Posted by SLS on December 5, 2002, at 23:10:08
In reply to Re: Should stay on med atleast 2 months before quittin, posted by bubble on December 5, 2002, at 13:31:22
I'd like to add a few cents here. I don't know where the two-month time period came from. Perhaps such a protocol exists, but I have never seen one. It seems that to avoid a relapse, most people need to remain on medication for at least 9 months. One doctor I spoke to suggested 12-14 months. I guess it really depends on the case history of the individual. If it is the first depressive episode and there are no other members of the family affected, perhaps six months would be sufficient. Some of the factors that indicate longer or indefinite treatment are:
1. Severity
2. Length of episode
3. Recurrent history
4. Early age of onset
5. Failure to respond to several antidepressants
6. Family history*** All too often, people whom are feeling great on medication "A" will discontinue it prematurely, thinking that they no longer need it. If a relapse is to occur, it usually does so within four months. It is not uncommon that returning to drug "A" fails to recapture the full antidepressant effect, if it has any effect at all. At this point, a painful and protracted period of successive drug trials may ensue in an attempt to find another effective drug.
If one's case profile indicates continual medication, it is my impression that going on and off medication (pulsing) leads to treatment resistance.
Everyone's needs are different. Certainly, it would be in one's best interest not to discontinue a course of antidepressant treatment until any existing psychosocial stresses are resolved.
In addition, there is no such thing as a reduced "maintenance" dosage of an antidepressant. One should be maintained on the same dosage that got them well in the first place.
Two months is at least six months too short, in my caring opinion.
Good luck.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:130549
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021203/msgs/130719.html