Posted by Cam W. on March 30, 2001, at 13:22:26
In reply to Re: Started Effexor XR Today » Cam W., posted by SLS on March 30, 2001, at 8:56:14
Scott - I stopped the Wellbutrin back in November. Third time was not lucky, as it didn't seem to touch this latest round of depression (perhaps this last depression was more serotonergic in nature and may have been a reaction to the death of Suzanne, which I am not handling very well, as of late). I am having PTSD-like traits with this depression, so a serotonergic/norepinephrinergic antidepressant may do the trick.
The thing that I like about Effexor is that, as you increase the dose, you increase the efficacy. Whereas SSRI effect, after a certain blood level plateaus.
Naturalistic studies are done in people who do not have pure disorders. Whereas clinical trials exclude people for various reasons (usually to try to minimize cofounding variables of other disease states), naturalistic trials include people with comorbid medical and psychiatric problems. They mimic the "real world" use of the drug to a greater degree. Naturalistic studies can still be double blind, but are done to see if the confounding variables of other disorders and disease state affect the efficacy of the drug being tested. These studies (if done properly) are basically set up the same as the randomized, placebo controlled trial, but the exclusion criteria is greatly reduced. I would think (hope?) that investigators in a naturalistic study watch the groups being investigated much more closely for any potential problems that could arise.
I hope this helps and hope that you are keeping well. Yours in affliction - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010327/msgs/58080.html