- Am I Addicted?
QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I have been diagnosed as being clinically depressed and suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder. I had been taking 20mg of Prozac for a prolonged period of time but was switched to a combination of 20 mg of Paxil and Lithium. When I forget to take my medication I panic that I won’t be able to make it through the day without all hell breaking loose. To overcome this sense of panic, I am forced to concentrate extremely hard at whatever task is at hand. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Am I chemical dependant? Additionally, I have been having problems with erectile dysfunction since starting on this medicinal protocol. Are these symptoms typical of the drug interaction, or am I a victim of something more insidious? Many thanks for your reply, if you are able to find the time.
ANSWER:
No, you’re not addicted to either medication. You likely have many anxiety disorders including panic, OCD, possibly OCPD, BPD and the possibility of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). I’ve treated many patients with attention deficit disorder combined with depression who described being able to “overcome” their anxiety and inattention problems with “hyperfocusing.” Making all the diagnoses and treating them is crucial. I’d highly recommend you look at the screening test I use for my patients. Regarding the sexual dysfunction, while it’s possible that the medications are causing it – or that something significant is going on (very unlikely), I’d be more inclined to believe that heightened anxiety is the biggest problem. A description I like to give is if you and your mate were alone in a cave and a hungry lion came in the cave and saw you, what would happen to your sexual interest? It’s this same physiology that is likely to blame – or at least a major cause. Ginkgo biloba (60-220mg daily) can be effective for many patients, but don’t take it without discussing it with your doctor first.
