Hi doctor, I am bipolar with OCD. I also suffer from psychotic symptoms and also and I currently smoke a nicotine vape which I feel is keeping my moods stable and psychosis at bay. The only problem is that I feel my OCD is much worse. Could this be due to the nicotine in the vape? I would like to give up but worried I will become unstable. Is it possible the vape is making my OCD symptoms worse? I am currently on 75 mg of Chlorpromazine and a low dose of Diazepam for panic attacks.
Hello. Nicotine smoke could increase the stress and might make OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) symptoms worse. You have to stop this. You are on Chlorpromazine for mood and psychotic symptoms but there is no specific drug to control anxiety and obsessive thoughts. Drugs like Fluoxetine should be added to your prescription in order to improve the OCD symptoms and anxiety. A low dose can be used safely in bipolar disorder too. Please talk to your psychiatrist about this.