Re: Re: Should we go off Lexapro (Amy)

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My son has had OCD for 10 years. It was very severe. He took many OCD medS to

figure out which one was the most effective. Lexapro was the best and had the

least amount of side effects.

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[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

I was just wondering how long your son has been on the Lexapro, and does he

still take it?  We've been on 5mg for over a year w/ no need to increase so

far.  We considered weaning her off, but things as so stable and so good now, we

hate to 'rock the boat'.  Thanks,

Amy

Subject: Re: Re: Should we go off Lexapro (Amy)

To:

Date: Thursday, December 11, 2008, 11:36 PM

Hi,

My son has had OCD for 10 years. It was very severe. He took many OCD medS to

figure out which one was the most effective. Lexapro was the best and had the

least amount of side effects.

************ **One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail,

Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. The NEW

AOL.com.(http://www.aol. com/?optin= new-dp & icid= aolcom40vanity &

ncid=emlcntaolco m00000019)

[Guest guest]

Hi Laurie,

 

I would say she has had about a 95% reduction in symptoms.  When we finally

agreed to do med's she was almost non-functioning.  We started CBT and meds at

almost the same time.  We saw an almost immediate and drastic reduction in OCD

behavior when she started taking the meds. 

 

It seems we are extremely fortunate that the first med we tried worked so well. 

We are also very lucky that first try w/ a therapist was a perfect match.  My

daughter loves her therapist, and so do we.  From the first appointment my

daughter 'bought' hook, line and sinker...everything she was told to do.  And my

daughter really wanted to please the therapist so that was a huge help. I think

that, w/ the meds, has been an outstanding combination.  We only see the

therapist once a month or every 6 weeks now. 

 

I also think she was highly self motivated to change.  She really, really,really

 wanted to fit in at school and have lots of friends.  She was extremely

embarrassed by having OCD and crying and throwing up at school.  And we were

more than happy to 'bribe' her also.  We tried to make sure she got 0 positive

reinforcement from having OCD...no babying, no special attention...and TONS of

positive reinforcement - shopping, trips, fun time alone w/ me or dad

for overcoming the behavior. 

 

For whatever reason...it all just 'clicked'.  I do still see slight OCD

behaviors that no one else would ever notice, but she's happy, loves, school,

had lots of activites and friends.  A huge change from when she was sitting on

the couch perfectly still for hours b/c she was afraid to move either hand or

foot.  At one point she would go back and restraighten every

blade of grass if she stepped off the sidewalk....I still get sick to my stomach

remembering those times.  She and I were both embarassed, and frustrated, and

crying ALOT.

 

So yeah, now we're torn, wean off and risk going back there...or stay on the

drugs and hope we aren't doing some unknown long term physical harm... 

Amy

 

 

 

 

Subject: Re: Should we go off Lexapro (Amy)

To:

Date: Friday, December 12, 2008, 10:45 AM

Hi Amy,

My 13 yr old son has moderate to severe OCD and takes 50 mg of

Celexa. I'm reading quite a bit of positive effects from Lexapro,

and am wondering how much of a reduction in OCD your daughter has

experienced from the 5mg. Did she also have CBT too?

That is good that things have been stable for a year. I know once

my son gets through a long period of being stablized, it will be a

difficult decision to wean or keep things the same.

-Laurie

>

>

> Subject: Re: Re: Should we go off Lexapro (Amy)

> To: @ yahoogroups. com

> Date: Thursday, December 11, 2008, 11:36 PM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi,

> My son has had OCD for 10 years. It was very severe. He took many

OCD medS to

> figure out which one was the most effective. Lexapro was the best

and had the

> least amount of side effects.

> ************ **One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL

Mail,

> Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. The NEW

> AOL.com.(http://www.aol. com/?optin= new-dp & icid= aolcom40vanity &

ncid=emlcntaolco m00000019)

>

>

[Guest guest]

>>> I also think she was highly self motivated to change. She really,

really,really wanted to fit in at school and have lots of friends. She was

extremely embarrassed by having OCD and crying and throwing up at school. And

we were more than happy to 'bribe' her also. We tried to make sure she got 0

positive reinforcement from having OCD...no babying, no special attention...and

TONS of positive reinforcement - shopping, trips, fun time alone w/ me or dad

for overcoming the behavior.

This stuff was also huge for my daughter! She was so motivated to not be afraid

of her classmate's germs . . . to not fall apart at school. The trick for us

was getting all the teachers on board with the " no babying, no special

attention " part of the whole thing. Fortunately her teacher knew right away how

to handle the situation and made the other teachers refrain from unwittingly

reinforcing the OCD.

Beth