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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Roslynn on August 24, 2011, at 15:28:51
Hi folks,
I'm taking several meds and the most recent addition is Savella. My pdoc is slowly increasing my dose and I'm now at 100mg. Thing is, I keep a record of my moods and it seems I was feeling better on 75mg. (I've been on 100mg for 10 days now.) If this were you, would you stay at the higher dose (100 mg) and stick it out, in the hopes that you will feel better, or just drop back down to the 75mg?
Thanks for any input!!
Roslynn
Posted by Christ_empowered on August 24, 2011, at 16:03:38
In reply to Possible to do better on a lower dose?, posted by Roslynn on August 24, 2011, at 15:28:51
I'd drop down to 75mgs, personally. My main experience is with neuroleptics. With those drugs, its definitely possible for an overzealous doctor to overmedicate you in the hopes of getting more improvement, faster. I imagine the same is true of most psychiatric drugs.
Posted by Roslynn on August 24, 2011, at 16:12:42
In reply to Re: Possible to do better on a lower dose?, posted by Christ_empowered on August 24, 2011, at 16:03:38
Posted by Phillipa on August 24, 2011, at 20:03:08
In reply to Possible to do better on a lower dose?, posted by Roslynn on August 24, 2011, at 15:28:51
Agree with CE. Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on August 24, 2011, at 21:52:53
In reply to Possible to do better on a lower dose?, posted by Roslynn on August 24, 2011, at 15:28:51
Hey Roslynn,
How long were you at the 75mg dose? Were you satisfied with the improvements you noticed at that dose?
I'm wondering what symptoms you notice at the 100mg, and if you pdoc has plans to go beyond 100mg.
I do think it is possible to do better on a lower dose. That's not to say I think a lower dose is best. I usually do better on lower doses for some meds, like pristiq. Others, like wellbutrin, I was at the max.
How would you say the Savella is working so far?
Posted by Roslynn on August 25, 2011, at 15:28:36
In reply to Re: Possible to do better on a lower dose? » Roslynn, posted by floatingbridge on August 24, 2011, at 21:52:53
Hey FB,
I was at the 75 mg for 9 days or so. Less than 2 weeks.
My side effects on the 100mg are dizziness, headache, being spaced out and forgetful (but less than some other meds I've tried).
Now today, i hit a major mood slump, feel like the depression could be returning. I haven't started crying yet, but it's like all the hopeless and negative thoughts are returning.
How are you doing??
> Hey Roslynn,
>
> How long were you at the 75mg dose? Were you satisfied with the improvements you noticed at that dose?
>
> I'm wondering what symptoms you notice at the 100mg, and if you pdoc has plans to go beyond 100mg.
>
> I do think it is possible to do better on a lower dose. That's not to say I think a lower dose is best. I usually do better on lower doses for some meds, like pristiq. Others, like wellbutrin, I was at the max.
>
> How would you say the Savella is working so far?
>
>
Posted by floatingbridge on August 25, 2011, at 17:37:35
In reply to Re: Possible to do better on a lower dose? » floatingbridge, posted by Roslynn on August 25, 2011, at 15:28:36
Oh dear, Roslynn. Today doesn't sound so good so far.
Well, did you feel benefits at 75mg.?
Ten days at the 100mg? I would think the sx you describe might have abated by now. I don't know.
My experience of going to higher doses
has, well, both pristiq being pushed to 100mg. and cymbalta being pushed up felt agitating in an odd way, and I felt like, well, both times I cried at the
doctor's to lower my dose (pristiq) or
stop (cymbalta). This is my experience
with snri's (except effexor which I tolerated well enough) and other med categories as well.
When do you consult with your doctor again? It might be worth a call if you
can. Even if you and he (?) decide this is a bump in the road, I think s/he should know. (And your mood and experience acknowledged and not possibly tank.)So sorry right now. You'll get through this. Trials are trying :-/
Posted by Roslynn on August 26, 2011, at 15:22:52
In reply to Re: Possible to do better on a lower dose? » Roslynn, posted by floatingbridge on August 25, 2011, at 17:37:35
Hi FB,
Yes, i did feel benefits at the 75mg.
