Should I go up a dose? OCD, Anxiety, Depression help please!

Hey there~

So I've been on 20 mg of Paxil for the past 6 weeks (tomorrow hits my 6 week mark, exactly) and taking .5 of Ativan when needed. Haven't taken it recently, and not sure I want to.

Anyway.
Around my 4 week mark, I was feeling really well. My OCD was still around, but not as bad as it had been a month previously. Now that I'm approaching my 6 week mark, I am all of a sudden feeling really down in the dumps. Winter is getting ridiculously long, and of course it's been a rainy day- maybe that all attributes to it- but my depression is acting up, and I can't stand it. I feel my anxiety and OCD at a random spike. Not as bad as in the past, but all of a sudden it's acting up again. I'm not sure it's just a "one moment" kind of deal, so I'm not sure that taking my Ativan will help at the moment.

I have a doctors appointment at the 7 week mark (so next Friday) and I'm basically just wondering if I should request an increase in my Paxil. I remember the doctor saying that some OCD patients of hers are on higher doses, but since I was responding well, she will keep me where I am. Of course, that was over a month ago. Things are better than they were OFF the pill, but I still feel likes there room to grow.

Any recommendations? Should I go on an additional pill? Go up a dose? Take an Ativan right now?

Any advice helps!

MDR,

You bring up some wonderful observations regarding how you feel now, how you felt then, and how you feel there's still some wriggle room.

I would discuss these with your doctor next week exactly as you put it to us, because you worded it quite well!

Trying to remember that we are individuals and not to assume we simply must be like "everyone else" who is on a different med or different dose, -- we need to focus on how we are unique, and we respond to everything, from meds to life, in our own unique way.

I commend your observations and think your doctor will as well,--only she can advise you where to take it from here.




M.