Clomipramine

[karimis]

Hey everyone,

I hope you're doing well. I have a question about clomipramine, and I'm eager to hear your insights. I've been taking clomipramine for 20 years to manage OCD and anxiety. But I started to worry about the adverse effects of long-term use of this medication.

Looking forward to connecting with you all!

[Red_Star]

I had severe OCD due to vitamin B12 deficiency. OCD came back years later to a milder degree with untreated hypothyroidism.  

“Research suggests that OCD involves problems in communication between the front part of the brain and deeper structures of the brain. These brain structures use a neurotransmitter (basically, a chemical messenger) called serotonin.”

“THE FOLLOWING FACTORS CAN CAUSE LOW SEROTONIN LEVELS:

Alcohol
Artificial sweeteners (aspartame)
Caffeine
Cigarette Smoking
Diabetes
Dietary deficiencies of nutrient co-factors
Ecstasy, Diet Pills, and certain medications
Genetic Predisposition
Hormone Imbalances (thyroid, adrenal, estrogen)
Hypoglycemia
Insulin Resistance
Inflammation
Infections
Poor Diet
Lack of exercise
Lack of sunlight
Problems converting tryptophan to Serotonin
Problems with Digestion
Stress and Anger
High Cortisol Levels”

[GuitarRox]

sorry for a huge delay in response!  Are you experiencing any negative side effects? Have you engaged in the gold standard of therapy for ocd which is exposure response therapy? Not giving into compulsive behavior and seeing that it is still okay or leaning into the thought that scares you without seeking resolving it can actually work to help it go away. But medication sure does help. SSRI's are often used now. But take a slightly higher dose for ocd. If clomiprimine is working, I would be inclined to continue it. GI effects and some mood changes are something you may read about but unless you are suffering them, I would not be concerned. It is considered a drug you take indefinitely. I would not worry about being on it long term!