Hello doctor,
I have been diagnosed with hypochondria, specifically cancer phobia for more than 10 years with a need to rush for reassurance whenever thoughts come. I have been able to manage my work and family matters. I have been on SSRIs for several years. I was taking Escitalopram 10 mg which was changed to 20 mg after six to seven years by my doctor. Then I was taking Paroxetine 25 mg for a year, but changed due to weight gain. I went back to Escitalopram for a while. I had a cardiac stenting one year ago after which my medicine changed to Fluvoxamine 100 mg. It was effective but I used to feel drowsy and tired during day time even after reducing the dose to 50 milligrams. Then, I shifted to Sertraline 50 mg which was effective, but IBS symptoms badly flared up, and had to stop. Now I am on Escitalopram 5 mg for three weeks. I was fine for the first two weeks, but over the last week, I have been affected by various thoughts about the illness which are not going away. I have been also doing therapy with various psychologists during the past years, mostly the CBT model (exposure therapy) to deliberately keep thinking of the worrying thoughts, stop running for reassurance urgently, make positive affirmations regarding good health, etc. I have also consulted many psychiatrists but I am not comfortable with taking medicines like Risperidone, mood stabilizers, etc as prescribed by them. I am worried about their side effects. I always wanted to discontinue SSRI when I feel better, but I restart due to severe withdrawal symptoms.
Recently, one doctor has suggested Desvenlafaxine 50 mg, but I read that this causes BP elevation. I am already on medications for high BP and have a cardiac issue. I want to find a proper treatment regime or will it be possible for me to manage just by therapy without taking any medicines? If medicines are required, suggest to me some safe options which do not give cardiac, irritable bowel, and acidity issues.
Kindly help.