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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 Lia Mason on October 1, 2002, at 14:55:46
Hi,
I'm on 150 mg of imipramine for pain and it's helping a little, not enough. I had a blood level done and the level (after 1 month at 150) was shockingly low--46 and the target is 100+ I'm going to 200 but the doc said I seem to be "dumping" the drug before it gets to my bloodstream. Has anyone heard of this? Does it mean this isn't the drug for me? I had bad side effects on nortiptyline and desipramine didn't help, so... I really need imipramine to work.
Any wisdom appreciated...
Lia
Posted by Ritch on October 2, 2002, at 9:01:42
In reply to I'm fast metabolizing imipramine - explain??, posted by Lia Mason on October 1, 2002, at 14:55:46
> Hi,
>
> I'm on 150 mg of imipramine for pain and it's helping a little, not enough. I had a blood level done and the level (after 1 month at 150) was shockingly low--46 and the target is 100+ I'm going to 200 but the doc said I seem to be "dumping" the drug before it gets to my bloodstream. Has anyone heard of this? Does it mean this isn't the drug for me? I had bad side effects on nortiptyline and desipramine didn't help, so... I really need imipramine to work.
>
> Any wisdom appreciated...
>
> Lia
What other meds are you taking? Some meds enhance the levels of the enzyme that breaks imipramine down causing it to be eliminated more rapidly. When I was taking tricyclics my doctor told me that smoking caused the TCA to be eliminated more quickly.
Posted by Lia Mason on October 2, 2002, at 13:52:47
In reply to Re: I'm fast metabolizing imipramine - explain?? » Lia Mason, posted by Ritch on October 2, 2002, at 9:01:42
Thanks for responding. I've heard that about smoking, too. I only smoke 2-3 cigs a day, though. I'm also on Synthroid, Sam-e, Elmiron (interstitial cystitis med), tiny bit of effexor and tiny tiny bit of lexapro.
Lia
Posted by Ritch on October 3, 2002, at 13:07:52
In reply to Re: I'm fast metabolizing imipramine - explain??, posted by Lia Mason on October 2, 2002, at 13:52:47
> Thanks for responding. I've heard that about smoking, too. I only smoke 2-3 cigs a day, though. I'm also on Synthroid, Sam-e, Elmiron (interstitial cystitis med), tiny bit of effexor and tiny tiny bit of lexapro.
>
> LiaLia, you could get a liver "panel" done to see if there is something odd there. It also could be you are not *absorbing* the medication properly. If anything the Lexapro and Effexor would slightly elevate imipramine levels, the others I am not sure about. Maybe if you tried taking your imipramine at a different time of day or with a meal instead of on an empty stomach (or vice versa), that would help.
This is the end of the thread.
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