The sessions with my shrink for hypochondria and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) remarkably improved, but the biggest stumbling block was the medication, for I did not seem to be doing well on it. I am referring to the Zoloft. For a while I simply did not take it because of the side effects, although I felt that I was missing out on some possible assistance in dealing with OCD. What to do? This was a quandary.
My shrink began to push a little harder for me to take it, saying that with continued use the side effects would eventually wear off. She suggested that I cut the tiny pills in fourths and take one fourth at bed time, every other day. The late night dosage was recommended because the pills made me drowsy. The fact that the pills made me sleepy wasn’t really the problem. The ensuing headaches and grogginess were the problem.
Well, I began cutting the pills in fourths and taking them every other day. The side effects continued but to a lesser degree. I remember very clearly the day I reported back to Dr. Romero about the side effects, and that I wasn’t happy with this medication. She then recommended that I cut the pills in eighths. Have you ever tried to cut a tiny pill in eighths? It is quite a chore, believe me. Of course the little segments were not exact. Actually when I went to take the tiny portion at night I could barely see it, and sometimes in the cutting some of the bits of the pill would fly off like dust.
An eighth of a pill every other night was what I ingested for a while. Guess what. Yes, the headaches continued, but in a milder form. I was determined to go through with it this time, thinking that now I would have the full benefits of my treatment; therapy coupled with medication. I was convinced I was doing everything possible to overcome my OCD.
After weeks of this dosage, I came to the realization that the pills weren’t really helping at all, and those mild headaches continued. Enough of this I thought. I told my shrink about my misgivings, and she suggested I switch to another medication, and this time it would be one that calmed my anxiety throughout the day. Anxiety seemed to be the main culprit in the OCD process. So now I have to get a prescription for anther pill, and we shall see how that goes. Due to my extreme sensitivity to medications, the next pill will also be administered in small dosages.