Posted by mattdds on May 2, 2003, at 15:32:43
In reply to Holy sh*t Batman! Another qstn from me..Anafranil, posted by ace on May 2, 2003, at 1:17:06
Ace,
No worries. There are blood tests readily available for clomipramine + desmethylclomipramine (the main metabolite) levels. I don't smoke, but needed a smaller dose to get to "therapeutic" levels because I tend to metabolize slow, back when my doc put me on imipramine (which didn't work for me). A blood level will allow your doc to titrate up to the right therapeutic levels, regardless of whether you smoke or not.
Hope this helps. Just tell your doc you want blood tests to get to therapeutic levels. He'll fill out a lab form, then you just go get your blood drawn. I think it is something like 150 ng/ ml or something like that, but you can do the research.
Good luck with the Anafranil. I think that you should definitely give it a try, it being the pharmacalogical "gold standard" for OCD and all.
BTW, I noticed you seemed worried about the early morning awakening from TCA's. I actually liked how imipramine made me really sedated at night and then I bolted out of bed at 6 in the AM. Do you have sleep problems? TCA's really do get you on a regular sleep schedule (at least for me). This was probably the only thing I really liked about imipramine. But it may prove to be bothersome for you, since we're all different. I am not sure if Anafranil will be the same, but I would imagine.
Take care.
Matt
poster:mattdds
thread:223782
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030429/msgs/223877.html