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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sheilac on October 20, 2011, at 9:30:22
Since I was feeling too flat and depressed on 120mg of Geodon, I lowered the dose to 80mg at dinner. It has really improved my ability during the day. I am able to interact and read! I have missed reading so much! But on 120mg, it got me through a tough patch but made me a couch veggie. I just couldn't function on the higher dose long term.
Also, since I am now on 80mg I sleep like a baby! I was having insomnia on 120mg.
I still take 2 - 3mg of Klonopin a day and that helps too!
Posted by SLS on October 20, 2011, at 9:33:07
In reply to Dropped Geodon dose..., posted by sheilac on October 20, 2011, at 9:30:22
> Since I was feeling too flat and depressed on 120mg of Geodon, I lowered the dose to 80mg at dinner. It has really improved my ability during the day. I am able to interact and read! I have missed reading so much! But on 120mg, it got me through a tough patch but made me a couch veggie. I just couldn't function on the higher dose long term.
>
> Also, since I am now on 80mg I sleep like a baby! I was having insomnia on 120mg.
>
> I still take 2 - 3mg of Klonopin a day and that helps too!
Geodon is a very unpredictable drug. I'm glad you found a dosage that works well for you.Get well and stay well!
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on October 20, 2011, at 10:49:11
In reply to Dropped Geodon dose..., posted by sheilac on October 20, 2011, at 9:30:22
Sheila congrats to you. So you are feeling overall good now? Phillipa
Posted by Solstice on October 20, 2011, at 12:51:56
In reply to Dropped Geodon dose..., posted by sheilac on October 20, 2011, at 9:30:22
I remember my daughter's doctor telling us that if my daugher had a breakthrough of mania, to give her a 20mg capsule left over from titrations, as soon as we realized she was in trouble, and that this should pull her back. The extra 20mg was to be used as a single augment - not an increase in regular dosage. Maybe you've stumbled on something similar working for you? Maybe you just need to keep a booster handy in case a swing gets activated to pull it back, but otherwise the 80mg is your 'sweet spot' under regular circumstances?
Solstice
> Since I was feeling too flat and depressed on 120mg of Geodon, I lowered the dose to 80mg at dinner. It has really improved my ability during the day. I am able to interact and read! I have missed reading so much! But on 120mg, it got me through a tough patch but made me a couch veggie. I just couldn't function on the higher dose long term.
>
> Also, since I am now on 80mg I sleep like a baby! I was having insomnia on 120mg.
>
> I still take 2 - 3mg of Klonopin a day and that helps too!
>
>
Posted by Solstice on October 20, 2011, at 13:06:43
In reply to Re: Dropped Geodon dose... » sheilac, posted by SLS on October 20, 2011, at 9:33:07
> Geodon is a very unpredictable drug. I'm glad you found a dosage that works well for you.> - Scott
Scott -I am very interested in understanding the unpredictability of Geodon that you've brought up several times. My daughter has been taking it since about February of 2009, and it has seemed very predictable to me in her case - but then again - I'm not the one taking it, so I'm wondering if there are things about it that I should be aware of in case it becomes unpredictable for her? Since she's young, it may be hard for her to recognize something like that - and verbalize it - and of course I'm not the one taking it so I only have her behavior to go by. Anyway - I'd welcome any insight that you could offer. Perhaps she is just someone who responds very well to it and she will never experience unpredictability, but I'd feel better if I at least understood what 'unpredictable' might look like so I'd get it looked at sooner rather than later. It's especially complicated because I have to be able to separate what's part of just been a teenage girl, and what's bipolar. Not always easy! She takes 60mg in the am, and 60mg in the evening, plus 3mg Intuniv, 80mg Vyvanse (both also in the morning). She also takes Trazadone at night - it doesn't help her fall asleep, but it does help her Stay asleep - which is crucial for her. my goodness, I remember how even as a toddler this kid never slept. Maybe two 1.5 hr spurts at night. exhausting!
