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How Long Should Medication For OCD Be Continued?
Question: My cousin is 24 years old male. He has OCD. He has been taking Prodep 60 mg - 1 tablet per day.
However, recently he dropped the medicine completely, to find out whether he could lead a normal life or not. But surprisingly ,his symptoms returned again. It is a pure O type OCD.
I have some questions regarding it.
1. Can he drop the medicine completely some day ?
2. For how much time he can continue prodep (how many years it is effective)?
3. How to get over the sideeffects?
However, recently he dropped the medicine completely, to find out whether he could lead a normal life or not. But surprisingly ,his symptoms returned again. It is a pure O type OCD.
I have some questions regarding it.
1. Can he drop the medicine completely some day ?
2. For how much time he can continue prodep (how many years it is effective)?
3. How to get over the sideeffects?
Brief Answer:
OCD is a relapsing disorder.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcime to HCM.
I can understand your concerns for your cousin.
Unfortunately, OCD is relapsing disorder. It relapses when the drug is stopped.
In most of the cases, drugs have to be taken life long.
If he is feeling that his OCD is under control with 60mg Prodep, then he can continue with it. It will remain effective and dose gradually be reduced instead.
The significant side effects of prodep when taken on long term are weight gain and sexual dysfunction.
He should adopt a healthy lifestyle like exercising, avoiding fatty foods to keep weight under control.
If there are sexual problems, he can consider dose reduction.
Kindly discuss these issues with his treating psychiatrist.
Hope this helps.
Take care.
Regards.
OCD is a relapsing disorder.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcime to HCM.
I can understand your concerns for your cousin.
Unfortunately, OCD is relapsing disorder. It relapses when the drug is stopped.
In most of the cases, drugs have to be taken life long.
If he is feeling that his OCD is under control with 60mg Prodep, then he can continue with it. It will remain effective and dose gradually be reduced instead.
The significant side effects of prodep when taken on long term are weight gain and sexual dysfunction.
He should adopt a healthy lifestyle like exercising, avoiding fatty foods to keep weight under control.
If there are sexual problems, he can consider dose reduction.
Kindly discuss these issues with his treating psychiatrist.
Hope this helps.
Take care.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
What is the long term thing exactly. I mean, usually after how many years of taking this medicine, people started observing these side-effects.
Is there any other substitute with lesser side-effects
Is there any other substitute with lesser side-effects
Brief Answer:
SSRIs (like prodep) are the safest option.
Detailed Answer:
This varies from person to person.
Some may experience these side effects even after 6 months of usage.
Some may do well even after 3-4 years.
On an average, people develop these side effects with 1 year of drug usage.
The substitute for drugs is psychological treatments like behaviour therapies including exposure and response prevention. A psychologist/psychiatrist can help in this.
As far as drugs are concerned, SSRIs (like prodep) are the safest choice among all.
Hope this helps.
Regards.
SSRIs (like prodep) are the safest option.
Detailed Answer:
This varies from person to person.
Some may experience these side effects even after 6 months of usage.
Some may do well even after 3-4 years.
On an average, people develop these side effects with 1 year of drug usage.
The substitute for drugs is psychological treatments like behaviour therapies including exposure and response prevention. A psychologist/psychiatrist can help in this.
As far as drugs are concerned, SSRIs (like prodep) are the safest choice among all.
Hope this helps.
Regards.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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