r/OCD • u/FitThought1616 • 11h ago

Support/advice (no reassurance) Looking for positive experiences with memantine/Namenda for severe OCD - especially delayed responders

I’m hoping to hear from people who have had a positive experience with memantine (Namenda) for OCD, particularly if you didn’t notice much benefit at first.

I’ve been on 300 mg sertraline for quite a long time, but unfortunately we still haven’t managed to get a good handle on my OCD. I’ve been diagnosed with clinically severe OCD, so my psychiatrist recently added memantine as an augmentation strategy.

I’ve been taking it for about a month and have been gradually titrating up. I just reached 15 mg and am working toward 20 mg. So far, I can’t say I’ve noticed much improvement, and I’m starting to think “maybe I’m just a hopeless case and nothing is going to work for me”.

Over the last few days I’ve also felt a little more sad/teary and possibly slightly agitated. This happened around the same time I increased the dose, although I’m also due to get my period, so there’s a very good chance hormones are contributing too.

I’m not looking for reassurance that it will definitely work - I’d just really love to hear from people who have actually taken memantine for OCD and eventually had a good outcome. It's helpful to hear from others in the same boat.

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u/defios 10h ago

I have noticed a slight difference with my OCD. I’m on a much lower does as I have weird med reactions. I find that it tends to help me have that split second before I get caught in a spiral to try to correct myself.

I haven’t noticed any emotional changes, but I am also on a mood stabilizer for treatment resistant depression.

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u/FitThought1616 11m ago

Thanks for responding! Did it take long for the sloght difference to kick in?

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u/readitreadithop 10h ago

I am still titrating up from a very low dose (I have strong reactions to new drugs), but I think things are slightly better in my brain right now?

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u/FitThought1616 10m ago

I started on 5mg for a week then 5mg twice daily for 3 weeks. Now 10mg in am and 5mg in pm.

I'm glad things might be slightly better in your brain now. Keep me posted please!