My wife has an issue where she spends too much time washing the dishes. If she touches her mobile or clothes without washing her hands, she can't touch her mouth. If she accidentally touches her mouth, she starts spitting excessively. We consulted with a psychiatrist, and they prescribed paxidep cr12. 5. Could you tell me how long it will take for the medicine to be effective?

Dr. Saranya DevanathanPsychiatrist53yrs exp

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Dear Mohamed, Paxidep is given now at the starting dose of 12.5 mg. It will take 2-3 weeks to reach the place where it has to act. After that, seeing the benefit and the side effects, it will be increased gradually to an effective dose. She will be assessed every 2-4 weeks. Generally OCD needs more dose of paxidep. Your wife may be relieved of her washing in 3 weeks itself, if she is lucky. Don't stop or increase dose on your own. 

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Dr. Megha JainPsychologistyrs exp

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As a clinical psychologist addressing the situation described, it's important to consider psychotherapy as a crucial component of treatment for ocd (obsessive-compulsive disorder). The symptoms mentioned suggest significant distress and impairment, which are often characteristic of ocd. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (cbt), specifically exposure and response prevention (erp), is considered the gold standard for treating ocd. Erp involves gradual exposure to the feared object or context without engaging in the compulsive behavior. Over time, this can reduce the anxiety associated with the obsessions and the urge to perform compulsions. In addition to erp, other therapeutic approaches such as acceptance and commitment therapy (act) and mindfulness-based therapies can be helpful in managing symptoms. These therapies focus on accepting one's thoughts and feelings without judgment while committing to actions that align with personal values, despite the presence of obsessions and compulsions. It is crucial for the individual to work with a therapist who is experienced in treating ocd. The therapy process is tailored to the individual's needs, and often, family members, like spouses, are included in the therapy to provide support and to understand how to best help their loved one. Medication can be an important part of treatment, and it's often used in conjunction with psychotherapy for the best outcome. The prescribing psychiatrist can provide guidance on the expected timeline for medication efficacy, but generally, it can take several weeks to notice significant improvement. The combination of medication and psychotherapy can be powerful, and with ongoing treatment, many individuals with ocd can achieve substantial relief from their symptoms. It's important for the individual to maintain an open line of communication with their healthcare providers throughout their treatment journey.  

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Dr. Vivek SPsychologist18yrs exp

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These looks like symptoms of ocd. Ocd occurs to people who cannot tolerate untidiness and this could be from something she experienced that left 'disgust' as an emotion. It is advisable to meet a psychotherapist to understand the deep reason why she behaves the way she behaves, medications help, and psychotherapy gives quick recovery.  

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Dr. Sajid Mohammad WaniPsychiatrist10yrs exp

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Seems case of ocd. Patient needs to wait for 8 to 10 wks for improvement. Needs good dose of ssri for prolong period of time (may be for 2 to 3 yrs).  

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Hi it seems to be a symptoms of ocd and duration of treatment depends upon various factors such as severity, response, environment, support system, and overall health including emotional and if you combine medication with psychotherapy then can get best results.  

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Dr. Pankaj MahalPsychiatrist15yrs exp

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The usual duration to know whether the medication is working or not in ocd is 4-6 weeks, during which your doctor might increase the dose of medication depending on the response.  

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