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How Effective Is Prodep In Treatment Of OCD?
Question: 1) My cousin is 16 years old male. He has OCD. He has been taking Prodep 20 mg - 1 tablet per day.
I want to know if this medication is safe and relevant and
what are the short term and long term side effects of this medication?
I want to know if this medication is safe and relevant and
what are the short term and long term side effects of this medication?
Brief Answer:
Fluoxetine is a safe drug with few side effects
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
He is 16 and have OCD and is on Prodep or Fluoxetine 20 mg per day. If we consider safety at this dose then the drug is totally safe and no significant side effects are seen. Over all it may result in following side effects-
- Fluoxetine is a SSRI drug and it increases serotonergic neurotransmission in brain. When the drug is started it may result in increase in restlessness and anxiety for first few days but these symptoms reduce within a week. Other side effects are nausea, insomnia, slight tremors, dizziness, flu like symptoms, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, restlessness and in some rear patients rashes and allergic reactions. These side effects usually occur in mild grades and are relatively tolerable.
- Long term use of Fluoxetine may result in delayed ejaculation, anorgasmia, reduced libido as side effect. But these side effects are reversible and usually reverse with discontinuation of therapy. In some individuals it may result in increased bleeding tendencies but that side effect is rare.
Over all the drug is safe to use and is free of serious side effects. He has OCD and as per my opinion doses should be increased because high doses of SSRIs are needed for good effects in OCD.
Thanks, please don't hesitate to ask a follow up question if you have more doubts.
Fluoxetine is a safe drug with few side effects
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
He is 16 and have OCD and is on Prodep or Fluoxetine 20 mg per day. If we consider safety at this dose then the drug is totally safe and no significant side effects are seen. Over all it may result in following side effects-
- Fluoxetine is a SSRI drug and it increases serotonergic neurotransmission in brain. When the drug is started it may result in increase in restlessness and anxiety for first few days but these symptoms reduce within a week. Other side effects are nausea, insomnia, slight tremors, dizziness, flu like symptoms, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, restlessness and in some rear patients rashes and allergic reactions. These side effects usually occur in mild grades and are relatively tolerable.
- Long term use of Fluoxetine may result in delayed ejaculation, anorgasmia, reduced libido as side effect. But these side effects are reversible and usually reverse with discontinuation of therapy. In some individuals it may result in increased bleeding tendencies but that side effect is rare.
Over all the drug is safe to use and is free of serious side effects. He has OCD and as per my opinion doses should be increased because high doses of SSRIs are needed for good effects in OCD.
Thanks, please don't hesitate to ask a follow up question if you have more doubts.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for the quick response. It was very helpful. However, My cousin is facing another problem and would like to discuss with you about it. Currently he is studying 10+2 and preparing for several entrance exams. As mentioned earlier, he has Obsessive compulsive order and finding very difficult to concentrate in the studies. To read a page, he takes more than an hour. He says 50% of time the OCD distracts him and the remaining 50% of the time, the sexual thoughts in his mind distracts him. He is attending counselling session to reduce the OCD and taking prodep 20mg/day. However, we need your suggestions to tackle the sexual thoughts.
My cousin is in teenage right now, the sexual thoughts are understandable, but this is affecting his studies a lot. 1) Could you please let me know how to avoid sexual thoughts during studies?
2) He told me that he masturbates every night before going to sleep. He does not get sleep without masturabating. Will this affect his sexual ability or health ?
3) When he is sexually aroused, his penis enlarges. At times, when the penis becomes too big, it pains. Is this normal?
Please let me know your opinion.
Thanks in advance
My cousin is in teenage right now, the sexual thoughts are understandable, but this is affecting his studies a lot. 1) Could you please let me know how to avoid sexual thoughts during studies?
2) He told me that he masturbates every night before going to sleep. He does not get sleep without masturabating. Will this affect his sexual ability or health ?
3) When he is sexually aroused, his penis enlarges. At times, when the penis becomes too big, it pains. Is this normal?
Please let me know your opinion.
Thanks in advance
Brief Answer:
Behaviour therapy can reduce his sexual thoughts
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking a follow up
Thanks for providing detailed history, his problem of slow writing and sexual thoughts are due to OCD only. He has habit of masturbation before going to sleep and as per my opinion this has become a compulsive behaviour.
To reduce sexual obsessions he should continue to take medicines and also attend Behaviour Therapy sessions. Thought stopping technique, Aversion therapy can be utilised to reduce his sexual behaviour. In Aversion therapy everytime a sexual thought comes in individual's mind he is given an aversive stimulus. It could be a painful stimulus or some minor electric current. With time progression individual learn to control the thoughts. Take help from a psychiatrist or psychologist for details.
- Daily masturbation doesn't affect health, it's safe but doing on compulsive basis of not good. In future these compulsions may increase in severity which is main problem. So the chain of compulsions should be broken.
- Don't think about erection in his penis. Such erections are common in young age.
- As I have mentioned earlier also 20 mg Fluoxetine will do nothing in OCD. Doses should be increased in consultation with his psychiatrist.
Thanks, please ask again for more doubts.
Behaviour therapy can reduce his sexual thoughts
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking a follow up
Thanks for providing detailed history, his problem of slow writing and sexual thoughts are due to OCD only. He has habit of masturbation before going to sleep and as per my opinion this has become a compulsive behaviour.
To reduce sexual obsessions he should continue to take medicines and also attend Behaviour Therapy sessions. Thought stopping technique, Aversion therapy can be utilised to reduce his sexual behaviour. In Aversion therapy everytime a sexual thought comes in individual's mind he is given an aversive stimulus. It could be a painful stimulus or some minor electric current. With time progression individual learn to control the thoughts. Take help from a psychiatrist or psychologist for details.
- Daily masturbation doesn't affect health, it's safe but doing on compulsive basis of not good. In future these compulsions may increase in severity which is main problem. So the chain of compulsions should be broken.
- Don't think about erection in his penis. Such erections are common in young age.
- As I have mentioned earlier also 20 mg Fluoxetine will do nothing in OCD. Doses should be increased in consultation with his psychiatrist.
Thanks, please ask again for more doubts.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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