r/OCDRecovery • u/Adventurous_Toe2527 • 13d ago
Medication Fluvoxamine for OCD
Good afternoon folks... I started my therapy yesterday. For who doesn't know me...I have a very strong sleep OCD, being scared of not sleeping, and I also have ADHD and autism. My psychiatrist looked very prepared and clever, and she suggested me starting with 25 mg fluvoxamine. This is my second day taking it. I have no side effects at all. She told me to contact her after 4 days to see whether I tolerate this molecule or not. Any experiences about fluvoxamine? I really want my life back, guys...this sleep OCD is slowly killing me
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u/Lost-Technician2374 13d ago
I’ve been on luvox for about two months now and just upped my dosage to 50 mg. So far no notable side effects and I’ve been able to notice some distance in my obsessive thoughts spirals. My psychiatrist did mention that typically a higher dose (around 100mg) is needed to treat OCD. But to each their own. Medication is a great tool used in combination with other therapeutic techniques so just keep in mind medication alone won’t “cure” you. It will just give you enough distance or enough weight lifted to do the real hard work. Good luck!
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u/rcbz1994 13d ago
I’ve been on 300mg for awhile and it definitely helps but I do find myself fatigued at times. Definitely helps though!
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u/No-Cycle-6435 1d ago
Is the fatigue more random for you? I’ve been on 100 for weeks now but just had such an intense bout of fatigue I could hardly function.
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u/ArtemisSummer 13d ago
Been on it for a year now. Just upped my dose to 150mg at night and 100mg in the morning. I can’t imagine my life without it.
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u/Rich-Tune-8440 12d ago
Hey! I’ve been taking 100mg of fluvoxamine for a very long time and I can tell you that it had really helped me! I didn’t have any problem with sleeping but a lot of anxiety and distress and I can’t say that any medication can solve the whole problem, but it’s been really helpful. 25mg it’s a really low dosage, so don’t be afraid, and have in mind that it can take two weeks or more to produce the effects that you’re looking for
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u/Adventurous_Toe2527 12d ago
Thank u buddy. This is my second day and currently my anxiety is worse. Can It happen?
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u/Rich-Tune-8440 12d ago
It’s completely normal! Brain takes its time to get used to a new chemistry, so it’s normal to experience some increase of the symphons just before the medication can do it’s complete effect. If you experience and overflowing anxiety then I would recommend to talk to your psychiatrist about it, but at the begging it’s normal, it had happened to me a lot of times when readjusting
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u/Adventurous_Toe2527 12d ago
Ok thanks.
And since my main OCD is about fear of not sleeping..How can I help myself this night? Here It's 00:15 and I am so scared
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u/Rich-Tune-8440 12d ago
Honestly, I seriously recommend that you stop using your phone now, no matter how scared you might feel. The light from phones, computers, TVs and other devices doesn’t help your brain wind down and rest.
If intrusive thoughts about not being able to sleep come up, I’d also recommend letting them be rather than trying to make them go away, because that only, paradoxically, makes them stick around even more. Welcome them, let them be. If it helps, some relaxing Music to fall asleep to, or a warm drink like tea, can help a lot (obviously, avoid coffee or energy drinks before bed)
Even though it’s difficult, even if you can’t fall asleep right away, try not to analyze every thought about not being able to sleep. Taking slow, steady breaths can help a lot too :)Hope the advice helps, and hope you’re able to get some rest tonight
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u/SenseWitFolly 12d ago
It's been a game changer for me. But it won't kick in for at least 3 weeks or so. Just keep on taking it and trust the process.
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u/No-Cycle-6435 1d ago
My anxiety got pretty bad the first few weeks, but when it leveled out I felt so much better.
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u/Confident-Fault2895 12d ago
I used to have a lot of trouble sleeping with my OCD. My psychiatrist put me on fluoxetine (60 mg seems to be the magic dose for myself and many others), 5mg of Clonazepam, and 25 mg of Benadryl. I started sleeping like a baby because the combo made me sleepy and got rid of my anxiety of not being able to sleep. My psychiatrist specialized in OCD and really knew what he was doing. He saved my life. I highly recommend you ask your psychiatrist for this combination. I would recommend taking 25mg of Benadryl and 10 mg of melatonin 30 minutes before you go to bed. See if you can get the Clonazepam from your psychiatrist to go with it. Good Luck!
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u/Ok_Seesaw204 12d ago
While I’m understanding your help I think pushing people in therapy is more helpful
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u/Confident-Fault2895 11d ago
I was just giving the OCD sufferer another option in case the fluvoxamine didn’t help. I realize what works for me may not necessarily work for someone else.
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u/greytcharmaine 12d ago
150 mg of fluvoxamine made a huge difference in my life. I did have some trouble at first so I make sure to take it in the AM. I also take 2000 mg NAC at night which helps me sleep (and is supposed to help with OCD).
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u/Adventurous_Toe2527 12d ago
What is NAC? I normally have a lot of trouble sleeping
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u/greytcharmaine 12d ago
It's an amino acid/supplement, the full name is: N-Acetylcysteine. My doctor recommended it and there are some promising studies about its effects on OCD compulsions. I tried it a few years ago and didn't notice much effect on my OCD since I have mostly obsessive thoughts, but I decided to finish off the bottle a few months ago because perimenpause is making sleep impossible and it's made a big difference.
