Posted by blueberry on April 16, 2006, at 17:15:12
In reply to How Long is a Fair Trial for an AD? Please Advise, posted by Tom Twilight on April 16, 2006, at 16:21:19
Tom, I feel so bad for how you are feeling. Just know that you are not the only one who feels trapped. I just prayed to God for you.
The most recent scientific data on antidepressant trial times...
Studies are now showing that those patients who show a decent response in the first 2 weeks are the ones that have the highest probability of reaching remission. The others can also improve with longer time, but the odds are strongly in favor of the early responders versus the non-early responders.
On the other hand, a recent 6 year study of thousands of patients showed that 12 weeks was the optimum time to judge effectiveness. Many patients who had not responded at 8 weeks did respond by 12 weeks. One of the major findings of the study was that doctors give up too quickly at 4 - 6 weeks.
But when your doctor says 6 months, that is just plain not backed up. I mean, sure, you would probably be better at 6 months than at 12 weeks, assuming a decent response was already underway. If you get to 12 weeks and things are bad, it is time for a switch or an add-on.
What meds have you already tried? What was good or bad about them? What choices are on your mind right now?
poster:blueberry
thread:633904
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060412/msgs/633910.html