What Medications Are Used To Treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Research shows that the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective treatments for OCD. They increase the concentration of serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain. Five SRIs are currently available by prescription in the United States: Prozac Luvox Paxil Zoloft Celexa An older medication, Anafranil (Clomipramine) is a nonselective SRI, which means that it affects many other neurotransmitters besides serotonin. This means that Clomipramine has a more complicated set of side effects than the SSRIs. For this reason, the SSRIs are usually tried first, since they can be easier for people to tolerate. How Well Do Medications Work? When patients are asked about how well they are doing compared to before starting treatment, they report marked to moderate improvement after 8-10 weeks on a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRIs). Fewer than 20% of those treated with medication alone end up with no OCD symptoms. This is why medication is often combined with CBT to get more comp
