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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LenasGrandkids on August 26, 2004, at 22:55:33
Hello. I am in a 21 month very severe depression that was triggered by a psychiatrist making the terrible mistake of prescribing Aderrall for what she felt was a mild case of ADD. She did not consider my long ago history of manic depression. So, after a 14 year complete remission from any hint of mania or depression, I was plunged into a kind of semi-manic state which was folllowed by the most severe stubborn and anxious depression I have known. Being unable to care for myself or even be alone much of the time, I had to leave my beloved husband, my home and my career as a fulltime painter (artist) and move back into my mom's house.
After a year of conventional therapy, including nine different drugs (none of which helped, one of which -- Wellbutrin -- made my anxiety significantly worse for many many weeks), ECT, and CBT, I turned to alternative methods, dietary changes, meditation, exercise, fish oil supplements and other things ending with months of very intensive energy work with someone I trust and feel has a true gift.
Unfortunately, the energy healing has not given me results and my virtually incapacitating terror was growing so badly that with great conflict I have turned back to drugs.
I began Geodon two weeks ago at 40mg. I got an immediate bounce the day after the very first pill. This did not last. The following 5 or 6 days were extremely rough, but just slightly better than prior to the drug -- just enough to notice. Since then the past five days have been murder, throwing me into a kind of frantic despair that is almost unbearable. My incredibly loving family (my husband remains very involved and visits every weekend) has been trying their best to keep my head above water, but even with their almost constant help, I am gripped with severe anxiety and aggitation and feel "convinced" that this drug is not going to work. I know intellectually that I have not given it enough time yet and that I need to go up further on the dose and simply somehow wait more, but it is nearly killing me.
I am just today moving up to 120mg which my psychiatrist says in his experience is the usual beginning of a real theraputic dose. I was hoping that some of you could tell me your successful stories with Geodon and how long it took before you saw results or even the beginning of results and on what doses. Right now I'd rather not hear horror stories about the drug -- too painful. So if you could keep it positive that would help me greatly. I'm suffering very badly.
Thank you,
Nomi
Posted by Sad Panda on September 3, 2004, at 13:12:02
In reply to Geodon -- how long before results?, posted by LenasGrandkids on August 26, 2004, at 22:55:33
> Hello. I am in a 21 month very severe depression that was triggered by a psychiatrist making the terrible mistake of prescribing Aderrall for what she felt was a mild case of ADD. She did not consider my long ago history of manic depression. So, after a 14 year complete remission from any hint of mania or depression, I was plunged into a kind of semi-manic state which was folllowed by the most severe stubborn and anxious depression I have known. Being unable to care for myself or even be alone much of the time, I had to leave my beloved husband, my home and my career as a fulltime painter (artist) and move back into my mom's house.
>
> After a year of conventional therapy, including nine different drugs (none of which helped, one of which -- Wellbutrin -- made my anxiety significantly worse for many many weeks), ECT, and CBT, I turned to alternative methods, dietary changes, meditation, exercise, fish oil supplements and other things ending with months of very intensive energy work with someone I trust and feel has a true gift.
>
> Unfortunately, the energy healing has not given me results and my virtually incapacitating terror was growing so badly that with great conflict I have turned back to drugs.
>
> I began Geodon two weeks ago at 40mg. I got an immediate bounce the day after the very first pill. This did not last. The following 5 or 6 days were extremely rough, but just slightly better than prior to the drug -- just enough to notice. Since then the past five days have been murder, throwing me into a kind of frantic despair that is almost unbearable. My incredibly loving family (my husband remains very involved and visits every weekend) has been trying their best to keep my head above water, but even with their almost constant help, I am gripped with severe anxiety and aggitation and feel "convinced" that this drug is not going to work. I know intellectually that I have not given it enough time yet and that I need to go up further on the dose and simply somehow wait more, but it is nearly killing me.
>
> I am just today moving up to 120mg which my psychiatrist says in his experience is the usual beginning of a real theraputic dose. I was hoping that some of you could tell me your successful stories with Geodon and how long it took before you saw results or even the beginning of results and on what doses. Right now I'd rather not hear horror stories about the drug -- too painful. So if you could keep it positive that would help me greatly. I'm suffering very badly.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Nomi
>
>Hi Nomi,
I can't tell you much about Geodon but it does seem like it's a good med that is under utilised. Plese keep as posted on your progress. :)
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by LenasGrandkids on September 7, 2004, at 21:49:23
In reply to Re: Geodon -- how long before results? » LenasGrandkids, posted by Sad Panda on September 3, 2004, at 13:12:02
Hi, yes, Panda asked me for a follow up and here it is. I know I asked for no horror stories about Geodon, but for me to follow up I have to tell a bit of a horror story myself.
The Goedon did not work out for me. The side effects became almost worse than the disease itself. The worst of many was extreme aggitation that engulfed me to the point of bitting myself, hitting myself and running around in circles in a frantic terrified rage. Don't worry, I did not injure myself. But this was on top of the already severe anxiety that I am suffering in this incredible depresssion.
We lowered the dose and I hung on for a few more days in agony, but then a tremor started and my doctor said to come off it, that the tremor normally does not go away and that I should be having fewer side effect at that point, not more.
So, my experience was particularly nasty. But anyone reading this, please remember that Geodon is actually known for having fewer side effects than the other atypicals and that my reaction was not typical. And remember that most of us on these boards are probalby having a harder time with treatment than average. And we may forget more easily to report when solutions are actually found.
Anyway, through all this I did manage to line up having SAM-e to go to immediately. I am grateful that I had something else to go to right away -- and something with virtually NO side effects and the effectiveness rate of prescription antidepressants -- but the waiting again remains excruciating. Not sure whether to follow up on the SAM-e here or on the alternative board. I posted a question on the alternative board about it already, so maybe there? But it is a rigorously tested anti-depressant without the horrors of side effects, so perhaps it belongs on this board more.
Nomi
This is the end of the thread.
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