Lexapro and OCD

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone:

Just curious what your experiences have been using LEXAPRO to control

OCD. Any weight gain or sexual side effects? From what I've heard,

this drug is a more 'targeted' form of SSRI then was CELEXA, and I

think they both came from the same company. I do realize that

everyone's reactions would be different; just curious on how

effective - or not effective - those of you who are using it 'off

label' to treat OCD.

Thanks for the feedback.

Glenn

havgl01@...

[Guest guest]

I'm currently taking 30mg a day (recently bumped up from 20) to

treat OCD and depression. It has definitely helped my mood. I didn't

think it was doing much for the OCD, but starting in the last week or

so I think maybe it is starting to. I've only been on it about 6

weeks. Weight has always been a problem for me, and I'm happy to say

the Lex hasn't caused any weight gain. I do have some sexual side

effects, but they aren't terrible (I can still perform, it just takes

a little more concentration).

-

> Hello everyone:

>

> Just curious what your experiences have been using LEXAPRO to

control

> OCD. Any weight gain or sexual side effects? From what I've heard,

> this drug is a more 'targeted' form of SSRI then was CELEXA, and I

> think they both came from the same company. I do realize that

> everyone's reactions would be different; just curious on how

> effective - or not effective - those of you who are using it 'off

> label' to treat OCD.

>

> Thanks for the feedback.

>

> Glenn

>

> havgl01@o...

[Guest guest]

thanks for replying ):I've been on 20 mg since last friday.So far so

good. I don't feel any side effects except my appetite was raging the

past couple of days. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the

Lexapro tho. I've been to the ocd site it's great! I plan on going to

the ocd convention this July.I'm glad the Lexapro is working out for

you :)I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping it works for me too

> HI;

>

> Welcome to the group--it's a great group and i have found many

really nice

> people here!

>

> I am not a doctor so I would ask him/her about he dosage, as there

are

> individual differences in brain chemistry and metabolism. HOw long

have you

> been on the 20mg? Have you gone to the OCD web site? It is a

really great

> site for those of us suffering from OCD. The web site is:

> http://www.ocfoundation.org

>

> As for the Lexapro, I can just tell you about my experience with the

> medication.

>

> I have severe OCD, I don't mind speaking about it as I have been

dealing

> with it since 1994 from a head trauma. In my situation.... I cannot

> tolerate SSRI's at all! In the past I was able to, but up until

2002

> soemthing happened and bang! I couldn't tolerate the smallest

amount of

> any pill. It was awful until a doctor tried me on the pill format

5mg. It

> really helped--then had problems....

>

> In the past I was able to tolerate the Lexapro in the pill form at

5mg, 7mg

> and 10mg, then I just couldn't tolerate it. I think it was because

my

> doctor went up in the dosage way, way too fast too soon like over a

3 week

> period. However, in the beginning it really worked! Like I said

individual

> differences in brain chemistry and tolerance.

>

> Good news though!!! When I was taking the pill form of Lexaparo at

5mg for

> just 4 days I felt

> GREAT--The OCD and anxiety was slowing down. The anxiety was gone!

The OCD

> symptoms were easy to logic out, my thinking was clearer, I felt

really

> great for the first time in many months.

> At 7 mg I was going pretty good, when I got to 10mg I unfortunately

got the

> same side effects from the 5 major meds that hit OCD. So now we are

doing

> the liquid form because we can adjust the dosage if I have any sie

effects,

> that is the good thing about the liquid form.

>

> So my doctor started me on Lexapro in the liquid form. I am now at

1.5mg

> every 3 days and we

> are going up with the dosage very slowly. One of my doctors noted

that

> there is a difference in my OCD sy,ptoms, but a small difference.

So he

> feels that it is working and getting " in there " .

>

> I have been looking to correspond with someone in my similar

situation that

> cannot tolerate SSRI's and is using small amounts of the liquid

Lexapro and

> going up slowly. Haven't found anyone yet. There are many chat

rooms

> regarding OCD but hardly any one goes in them. I found one and

this person

> was using the liquid form of Prozac. I cannot go near it!

>

> I hope you are feeling better with the Lexapro. Let me know how

you are

> doing and if you want to chat.

> Best

>

>

>

> >From: " ocd762000 " <ocd762000@y...>

> >Reply-Lexapro

> >Lexapro

> >Subject: newbie

> >Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2004 22:25:56 -0000

> >

> >Hi everyone I just started taking 20 mg of lexapro for ocd. I was

on

> >60 mg of paxil and it just wasn't working for me. Do you know what

mg

> >of Lexapro are used to treat ocd? thanks

> >

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Find high-speed `net deals — comparison-shop your local providers

here.

