Revisiting the importance of adequate dosage and duration of drug therapy

In the past, in the treatment of mental disorders, especially in the outpatient clinic, we always encountered some patients with poor outcome, and when we analyzed the reasons, either the dosage of the drugs did not reach the therapeutic amount or the course of treatment was not enough, especially when the drugs were about to take effect, the patients couldn’t wait, and they asked the doctor to change the drugs. Recently, I met a female patient, 35 years old, civil servant. Complaint: panic, shortness of breath, irritability for more than 1 year. Diagnosis: generalized anxiety disorder. In Wuhan, several major hospitals in psychiatry have been consulted, even Chinese medicine has also seen, almost all of the antidepressant anti-anxiety drugs have served, is not effective. In the last 2 months, a friend of the patient is my colleague, introduced the patient to come to the clinic. After I read the medical records, I had to think deeply: every kind of drug has been served, but most of the drugs have not been served for more than 2 weeks, in addition, most of the patient’s medication has reached the therapeutic amount, but not reached the maximum amount. Holding a try, I used Bo Le Xin extended-release agent from 75mg to start dosage, 7 days later increased to 150mg, no improvement in symptoms; 2 weeks later increased to 225mg, the patient’s irritability eliminated, but still panic, chest tightness. The patient is not willing to adhere to, and to change the drug, after persuasion to adhere to. 4 weeks later or no big change, still panic, chest tightness, the patient can not adhere to, resolutely asked me to change the drug, finally I asked the patient to adhere to, at the same time will be added to the drug to 300mg per day. 8 weeks later the patient came to follow-up, all the symptoms have disappeared, no panic, chest tightness, self-reported to return to the previous state. Insights: 1, individual differences, taking into account individual differences in the use of drugs, dare to use the drug to the maximum amount. 2, must be full course of treatment, can not wait. What’s more, we can’t be swayed by the patients and change the medication casually, as a doctor should have an opinion. 3, persuade the patient to adhere to the need for skills.