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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Hawkeye on February 21, 2002, at 9:18:01
Hi. Has anyone had a positive experience with taking Geodon for depression?
I am bi-polar (the depressive phase is predominant) with treatment-resistant depression with no psychotic symptoms. I have tried just about everything over the past 18 years. For the past two months I have been taking Geodon (an atypical antipsychotic). While I believe that it has lifted my mood somewhat, I have been able to accomplish very little. Seems that I lack motivation -- I just don't seem to want to do very much. Also, even with 20mg of dexedrine 4 x/day I am usually sleepy and often have slept for long periods during the day. Paradoxically, while it makes me sleepy it also has caused insomnia. I find it very hard to fall and stay asleep at night. (This occurrs even if I have not slept during the day).
My current dosage is 60mg 2x/day. [What data that exists indicates that the anti-depressant effects from Geodon's SSNRI profile are best at the higher doses (80-160mgs/day)]
I am aware of the current trend of treating bi-polar depression with the atypical antipsychotics. It is my understanding, however, that the benefits of these drugs is primarily mood-stabilization - typically for the manic phase.
I know that Geodon is unique in its class because in addition to being a dopamine blocker it also is a seretonin-nepenepherine reuptake inhibitor and a 5HT2 blocker as well. But from what I know about the motivating effects of dopamine, I have never understood how a drug that blocks dopamine (the antipsychotics) could be could for depression. My psychiatrist says that Geodon seems to be catching-on and that people are using it "for everything".
Are any of you using Geodon by itself for depression, either unipolar or bi-polar? If so, any success????
Thanks In Advance for Your Help.
Posted by OldSchool on February 21, 2002, at 10:28:19
In reply to Geodon for Depression ??????, posted by Hawkeye on February 21, 2002, at 9:18:01
> Are any of you using Geodon by itself for depression, either unipolar or bi-polar? If so, any success????
>
I dont understand this "trend" towards using atypical anti-psychotics as primary medications to treat bipolar disorder. I always understood that mood stabilizers such as lithium and various anti-convulsants were the primary meds for bipolar disorder, with anti-psychotics used to augment on an as needed basis. Particularly during the manic phase of it. If it was me, Id be opting for the lithium/anticonvulsants as these have a much more benign longterm side effect profile than atypical anti-psychotics.As for Geodon or any other atypical anti-psychotic being used for unipolar depression, forget about it. No anti-psychotic is an antidepressant. If anything anti-psychotics tend to make depression worse. Psychiatrists do like to augment SSRIs with atypical anti-psychotics in unipolar depressed, for a variety of reasons. Most of which are poor reasons to give someone an atypical anti-psychotic.
The longterm side effect profile of atypical anti-psychotics is not as benign and harmless as the pharmaceutical companies would like us to believe. These are toxic drugs no matter how you look at them. These drugs cause movement disorders, they damage the dopamine system which can create all sorts of new problems, they raise blood sugar which can cause diabetes.
Please take care of yourself and your neurological health.
Old School
This is the end of the thread.
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