I've just come off Paroxetine after taken it for over 20yrs as I thought I no longer needed it and wanted to try life without it, however after 3 weeks all my HOCD, anxiety and depression symptoms have come back with a vengeance.
The doctor has prescribed me Mirtazapine, has anyone else tried this for OCD?
At the moment it's had no effect and if anything seems to have increased my anxiety/intrusive thoughts, i took 15mg for 4 weeks and am now into the 9th day on 30mg is it worth sticking with or should I go back on the Paroxetine or try something else?
I haven't tried either of the ones you mention. I've been on sertraline for a number of years, and before that was on clomipramine.
However, I think that many people with OCD really do need the medication long term. It's an illness that fluctuates, and it's possible to go for long spells without many problems, then to get a flare up. It sounds as though the paroxetine was keeping your symptoms at bay. I don't know the reason your doctor put you on something different if the paroxetine had been working for you.
I should ask the doctor if you can go back on it, if your symptoms don't improve. Apparently mirtazapine takes from 4 to 6 weeks to start working and you've been on it nearly six weeks. But if you do go back on your previous medication, remember that it is likely to again be four to six weeks before you make an improvement.
But don't stop the mirtazapine suddenly, or you could have withdrawal symptoms on top! And if a medication is working well for you, keep taking it.
Thanks for your reply, It was my decision to come off the Paroxetine, i thought it was no longer working plus I was sick of the side effects and wanted to try something different, however in hindsight I'd forgotten how bad things we're before I started taking the meds 20 yrs ago so probably shouldn't of come off them but that's all history now and I can't afford to dwell on it. I'll probably give the Mirtazapine another week and if there's no improvement go back on Paroxetine or try another SSRI, I was originally on clomipramine and I remember that worked well at the time, how do you find the Sertraline?
I didn't realize that the side effects were a problem for you. I've found sertraline a good medication for me. I haven't really had side effects apart from a slightly bunged up nose. Clomipramine also suited me, though it did make me feel dopey.
It's to a large extent horses for courses when it comes to medication. If the paroxetine was giving you problems it might be worth trying another SSRI. A pity that clomipramine is so difficult to get hold of, as it suits a lot of people who can't tolerate SSRIs and other newer medications.
I was on mirtazapine for 7 weeks and it made me worse I started with OCD than got bad anxiety depression on these don't up than anymore change erm keep away from this medicine I nealy ended my life on these
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OCD and loss of too much weight, very anxious and depressed
Ocd: cant stop thinking a name or phrase
Intrusive thoughts, anxiety
Intrusive thoughts getting worse