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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by chiron on August 12, 2007, at 15:48:11
There is a dr. who will test your blood levels to determine if you are taking the right amount. There are only some drugs that have tests that are available, including Celexa. Is this a worthwhile test?
I know they do it for other drugs, like Lithium, but I assume that is different?
He also does urine testing for checking neurotransmitter levels, which I understand is controversial.
Posted by linkadge on August 12, 2007, at 15:58:42
In reply to Celexa blood test measurement - valid?, posted by chiron on August 12, 2007, at 15:48:11
I don't think that a theraputic level of citalopram has ever been established.
In order for a theraputic level to be used, there need to be a large number of studies confirming that the suggested level is indeed optimum for depression treatment.
I would personally just go by ear.
Linkadge
Posted by Jamal Spelling on August 12, 2007, at 16:25:09
In reply to Celexa blood test measurement - valid?, posted by chiron on August 12, 2007, at 15:48:11
Hi chiron
> There is a dr. who will test your blood levels to determine if you are taking the right amount. There are only some drugs that have tests that are available, including Celexa. Is this a worthwhile test?
Conventional wisdom holds that the usually effective plasma level of citalopram is 85 ng/ml, which corresponds with an average dose of 40 mg/day. At this dose, the mean inhibition of the serotonin pump is 60 %. See also http://www.preskorn.com/books/ssri_s3.html.
I suppose that if this doctor were able to measure your blood levels of citalopram, (s)he might be able to advise you on an appropriate dose modification. In practice however, the correct dose of an SSRI depends largely on the individual and the exact nature of the condition being treated, and is determined through trial and error.
> He also does urine testing for checking neurotransmitter levels, which I understand is controversial.I don't think neurotransmitter levels can generally be inferred from urinalysis.
Jamal
Posted by Phillipa on August 12, 2007, at 20:11:18
In reply to Re: Celexa blood test measurement - valid?, posted by Jamal Spelling on August 12, 2007, at 16:25:09
Thought blood levels didn't corrolate to the brain just the gut? Love Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on August 12, 2007, at 21:03:14
In reply to Re: Celexa blood test measurement - valid?, posted by linkadge on August 12, 2007, at 15:58:42
Antidepressants usually don't modify levels of urinary neurotransmitter metabolites in ways that one might expect.
For instance, SSRI's can sometimes lower serotonin breakdown metabolites by preventing the reaborption and metabolism of serotonin.
They may, in fact increase brain serotonergic neurotransmission but in a way that make such tests nonsensicle.
Linkadge
Posted by sam123 on August 16, 2007, at 14:59:07
In reply to Re: Celexa blood test measurement - valid?, posted by linkadge on August 12, 2007, at 21:03:14
A Celexa blood test would only be helpful in deciding if you are a slow or fast metabolizer.
This kind of test tells you nothing about what is going on in the CNS.There are many tests for neurotransmitters and byproducts in urine. These do not have anything to do with what is going on in the CNS, or NT levels in the CNS. They are used for people with serious metabolic disorders.
This is the end of the thread.
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