> https://broadband.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Hi;

That is great news!

My doc is upping my liquid lexapro to 2 mg this week. We shall see what

happens. I am hoping

no side effects like I had before with the pill form. We still don't know

why that happened, but

we are going up very, very slowly in the dosage.

Since I am not a doctor---I don't know if the increased eating has anything

to do with the

Lexapro--could be your are just feeling better, but if you have any

questions about it please

make sure to ask your doctor.

Hope all is going good for you and I am happy about the OCD web site you

visited. If you need anything else you are welcome to contct me.

Best

>From: " ocd762000 " <ocd762000@...>

>Reply-Lexapro

>Lexapro

>Subject: Re: Lexapro and OCD

>Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 01:28:49 -0000

>

>thanks for replying ):I've been on 20 mg since last friday.So far so

>good. I don't feel any side effects except my appetite was raging the

>past couple of days. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the

>Lexapro tho. I've been to the ocd site it's great! I plan on going to

>the ocd convention this July.I'm glad the Lexapro is working out for

>you :)I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping it works for me too

>

>

>

> > HI;

> >

> > Welcome to the group--it's a great group and i have found many

>really nice

> > people here!

> >

> > I am not a doctor so I would ask him/her about he dosage, as there

>are

> > individual differences in brain chemistry and metabolism. HOw long

>have you

> > been on the 20mg? Have you gone to the OCD web site? It is a

>really great

> > site for those of us suffering from OCD. The web site is:

> > http://www.ocfoundation.org

> >

> > As for the Lexapro, I can just tell you about my experience with the

> > medication.

> >

> > I have severe OCD, I don't mind speaking about it as I have been

>dealing

> > with it since 1994 from a head trauma. In my situation.... I cannot

> > tolerate SSRI's at all! In the past I was able to, but up until

>2002

> > soemthing happened and bang! I couldn't tolerate the smallest

>amount of

> > any pill. It was awful until a doctor tried me on the pill format

>5mg. It

> > really helped--then had problems....

> >

> > In the past I was able to tolerate the Lexapro in the pill form at

>5mg, 7mg

> > and 10mg, then I just couldn't tolerate it. I think it was because

>my

> > doctor went up in the dosage way, way too fast too soon like over a

>3 week

> > period. However, in the beginning it really worked! Like I said

>individual

> > differences in brain chemistry and tolerance.

> >

> > Good news though!!! When I was taking the pill form of Lexaparo at

>5mg for

> > just 4 days I felt

> > GREAT--The OCD and anxiety was slowing down. The anxiety was gone!

>The OCD

> > symptoms were easy to logic out, my thinking was clearer, I felt

>really

> > great for the first time in many months.

> > At 7 mg I was going pretty good, when I got to 10mg I unfortunately

>got the

> > same side effects from the 5 major meds that hit OCD. So now we are

>doing

> > the liquid form because we can adjust the dosage if I have any sie

>effects,

> > that is the good thing about the liquid form.

> >

> > So my doctor started me on Lexapro in the liquid form. I am now at

>1.5mg

> > every 3 days and we

> > are going up with the dosage very slowly. One of my doctors noted

>that

> > there is a difference in my OCD sy,ptoms, but a small difference.

>So he

> > feels that it is working and getting " in there " .

> >

> > I have been looking to correspond with someone in my similar

>situation that

> > cannot tolerate SSRI's and is using small amounts of the liquid

>Lexapro and

> > going up slowly. Haven't found anyone yet. There are many chat

>rooms

> > regarding OCD but hardly any one goes in them. I found one and

>this person

> > was using the liquid form of Prozac. I cannot go near it!

> >

> > I hope you are feeling better with the Lexapro. Let me know how

>you are

> > doing and if you want to chat.

> > Best

> >

> >

> >

> > >From: " ocd762000 " <ocd762000@y...>

> > >Reply-Lexapro

> > >Lexapro

> > >Subject: newbie

> > >Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2004 22:25:56 -0000

> > >

> > >Hi everyone I just started taking 20 mg of lexapro for ocd. I was

>on

> > >60 mg of paxil and it just wasn't working for me. Do you know what

>mg

> > >of Lexapro are used to treat ocd? thanks

> > >

> >

> > _________________________________________________________________

> > Find high-speed `net deals — comparison-shop your local providers

>here.

> > https://broadband.msn.com

>

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