Sometimes SSRIs can increase mental illness symptoms at first, including increasing the risk of self harm and suicidal thoughts and actions.Lowered sex drive (in women it can be difficult to achieve an orgasm and in men it can lead to erectile dysfunction).Problems going to the toilet (either diarrhea or constipation).Problems sleeping ( insomnia and strange dreams when sleeping).This is by no means an exhaustive list (a complete list can be found in the information leaflet you receive with a medication or sought online for each specific SSRI). Some of the more common side effects experienced with SSRIs are included below. The International OCD Foundation states that people who find medication effective, “usually see their OCD symptoms reduced by 40-60%.” It’s important to make an informed decision in your own best interests (with the guidance of your doctor of course). As well as the risk of side effects, there’s also the likelihood that when you find the right medication for you, it can really help to reduce your symptoms and bring you some relief. Some of the side effects can sound scary, but remember that not everyone will experience all of them. Your doctor should arrange to see you regularly to monitor your side effects and guide you through any problems you’re having. We’re all individuals, and even when experiencing the same side effect, it may impact us differently.

Some people may experience very few, if any, side effects at all. Not everybody will experience all of the possible side effects. Usually side effects are at their most severe within the first 2 weeks of taking the medication and tend to ease in the period after that.Įach individual medication may have specific side effects. While SSRIs are FDA approved to treat OCD and are generally safe to take, there is the potential for side effects. This can seem confusing, but the names in brackets are still the same medication. You may hear them referred to under different names, which are included in brackets (this isn’t necessarily all of the names they will come under, only the most common).

There are a few types of SSRI you may be prescribed. This can enable the brain to regulate emotions more effectively.Īnother positive to taking SSRIs is that not only do they treat OCD symptoms, they also help with depression (which often accompanies OCD). SSRIs block (or ‘inhibit’) the reuptake of serotonin, making more serotonin available so that that balance can be regained. While this imbalance isn’t the sole cause of mental illness, it can contribute to mental health issues. When you struggle with mental illness, like OCD, often the balance of serotonin and how it functions can be disturbed. Serotonin is used to help the parts of the brain which regulate your emotions and mental wellbeing communicate. This is called ‘reuptake’ of the neurotransmitter. Once the message is sent, that part of the brain needs to retrieve the neurotransmitter it sent out and reabsorb it. When a part of the brain has a message to send, it sends out some of the appropriate neurotransmitter. This process of sending messages and maintaining good communication helps your brain to function, which in turn keeps your body and mind working in harmony. Serotonin is one of these neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are like little messengers made of chemicals which transfer signals between different parts of your brain. Different areas of the brain communicate by using neurotransmitters. To understand how SSRIs work, first we need to look at serotonin itself. In general, dosages of SSRIs are higher when treating OCD than when treating depression. Typically you will be started off on a smaller dose, which will then be increased if you’re not getting the results you need. The dosage varies depending on what’s agreed by you and your doctor. They come in tablet form which you take every day. They are usually the first type of medication your doctor will prescribe. SSRIs are typically used to treat depression and other mental illnesses, such as anxiety and OCD.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI)

Ocd medication