So far, we've talked about several of the potential physical side effects involved in treating OCD with medicines. Some side effects can include emotional changes, as well. In other words, sad to say, your anxiety symptoms may get worse! You may feel a greater than normal amount of fear, for instance, or sadness or other mood changes. (And, of course, your anxiety about starting to take medication in the first place may come into play.) It's important to stay in touch with your prescribing doctor and any therapist you may have, so that you can get the support you need, as well as help for the immediate psychological problem.

Nervousness

Some medications, most notably SSRIs, can increase anxiety or cause restlessness or agitation. (Indeed, at first you may not be able to tell whether you're more jittery or just experiencing your usual anxiety.) In some cases, your doctor might try decreasing your dosage for a short time, gradually bringing it back to its original level if necessary. Some people are just more medication-sensitive than others, so trial and error might be the only way to determine how well you tolerate the medication in question.

Fearing the Worst

It's natural to feel some anxiety about taking medication, especially when you're reading about all the potential side effects! However, it's important to realize that you might not experience any of these. Or you may find that you have one or two mildly annoying symptoms, but that the benefits of living a happier, less fearful life far outweigh them.

Over the last twenty to thirty years, many people who have OCD have been helped (in some cases, tremendously) by medication. Also, keep in mind that giving medication a try does not mean that you have to take it for life, or even for very long. Trying medication is by no means an irrevocable decision. If you do decide you'd like to do so, and later find that you have disconcerting side effects or grave misgivings, you can certainly stop taking it — with your doctor's guidance, of course.