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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 ace on May 2, 2003, at 1:17:06
Dudes, this has to do with Anafranil & smoking.
I average 10 smokes a day. What is that- a light smoker?
Anyhow, because smoking brings down Anafranil blood levels, I assume I will need a higher dose. Is this right. Say if I'm on 50mg, smoking cuases me only to get around 40mg of the drug - some such ratio?
Or do they mean smokers of 20+ cigs a day will have effect on the drug. Is 10 a day too low to have any marked effects.
We all no Zyprexa isn't good with smoking. But I read a case wher a dude smoked 2 packs a day (at least 40 cigs) and he said he found it had no effect on his drug.
Also in Pubmed somewhere (clomipramine+smoking search) I read that smoking may help alleviate some s/effects.
Give me your thoughts lads and lasses.
Also, Anfranil users, ex-users, did you smoke> how much?
Thanks dudes,
Ace.
No Bullshit, I am at uni and am just about to go out for a ciggie once this is posted!!!!
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
Posted by michael73 on May 4, 2003, at 1:43:27
In reply to Holy sh*t Batman! Another qstn from me..Anafranil, posted by ace on May 2, 2003, at 1:17:06
Using any nicotine, chew or cigs, I suffer extreme grogginess in the morning. I've wondered if the Anafranil had much to do woth that. I avoid nicotine chiefly because of that effect. Michael73
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 4, 2003, at 11:48:13
In reply to Holy sh*t Batman! Another qstn from me..Anafranil, posted by ace on May 2, 2003, at 1:17:06
> No Bullsh*t, I am at uni...
I'm sorry to be such a prude, but please don't use language here that could offend others, thanks.
Bob
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This is the end of the thread.
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