I was diagnosed with OCD or GAD doctor prescribed me Depran L in the night but whenever I stop medicine I got trapped into intrusive ongoing thoughts of catching Rabies or other doubts. Does I have to continue medicine for life long or I can stop?
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Hello
The treatment period depends upon the improvement we get on monitoring scales as followed upon pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods.
In variety of patients, there has been drastic improvement with the medications and therapies, when given in conjunction.
Reach out to me on Practo and there we can plan your personal treatment plan, and then we can further talk about it.
Thanks
Ocd and comorbid GAD needs longer treatment duration. But it depends on patients response and other factors too. You need to properly follow up and avoid skipping meds. Consult with me for further evaluation
Hi
I hear you — and you’re not alone in this struggle. What you’re experiencing is common for people with OCD or GAD, especially when the mind fixates on health-related fears like rabies. The intrusive thoughts feel very real, urgent, and convincing — and they tend to rebound hard when medication is stopped suddenly or without guidance.
Depran L (which contains Escitalopram and Clonazepam) helps stabilize the thought cycle and reduce the anxiety intensity. But the goal isn’t always to be on meds forever. With the right combination of medication and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — especially ERP (Exposure & Response Prevention) for OCD — many people are able to reduce their dependency over time. The key is to taper medication slowly under psychiatric supervision after you’ve built strong coping strategies and mental resilience through therapy.
You’re not weak for needing medication — think of it as stabilizers on a bicycle while you learn to ride again. Therapy is the long-term muscle you build. Take therapy, and you can connect with me on nine two six six seven two six zero six five.
Psychiatric issues like these require around 6-9 months of continuous treatment, during which you should be careful of not missing even a single dose of medication. You should make sure that you are visiting the psychiatrist as and when they call for follow up. As the doses have to be monitored and changed if the psychiatrist feels there is any change in symptoms. If you have left the medicine kindly consult and then start the medication course properly. If there is anything you would like to ask then you can consult me if you feel fit.
There is a course for taking medication ,otherwise there are higher chances of relapse…as it seems in your case
So you should not stop the medication without consultation
Thank you for sharing this â you're not alone in facing this kind of struggle.
From what youâve described â a diagnosis of OCD or GAD and recurrence of intrusive, distressing thoughts (e.g., fear of catching rabies) when stopping medication â itâs quite consistent with how these conditions behave.
Youâve been prescribed Depran-L, which contains Escitalopram (an SSRI) and Clonazepam (a benzodiazepine). This is a common starting treatment for OCD and GAD. Let me break it down clearly for you:
ð¹ Do you need to take medicine lifelong?
Not necessarily.
But long-term treatment is often recommended, especially in OCD, based on international guidelines:
For OCD:
First episode, mild-moderate: Continue medication for at least 1â2 years after you start feeling well.
If it returns after stopping (like in your case): We consider long-term or maintenance therapy, possibly for 3â5 years, sometimes longer.
If symptoms relapse every time you stop, a long-term plan is safer and more stable than stopping and restarting frequently.
For GAD:
Continue treatment for at least 6â12 months after symptoms resolve.
Taper off gradually, under supervision â stopping suddenly increases the risk of relapse.
ð¹ What can you do going forward?
Donât stop medication on your own â always taper under a doctorâs guidance.
Consider adding CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): This is as effective as medication in OCD and GAD â and combining both is the gold standard.
If your fear of rabies or health-related doubts are persistent and distressing, CBT with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is especially effective.
If needed, your psychiatrist might transition you off Clonazepam and continue only with SSRI, as long-term benzodiazepine use isn't ideal.
ð¹ Final thoughts:
No, lifelong medication is not always required â but long-term management is key.
Think of it like diabetes or high BP â some people need long-term meds, others can manage with lifestyle changes. The goal is always stable, symptom-free living, not just being off meds.
Youâre doing the right thing by asking and staying informed. Please donât hesitate to speak to your psychiatrist openly about these concerns â theyâll help tailor the plan for your specific needs.
Treatment can be continued from 6 months to 2 years depending on the severity of your symptoms. Do regular follow-ups with your treating psychiatrist so that symtoms can be monitored, medication adjusted and then gradually stopped only under the guidance of treating psychiatrist. Some cases may require lifelong medication. Concomitant psychotherapy/CBT is also helpful.
Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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