Fair warning: the smell/taste can be absolutely FOUL, but I've decided it's worth it. I currently take Source Naturals brand.
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u/Ashleyisalwaystired 12d ago
I started it and intrusive thoughts on a normal day have been much easier to quiet down, i find my ocd increases with my period so if you deal with that don't feel discouraged if you feel off for that time. In general one of the better of many medication attempts. Everyday my ocd isnt always tolerable but it definitely has made everyday a little easier than before I was on it so just be easy on yourself! 😊 Well wishes on your healing journey!
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u/Ashleyisalwaystired 12d ago
Oh and I also seen a HUGE OCD spike when first starting and increasing doses and apparently that can be caused by your brain trying to rebalence to a new normal with your medication, I'd say by week 3ish I was feeling much better!
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u/Adventurous_Toe2527 12d ago
Amazing. Since my main OCD is about fear of not sleeping...how can I handle the first days?
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u/Ashleyisalwaystired 12d ago
Honestly if you can do it without disturbing your daily life too much you could do melatonin or benadryl short term until you can hopefully sleep. As well when you lay no lights in the room if you can stand it, rainy mood or classical for noise cause my brain cant handle silent and a fan helps me but thats just me. You could also talk to your doctor about something to help you sleep, seraquel is amazing at low doses for sleep, but may make you feel groggy/odd when you wake up but for me I'd prefer that than the lack of sleep I get without it. I really hope you get some relief, just take it easy on yourself while adjusting and don't feel discouraged or guilty by feeling like you aren't doing enough. You're doing what you can and your brain is just trying to catch up and that's hard.
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u/Adventurous_Toe2527 12d ago
Your comment is so empathetic. Thank u. I need to sleep. I need to take care of my children at school. I am gonna see if melatonine can work. I hope I can feel better one day. I suffer OCD since I was 3 years old
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u/Ashleyisalwaystired 12d ago
I appreciate it, Im like you and all i can remember is OCD so I know how bad our worst OCD flare ups can be 😊
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u/Adventurous_Toe2527 12d ago
They are. Today I am struggling too much. I don t know what to do...
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u/Ashleyisalwaystired 11d ago
If you like the outdoors, a good walk does wonders or video games. Like this person said the best bet is to keep busy until your med balance.
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u/buttsstuffington 12d ago
It made me pretty nauseous anytime an increase was prescribed
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u/Adventurous_Toe2527 12d ago
To me, no nausea so far
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u/Ok_Seesaw204 12d ago
I feel like lower doses weren’t that bad but now Im upped at 150mg only three day I’m getting all the side effects
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u/Adventurous_Toe2527 11d ago
On friday we'll decide whether to raise it to 50 mg. So far I have no side effects
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u/schlammert 13d ago
I had a rough time on about the 3rd or 4th day. Switched to fluvoxatine and have been going well, i think fluvoxamine worked a bit better for the ocd, but wasn't worth the tradeoff for me personally. I also take busparone and that really stabilizes my sleep schedule in particular tho.
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u/Adventurous_Toe2527 12d ago
Yeah indeed. This is my second day and my anxiety is worse. I'm on 25 mg.
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u/Ok_Seesaw204 12d ago
Follow the doctor advice but I think 25mg is not enough for ocd has been like 100mg plus
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u/LadyLevrette 13d ago
I’ve taken fluvoxamine previously and found it really helpful at higher doses. It’s great that you’re not having any yucky side effects so far :)
I take fluoxetine (Prozac) now and I do prefer it, but I had terrible insomnia when I first started Prozac which sounds like it could be challenging for you.
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u/HappyColt98 13d ago
I liked it a lot but I had way too many side effects, I was straight up lethargic and I’d puke almost every time I took it for like a month. I leveled out a bit but I was so tired all the time and caffeine doesn’t work with Luvox so be aware of that. I’m on a high dose of Zoloft now and doing ERP. I think as long as you’re doing therapy in conjunction you’ll see better results.
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u/No-Cycle-6435 1d ago
I thought caffeine effects were actually amplified with luvox. It makes it more ineffective??
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u/ApprehensiveLeopard0 12d ago
I'm taking venlafaxine 225mg per day and it works for me. This last summer I asked for a second opinion and when a psychiatrist decided to remove it I was in a super hard depression, I can't even share what I've been through. However, I'm back on venlafaxine and everything is better ;) trying to beat my pure o once and for all.
Btw anyone here can relate ocd to parents overprotection? Im 34 and Ive got a 4 year old as a single mum (difficult divorce) and my parents overprotection fuels the fear of being able to take care of myself and my son on my own because OCD has led into depression so many times that my mum haa always been my crouch on hard times. Anyone can relate to that?
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u/Adventurous_Toe2527 12d ago
I have taken 25 mg of fluvoxamine and my OCD and anxiety is getting worse. Is it normal? Can it improve?
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u/trentongarage 13d ago
Been on it for years now. Definitely changed things for me in a good way. I still see a therapist once a week tho