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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sadieson on June 20, 2002, at 18:51:22
I currently take 225 mg effexor SR. It has helped calm my nerves (anxiety), and improve my concentration. It has not taken away the roller-coaster episodes of in and out of depression, yet it has taken away the very lowest scale of the suicide thoughts. I have been on this dose for 1.5 years. I recentlly came out of a 5 month slump of depression (as is my pattern). It was suggested to increase my dose to 300mg to prevent another downward phase. I would like opinions from others. Will the increase most likely relieve the depression phases, or has the medicine done all that it can for me and an increase would likely make no difference? Comments, opinions welcome. thanks
Posted by Sleepy Lizard on June 20, 2002, at 22:46:07
In reply to Effexor:Comments welcome:Increase dosage to 300mg?, posted by sadieson on June 20, 2002, at 18:51:22
I found this comment at http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/venlafaxine.html. Hope this helps you to make the decision.
How is treatment with venlafaxine initiated?
I usually start adults on 25 mg of venlafaxine every 12 hours. Every five days, I usually add 25 mg to each dose until the patient either responds or reaches reaches 150/day. If there is no response within 2 weeks of reaching 150 mg/day the dose is again increased in steps of 25 mg/dose until a total daily dose of 300 mg/day is achieved. If this dose is not effective, and the patient is tolerating the venlafaxine without problems, I then increase the dose to between 500 and 600 mg/day.When venlafaxine is given to elderly patients the starting dose is the same as for other adults. As older people may be more sensitive to increases in dose those increases should be made slowly.
What is the usual final dose of venlafaxine?
While doses up to 375 mg per day are approved by the FDA, some severely depressed patients have been treated with higher doses. Most depressed people respond to doses under 300 mg per day.
Posted by sadieson on June 22, 2002, at 14:57:04
In reply to Re: Effexor:Comments welcome:Increase dosage to 300mg?, posted by Sleepy Lizard on June 20, 2002, at 22:46:07
Thanks Sleepy Lizard for the information. Much appreciated. :) Sadieson
This is the end of the thread.
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