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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by 4mygrls on November 28, 2004, at 15:50:22
sever anxiety and insomnia? I hate taking it and i'm thinking of talking to my doc about coming off of it. I take it all at night. i take it as a mood stabilizer. all i feel now is anxiety and tiredness. oh, and stupidness too. i'm so tired i can't think straight. i take xanax xr but it's not touching the anxiety much unless i take 2doses. after that i'm really a zombie all day. i hate meds.
Posted by Tom G on November 28, 2004, at 16:56:32
In reply to Has anyone had a problem with Geodon causing, posted by 4mygrls on November 28, 2004, at 15:50:22
I only take 20mgs a day and I recently tried to go up to 40mgs and I got something maybe similar to you. I didn't get the kind of 'fear' anxiety but more of a restlessness and insomnia. However, at the same time I am sleepy all day long, but the weird thing is I don't sleep. It is just a false sense of sleepiness but my mental energy is still intact and I stay awake all day. I still find it hard to fall asleep on 20mgs, but it is not as bad as it was the week I tried 40mgs. I also found that alcohol seems to make the insomnia worse. I never had problems with alcohol and insomnia before Geodon. I also have mini panic attacks now since taking Geodon and drinking coffee. I am going to try low dose Abilify, Haldol, or Orap next to try and get a less sedating effect. Geodon has worked wonders for me though at targeting many of my main symptoms. The only other antipsychotic I have given a fair trial was Zyprexa and it did not help at resolving symptoms. It did help me sleep and gain weight though. I would suggest trying another AP like me or trying something like Ambien. Ambien works for me but I find myself becoming tolerant to it. It helps to take a holiday from it and use it sporadically. I'm definately at a crossroads like you where something has to be done to get rid of the side effects of Geodon. Overall I think it is a good med. I am still baffled though at how sedated but awake I am at just 20mgs. Hope that makes sense. Good Luck
Posted by Dan Perkins on November 28, 2004, at 17:42:49
In reply to Has anyone had a problem with Geodon causing, posted by 4mygrls on November 28, 2004, at 15:50:22
I definately had stupidness as a side-effect of Geodon, but I'm not sure if it caused anxiety or insomnia. Geodon kind of reminded me of being high from smoking pot: I felt stupid and a bit out of it.
> sever anxiety and insomnia? I hate taking it and i'm thinking of talking to my doc about coming off of it. I take it all at night. i take it as a mood stabilizer. all i feel now is anxiety and tiredness. oh, and stupidness too. i'm so tired i can't think straight. i take xanax xr but it's not touching the anxiety much unless i take 2doses. after that i'm really a zombie all day. i hate meds.
Posted by smokeymadison on November 28, 2004, at 17:45:35
In reply to Has anyone had a problem with Geodon causing, posted by 4mygrls on November 28, 2004, at 15:50:22
geodon made me so tired i couldn't walk straight or talk w/out sluring my speech. it also increased my blood sugar levels, which made me anxious. i prefer abilify over geodon. my new pdoc said that it takes at least 10 mg to do much of anything. i take 15 mg. abilify does nothing for my anxiety, though, so i take 4 mg of gabitril for that. good luck!
Posted by River1924 on November 30, 2004, at 2:35:52
In reply to Has anyone had a problem with Geodon causing, posted by 4mygrls on November 28, 2004, at 15:50:22
Yes, I think it is pretty common. I was part of another thread earlier in the year. I have HYPERsomnia and I couldn't sleep. For me it was a nice change and increasing my clonazepam at night did the trick. I developed back pains and spasms (dystonia.) That was awful. I never got past 20 mg a day. River. With these drugs I always wonder, WHY am I taking this again?
Posted by 4mygrls on November 30, 2004, at 13:09:20
In reply to Has anyone had a problem with Geodon causing, posted by 4mygrls on November 28, 2004, at 15:50:22
thanks for all of the responses. i appreciate the replies. i finally got ahold of my pdoc. I should say my husband did. he got fed up with all of it and called the answering service. I called twice yesterday and they said he had my file and would get back with me. he chewed out the social worker that called back. the pdoc's never call back. it's always the social worker. she said that if i didn't hear from him by the next morning to call back. alot of good that did me last night. i ended up having a major anxiety attack and took a xanax. between the xanax and the temazepam i got to sleep a little better. the pdoc office called this morning and told me to take all of my geodon in the morning. actually, she said to just take the geodon in the morning. that was confusing since i've taken it twice a day then all at night. i asked her if i was suppose to take all of it in the morning and she wasn't sure. i said i wanted to see the pdoc and finally got an appt for thursday. i'm just going to have to keep me doped up on xanax and temazepam till then i guess. she said then to just keep taking my meds the way i am now(not the way i changed it to taking the xanax at night too. they don't know i did that). i want to change docs but they're all the same and i don't have anymore to choose from around here. i hate this. when will the med-go-round ever end.
