How effective is celexa in the treatment of OCD?

In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “How effective is celexa in the treatment of OCD?”. Celexa, brand name for citalopram, is an antidepressant which is used to treat a variety of mental health conditions including obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). 

This blog is all about the safety and efficacy of this antidepressant in the treatment of OCD. We will also look at some experiences shared by people who have taken celexa for OCD. 

How effective is celexa in the treatment of OCD? 

Celexa is quite effective in the treatment of OCD and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this mental health condition. It has a success rate of about 65-75% in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder. 

It is also considered safe and effective for the treatment of OCD in children and adolescents. Celexa is an antidepressant which belongs to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). 

It increases the amount of serotonin in your body, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter responsible for performing a number of psychological functions. 

People with OCD usually lack this neurotransmitter, which results in erratic and obsessive behaviour. The use of celexa can really help tone down the symptoms and intrusive thoughts associated with OCD. 

Proper diagnosis is crucial in case of mental illnesses. They are often mistaken for unnecessary overthinking and exaggeration. It is extremely important to medically diagnose these conditions as such people need proper help. 

If you see someone going through some unusual mental changes or you’re the one feeling that way, make sure you talk to your healthcare provider. 

What does research suggest? 

Several research studies have monitored the effects of celexa (Citalopram) in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder, as it is approved by the FDA. A 2001 study monitored and compared the effects of different dosage strengths including 20 mg, 40 mg and 60 mg celexa. 

The study was conducted on 400 patients for the period of 12 to 16 weeks. The study concluded that all three doses were found safe and effective for the treatment of OCD and significant changes were observed after the 12 week study.

OCD patients seem to have lesser intrusive thoughts and their obsessive behaviour was very much controlled. Another 1999 study indicated the clinical significance of celexa in the treatment of OCD which was resistant to other treatment options. 

The trial was based on 90 days of study and it concluded that 35 to 45% patients seemed to show a reduction in compulsive symptoms. Another study monitored the effects of intravenous celexa for the treatment of OCD which was also resistant to other medications. 

The study concluded that IV infusion of this antidepressant was indeed safe and well tolerated in the majority of individuals. 

The study also indicated that it significantly reduced the incidence of intrusive thoughts and obsessive behaviour including taking repeated showers or the act of washing their hands over and over again. 

These trials indicate that the promising effects of celexa were key to getting this drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of OCD. 

However, studies also suggest that a few people in these trials could not tolerate celexa well which led to the discontinuation of treatment in such individuals. 

What people have experienced so far? 

A few people have shared their experiences on celexa. One user stated:

“I’ve had OCD since I was a child. Now I’m 52 years old so you can imagine how I’ve spent almost all of my life battling with OCD. During this time, celexa has been a great friend for me because it not only reduced my physical symptoms but also broke the cycle of my intrusive thoughts which were eating me up from inside.”

Another user stated:

“I have suffered from OCD since my teenage years but I never took any medication for it. It wasn’t that bad and I could easily differentiate between what’s right and what’s not, what’s real and what’s just in my head. It was a well controlled mental health condition and I never visited a doctor for it.”

The user continued:

” My OCD got worse when my husband bailed on me, on us. He left me with our two kids and no money and that’s when things started to go south for me. I visited my doctor when I stopped differentiating between reality. I thought of committing suicide multiple times but the mother in me woke me up and made me go to the doctor. “

This is indeed heartbreaking to see how much she had gone through. OCD or any other mental health condition can get much worse with the added stress and worries. She continued:

“My practitioner put me on 20 mg celexa. The first few weeks were no fun as I couldn’t fall asleep at night and couldn’t stay awake during the day. As the time went on, I started to notice a difference in my behaviour. Celexa has worked out for the best for me and I’m almost back to my normal self.”

Antidepressants are not like other medications which resolve your problems in an hour or two. These agents take time to work, usually 4 to 6 weeks. 

Make sure you stay consistent and don’t ever stop your treatment halfway. It will not only subject you to withdrawal syndrome, but will also result in therapeutic failure and your symptoms might start to get much worse. 

What are the recommended doses of celexa for OCD? 

• For adults: The treatment is usually started from 20 mg/day, taken usually at morning or whatever time is suggested by your healthcare provider. However, the dose can be adjusted by the healthcare provider if needed and should not exceed 40 mg/day. 

• For elderly people: The treatment usually starts from 20 mg/day. However, the dose can be adjusted by the healthcare provider if needed.

• For children: Dose is suggested by the doctor according to the condition and body weight.

How can obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affect you? 

