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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mikez on December 8, 2007, at 23:30:46
My psych is having me try 30mg and then possibly 40. I am only getting a partial response at this stage even with 20. Normally I respond to the standard dose of SSRI and any push to a higher range, I get headaches and things get worse. However this hasn't happened with Lexapro. My pdoc also said she has a number of patients going above 20 and responding well. Do you feel that this is more common to go above 20mg and safe also? Has anyone done it? And why would the manufacturer state 20 as the maximum.
Thanx a lot!
Posted by nfc on December 9, 2007, at 0:05:03
In reply to Is 20mg Lexapro really the max?, posted by mikez on December 8, 2007, at 23:30:46
my old pdoc wanted me to go on 30mg lex b4 because of a chronic depressive and flat state. I was on 20mg at the time. I didn't at the time because I started doing research through books and the internet and the fact that I wasn't depressed b4 until i started taking risperdal. so I was blaming that medication and it was only month after stopping it while taking abilify in the process that I really started to feel better.
don't follow me though. as always u should always follow ur pdocs advice. but like many of who take psych meds, we've all probably experimented once maybe more.to answer ur Q's to the best of my abiility, it really depends on the individual lex can b quite safe for some, others will develop more side effects from it, yes there are some that take way over the 20mg stated max by the lex manufacturers. and i'm guessing 20mg was stated as max cuz thats what the manufacturer's trial tests concluded as the highest beneficial dose w/o giving an extreme amount of untolerable side effects. i could b wrong though.
More of your info could b given here like ur diagnosis as well as wat other meds u take. alot of stuff interact so that could be affecting you as well. only if you're comfortable disclosing it.
take care,
nfc
> My psych is having me try 30mg and then possibly 40. I am only getting a partial response at this stage even with 20. Normally I respond to the standard dose of SSRI and any push to a higher range, I get headaches and things get worse. However this hasn't happened with Lexapro. My pdoc also said she has a number of patients going above 20 and responding well. Do you feel that this is more common to go above 20mg and safe also? Has anyone done it? And why would the manufacturer state 20 as the maximum.
>
> Thanx a lot!
Posted by sunnydays on December 9, 2007, at 11:29:51
In reply to Is 20mg Lexapro really the max?, posted by mikez on December 9, 2007, at 10:56:04
I've done 30mg and had no side effects. It also didn't happen to work for me, but I think that was because I had been on Lexapro for 3 years and it just wasn't working for me in general anymore. I don't know why the drug company would say 20mg is the max - it probably has to do with what they tested though. Many doctors prescribe drugs differently than the manufacturers say based on much clinical experience and patients' own reports. I know it's been fairly common for me.
sunnydays
Posted by Phillipa on December 9, 2007, at 12:19:18
In reply to Re: Is 20mg Lexapro really the max?, posted by nfc on December 9, 2007, at 0:05:03
Seems like a lot of pdocs go over the max as mine tried with cymbalta. I think I'll start a thread on why. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on December 9, 2007, at 13:18:08
In reply to Re: Is 20mg Lexapro really the max? » mikez, posted by sunnydays on December 9, 2007, at 11:29:51
Sunnydays see my thread below as I don't understand how you can prescribe against what the own drug company says about their med? I'm getting so confused. Love Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on December 9, 2007, at 13:58:23
In reply to Is 20mg Lexapro really the max?, posted by mikez on December 9, 2007, at 10:56:04
It took 40 mg of Lexapro for me to respond to it. If you aren't experiencing side effects, then it's safe for your doctor to increase the dosage. You are lucky that your psych is willing to do what it takes to help you get well.
Maxime
> My psych is having me try 30mg and then possibly 40. I am only getting a partial response at this stage even with 20. Normally I respond to the standard dose of SSRI and any push to a higher range, I get headaches and things get worse. However this hasn't happened with Lexapro. My pdoc also said she has a number of patients going above 20 and responding well. Do you feel that this is more common to go above 20mg and safe also? Has anyone done it? And why would the manufacturer state 20 as the maximum.
>
> Thanx a lot!
Posted by yxibow on December 15, 2007, at 22:04:09
In reply to Re: Is 20mg Lexapro really the max?, posted by Phillipa on December 9, 2007, at 12:19:18
> Seems like a lot of pdocs go over the max as mine tried with cymbalta. I think I'll start a thread on why. Phillipa
Because for some particularly hard cases, and hopefully a skilled doctor, there can be justification for exceeding a standardized range on a particular item, such as an SSRI. Now Cymbalta is different, I actually requested it and though I did get results at 120, in the end, Lilly's internal notes noted that they had seen no improvement between 60 and 120.
Yes, sometimes its a bit too routine -- its how cautious a doctor is and how they predict you will respond. I do agree that sometimes the envelope is pushed a bit too far, but then its done at your consent ultimately. You don't have to take it and you have a right to input in your treatment.
Its known though in psychological circles that certain drugs have a wider range of lack of toxicity so that is why as a DEA/FDA licensed prescriber they are free to prescribe a particular dose or even change the reason for it.
For myself, 20mg lexapro was nauseating but then again I had other agents in my system.
This is the end of the thread.
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