Posted by MA on April 18, 1999, at 19:22:08
In reply to Re: Micro-doses?, posted by MA on April 18, 1999, at 19:14:57
I now know that I usually have the best response at a much lower dosage than most people. I have had so many really bad side effects to several meds, in particular, Zoloft, where I was increased to 450 mg, which I now know is outrageous.
I have taken Prozac from 10-20 mg, Paxil 10 mg, and Wellbutin 100-200mg. In the past before I was an "expert" on AD's I would increase my meds just like the doctor ordered. Now I take half of what is prescribed and only increase it if there is no improvement after a week or two. If I have any bad side effects, I cut back the dose to where the side effects.
dissapear.It has been the only way I can tolerate the meds. Small doses and very slow increases are the way!
> > Mini-doses are indeed effective for some people. Getting the lowest dose-form of an antidepressant and then halving or quartering it and then slowly building up to whatever is effective before the side effects take over. Once you start increasing the dose, when side effects begin, hold the dose there for at least a week or however long it takes for the side effect to diminish, then continue to increase it until the depression responds. Another alternative is to use mini-doses of two or more (hopefully only two) antidepressants (usually of different classes). I have recently heard tell that using Effexor and Remeron together negates all the side effects of both. Of course, could you possibly have two more expensive medications? No. However, if very small doses are used, the expense may be lessened. Also, don't forget the importance of what time of day you take a medication. Switching from morning to night or vice versa sometimes relieves lethargy/restlessness.
poster:MA
thread:4832
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990401/msgs/5028.html