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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Penny on March 24, 2002, at 23:23:10
Hi folks.
Here's the situation: I'm on 60 mgs of Celexa and 300 mgs of Wellbutrin, and have been for a while now. My major depression has subsided (meaning I'm not actively planning my suicide), but my moods are swinging all over the place, tho' mostly in the middle to low range, up and down. Diagnosis right now is Mood Disorders NOS (used to be Major Depressive Disorder & Dysthymic Disorder).
Saw my pdoc on Friday and he added Levoxyl as a thyroid augmentation (25 mcg) and said we may try a mood stabilizer (mentioned Neurontin) in the future. But he gave me some samples of Geodon (20 mgs/2x day) to 'take the edge off.' I've taken Seroquel in the past, which didn't seem to do much to my mood but was extremely sedating. Any reason to think Geodon is going to do any better? It's Sunday night, and I can't say I feel any different with the Geodon yet. In fact, it's around midnight and I should be in bed, but I'm feeling very on edge and had another 'downward spiral' as I call them this afternoon/evening. Overate during dinner and, for the first time in my life, voluntarily made myself throw up. Never would have done such a thing in the past (food is both my comfort & my punishment). Have been having 'passive' suicidal thoughts and thoughts of hurting myself. And I've had studying to do for an exam this week and have had no motivation to do anything about it, even though when I think about it I get more nervous, as the sense of urgency is there, but I'm sabotaging myself (I'm taking the class to prep for grad school, so I have to do well).
any thoughts/suggestions?
Thanks.
Penny
Posted by TSA West on March 25, 2002, at 0:55:45
In reply to Geodon to take the edge off - short term?, posted by Penny on March 24, 2002, at 23:23:10
Hi Penny,
Perhaps you can raise the Wellbutrin dose to 450 mg as recommended for highly treatment-resistant patients: "An increase in dosage to the maximum of 400 mg/day, given as 200 mg twice daily, (450 mg/day for the immediate release, given as in doses not more than 150 mg each) may be considered for patients in whom no clinical improvement is noted after several weeks of treatment at 300 mg/day"
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/buprop_ids.htmConsider Geodon worthy; some people haven't heard that it is 5-HT1A-enhancer-- it may confer anti-anxiety effect (like BuSpar). Another of ziprasidone's main selling points is its affect on weight. It is described as being "weight neutral." Compared to the other atypical antipsychotics, ziprasidone causes the least weight gain.
At 40 mgs of Geodon you have little chance of ExtraPyramidal Side-effects (EPS) or manic precipitation.
Those are my thoughts. I wish you the best of luck and health, plus good psychiatry.
------------------TSA West-------------------
Posted by Penny on March 25, 2002, at 16:01:19
In reply to Re: Geodon to take the edge off - short term? » Penny, posted by TSA West on March 25, 2002, at 0:55:45
Thanks...
Was up to 450 Wellbutrin but developed tremor. Went back down on the Wellbutrin & up on the Celexa (80 mgs) and same thing happened. It started mostly when I was taking Paxil and went up to 80 mgs on that, which was too much for me. I developed tremor & it mostly went away when I switched to Celexa except for occasionally, but it seems I can't handle max doses on my meds now...I don't know.
I'm giving the Geodon a chance, as you said. Hopefully it will work or the thyroid augmentation will work or SOMETHING will work. I'm going crazy.
Thanks again.
Penny> Hi Penny,
>
> Perhaps you can raise the Wellbutrin dose to 450 mg as recommended for highly treatment-resistant patients: "An increase in dosage to the maximum of 400 mg/day, given as 200 mg twice daily, (450 mg/day for the immediate release, given as in doses not more than 150 mg each) may be considered for patients in whom no clinical improvement is noted after several weeks of treatment at 300 mg/day"
> http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/buprop_ids.htm
>
> Consider Geodon worthy; some people haven't heard that it is 5-HT1A-enhancer-- it may confer anti-anxiety effect (like BuSpar). Another of ziprasidone's main selling points is its affect on weight. It is described as being "weight neutral." Compared to the other atypical antipsychotics, ziprasidone causes the least weight gain.
>
> At 40 mgs of Geodon you have little chance of ExtraPyramidal Side-effects (EPS) or manic precipitation.
>
> Those are my thoughts. I wish you the best of luck and health, plus good psychiatry.
>
> ------------------TSA West-------------------
Posted by Zo on March 26, 2002, at 3:16:06
In reply to Re: Geodon to take the edge off - short term? » TSA West, posted by Penny on March 25, 2002, at 16:01:19
Posted by Penny on March 26, 2002, at 15:17:26
In reply to weren't you going to try lamictal? (nm) » Penny, posted by Zo on March 26, 2002, at 3:16:06
Zo,
Had we talked about my trying lamictal? I don't recall...but I'm brain dead lately anyway. Can't remember a damn thing. Should I ask my pdoc?
I'm on cloud nine again...sigh. If only it would last. I would end up seriously sleep deprived.
Penny
This is the end of the thread.
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