Posted by Sebastian on December 1, 2004, at 20:32:44
In reply to Re:Has anyone had a problem with Geodon causing, posted by 4mygrls on November 30, 2004, at 13:09:20
I think your doctor meant to take it all in the morning.
Since you only had anxiety and such in the morning, but not in the evening which is when you take the geodon.
Geodon is meant to be taken 2 times a day. Morning and night. It is also supposed to get rid of anxiety.
Posted by Terry on December 3, 2004, at 23:54:12
In reply to Has anyone had a problem with Geodon causing, posted by 4mygrls on November 28, 2004, at 15:50:22
> sever anxiety and insomnia? I taking it and i'm thinking of talking to my doc about coming off of it. I take it all at night. i take it as a mood stabilizer. all i feel now is anxiety and tiredness. oh, and stupidness too. i'm so tired i can't think straight. i take xanax xr but it's not touching the anxiety much unless i take 2doses. after that i'm really a zombie all day. i meds.
I had a terrible experience with Geodon. I began to get anxiety after the first few weeks and it just kept getting worse. It was the worst thing that I have ever experienced because the anxiety was so bad. I had to take 3mg of klonipin to even touch the anxiety. I also went on anafranil () to help with the anxiety and to aleviate the growing depression due to the anxiety and the klonipin. I had bad withdrawals from the Geodon. I really feel for you. Hang in there. You should be able to taper off the anti-anxiety meds after a few months. You might want to consider anafranil because it will help with the anxiety and help you to be able to taper of the benzodiazapines.Good Luck,
Terry
Posted by Terry on December 4, 2004, at 0:05:24
In reply to Re:Has anyone had a problem with Geodon causing, posted by 4mygrls on November 30, 2004, at 13:09:20
> thanks for all of the responses. i appreciate the replies. i finally got ahold of my pdoc. I should say my husband did. he got fed up with all of it and called the answering service. I called twice yesterday and they said he had my file and would get back with me. he chewed out the social worker that called back. the pdoc's never call back. it's always the social worker. she said that if i didn't hear from him by the next morning to call back. alot of good that did me last night. i ended up having a major anxiety attack and took a xanax. between the xanax and the temazepam i got to sleep a little better. the pdoc office called this morning and told me to take all of my geodon in the morning. actually, she said to just take the geodon in the morning. that was confusing since i've taken it twice a day then all at night. i asked her if i was suppose to take all of it in the morning and she wasn't sure. i said i wanted to see the pdoc and finally got an appt for thursday. i'm just going to have to keep me doped up on xanax and temazepam till then i guess. she said then to just keep taking my meds the way i am now(not the way i changed it to taking the xanax at night too. they don't know i did that). i want to change docs but they're all the same and i don't have anymore to choose from around here. i this. when will the med-go-round ever end.
I don't think many doctors are aware of the potential side effect of the terrible anxiety that Geodon can cause. I don't think that it is a very common side effect, but when it happens it can be unbearable. I've talked to others who have experienced this horrific anxiety SE of Geodon. IMHO you should get off the Geodon as quickly as possible. That's not professional advice. I can only speak from my own experience. Please let me know how things go from here.
Terry
Posted by 4mygrls on December 5, 2004, at 13:29:03
In reply to Re:Has anyone had a problem with Geodon causing » 4mygrls, posted by Terry on December 4, 2004, at 0:05:24
i went off of the geodon and xanax and went on seroquel and klonopin. oh and ambien to help with sleep. the withdrawls have been horrible. this is the worst. i am now in a severe depression and just tired all of the time. i can't function. i just can't win with these meds. i feel so unfulfilled in life and can't even manage to hold down any kind of a job for long. i don't know what my problem is but i'm tired of it. My husband says to just get through these withdrawls and then we'll deal with the depression. I feel so alone and i feel like i'll never have a fulfilling life. How do people do it? why can't I?
Posted by Terry on December 5, 2004, at 14:19:05
In reply to Re:Has anyone had a problem with Geodon causing, posted by 4mygrls on December 5, 2004, at 13:29:03
> i went off of the geodon and xanax and went on seroquel and klonopin. oh and ambien to help with sleep. the withdrawls have been horrible. this is the worst. i am now in a severe depression and just tired all of the time. i can't function. i just can't win with these meds. i feel so unfulfilled in life and can't even manage to hold down any kind of a job for long. i don't know what my problem is but i'm tired of it. My husband says to just get through these withdrawls and then we'll deal with the depression. I feel so alone and i feel like i'll never have a fulfilling life. How do people do it? why can't I?
