Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had taken fluoxetine for OCD and it helped?
Soon after my son was born I developed severe contamination OCD, with fears that my son would get contamination from bacteria. Which had resulted in excessive hand washing, laundry and avoidance of "contaminated" items and areas, from fear I would get bacteria on me and pass it on to my son and make him ill or worse.
I have had CBT/ERT and that has worked a bit, to some extent, but I still really struggle. I have been given fluoxetine, but I am scared to take it due to potential side effects possibly being permanent and I really did want to try and beat it on my own/without meds. But I don't think I can, I just do not have the energy or "bothered" to tackle my compulsions. If I pluck up the courage to try meds, I'm hoping they will give me that little boost and maybe quieten the OCDemon enough for me to be able to do my ERT more effectively.
So I was wondering if anyone had any experience with fluoxetine?
Did it help you?
Did it enable you to do CBT/ERT?
Did you have any side effects?
If so, did they subside after a few weeks?
Or those of you who have taken fluoxetine in the past, did any side effects continue even after you stopped taking fluoxetine?
Written by
mmmmww
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I also have contamination OCD which has resulted in me being pretty unwell. I was on fluoxetine for a long time up to 60mg and never had any side effects. It definitely helped at the time and controlled things to some extent.
I completed CBT but didn’t find it relieved much of my symptoms because I was pretty resistant to it as I went into it expecting it not to help.
I have now stopped the fluoxetine for a different medication and have found no lasting effects of being on mental health medication apart from weight gain which was not due to fluoxetine but to a different medication.
Fluoxetine was the only medication that gave me no side effects and my opinion is it is definitely worth a go if your symptoms are effecting your quality of life.
I hope this helps and if you need a chat about OCD or medication feel free to message me.
I am on Fluoxetine for OCD and depression and it has helped me tremendously. I am also on a medication called Rexulti and my OCD and depression has greatly improved.
I took this and I would be taking that now as it really helped my focus and anxiety. I take now lexapro and it helps but the fluoxetine worked better at allowing me to flow without as much trigger fear. Best of luck I suffer from ptsd anxiety severe since young and have obsessive thoughts and triggers that cripple me. I hope for you and your son peace and love and ease of this that takes as much in the overthinking as the avoiding and then self upset and worry if will affect my son cycle. I feel that
I also take vyvanse & have just been offered fluoxetine to help me with OCD, can I ask if you were able to continue with your vyvanse?
You will never know if the medication will or not work so you need to trust your Doctor and take the medications, you will also need to allow over five weeks for the drug to start working
Feel very drained, never have enough energy or drive. The highlight of my days are bed time.I got to bed at the same time as my son, at about 8.30-9pm. I don't sleep straight away though, I try and have some me time, play on my phone, browse websites, read a book, catch up on emails and life admin.
I have spoken to my GP and she referred me to a therapist and prescribed the fluoxetine.I did the therapy (CBT etc) but it has only helped so much and I was scared to try the fluoxetine.
My husband sometimes reassures and sometimes washes his hands if I ask him to, but not all the time, he usually only does these things if I am having a particularly bad day/a major freak out.
My lack of insurance at the current time has made me switch but I am working on getting that going. Those two medications are the only I have taken in 20 years as I tried so hard to think it will get better without and haven’t found that for myself. I would not be in counseling still without the medication as my perception would have made me fear the therapist times before and get nowhere.
Thank you all for your replies, they have all helped a great deal.I have now decided to bite the bullet... Or the pill, so to speak and I started taking the fluoxetine today.
Wishing you well and I only found it did make me a little more tired at first maybe 5 days and then steadily more energy to be able to do more without obsessing about is it the right way to do it and how can I this this this this and overwhelm myself before fluoxetine. I wish you well because it’s so hard for others to grasp what it feels like to be stopped so urgently by your thoughts that it affects your daily.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Fluoxetine side-effects
How long till fluoxetine starts to work?
antidepressant side effects and withdrawal 
Fluoxetine Mobile
Mirtazapine severe reaction
