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. People taking fluoxetine may experience side effects such as: Trouble sleeping or feeling more tired than usual. Dry mouth.
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.
The main medicines prescribed are a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). An SSRI can help improve OCD symptoms by increasing the levels of a chemical called serotonin in your brain. You may need to take an SSRI for up to 12 weeks before you notice any benefit.
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.
Is Zoloft or Prozac better for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)? Prozac and Zoloft are both effective in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults. However, Zoloft may be prescribed to children 6 years of age and older for OCD. Prozac is used in children 8 years of age and older to treat depression.
Doctors often prescribe antidepressants to help treat OCD symptoms. Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) work well to help control OCD symptoms. Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) are another type of antidepressant that can be helpful to people suffering from OCD symptoms.
Is Lexapro used as a treatment for OCD? Few studies¹ have assessed the use of escitalopram (Lexapro) for OCD; however, studies² have found that escitalopram has good efficacy in treating several OCD symptoms. Several indicators show that escitalopram has significant potential in treating OCD in adults.
Medication for intrusive thoughts
Some recommended medications for OCD include: Clomipramine (Anafranil) Fluoxetine (Prozac) Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
Researchers know that OCD is triggered by communication problems between the brain's deeper structures and the front part of the brain. These parts of the brain primarily use serotonin to communicate. This is why increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain can help to alleviate OCD symptoms.
A second therapeutic candidate, LYT-310 (oral cannabidiol), is expected to enter the clinic in Q4 of 2023.
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.
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.
Common obsessive thoughts in OCD include:
Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others. Fear of losing control and harming yourself or others. Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and images. Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas.
Zoloft is one of the most popular drugs for obsessive-compulsive disorder. By limiting the reuptake of serotonin into neurons, it improves mood, fears, anxiety, obsessions, and compulsions. This alleviates symptoms of OCD and mood and anxiety disorders.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic, and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts ("obsessions") and/or behaviors ("compulsions") that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.
Fluoxetine, considered one of the most stimulating SSRIs, is associated with increased awakenings and impaired sleep continuity.
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).
1. Celexa. Overall, Celexa seems to be one of the best-tolerated SSRIs for many people. It tends to cause less weight gain and may have a lower risk of causing insomnia than some SSRIs.
Zoloft is an SSRI medication that may cause weight gain. The extent to which this occurs can vary depending on the individual and other factors. It is important to focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle to help manage weight, such as eating a balanced diet and getting regular physical activity.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
For adults, the starting Zoloft dosage for OCD is 50 mg by mouth once daily. If necessary, your healthcare provider may raise the dose by 25 mg to 50 mg per day once a week until you find the dose that works best for you. The maximum recommended dosage is 200 mg once daily.