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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bubble on December 4, 2002, at 15:18:42
My pdoc perscribed me seroquel three weeks ago and every week the dosage was increased. Now I want to quit (gradually) but my mom said it’s too early because of being unsafe. She said to wait one or two months for the med to “settle in” before quitting (starting to ween it off). Does this make sense?
Posted by justyourlaugh on December 4, 2002, at 16:00:50
In reply to Should stay on med atleast 2 months before quittin, posted by bubble on December 4, 2002, at 15:18:42
bubble-
i take it too..
it took almost 6 weeks to start working?
but i am still not sure what it is suppose to do?
i take it at night to sleep
jyl
Posted by bubble on December 5, 2002, at 13:31:22
In reply to Re: Should stay on med atleast 2 months before quittin » bubble, posted by justyourlaugh on December 4, 2002, at 16:00:50
My mom thinks it's not good to withdraw from it too early from the starting of taking it. (Even with a slow taper).
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
Posted by Krysti on December 7, 2002, at 15:25:08
In reply to Re: Should stay on med atleast 2 months before quittin, posted by bubble on December 5, 2002, at 13:31:22
bubble -
What is the reason you want to go off it?
This is the end of the thread.
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