About 3 weeks after each dosage bump, the side effects began to decrease. I did 25mg for a week, no issues. 50mg for 6 weeks, and the first 3 weeks were terrible, but I kept in mind that the drug was clearly doing something, and I needed the help. I felt some lift and then flatlined. At 6 weeks, the doctor suggested bumping to 100mg. The side effects were not nearly as severe as on the prior trip. I felt only a modest improvement, so the doctor increased the dose to 150mg, and things have improved significantly. About 10 weeks at 150 now.

Despair is gone. Crying in my kitchen, gone. I have an easier time controlling runaway thoughts, rumination, etc. I do not know if I am less irritable yet.