. PTSD.
This is why the American Psychiatric Association recommends fluoxetine, along with other SSRIs, as one of the first-choice medications that can be used to treat OCD.
Antidepressants approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat OCD include: Clomipramine (Anafranil) for adults and children 10 years and older. Fluoxetine (Prozac) for adults and children 7 years and older. Fluvoxamine for adults and children 8 years and older.
Zoloft (sertraline) "I have been taking 100mg Zoloft daily for almost 8 years and I find it really helps with OCD, especially the dulling of intrusive thoughts that would normally cause me a lot of distress, anxiety and were quite frankly, ruining my life.
Doctors typically prescribe Lexapro to treat anxiety and depression, especially anxiety and depression associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Physicians can, in some situations, prescribe Lexapro to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
In addition, medications originally designed for depression, the SSRIs (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Effexor, Cymbalta, and others), are also capable of lowering the underlying level of anxiety which takes a lot of steam out of this phenomenon.
It often involves negative thoughts or bad memories. Such thoughts can interfere with your daily life and mental well-being if you can't stop ruminating about them repeatedly. Rumination is linked to some mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Untreated, rumination syndrome can damage the tube between your mouth and stomach (esophagus). Rumination syndrome can also cause: Unhealthy weight loss. Malnutrition.
Rumination is one of the co-occurring symptoms found both in anxiety disorders and depression. It is often a primary symptom in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. When people are depressed, the themes of rumination are typically about being inadequate or worthless.
Rumination is one of the most problematic cognitive symptoms associated with depression.
Rumination is sometimes referred to as a "silent" mental health problem because its impact is often underestimated. But it plays a big part in anything from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) to eating disorders. And the impact of mental health problems is huge.
Is Lexapro or Zoloft better for OCD? Some healthcare professionals will prescribe Lexapro “off-label” to treat OCD in adult patients, but only Zoloft is FDA-approved to treat adult and pediatric patients with the condition.
Lexapro (containing the active ingredient escitalopram) is a safe and effective treatment that is commonly prescribed for anxiety. Lexapro is an SSRI, which regulates serotonin production and reuptake in the brain to improve your moods and overall mental wellbeing to reduce symptoms of anxiety.
Lexapro also may appear to be more effective in treating anxiety—because there are not enough studies measuring how effective Prozac is in treating anxiety. Both Lexapro and Prozac have been found to be effective in treating social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Usually it takes between 4 to 6 weeks to feel the full effect. You might feel worse during the first few weeks of treatment before you begin to feel better. Talk to your GP if you do not feel any better after 6 weeks.
I have been on sertraline on and off the last few years for anxiety. I started on 50mg and after a month or so I noticed a huge change, I felt myself again. Positive, happy without the intrusive thoughts and overthinking. It was such a relief and I started to enjoy my life and my work again!
Intrusive thoughts are often triggered by stress or anxiety. They may also be a short-term problem brought on by biological factors, such as hormone shifts. For example, a woman might experience an uptick in intrusive thoughts after the birth of a child.
Common medications used to treat OCD
Some of the most common medications for OCD include: venlafaxine (Effexor) clomipramine (Anafranil) escitalopram (Lexapro)
Antidepressants are usually the first type of medication used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Food and Drug Administration has approved clomipramine (Anafranil), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), and sertraline (Zoloft) to treat OCD.
Conclusion: Fluoxetine has sustained efficacy on patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and is generally well tolerated. Fluoxetine has greater efficacy on washers and on obsessive thoughts than checkers.