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a condition characterised by troublesome thoughts that won’t go away, no matter what you do, and a weird urge to do things over and over again. Many people suffering from OCD experience obsessive self hygiene patterns. 

They would go over and over again to wash their hands and even take repeated showers. Such people follow a certain pattern and obsessively stick to it. 

The most disturbing thing that people with OCD go through is the voices in their heads. Such people are subjected to intrusive thoughts, which can get extremely bizarre. These include:

Thoughts related to self harm: People suffering from OCD might think of ending their lives in gruesome ways.

• Thoughts of harming your loved ones: Some people suffer from disturbing thoughts of killing their own children, parents, friends or spouses. 

• Intrusive thoughts related to sexual desire: People might feel like engaging in sexual activites with inappropriate relations like siblings, children, relatives etc. 

• Now this is an alarming state. At first, these disturbing thoughts begin to cross the patient’s mind. 

He or she might be able to differentiate these thoughts from reality and might convince themselves that this is all just in their heads, but as the disease progresses, the fine line between reality and illusion starts to fade away. 

This can result in a terrible condition in which neither the patient nor his or her loved ones are safe. 

Researchers have revealed that some people ended up actually killing their loved ones. One woman strangled her own 11-month old baby boy, as the voices in her head kept telling her that he’s a threat. 

The reason behind telling you is not to scare you off, but to spread awareness that you should never let your mental health deteriorate to this level and start seeking medical help. Step out of denial and talk to your mental healthcare professional.  

Conclusion 

In this blog, we talked about the effectiveness of celexa for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. People have come forward over the years and have revealed how celexa helped them to overcome OCD symptoms. 

Some people reveal how they were reluctant at first, but seeking medical help was the best decision they made. OCD is indeed a disturbing illness and people suffering from it are terribly affected. They get weird urges to do things over and over again. 

The voices in their head start to tell them to hurt their own family members. Some people in the past have acted upon it as well and they totally gave in to those terrible urges. It is extremely important to seek immediate medical help as soon as you start noticing obsessive behaviour. 

FAQs: celexa OCD

Is Celexa good for OCD?

Celexa is pretty effective in the treatment of OCD and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this mental health condition. It has a success rate of about 65-75% in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder. It is also considered safe and effective for the treatment of OCD in children and adolescents. 

Does citalopram help with OCD thoughts?

Yes, citalopram can help with OCD thoughts. Celexa is an antidepressant which belongs to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It increases the amount of serotonin in your body, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter responsible for performing a number of psychological functions. 

People with OCD usually lack this neurotransmitter, which results in erratic and obsessive behaviour. The use of celexa can really help tone down the symptoms and intrusive thoughts associated with OCD. 

How long does celexa take to work for OCD?

Celexa usually takes up to 4 weeks of treatment to start producing noticeable therapeutic results in the treatment of OCD. However, this time duration can vary from person to person. Some people may start to notice changes earlier than others. 

Is Celexa or Prozac better for OCD?

Both celexa and prozac are used for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and both of these belong to the same class of antidepressant. However, one of them may produce better effects than the other one but it totally depends on the person taking it and the fact that which one of these antidepressants suit him or her better. 

What is the dose of celexa for OCD?

For adults: The treatment is usually started from 20 mg/day, taken usually at morning or whatever time is suggested by your healthcare provider. However, the dose can be adjusted by the healthcare provider if needed and should not exceed 40 mg/day. 

For elderly people: The treatment usually starts from 20 mg/day. However, the dose can be adjusted by the healthcare provider if needed.

For children: Dose is suggested by the doctor according to the condition and body weight.

What is the strongest medication for OCD?

The most effective medications for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are antidepressants, which belong to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Examples include Lexapro (Escitalopram), Zoloft (Sertraline), Celexa (Citalopram), Prozac (Fluoxetine) and Paxil (Paroxetine).

References 

• H Koponen et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand. (1997) – Citalopram in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: an open pilot study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9395151/
• Silvio R Bareggi (2004) – Citalopram concentrations and response in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Preliminary results https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15089116/#:~:text=Objective%3A%20Citalopram%2C%20a%20highly%20potent,concentration%2Deffect%20relationships%20for%20SSRIs
• Stefano Pallanti (2002) – Citalopram intravenous infusion in resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: an open trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12363120/
• M T Pato (1999) – Beyond depression: citalopram for obsessive-compulsive disorder https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10471169/
• S A Montgomery (2001) – Citalopram 20 mg, 40 mg and 60 mg are all effective and well tolerated compared with placebo in obsessive-compulsive disorder https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11236072/