Posted by Cam W. on January 23, 2000, at 10:54:42
In reply to Re: Gender Biased Drug Trials and doses for females, posted by Cn. Michele on January 22, 2000, at 22:09:00
> > > As some of you must be aware Drug Trials are done on a white, male population sample.
> > >
> > > For a number of reasons, some of which are the changeable factors that menstration or menopause would pose to a drug study (not insurrmountable but perhaps more time consuming for the drug company)
> > > and the possibility of pregnancy and subsequent lawsuits (they could use a group of women that are sterilized or post menopausal) results of drug studies are gender biased.
> > >
> > > My psycdoc, being very much at the vanquard of treatment, starts her female patients on very small doses of AD's. For example I am very sensitive to side-effects and I started my Effexor treatment for the second time (2 years ago with bad results from side effects) at 1/8th of a 37.5mg tablet. That dosage is maintained for 7 days. Then increase to 1/4 tablet and so forth.
> > >
> > > I have zero side effects using this method and am building gradually to a level that gives me the positives I want without the negatives.
> > >
> > > Some of her patients have great results with miniscule amounts.
> > >
> > >
> > > Michele
> >
> > Hey! Sounds like homeopathy for psychotropics - well almost anyway...
> > Great idea from a progressive thinking pdoc.
> > I'm also "exquisitively sensitive" to these meds as my pdoc says so I'll recommend that strategy to them.
> > Any other tips from this doc of yours? It would be of great interest to us I'm sure. Maybe THEY can call up and advise Dr. Jensen ;-).
> >
> > S.
>
> Those were my doc's exact words actually, "homeopathic quantities". How sensible to gently introduce the brain to this new item. My doc's idea is for me, the patient, to feel well, not snowed under by side effects. I am feeling considerable improvement after almost 3 weeks of venlafaxine and am sleeping well, normal appetite etc.
> I think the heart of the matter is that the standard dosages that are recommended are based on gender baised studies. I am a 48 year old post menopausal women of small stature. I feel the effects of most medicene ie, cold medications and such, very readily and most be careful about what I take. That is my system. The standard starting dose of an AD could very well be too much too soon for many people.
>
> The idea of starting super slowly makes a great deal of sense to me - and it feels good too.
>
> Michele> Fellow Canadian Michele. Yes, all drug trials are done on mostly white males. I also believe that most antidepressants are started at too high of doses in everyone. Your body needs to adjust to the drug and this can take 2-4 weeks. (Downregulation and de-sensitization of neuroreceptors, etc.) Yes, your doctor is progressive and I applaud her. Once past the four weeks the drug can slowly be increased until an adequate effect is acheived.
> Good luck and thanks for bringing to light so timely advice. Also, not only women, but the elderly and those with concomittant disoders can value from this advice as well. Cam, pharmacy consultant, mental health services
poster:Cam W.
thread:19419
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000112/msgs/19457.html