Posted by blueberry on June 18, 2006, at 8:52:13
In reply to Is five weeks long enough to decide if it works?, posted by Bonnie_CA on June 18, 2006, at 3:18:32
A recent study involving thousands of patients over several years showed that many people who had not responded by 6 weeks did respond in the 8 to 12 week timeframe. That's an aweful long time to wait when you feel bad. Maybe in a clinical study it is easier because you are connected to other people involved.
On the other hand, there is some evidence that an early response is a fairly good predictor of a fuller recovery later on. But I've had the opposite happen as well where I felt better early but felt worse over time.
I think the main thing is the side effects...they should have diminished to tolerable levels by now and not have you crippled at 5 weeks. Since they haven't, that may well be the final deciding factor that you move to another medication.
Higher doses of prozac may be helpful for some people, but clinical studies show that doses higher than 20mg generally don't provide any more benefit. Some people actually do best on 5mg or 10mg a day. In any case, if you increase the dose to try to get more benefit, those side effects that are troubling you will become more intense as well.
poster:blueberry
thread:658217
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060617/msgs/658254.html