How to reduce glutamate levels in OCD?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 45-year-old male struggling with various mental health issues. I feel embarrassed to express my feelings. I tend to arrange everything in my room and on my office desk in a specific order, and even a tiny change can disturb me greatly. I frequently wash my hands out of fear of germs, and I sometimes have negative thoughts about myself, even resorting to self-harm over minor mistakes. After consulting a doctor, I found out that my glutamate levels were high. He recommended taking L-theanine 200 mg, which I have been using for a few weeks, and I have been getting better sleep. However, I would like to know how to reduce or control my glutamate levels, as they play a significant role in OCD. Are there any medications or supplements that can help address this glutamate spike? I appreciate your assistance.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I went through your query.

You are experiencing OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), which has two main components: obsessions, which are intrusive and repetitive thoughts that feel irrational yet are difficult to dismiss, and compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors or rituals performed to alleviate the anxiety caused by those obsessions. The more you engage in compulsive actions, the stronger the urge to continue doing them becomes. So, what’s the solution?

1. Acknowledge and Understand: Recognize that the fears associated with your obsessions are baseless and irrational. For example, if you believe that failing to arrange your desk in a specific way will lead to something terrible happening, that’s an obsession. Understand that merely having a negative thought does not cause bad things to happen. Therefore, you should resist the urge to perform a compulsive act (like rearranging your desk) to relieve anxiety. Do not engage in it.

2. Pharmacological Treatment: There are specific medications for treating OCD, and the supplement you are taking may not effectively address your condition. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), such as Fluoxetine or Fluvoxamine, are often recommended for OCD because they target the serotonergic system.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.