Posted by bigcat on August 17, 2005, at 10:03:52
In reply to Re: TOM and MARPLAN » Tom Twilight, posted by Declan on August 17, 2005, at 5:46:49
With my last doc, in practice for 30 years and very determined to bring me relief and I ready to guinea pig-myself (chop of balls, whatever) we've gone much higher than recommended doses on MAOI's (and other classes as well). This doesn't mean that higher is better, just that doctor's heed the PDR way too strictly. This board is good because it provides empirical evidence of people using this or that tweak or sometimes "unheard of" dose levels to respond.
Empirical evidence would show that these therapuetic range numbers are total horse-sh*t and can be eliminated to dust with "let's try it". I don't have a death wish, but I know what abnormalities to look out for, and that "toxicity" levels are thrown out there so a med doesn't get bad press if someone has a severely adverse reaction.
These numbers are for personal physcicians who want to presribe anti-d's, not psychiatrists willing to see through the propaganda. I can always either look past or tolerate side effects, and they never seem to hit me as hard as others.
When Nardil and Parnate were bailing out on me, we got up there. I'm guessing 120 Nardil (and I was at university at the time, not in a hospital). Anyway, it wasn't working for me. I would increase the dose every week, even every coupla' days, and I'd feel just right for 48 hrs., and then nothing.
I don't quite remember how high the Marplan got, but I think that went up to 90mgs (Parnate the same). I hope this doesn't frustrate you with your doc's caution, and a higher dose is NOT always the answer by any means. But some docs are simply more aggressive than others, and you'll always hear stories of a massive dose happening to be needed and working for someone.
This was not the case for me, but at least I checked out some unchartered waters and have an increased awareness of the flexibiltity of dose ranges. How can you objectify a "ceiling" dose when we're all wired and respond differently?
poster:bigcat
thread:541965
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050816/msgs/542940.html