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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 SalArmy4me on May 7, 2001, at 2:42:54
I try all the new drugs myself, before I recommend them to someone. Lately, I have been trying Ziprasidone for 11 days. I take 160 mg at bedtime. The main side-effect is drowsiness, but it causes a little Restless Legs Syndrome that I have to take Neurontin to get rid of. For me, ziprasidone is no better than Zyprexa or Seroquel as far as side-effects are concerned.
Posted by SalArmy4me on May 7, 2001, at 14:02:05
In reply to Ziprasidone comments, posted by SalArmy4me on May 7, 2001, at 2:42:54
I forgot to add: 100 of the 80 mg tablets of Ziprasidone was $209 at Costco.
> I try all the new drugs myself, before I recommend them to someone. Lately, I have been trying Ziprasidone for 11 days. I take 160 mg at bedtime. The main side-effect is drowsiness, but it causes a little Restless Legs Syndrome that I have to take Neurontin to get rid of. For me, ziprasidone is no better than Zyprexa or Seroquel as far as side-effects are concerned.
Posted by Jed00 on May 7, 2001, at 20:21:37
In reply to Re: Ziprasidone comments, posted by SalArmy4me on May 7, 2001, at 14:02:05
I thought I would add my experience with ziprasidone (Geodon) here too. I have been taking it for a month at 40mg a day. This really helped the voices I was hearing. But, recently (about three days ago) I upped the dosage to 160mg a day at bedtime also, because very mild, infrequent voices are still present. I find that I am a little drowsy in the morning but it quickly goes away for me. I also have mild restless legs more so than at 40mg a day, but I am not taking anything to treat it. Compared with Zyprexa, it has not caused me any weight gain! Alright!!! Also, Zyprexa made me more tired and more depressed. I have more energy during the day with ziprasidone, probably because of the mild restlessness. Also, I have the same sexual dysfunction as Zyprexa; actually ziprasidone is a little worse (difficult to climax, ejaculate). As for Seroquel, it never really worked for me.
Also, I bought from Costco, without insurance, for $226.89 for #60 of 80mg of Geodon. I guess I should ask for #100.
best wishes
Posted by bergamot on May 9, 2001, at 19:14:51
In reply to Re: Ziprasidone comments, posted by SalArmy4me on May 7, 2001, at 14:02:05
SalArmy4me wrote:
> I try all the new drugs myself, before I recommend them to someone.I haven't read many of your posts, but I know that they're all over this board.
If you are "trying out" medications that are for neurotransmitter conditions that you don't have, how can you "recommend" them to someone whose pathology is different? the effects of a medication on someone for whom it is not indicated should not be considered a demonstation of its effect on someone whose symptoms are the intended target of the drug.
Perhaps someone with more medical knowledge than me can address this.
Posted by mila on May 9, 2001, at 23:49:06
In reply to Re: trying drugs?, posted by bergamot on May 9, 2001, at 19:14:51
hi,
nice post, bergamot, very nice, sharp and smart. Thank you. Sometimes when I read Sal's posts I think that this person must have some unchecked DID going on. This is the only condition where different subpersonalities display different conditions for real. Diabetes in one, depression in another, yet severe allergies in the third one. Sal reported having tried so many meds, I belive he (Sal, if you are female, excuse my use of generic "he" here) must be in a wheelchair by now, tube fed and all. Yet he claims to have a healthy sex life. Well, so apparently does Richard Hawkins, who can only move his eyelids (which he uses for typing), but has three kids with his new wife. Whatever Sal has, his condition is not to be envied, or his efforts to share his experiences silenced, and I feel for him. Must be tough to go through all those meds for years, only to reach for yet another one promising fuller relief. We all got our own heavy cross to carry.
good luck, bergamot, with your healing.
mila
Posted by Sunnely on May 10, 2001, at 1:08:45
In reply to Re: Ziprasidone comments, posted by SalArmy4me on May 7, 2001, at 14:02:05
> > I try all the new drugs myself, before I recommend them to someone. Lately, I have been trying Ziprasidone for 11 days. I take 160 mg at bedtime. The main side-effect is drowsiness, but it causes a little Restless Legs Syndrome that I have to take Neurontin to get rid of. For me, ziprasidone is no better than Zyprexa or Seroquel as far as side-effects are concerned.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If you are indeed taking ziprasidone (Geodon) as 160 mg at bedtime, then I would not be surprised if you find it ineffective for whatever reason(s) you are taking it.
Let me explain. Firstly, ziprasidone has a very short half-life (6.6. hours). It is recommended to be taken, at least, in 2 divided doses a day. Taking it as a once-a-day dose, no matter how much, will probably lead to subtherapeutic effect. Secondly, it must be taken with food. Food doubles its absorption and increases its "bioavailability" up to 60%. Taking ziprasidone on its own may be equivalent to taking a placebo. I am assuming you are not taking it with food, unless your bedtime is also your suppertime or snack time.
Although drowsiness is a common side effect, just about same number of patients who take ziprasidone, at least in the beginning, complain of insomnia. This is the reason why, in some patients, the bulk of the dose may need to begin in the morning, or temporarily may need to take a "sleeper" such as a benzodiazepine (e.g., lorazepam or Ativan) at night.
As to your comment that "it causes a little Restless Legs Syndrome" (RLS), I am not sure if you really meant this condition. Could it be "akathisia"? RLS and akathisia are two distinct conditions, but oftenly, one can be mistaken for the other.
As to your comment that "ziprasidone is no better than Zyprexa or Seroquel as far as side-effects are concerned," I believe you have to be more specific than this. For one, ziprasidone causes the least amount of weight gain among all atypical antipsychotic drugs (e.g., Zyprexa, Seroquel, Risperdal, and Clozaril). Furthermore, it is expected to induce lesser rate of (sugar) diabetes and elevations of triglycerides than the other atypical antipsychotics.
Pardon me if I sound harsh with my comments. Just stating the facts.
Best of luck to your "self-clinical trials" of ziprasidone and the other (multitudes of) medications.
This is the end of the thread.
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