Solstice
Posted by SLS on October 20, 2011, at 13:44:51
In reply to Re: Dropped Geodon dose... » SLS, posted by Solstice on October 20, 2011, at 13:06:43
Hi Solstice.
> > Geodon is a very unpredictable drug. I'm glad you found a dosage that works well for you.
> I am very interested in understanding the unpredictability of Geodon that you've brought up several times. My daughter has been taking it since about February of 2009, and it has seemed very predictable to me in her case - but then again - I'm not the one taking it
I apologize for any confusion that I might have caused. Geodon is unpredictable as to how it will affect people interindividually, not intraindividually. If your daughter is reacting well to Geodon, the chances are that there are no fluctuations in her response to it. Geodon does a lot of things pharmacologically. Of course, it is a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist. However, it is also a potent partial agonist at serotonin 5-HT1a receptors. Like some antidepressants, Geodon inhibits the reuptake of both serotonin and norepineprhine.
Some people become very sedated with Geodon. Others become frought with anxiety and insomnia. Some people have a manic reaction while others develop a flat affect. Some think more clearly while others become cognitively impaired. My doctor still doesn't know how to characterize Geodon and know who is best treated with it.
You're a good mom.
:-)
- Scott
Posted by Phidippus on October 20, 2011, at 21:18:16
In reply to Dropped Geodon dose..., posted by sheilac on October 20, 2011, at 9:30:22
Geodon is a wild drug and tries to do many things at once. Its not quite an antipsychotic at the 80 mg dose. 120 mg is when it starts to hit more dopamine receptors and really becomes an antipsychotic.
Eric
Posted by sheilac on October 21, 2011, at 13:26:53
In reply to Re: Dropped Geodon dose... » sheilac, posted by Phidippus on October 20, 2011, at 21:18:16
I am doing well on the 80mg. At 120mg I lost the good sleep aspect, which my doc told me was usual. She said that at higher doses Geodon doesn't really help with sleep. I'm not really psychotic, I am taking it as my main bipolar II med.
It has helped stabilize my moods and keep me from getting too high or too low.
At 120mg I just felt out of it and flat. I just really couldn't function for long.
I know if I ever feel I am in crisis and having a hard time, or if I feel the mania coming back, I can always up it by 20mg.
But for now, I am doing good on the Geodon/Klonopin combo and I am finally sleeping, which is priceless! Plus, I have a personality again!
Posted by SLS on October 21, 2011, at 13:40:25
In reply to Re: Dropped Geodon dose..., posted by sheilac on October 21, 2011, at 13:26:53
> But for now, I am doing good on the Geodon/Klonopin combo and I am finally sleeping, which is priceless! Plus, I have a personality again!
Yay!
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on October 22, 2011, at 0:35:56
In reply to Re: Dropped Geodon dose..., posted by sheilac on October 21, 2011, at 13:26:53
Congratulations Sheila :-)
Posted by Solstice on October 22, 2011, at 9:43:45
In reply to Re: Dropped Geodon dose..., posted by sheilac on October 21, 2011, at 13:26:53
Here at Babble.. we can really appreciate the absolute joy and wonder of finding a combo & dosage that turns out to be that `sweet spot`. I am Sooo happy that you`ve found what works for you.. and congratulations on having the courage and stamina to experiment with it!
Solstice
> I am doing well on the 80mg. At 120mg I lost the good sleep aspect, which my doc told me was usual. She said that at higher doses Geodon doesn't really help with sleep. I'm not really psychotic, I am taking it as my main bipolar II med.
>
> It has helped stabilize my moods and keep me from getting too high or too low.
>
> At 120mg I just felt out of it and flat. I just really couldn't function for long.
>
> I know if I ever feel I am in crisis and having a hard time, or if I feel the mania coming back, I can always up it by 20mg.
>
> But for now, I am doing good on the Geodon/Klonopin combo and I am finally sleeping, which is priceless! Plus, I have a personality again!
>
>
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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