The side fx are much greater at the 100mg. I feel very slow.
I think I might drop back down to 75mg.Hope you are doing okay, FB.
Roslynn
> Oh dear, Roslynn. Today doesn't sound so good so far.
>
> Well, did you feel benefits at 75mg.?
>
> Ten days at the 100mg? I would think the sx you describe might have abated by now. I don't know.
>
> My experience of going to higher doses
> has, well, both pristiq being pushed to 100mg. and cymbalta being pushed up felt agitating in an odd way, and I felt like, well, both times I cried at the
> doctor's to lower my dose (pristiq) or
> stop (cymbalta). This is my experience
> with snri's (except effexor which I tolerated well enough) and other med categories as well.
>
>
> When do you consult with your doctor again? It might be worth a call if you
> can. Even if you and he (?) decide this is a bump in the road, I think s/he should know. (And your mood and experience acknowledged and not possibly tank.)
>
> So sorry right now. You'll get through this. Trials are trying :-/
>
>
>
>
Posted by bleauberry on August 27, 2011, at 17:34:57
In reply to Possible to do better on a lower dose?, posted by Roslynn on August 24, 2011, at 15:28:51
If it were me I would definitely go back to 75mg. IMO the dose that feels the best overall is better than a preconceived target dose. I've heard of people on as little as 1mg lexapro or 5mg prozac or 37.5mg effexor, and similar. Me, doses even lower. I would also expect a little weirdness for a few days during the transition back down in dose, sort of a short term mini-moderate withdrawal thing. Maybe. You'll have to do whatever you do but I just wanted to share and say yes some people do best on low doses and some even on ultra low doses. I think doses are often started too high and sometimes increased too fast or too high. But each person is different. I find I do best on ultra low doses when I take meds.
My best dose of Savella was 18mg per day in 3 divided doses each of 6mg. I made custom doses since it's pretty easy. But I couldn't even do the basic minimum dose of 25mg because it just didn't feel good at all but 18.5mg did. This shortly after ECT failure. And it friggin worked pretty good. Surprised me. Imagine that, Savella better than ECT. Ultra low dose at that. Well we're all different but that's how it was with me.
Anyway,is a low dose better than a more common higher dose? If you feel better on the lower dose, then yeah.
Posted by Roslynn on August 28, 2011, at 10:49:02
In reply to Re: Possible to do better on a lower dose?, posted by bleauberry on August 27, 2011, at 17:34:57
Bleauberry,
Thank you for much for your opinion on reducing the dose. I feel better hearing from others who have been through the same thing.
Thanks again,
Roslynn> If it were me I would definitely go back to 75mg. IMO the dose that feels the best overall is better than a preconceived target dose. I've heard of people on as little as 1mg lexapro or 5mg prozac or 37.5mg effexor, and similar. Me, doses even lower. I would also expect a little weirdness for a few days during the transition back down in dose, sort of a short term mini-moderate withdrawal thing. Maybe. You'll have to do whatever you do but I just wanted to share and say yes some people do best on low doses and some even on ultra low doses. I think doses are often started too high and sometimes increased too fast or too high. But each person is different. I find I do best on ultra low doses when I take meds.
>
> My best dose of Savella was 18mg per day in 3 divided doses each of 6mg. I made custom doses since it's pretty easy. But I couldn't even do the basic minimum dose of 25mg because it just didn't feel good at all but 18.5mg did. This shortly after ECT failure. And it friggin worked pretty good. Surprised me. Imagine that, Savella better than ECT. Ultra low dose at that. Well we're all different but that's how it was with me.
>
> Anyway,is a low dose better than a more common higher dose? If you feel better on the lower dose, then yeah.
>
>
>
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