You might consider clomipramine (Anafranil) or some other antidepressant right away. I went through a very severe depression about the same time the anxiety started but I think that Benzo's like Xanax and Klonopin can make the depression worse so you might need an anti-depressant to offset that. Anafranil really helped with the depression, the anxiety and Geodon withdrawal symptoms. I think it saved me. I would strongly suggest that you consider an antidepressant right away rather than waiting.Terry
Posted by Jeroen on December 7, 2004, at 12:01:46
In reply to Re: Has anyone had a problem with Geodon causing, posted by Dan Perkins on November 28, 2004, at 17:42:49
i got tardive dyskinesia for GEODON i only took 20 mg low dose, that dosage didnt make me even tired
fuck all that!!
Posted by lostforwards on December 7, 2004, at 12:06:55
In reply to GEODON GAVE ME TD!!!!!!!!!!! BE AWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by Jeroen on December 7, 2004, at 12:01:46
TD or any side-effects that seem to linger long-term suck. How bad were your symptoms?
Posted by Jeroen on December 7, 2004, at 12:08:41
In reply to Re: GEODON GAVE ME TD!!!!!!!!!!! BE AWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by lostforwards on December 7, 2004, at 12:06:55
my eyes are always blinking,, GEODON has DESTROYED MY LIFE IM ONLY 20 YEARS OLD
Posted by lostforwards on December 7, 2004, at 12:29:44
In reply to Re: GEODON GAVE ME TD!!!!!!!!!!! BE AWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by Jeroen on December 7, 2004, at 12:08:41
Don't worry, if you haven't tried anything yet there's plenty of hope. First, the eye blinking may not even be a long term side-effect and it might not be TD or dystonia. If it is either, there are loads of things you can try. Search the web, you'll find stuff on vitamin treatments and supplements for TD. They have been studied ( B6, and E, even melatonin ). Medication-wise dystonia can be treated with anticholinergics, and if the vitamins and supplements aren't enough, dopamine depleting drugs ( I think ) have been used. Of course, anticholinergenics and dopamine depleting medication come with their own side-effects. They'll slow you down but they'll alleviate the problems. I'd try the vitamins first.
I'm 22 and I've been shaboogindined. I don't know how long it's ever going to take to get better. I'm still waiting and trying to stay positive. I have no idea what's wrong, and the doctor's haven't helped so far, besides telling me to give it time.
Posted by yxibow on December 7, 2004, at 19:14:31
In reply to Re: GEODON GAVE ME TD!!!!!!!!!!! BE AWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by lostforwards on December 7, 2004, at 12:29:44
Worrrying incessantly adds to the panic and may even increase your eye-blinking. Blepharospasms can happen by themselves with or without medication. First of all, its hard to sort things out, you had posted in another thread about self-medicating with up to 4 neuroleptics, I believe.
I worried endlessly about TD for the treatment of a condition I am going through initially, but it doesnt really contribute to wellness to worry 16 hours a day about something that may happen 15 years down the road. Tardive Dyskinesia... and the word is Tardive... means late-forming. You cant pop a few pills and get TD. It just doesnt happen and hasnt happened in the annals of literature except maybe for someone 80 years old, and that's usually called ID, or initial dyskinesia.
As far as TD... there's the 30-30-30 rule... 30% completely dissappear... 30% stay the same and 30% worsen. so you have a 2/3 chance of nothing worse happening. And from my own experience, merely eyeblinking, will dissappear over time. Especially since the medications you've chosen to experiment with are in the class of Atypical antipsychotics and not the older class. Some, such as Seroquel have to date had almost zero reported instances of TD.
Don't panic. See a doctor. See a doctor to sort your medications out and put things straight and dont self medicate. Se a doctor if you're really concerned about your eye blinking and see if they are concerned enough to try Botox. And otherwise, (reference to another thread)... you're only in your 20s, there is a lot to live for, please.
Warm regards.
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 7, 2004, at 21:41:21
In reply to GEODON GAVE ME TD!!!!!!!!!!! BE AWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by Jeroen on December 7, 2004, at 12:01:46
> f[*]ck all that!!
I'm sorry about what happened, but please don't use language that could offend others.
If you or others have questions about this or about posting policies in general, or are interested in alternative ways of expressing yourself, please see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
Follow-ups regarding these issues should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration. They, as well as replies to the above post, should of course themselves be civil.
