Medication For OCD: How Does It Help?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a disorder in which people may suffer from 2 main symptoms - obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are distressing, intrusive thoughts that are hard to resist causing anxiety, and compulsions are behaviours that bring relief from anxiety related to these thoughts. 

The treatment of OCD usually involves Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, which is a psychotherapeutic approach. In some cases, however, medication can be very useful as well. At Amaha, we believe in a balanced approach to ensure maximum comfort for the person, and therefore we would like to shed some light on how one might benefit from medication if they have OCD.

Medication used for OCD

In most cases of OCD, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs, are the preferred method of treatment. SSRIs are primarily antidepressants, but their use is not limited to just depression. Research indicates that people with OCD tend to have issues with their serotonin levels, which are often corrected by these medications.

When SSRIs alone are not helpful in reducing symptoms, other medication may be prescribed as well. These may include certain Antipsychotic medications as well. Even though these are often used for different types of disorders, the mechanism of action in these medications targets the same brain pathways that are involved in OCD symptoms as well. When prescribing, a psychiatrist takes into account the symptom severity, family and personal history, tolerance, dependence history (if any) and other treatments the individual may be taking. 

Psychotherapy or Medication?

The decision about whether you need psychotherapy or medication is best made with help from a professional, that is, a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. To decide which treatment approach would be better, a professional will get details about your symptoms and your history and may administer rating scales specifically made for OCD, to help figure out the severity and exact nature of symptoms.

Studies have shown that in most cases, therapy works best when started sometime after starting the medication. CBT along with medication has been proven to be a very efficient treatment in most cases, and results are usually expected within 4-6 weeks of starting the intervention. 

When is medicine prescribed for OCD?

The use of medication to manage symptoms of OCD depends mainly on the severity of symptoms, particularly obsessions. Assessments are designed to determine how intense the obsessions are in the initial stages. For people who have been experiencing OCD for a very long time, or who are not able to resist their thoughts at all, medication may be suggested. 

Medication is also prescribed when the psychological treatment does not seem to be working as planned. Sometimes the obsessions may interfere with a successful therapy process because they are causing too much anxiety for the person to adhere to the treatment plan. In these cases, medication can provide additional comfort and make it easier to use psychological techniques. Combining the two approaches can be thought of as taking medicines to reduce a fever, but also taking antibiotics to deal with the infection causing it. The idea is to reduce distress so that the disorder can be managed more easily. 

Are there side effects to taking medication for OCD?

Medication for OCD is usually prescribed when there is a definite need for it. Even though all medicines may cause side effects, the focus of treatment is to maximise the benefits while minimising the side effects of medication using a risk-benefit approach individualised for each patient.

If someone experiences side effects after taking medication, dosages are often altered, or the prescription can be changed altogether. As mentioned above, there are various types of medication that can be used for OCD, so there is never a need to stick to medicines that are causing any issues at all! 

Conclusion

Even though there is a lot of information available now, OCD can be confusing to understand. The treatment options for OCD are also not known to many, so we hope that we could answer some questions about the use of medication in OCD through this post. 

Medication for OCD does not have to be a mysterious or concerning topic, it can be exactly what you need to start seeing the change in symptoms. The best way to know more is to talk to one of our psychiatrists, who can clarify any doubts or questions you have without judgement.

Amaha best psychiatrists come with decades of experience and rigorous training in diverse clinical settings for the entire spectrum of mental illnesses. Psychiatry at Amaha goes beyond just medication - we combine the biological, psychological, & social aspects of care to create a comprehensive treatment plan for each client. Think of medicines as an aid to your journey of recovery, as they can help in regulating many of the symptoms that you may be experiencing along with therapy. Book a session now.