Medications Used to Treat OCD

Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a life-long condition that can't be cured simply by taking a pill. However, certain kinds of medication can help maintain emotional stability, which allows therapy and other types of treatment to successfully address the condition.

SSRI Antidepressants

• SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft regulate serotonin levels in the brain, which are linked to emotional stability. This has proven effective in addressing OCD.

Tricyclic Antidepressants

• Tricyclic antidepressants are an older form of antidepressants. They are prescribed less often than SSRIs because they have more side effects and withdrawal symptoms.

MAOIs

• MOAI stands for monoamine oxidase inhibitor, and they are only occasionally prescribed for OCD. In some cases, however, they may prove effective when other medications have failed.

Atypical Antidepressants

• Atypical antidepressants are so named because they operate differently than other antidepressants (they affect different neurochemicals) and have different side effects. Their ranks include Effexor and Wellbutrin.

Other Medication

• Some doctors have reported incidents where OCD patients have benefited from medication such as Buspar, Parlodel, Klonopin and Xanax. Such cases are isolated, however, and you should speak to your doctor before considering such medication.