Licensed from
Gale Cengage Learning

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Basics

Definition & SymptomsCauses & Risk FactorsTests & DiagnosticsTreatmentsDrugs & SupplementsAlternative TherapiesComplicationsPrevention

Multimedia

ImagesVideosRelated Articles
Related Topics
Health Topics »
Health Search

Symptoms Search

Explore other causes of

Anxiety
Abnormal compulsion
Compulsive cleaning

Doc Search

Find doctors for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Drug Search

Explore and compare medications

Drugs

The most useful medications for the treatment of OCD are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which affect the body's reabsorption of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that helps to transmit nerve impulses across the very small gaps between nerve cells. These drugs, specifically clomipramine(Anafranil), fluoxetine(Prozac), fluvoxamine(Luvox), sertraline(Zoloft), and paroxetine(Paxil) have been found to relieve OCD symptoms in over half of the patients studied. It is not always possible for the doctor to predict which of the SSRIs will work best for a specific patient. Lack of response to one SSRI does not mean that other drugs within the same family will not work. Treatment of OCD often proceeds slowly, with various medications being tried before the most effective one is found. While studies report that about half of those treated with SSRIs show definite improvement, relapse rates may be as high as 90% when medications are discontinued.

Toptop

Related Articles

Fluoxetine
FLUOXETINE (floo OX e teen) belongs to a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It helps to treat mood problems such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and panic attacks. It can also treat certain eatin...  More »
GOLD

Sertraline
SERTRALINE (SER tra leen) is used to treat depression. It may also be used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-trauma stress, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) or social anxiety.  More »
GOLD

Paroxetine
PAROXETINE (pa ROX e teen) is used to treat depression. It may also be used to treat anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic attacks, post traumatic stress, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).  More »
GOLD

Toptop

Follow Yahoo! Health on and become a fan on

Follow @YahooHealth on
Related Videos
More Videos »
Related Health News

Talk therapy may ease OCD in kids

Sep 20, 2011 - Reuters

Anxiety disorders in youth tied to heart risks later

Jun 21, 2010 - Reuters

When Protecting Baby Becomes an Obsession

Sep 09, 2011 - HealthDay