[i]I have edited my question as I am learning to use the correct terminology. [/i]
I’m new here and hope this is the right place for my question. If it is not the best and you can recommend a better place, I’m all ears.
My question refers to methylphenidate-type drugs (Ritalin, Concerta, etc.).
I want to understand the relationship between dose and ‘clinical benefit’. What if you are taking 90 or 108mg Concerta when 72mg is the ‘optimal’.
I’m NOT asking about side effects or what happens when you take dangerously high levels of methylphenidate. For example:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682188.html#side-effects
When the dose is too low, there is little or no ‘clinical benefit’. But, if the dose is greater than ‘optimal’, what happens? Is it just diminishing returns? Is there simply no improvement past a certain point? Does the benefit vs. dose curve level off, approach an asymptote?
Or, is there a reduction in ‘clinical benefit’ when the dose is greater than optimal? Is the benefits vs. dose curve a bell curve?
thanks,
subtle
[Modified by: subtle on July 13, 2007 01:06 PM]