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What Causes Recurrent OCD Symptoms After Withdrawing Risperidone?
Question: Hello: I have been on Luvox for 5 weeks (300 mg), along with 2 mg of risperidone each night. Recently my Psychiatrist lowered my risperidone to 1.5 mg because I was so tired during the day. She now switched me to 5 mg of Abilify 4 days ago. It seems like my OCD symptoms are returning. Is this because of the switch in medications? I am scared I am going to go back to that place that was going away. My intrusive thoughts were nearly gone. Please help explain why they may be returning.
Brief Answer:
It is due to change in the drug
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
Such an increase in obsessions with the change in medicines is very common. Actually antipsychotic takes time to build up its level in the body and the average time it takes is 1-2 weeks.
The best thing your psychiatrist could have done is cross taper the drugs. That means starti g aripiprazole and then after one week withdraw risleridon gradually.
Howvevr now you hae two options:
1. Continue with the current medications. Mostly in a week time your abilify levels will build up and they will control the symptoms. Bear with the obsessions until then.
2. If the thoughts are troubling a lot and the side effect of tiredness was not very significant then you can jump back on the same old regime. I would personally suggest you the second option cause such a good remission in ocd is not very common and ones you have achieved it, it shoukd be respected.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
It is due to change in the drug
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
Such an increase in obsessions with the change in medicines is very common. Actually antipsychotic takes time to build up its level in the body and the average time it takes is 1-2 weeks.
The best thing your psychiatrist could have done is cross taper the drugs. That means starti g aripiprazole and then after one week withdraw risleridon gradually.
Howvevr now you hae two options:
1. Continue with the current medications. Mostly in a week time your abilify levels will build up and they will control the symptoms. Bear with the obsessions until then.
2. If the thoughts are troubling a lot and the side effect of tiredness was not very significant then you can jump back on the same old regime. I would personally suggest you the second option cause such a good remission in ocd is not very common and ones you have achieved it, it shoukd be respected.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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