“Can I get addicted to my medication for OCD anxiety and depression?”
I am a 27 year old female. I want to know can I get addicted to my medication for OCD anxiety and depression?
6 Answers
It depends on the category of medicine. Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan) are definitely potentially addictive and properly are limited to very short-term use. Antidepressants, including the SSRIs used in OCD, are not, though their discontinuation syndrome can be very unpleasant if stopped suddenly.
No, but you need to taper the meds over 2 months to make a smooth transition from on meds to off meds.
It depends on the medication. In general no, but your symptoms will worsen if you stop.
No, you are not going to be addicted.
It’s not possible to answer that not knowing what meds you are taking.
People keep asking variations of this question, so you may want to read some of my earlier answers. The answer is it depends upon which medication you're taking. Benzodiazepines like Valium, Ativan, or Klonopin are relatively ineffective and have a substantial addiction risk. SRI antidepressants are effective for OCD, anxiety, and depression, and you can't get addicted to them. But you don't want to stop them suddenly, and many people need an extended taper so their original symptoms don't return.