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by Sebastian on December 10, 2004, at 11:44:35
In reply to Re: please be civil » Jeroen, posted by Dr. Bob on December 7, 2004, at 21:41:21
Has the blinking goten any better? How much blinking are you talking about? Do you blink when you sleep?
I'm now taking Geodon, and loving it. Think I might get off the zyprexa.
Posted by Jeroen on December 10, 2004, at 11:48:25
In reply to Jeroen, posted by Sebastian on December 10, 2004, at 11:44:35
huh i taught you were taking lactimal, the blinking is from when I wake up until i go to sleep
its hell, im falling into a depression UNWANTED
im taking amantadine at the moment that will prevent zyprexa weight gain so far no side effects.....
GEODON destroyed my life i think
Posted by Sebastian on December 11, 2004, at 11:37:03
In reply to Re: Jeroen, posted by Jeroen on December 10, 2004, at 11:48:25
I don't think it destroyed your life, if you can sleep. I do take lamictal,
I take:
5 mg zyprexa
120 mg geodon
100 mg lamictal
60 mg celexa
400 mg bupropion srI did not lie.
If you can stop blinking when you sleep, that means its posible to not blink! You just have to work at it.
Are you taking zyprexa now? Do you take any ADs?
Posted by Jeroen on December 11, 2004, at 12:08:49
In reply to Re: Jeroen, posted by Sebastian on December 11, 2004, at 11:37:03
i quit zyprexa 10 mg like 3 weeks ago, i took it exact 2 weeks the blinking was very bad, i coudnt even look where i was walking
im taking AMANTADINE 100 MG now im going to up it to 300 MG it will prevent me getting fat on zyprexa i hope and i hope it will fix the neurological eye damage
or im considering LEPONEX but what about its sedation is it worser then zyprexa or even worse at SEROQUEL?
Posted by Sebastian on December 12, 2004, at 10:25:52
In reply to Re: Jeroen, posted by Jeroen on December 11, 2004, at 12:08:49
Could your blinking be a side effect of no medicine. Its posible that the geodon started the blinking and when you stoped APs, blinking was a result of your condition, schitzoaffective. You may want to take a different AP, with hope that in time it will ease the blinking. How long were you taking geodon before the blinking started? Which APs did you take in the past? Which did not start a side-effect. Is it posible to take abilify again? Or risperdal or seroquel. Abilify has no weight gain. I got TD in the past, it eased when I stoped that med and kept taking different APs. I still find myself doing it a bit, but not that bothersome.
Posted by Jeroen on December 12, 2004, at 11:16:32
In reply to Re: Jeroen, posted by Sebastian on December 12, 2004, at 10:25:52
i took geodon like 2 weeks before the misery started
i once took it 11 days got the same thing, quit it and the blinking was also gone.. but now took it over a month and got blinking of it
i cant take abilify anymore, i got blinking of it aswell but it went away
or maybe i can take 2.5 mg but not even 5 milligram anymore
zyprexa didnt gave me blinking but gave me UNSTOPPABLE HUNGER!!!!!!!!!
I TRYED, ZYPREXA, RISPERDAL (OMG I FELT LIKE A ZOMBIE), ABILIFY (agitation, blinking, insomnia, anxiety) SEROQUEL ( I WAS AN ULTRA ZOMBIE)
ZELDOX 20 MG 40 MG(GAVE ME EVERYTHING OF SIDE EFFECTS ABOVE) i also lost my short term memory and gave ME POSSIBLE TD) EYE BLINKINGi never tryed, SOLIAN, CLOZARIL,
i need your help...
Posted by Sebastian on December 12, 2004, at 14:03:55
In reply to Re: Jeroen, posted by Jeroen on December 12, 2004, at 11:16:32
I think you should give up on APs for now, and try a AD. I think that will help get you out of depression of blinking, and may slow blinking. It may even turn out that you don't need a AP. Think you need a good mellow AD. Remeron, celexa, can you take SSRIs? If that is not enough try a mood stabilizer with it. Like lamictal which does not do weight gain. Epilepsy med may even help the blinking.
Posted by Mary Ellen on March 25, 2005, at 15:45:23
In reply to Re: Jeroen, posted by Jeroen on December 11, 2004, at 12:08:49
My brother Joe has had terrible anxiety and a loss of impluse control on Geodon. He's trying to get off the Geodon but has experienced intense depression and lack of energy. I've never seen him like this. I think he would commit suicide if he didn't have a disabled son to take care of. Has anyone tried taking anti-depressants to get off of Geodon? Do you have any suggestions. I am so worried about him. Thanks.
This is the end of the thread.
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