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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 22, 2007, at 11:53:12
It's making me SO drowsy, especially since I'm no longer in acute anxiety.
any withdrawal symptoms to expect?
-Ll
Posted by Phillipa on June 22, 2007, at 12:18:31
In reply to substitutes for geodon?, posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 22, 2007, at 11:53:12
Lurpsie did you check the archieves? Or the withdrawal board? love Phillipa ps glad the anxiety is much better
Posted by Quintal on June 22, 2007, at 13:12:30
In reply to substitutes for geodon?, posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 22, 2007, at 11:53:12
Maybe a bit of agitation and rebound anxiety? I don't know much about Geodon or how to withdraw from it. What did your pdoc advise?
I think it's a good idea to get off it to be honest. It seems you were doing better on Seroquel, and that probably caused less daytime impairment? Some pdocs will add drugs like Glucophage (metformin) that control blood sugar to an antipsychotic regimen because they tend to limit the weight gain caused by these drugs.
Q
Posted by Zyprexa on June 22, 2007, at 14:49:41
In reply to substitutes for geodon?, posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 22, 2007, at 11:53:12
How much do you take, is it helping? Tried a smaller dose? I had no withdraws at all after 2 years on high doses. But it didn't help much and I was glad to lose it. If it is helping you you might have problems if you quit.
Posted by ruth33 on June 22, 2007, at 14:50:12
In reply to Re: substitutes for geodon? » LlurpsieNoodle, posted by Quintal on June 22, 2007, at 13:12:30
When I withdrew from Geodon, I got very depressed. It's an anti-psychotic, but enhances serotonin as well. A good substitute is Abililfy. It's very similar without the drowsiness.
Posted by ruth33 on June 22, 2007, at 14:54:55
In reply to substitutes for geodon?, posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 22, 2007, at 11:53:12
> It's making me SO drowsy, especially since I'm no longer in acute anxiety.
>
> any withdrawal symptoms to expect?
>
> -Ll
For me, the drowsiness went away in a week or so.
Posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 22, 2007, at 14:57:09
In reply to Re: substitutes for geodon? » LlurpsieNoodle, posted by Quintal on June 22, 2007, at 13:12:30
> Maybe a bit of agitation and rebound anxiety? I don't know much about Geodon or how to withdraw from it. What did your pdoc advise?
Old pdoc thought it would be a good idea for me to taper off of meds in the upcoming year. Haven't met with my new pdoc yet. (I'm moving)
>
> I think it's a good idea to get off it to be honest. It seems you were doing better on Seroquel, and that probably caused less daytime impairment? Some pdocs will add drugs like Glucophage (metformin) that control blood sugar to an antipsychotic regimen because they tend to limit the weight gain caused by these drugs.
>
Well, I'd rather be on fewer drugs than more drugs. I'd only take metformin for my vanity. My mom has had a lot of success with metformin and diet and lost over 60lbs so far. She doesn't take any psych meds (to my knowledge). I'd probably just as soon get off of it altogether and "wing it" (fight off rebound anxiety and sleeplessness by becoming addicted to 2nd life... I could use that 9dollar copay to buy some wigs, for instance)> Q
Thanks Q,
-Ll
Posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 22, 2007, at 14:59:55
In reply to Re: substitutes for geodon? » LlurpsieNoodle, posted by Zyprexa on June 22, 2007, at 14:49:41
> How much do you take, is it helping? Tried a smaller dose? I had no withdraws at all after 2 years on high doses. But it didn't help much and I was glad to lose it. If it is helping you you might have problems if you quit.
oops, sorry I forgot to include this. I take 180mg, split 3 times a day to avoid dumping too much into my system at once -that brings on stupor.
I used to take 240 mg, but that was causing me even more stupor and sleepies 2x a day, so we cut back to 180, which is still higher than 120, the "therapeutic dose"
-Ll
Posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 22, 2007, at 15:01:01
In reply to Re: substitutes for geodon?, posted by ruth33 on June 22, 2007, at 14:54:55
> > It's making me SO drowsy, especially since I'm no longer in acute anxiety.
> >
> > any withdrawal symptoms to expect?
> >
> > -Ll
>
>
> For me, the drowsiness went away in a week or so.
>
I've been on this dose for about 2 months now. If anything the stupor is worse now that my life is slower-paced than last month.-Ll
Posted by ruth33 on June 22, 2007, at 15:03:22
In reply to Re: substitutes for geodon? » ruth33, posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 22, 2007, at 15:01:01
Doesn't sound like it's a good drug for you. Or too high of a dose.
Posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 22, 2007, at 15:03:23
In reply to Re: substitutes for geodon?, posted by ruth33 on June 22, 2007, at 14:50:12
I'm going to do a search for abilify + drowsiness. I hope you're right. Maybe pdoc put me on geodon to force me to slow down? I remember at one point we were considering abilify also.
thanks,
-Ll
Posted by ruth33 on June 22, 2007, at 15:04:33
In reply to Re: substitutes for geodon? » ruth33, posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 22, 2007, at 15:03:23
Hope you're feeling better soon.
Posted by ruth33 on June 22, 2007, at 15:08:09
In reply to Re: substitutes for geodon?, posted by ruth33 on June 22, 2007, at 15:04:33
If I go higher than 10mg on Abilify, I get major agitation. I hypersensitive to meds and always need pediatric doses. It's so hard being "special". If you should try it and get agitation, try lowering your dose. It's one of the few meds I've been able to tolerate.
Posted by Zyprexa on June 23, 2007, at 13:35:16
In reply to my dose » Zyprexa, posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 22, 2007, at 14:59:55
Why not 40mg x 3 a day? Does it work at this dose?
Posted by med_empowered on June 23, 2007, at 15:50:13
In reply to my dose » Zyprexa, posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 22, 2007, at 14:59:55
I'm just curious; do you metabolize meds at super-high speeds? For schizophrenia, the dose usually maxes out at 80mgs, 2x daily; going above 200mgs/day can be dangerous b/c of the qTC probs.
Anyway--do you want to go the neuroleptic route? If so, then abilify might be a good call, or maybe even zyprexa or seroquel w/ some metformin in the mix. Surmontil is an old TCA that's kind of clozapine-ish, so it might help you out, too.
Posted by Phillipa on June 23, 2007, at 21:36:34
In reply to why is your dose so high?, posted by med_empowered on June 23, 2007, at 15:50:13
Med I wondered the same thing as I knew 80mg of geodon twice a day is the recommended maximum doseage. I've googled it crazymeds is good. Love Phillipa
Posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 23, 2007, at 23:07:33
In reply to why is your dose so high?, posted by med_empowered on June 23, 2007, at 15:50:13
> I'm just curious; do you metabolize meds at super-high speeds? For schizophrenia, the dose usually maxes out at 80mgs, 2x daily; going above 200mgs/day can be dangerous b/c of the qTC probs.
I took 240mg a day for over 2 months, (pain in the @ss- split dosing 4x daily.) and then I went to a lower dose 180mg. I think I probably do metabolize drugs faster than a lot of people. The doses that I respond to are higher than most people, cymbalta was another one that I took at a pretty high dose for many months. I get the (serotonin?) brain zaps and such every evening from about 5pm until bed time. hook me up to the grid. I can power a blender for sure. I'm pretty sure that my body is going into mini-withdrawal every evening, since I keep my daytime dose low (b/c of stupor).
I've had 3 physicals while on high dose of geodon, and no problems with my health (knock on wood). pdoc even says he wishes his numbers were that good :)
> Anyway--do you want to go the neuroleptic route? If so, then abilify might be a good call, or maybe even zyprexa or seroquel w/ some metformin in the mix. Surmontil is an old TCA that's kind of clozapine-ish, so it might help you out, too.
>I'm leaning strongly towards abilify right now (of course, I'm seeing a new pdoc on monday, so he may decide otherwise!) I had some EPS (tics and such) on seroquel, which went away completely on geodon, so I'm hesitant to take seroquel again- maybe a tiny dose at night. I guess the main symptom that we are trying to treat with the antipsychotics is flashbacks (in 4dtechnicolor) which are very disturbing and disruptive. Intrusive thoughts. Ideation. But I've felt better in the last um. 2 months, flashback-wise. Maybe I'm out of the woods with that particular horror. The nightmares are still bad though. An overactive imagination, tending towards the darkside, even in my daydreams... lucky me.
Surmontil sounds interesting. I'll look that one up.
I'll post about what new pdoc decides to do with me sometime next week. who knows?
thanks for your suggestions- take care,
-Ll
Posted by LlurpsieNoodle on June 23, 2007, at 23:09:08
In reply to Re: my dose » LlurpsieNoodle, posted by Zyprexa on June 23, 2007, at 13:35:16
> Why not 40mg x 3 a day? Does it work at this dose?
It may very well work at this dose. I'm leaning strongly towards getting off this med. onto something new? we'll see.
In the meanwhile, all I've got are 60mg capsules. 900 bucks worth ;)
-Ll
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