Posted by Cam W. on March 2, 2002, at 1:32:24
In reply to High Dose Effexor, posted by doglover on March 1, 2002, at 23:08:24
Doglover - The article that our pdoc was talking about was a relatively small study done with severely ill patients with melancolic depression, I believe. They were so severely depressed that they needed to be hospitalized, and (if I remember correctly) several were hospitalized because of suicidal ideation.
In the study, only a few of the inpatients were raised to the 600mg/day dose and subsequently responded. I have not personally heard of anyone taking up to 600mg of Effexor XR before responding (I believe that subjects in the study were taking the regular Effexor).
I do know of several people who have taken 450mg/day and subsequently responded, but I have also seen several people take take dose and have to stop the Effexor (or at least lower the dose) due to cognitive dulling (or "brain fog") and ataxia (problems with coordination in walking). Many of those who lowered the dose from 450mg subsequently responded to lower doses (eg. 225mg or 300mg) of Effexor XR.
I am sure that the study is available on MEDLINE. Try using the parameters "Effexor", "melancholia", "inpatient", "high-dose", &/or "600mg". I believe that I have the study in my files somewhere. If I were to guess, I would say that it is in either "The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry", "The American Journal of Psychiatry", or "The Archives of General Psychiatry" approximately between 1996 and 1998.
I hope that this is of some help. - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:96018
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020301/msgs/96032.html