Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a debilitating but treatable anxiety disorder. It is composed of obsessions (intrusive, anxiety-provoking thoughts) and compulsions (behaviors done to soothe the anxiety).
Despite it often being classified as a lifelong disorder, many people can greatly reduce their symptoms and even recover from OCD through a combination of therapy and medication.
Although flare-ups may be something you have to navigate throughout your life, you do not have to live with the constant intrusive thoughts and time-consuming compulsions of OCD.
Medication has been proven to be an effective treatment for OCD. When used in conjunction with talk therapy, it can be especially potent.
Does Medication for OCD Work?
Yes. Medication for OCD has been proven to be effective at reducing symptoms. It can work as a stand-alone treatment or as an adjunctive treatment, meaning with other treatments, most often talk therapy.
Finding the right medication for you is important. Everyone’s body will respond differently to medication, and complicating factors like comorbid anxiety, depression, ADHD, or other mental health issues can mean you have different needs.
Work closely with a psychiatrist to find the right dosage and type of medication for you.
Best Medication for OCD
SSRIs—Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, a common type of antidepressant— are the most commonly prescribed drug for OCD.
Antidepressants approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat OCD include:
- Fluoxetine (Prozac) for adults and children 7 years and older.
- Fluvoxamine (Luvox) for adults and children 8 years and older.
- Paroxetine (Paxil) for adults only.
- Sertraline (Zoloft) for adults and children 6 years and older.
- Clomipramine (Anafranil) for adults and children 10 years and older.
Clomipramine is a Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA). Whereas SSRIs work by blocking serotonin (leaving more serotonin in your brain to do its job), TCAs work by increasing the levels of norepinephrine and serotonin.
With all of these options, there is no one “best” medication for OCD. It is a matter of personal preference and what works best for your body.
Finding the right OCD medication for you can take some trial and error. You might start on Prozac but find it doesn’t work very well and switch to Clomipramine. Then, you might need to increase the dose for a while to effectively lessen your symptoms.
This process of medication management should always be supervised and led by a psychiatrist or a medical professional.
What’s the Proper Dosage of OCD Medication?
How much medication you take will depend on your unique needs. However, in general, people with OCD need 2-3 times higher dosage of SSRIs than people with anxiety or depression do.
This likely has something to do with the way OCD works in the brain and the role of serotonin in OCD.
Best Medication for OCD, Anxiety, and Depression
SSRIs, the primary medication for OCD, is also the first line of defense for Depression, and is used frequently to treat Anxiety as well.
Because of this, OCD medication is effective at treating depression and anxiety. However, we recommend talking to a therapist to help you manage lingering symptoms.
It’s not uncommon for people with comorbid OCD and anxiety/depression to feel a lot better after medication. Their anxiety and depression were, in part, caused by the OCD. When you live in constant anxiety, can’t leave the house without a checklist of compulsions, and aren’t able to find a moment of peace from the storm of intrusive thoughts, it makes sense that you start to feel depressed and anxious.
Medication for OCD can attack the root of the problem and help all of the symptoms get better.
Medication for OCD and ADHD
OCD and ADHD are commonly found together. One study found that around 11% of individuals with OCD also have ADHD, many of them undiagnosed. ADHD is more common in children with OCD.
When left untreated, ADHD can severely undermine OCD treatment. Many people with treatment-resistant OCD actually have untreated ADHD. So diagnosing and treating ADHD is crucial for effective OCD treatment.
However, it’s not as easy as putting yourself on more of an SSRI. ADHD’s primary medications are stimulants like Adderall, Vyvanse, or Ritalin.
Most often, people with a dual diagnosis of ADHD and OCD take both SSRIs and stimulants. It’s very important to only take these medications under the supervision of a psychiatrist.
Fast-Acting OCD Medication
There isn’t any fast-acting OCD medication that treats OCD. Although sometimes anxiety relief medications like Benzodiazepines (like Xanax) are prescribed for OCD, they are not used in the long-term.
Instead, these medications may be prescribed to help manage panic and extreme anxiety during the beginning of treatment. For example, xanax might be helpful in getting someone into the therapy office so that they can begin treatment.
However, this use of fast-acting anxiety medication is not sustainable in the long-term and is not a recommended medication.
OCD Treatment Without Medication
Is it possible to treat OCD without medication? Yes! In fact, plenty of people do.
Talk therapy is the most common type of OCD treatment. It is affordable, effective, and not that time-consuming. With online therapy, you can do it from your home, too.
Types of OCD therapy include:
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — The gold-standard therapy that reduces compulsions by gradually facing feared thoughts or situations without performing rituals. This is often the first type of therapy recommended and has very effective results.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — Helps challenge intrusive thoughts and reduce the anxiety-driven cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Usually used in conjunction with ERP.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — Teaches mindfulness, acceptance of intrusive thoughts, and values-based action. Can be great at reducing anxiety and depression associated with OCD and helps teach that your intrusive thoughts do not dictate your worth.
- Mindfulness-based therapy — Improve awareness of thoughts and decrease reactivity to obsessions. Meditation and mindfulness has been proven to improve mental health and decrease OCD symptoms for many people.
- Support groups — Help reduce shame and provide a community to lean on.
For more severe forms of OCD therapy, you might want to consider an inpatient program, intensive outpatient, or an alternative therapy method, such as:
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): A non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate specific areas of the brain, helping reduce obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): A surgical treatment that implants electrodes in targeted brain regions to regulate abnormal activity, considered for severe, treatment-resistant OCD.
These are often third-line options for people with treatment-resistant OCD. They can be expensive and time-consuming, but are uninvasive.
Get Medication for OCD Today
If you struggle with OCD, don’t wait to seek treatment. Whether it’s medication, therapy, or an alternative method, you’ll only get better when you take action.
Lifebulb has licensed psychiatrists who can diagnose OCD and prescribe medication for it. Our psychiatrists will walk with you through every step of the process and stay with you as you recover. Medication management and communication with your therapist are all things they will do.
We also have licensed therapists trained in OCD treatment. Contact us to be scheduled with a psychiatrist or a therapist near you.
