Wellbutrin for OCD Symptoms and Co-Morbid Conditions

The anxiety disorder known as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, OCD, goes beyond the signs and symptoms seen on popular television shows such as Monk and are not only inclusive of shows about OCD patients with hoarding issues. The treatment of OCD as a whole involves not only treating the symptoms of OCD but also the conditions that are most often associated with it, known as a co-morbid condition.

Typically an anti-depressant with an SSRI property will be prescribed to a patient with OCD, however, new research has found that combining an antidepressant with SSRI along with a medication such as Wellbutrin for OCD have been relatively effective in hitting most of the bases of OCD symptoms and the co-morbid conditions most often found with the disorder.

How Does Wellbutrin Help with OCD

Wellbutrin is FDA approved for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and also often used as a smoking cessation aide. It is not approved to treat OCD, however some of the symptoms and associated conditions of OCD warrant the use of this atypical antidepressant for the full treatment of OCD.

Wellbutrin for OCD Co-Morbid Condition MDD

Many patients with OCD often find that they also suffer from chronic or bouts of Major Depressive Disorder. In order to be diagnosed with this type of depressive disorder you must meet a certain criteria and numerous OCD patients do. Some of the symptoms of MDD, major depressive disorder, include a generalized feeling of depression, a depressed state, sadness, loss of interest or pleasure in things or activities the person once enjoyed, lack of sleep or oversleeping, loss or gain in appetite as well as weight, thoughts or attempts of suicide, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness. Experiencing these symptoms for at least two weeks could likely mean the OCD patient is suffering from MDD and a treatment with Wellbutrin could help dramatically. Many patients who suffered from MDD or have relapsing episodes of MDD have found the use of Wellbutrin for OCD associated condition of MDD have been extremely helpful.

Wellbutrin on its own will not treat all of the symptoms of OCD. OCD, if medication treatment is necessary, requires the use of medications containing SSRI. The active properties of Wellbutrin do not focus on serotonin but on the neurotransmission of dopamine and nor-epinephrine in the brain. By combining these two types of anti-depressants a clinician is more likely to help the OCD patient to handle a larger portion of their unique OCD symptoms as well as the co-morbid conditions often found in people with obsessive compulsive disorders.

Sources:

www.ocdproject.org
www.ocdonline.com
www.psychiatryonline.org
www.wikipedia.org/bupropion
www.psychiatrictimes.com