I just finished reading a literature survey of studies of the effectiveness and tolerability of one drug in the treatment of a particular disorder—the drug that until recently was the gold standard for the treatment of the disorder. The survey found no evidence for efficacy beyond eight weeks at the regular prescribed dosage and no evidence for efficacy at a higher dosage at all. Indeed, what the studies actually suggested was no efficacy at 12 weeks and no efficacy when the dosage was increased.
Here’s my question: why do physicians, at least in the United States, believe that when a drug stops being effective prescribing a larger dose is always worth a try? Not snark. I’m being serioius.
