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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fido on February 23, 2015, at 15:49:35
My doc has never suggested this. Now I wonder what if this should be done when an AD doesn't work simply to see how much of the drug is absorbed?
What if not measuring serum levels in treatment resistant cases is totally stupid and dangerous?
After reading a book about treatment resistant cases where the author always measured serum levels and often times they were way too low so that the patients needed much higher doses than normal I now wonder if this could have been the reason why antidepressants didn't work for me.
But on the other hand, if you are on a SSRI and for example get the usual side effects, like delayed orgasms, then doesn't this prove that the drug is being absorbed and that it must have reached a high blood level to cause these symptoms?
I really dont know, but I think from now on I will insist on measuring serum levels. I'm not doing this for fun. When I take a drug I want to know why it's not working.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on February 23, 2015, at 19:18:22
In reply to Does your doc measure serum levels of drugs?, posted by fido on February 23, 2015, at 15:49:35
>What if not measuring serum levels in treatment resistant cases is totally stupid and dangerous?
The main issue is that for most ADs, the relationship between the serum level and the clinical response is unclear. There are a few exceptions such as nortriptyline (and lithium).
Posted by fido on February 26, 2015, at 9:53:42
In reply to Re: Does your doc measure serum levels of drugs?, posted by ed_uk2010 on February 23, 2015, at 19:18:22
But if an AD is working and you're on a normal dose but serum levels are totally low for example then this would at least show you that you can increase the dosage and get into the normal serum range and then see what happens.
Posted by fido on February 26, 2015, at 9:54:26
In reply to Re: Does your doc measure serum levels of drugs?, posted by fido on February 26, 2015, at 9:53:42
i mean "if an AD is NOT working"
This is the end of the thread.
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