Posted by JohnL on October 25, 1999, at 13:18:48
In reply to Dr Jensen protocol, posted by My name isn't missing!!!! on October 25, 1999, at 9:35:08
Personally I would be hesitant. Several reasons. Though we can hypothesize what our individual imbalances are, there are too many mysteries and variables to have any accuracy. If someone could do that, they'ld have already won a Nobel Prize.
We never know what works until there has been a good trial. Doctors in-the-know have discovered through experience that anything short of 3 months is not a good trial. That's 3 months at the high end of the dose range. I agree with you that if there is a good initial response then that should be the right drug. But it doesn't work that way, sadly. Many times that initial response is related to a mild hypomania or some other bodily reaction. These drugs take weeks to work. So anything that works in a few days is suspect. It's wonderful, but suspect.
I've had real good initial reactions to some drugs, only to find the response deteriorated rapidly thereafter regardless of dosage or length of time. And some drugs that seemed horrible at first seemed to get better and better week after week. It was only intolerable sexual side effects that caused me to eventually continue my search.
It's just my opinion based on my own experience and what experienced psychiatrists write about, but I respectfully disagree strongly with dr jenson's protocol. Antidepressants just don't work that way to fit into a neat simple short strategy...sadly. My vote is I don't think you should pursue it. By following this strategy you will likely bypass the best drug because it wasn't given a good trial. Believe me, I wish there was an easier way. You'll take more time hopping around from drug to drug and getting nowhere than you would focusing on good trials. We learn solid facts through good trials. Short trials tell us nothing. Just my experience.
poster:JohnL
thread:13841
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991028/msgs/13858.html