I have ocd. Currently I am on fluvoxamine. Does it cause lethargy or sleeplessness?

Question

Dear Akash,
Fluoxamine might cause few side effects like these. Please think whether these symptoms affect your life or ocd affects. Which is more? Remember 'no pain = no gain'.

Saranya Devanathan · Accepted Answer

Dear Akash,
Fluoxamine might cause few side effects like these. Please think whether these symptoms affect your life or ocd affects. Which is more? Remember 'no pain = no gain'.

Shashank Raikwar · Answer

you might be experiencing the same due to illness part or possible adjustment needed in dosing of drug.

Prof. Jagadeesan M.S. · Answer

It does cause in few individuals, but over a period of time it reduces and the beneficial effects continue. Good luck.

Saul Pereira · Answer

Yes, it can cause drowsiness and fatigue. I also recommend that you seek the help of a counselor to help you on your journey to recovery more effectively. Meet with a counselor and the psychiatrist to deal with this issue. Please take your parents with you to determine the possible developmental issues that may have contributed to this condition. This is a fear-based condition and for some reason you have not been dealing with this childhood fear which has now developed unto these repetitive adaptations to seem to need it for normal functioning. The behavior will then become based on magical thinking and certain rituals will become necessary to do normal things making you believe that either the frequency or the ritual is important to its success. This of course is a fallacy but there will come a time that even if told the truth, your belief will defy any logic and you will continue behaving like that even if it cripples you in your daily routines. It only appears as though some other force is behind these behaviors and that you are compelled to act in this fashion. That is obviously not true but no one can convince you of anything different. The obsession is a repeating thought pattern with no meaningful outcome; and the compulsiveness is the need to act on those obsessions also in a repeated behavior pattern as though you just cannot help yourself. This is all driven by fear and when you are frustrated with it, you will escalate anger over it. Doubt, insecurity, uncertainty, and lack of firm memory will all plague you and increase stress. There are certain behavioral techniques to be implemented and if they work you may get out of this condition rather easily. If that does not work as desired, then medication has to be introduced more aggressively, and in combination with counseling much work can be achieved.

Saarika Reddeppa · Answer

Dear lybrate-user, as you have rightly�pointed out�fluvoxamine does have side effects of drowsiness�which is why you may probably feel lethargic & sleepy. Keeping your age in mind I suggest you start with therapy along with medication.�cognitive-behavioral therapy (cbt), a type of psychotherapy, is effective for many people with�ocd. Exposure and response prevention (erp), a component of�cbt�therapy, involves gradually exposing you to a feared object or obsession, having you learn ways to resist the urge to do your compulsive rituals.�erp�takes effort and practice, but you may enjoy a better quality of life once you learn to manage your obsessions and compulsions. My best wishes to you. Take care saarika�reddeppa.