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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Betternow on January 23, 2004, at 20:12:48
If anyone could comment on their experience with geodon, specfically did you perceive an AD effect? Did you perceive any effect, positive or negative, on sexual function and libido?
I'd be very grateful for insights
Dr Bob if possible could you share any anecdotal information?
Betternow, but could be better!
Posted by girl1969 on January 23, 2004, at 20:38:32
In reply to Calling all past or present Geodon users!!!, posted by Betternow on January 23, 2004, at 20:12:48
I have been taking Geodon for a bit over a month. I do feel less depressed, but I am also taking Lamictal 400 mg which I started shortly before the Geodon, so it's hard to tell which is having an AD effect.
How long have you been taking it and what's your dose?
Glad to hear that you're betternow...hope it gets even better.
Posted by Betternow on January 23, 2004, at 20:53:52
In reply to Re: Calling all past or present Geodon users!!!, posted by girl1969 on January 23, 2004, at 20:38:32
Hi Girl1969,
I am currently taking Prozac 20mg and a little xanax+ ambien to sleep each night. I am better on this plan, but my sex life suffers as do many who take SSRIs. Geodon has SSRI properties, but actually antagonizes 5ht2a which may help resolve the sexual side fx.
Did you perceive a positive, neutral, or negative effect on your libido and sexual function?
Posted by girl1969 on January 23, 2004, at 23:02:11
In reply to Re: Calling all past or present Geodon users!!!, posted by Betternow on January 23, 2004, at 20:53:52
Hmmm. Difficult to judge about sexual function and libido. I had something similar to the flu which started Christmas Eve and didn't resolve until just recently.
Also, I'm not currently involved in a relationship, which makes it difficult to judge desire.
I do still think about sex frequently (haha), which is probably a good sign.
I just stopped taking Celexa, so that ought to spice things up a bit, too.
Posted by Betternow on January 24, 2004, at 18:56:20
In reply to Re: Calling all past or present Geodon users!!!, posted by girl1969 on January 23, 2004, at 23:02:11
> Hmmm. Difficult to judge about sexual function and libido. I had something similar to the flu which started Christmas Eve and didn't resolve until just recently.
>
> Also, I'm not currently involved in a relationship, which makes it difficult to judge desire.
>
> I do still think about sex frequently (haha), which is probably a good sign.
>
> I just stopped taking Celexa, so that ought to spice things up a bit, too.Sorry to read that you were ill. Glad you are feeling better!
Yea, Celexa will put the kabosh on the the old libido. It never really worked for me. Prozac makes me fell like me. But my issues aren't really a sad depression. Mine are more anger and hostility and sometimes a little sad, anxiety I guess. My pdoc never really put a label on it. Low dose zyprexa+prozac works the best, but had to drop zyprexa due to weight gain.
Trying to gather evidence to make a pitch for Geodon as monotherapy. But as you can see, not a lot of folks responding to my post.
I am grateful for your feedback. why are you using Geodon?
Posted by bobbiedobbs on January 25, 2004, at 12:50:49
In reply to Re: Calling all past or present Geodon users!!!, posted by Betternow on January 24, 2004, at 18:56:20
I'm curious about this medication also. My doctor raised it as a possibility; I'd never even heard of it. I'm an ex-long term MAOI user who has switched to Lexapro with mixed effects (fewer intrusive thoughts, calmer, but sleeping way too much and 90 % less of ability to orgasm (male equivalent of it). I'm also interested in anyone who has taken geodone with or without lexapro, particularly re the fatigue and sexual issues, and overall efficacy. Phil
Posted by Girl1969 on January 26, 2004, at 13:01:24
In reply to Re: Calling all past or present Geodon users!!!, posted by Betternow on January 24, 2004, at 18:56:20
Hi there...
I take Geodon for bipolar 1, long history of mania and a few depressive episodes. I am taking 40 mg, but I feel hypomanic lately and think the dose needs to be increased. How much are you taking?
I, too, discontinued Zyprexa due to weight gain. I've never taken a drug that made me feel so damn good, but I can't accept being fat. I tried to resign myself to it, but I just couldn't. I'm not one of those people who is willing to trade vanity for sanity.
Girl
Posted by Betternow on January 26, 2004, at 22:25:14
In reply to Re: Calling all past or present Geodon users!!!, posted by Girl1969 on January 26, 2004, at 13:01:24
> Hi there...
>
> I take Geodon for bipolar 1, long history of mania and a few depressive episodes. I am taking 40 mg, but I feel hypomanic lately and think the dose needs to be increased. How much are you taking?
>
> I, too, discontinued Zyprexa due to weight gain. I've never taken a drug that made me feel so damn good, but I can't accept being fat. I tried to resign myself to it, but I just couldn't. I'm not one of those people who is willing to trade vanity for sanity.
>
> GirlHi Girl,
I'm actually not taking Geodon yet. I am trying to build a case for my doc to let me try. I wish I could get more users to reply to post. But other peoples experience really should not matter too much; all these drugs effect us all differently. I guess we just have to try them all and settle on best one.
My doc once said I could be Bipolar II, I'm not sure what that really means. I think there are as many disorders as there are people!
How are you doing without the Celexa? I,m doing fine on Prozac except for the sex thing-I don't even masterbate anymore and it use to be a hobby! Its tough on a guys ego, but guy or girl its no way to live!!!I really hope my doc lets me try Geodon. Zyprexa worked so well, but I got up to 245lbs. I'm back to 215 which at 6'4" is not too bad. Did you weight stabilize on Geodon?
Posted by girl1969 on January 27, 2004, at 0:05:19
In reply to Re: Calling all past or present Geodon users!!!, posted by Betternow on January 26, 2004, at 22:25:14
Oh, I forgot that you hadn't started the Geodon yet (I'm crazy, forgive me) :)
Let's see...I started the Geodon/Lamictal combo probably right after Thanksgiving and I've lost 35 pounds since. I know that a lot of people will say that's too much too fast...but I haven't felt this good about myself in a very long time and I'm not at all concerned.
I am feeling great without the Celexa. My doc and I have always debated whether someone with a history of mania should be on an antidepressant as maintenance therapy and we're now in agreement that it was the right thing to do. The lamictal has antidepressant properties for me and I guess that's all I need.
It's been very helpful for me to read the posts here about different medications, but you're 100% right, everyone is different and you sometimes have to try things to figure out what's going to work.
About the sexual side effects, I definitely feel more interested than I did on my Zyprexa/Celexa combo.
Is your doc opposed to trying Geodon because it's new?
Posted by Shane M on January 27, 2004, at 1:58:18
In reply to Re: Calling all past or present Geodon users!!!, posted by Girl1969 on January 26, 2004, at 13:01:24
I used Geodon for depression. It had amazing results, and I achieved full remission. I was taking 40 mg Geodon. I was also taking 300mg Effexor XR plus 30mg Buspar a day. It worked for me until I came in contact with marijuana smoke by accident. After that it hasn't quite worked as well. I would definately give it a shot, should be a plus for the libido as well.
Posted by Betternow on January 28, 2004, at 8:40:07
In reply to Re: Calling all past or present Geodon users!!!, posted by girl1969 on January 27, 2004, at 0:05:19
> Oh, I forgot that you hadn't started the Geodon yet (I'm crazy, forgive me) :)
>
> Let's see...I started the Geodon/Lamictal combo probably right after Thanksgiving and I've lost 35 pounds since. I know that a lot of people will say that's too much too fast...but I haven't felt this good about myself in a very long time and I'm not at all concerned.> I am feeling great without the Celexa. My doc and I have always debated whether someone with a history of mania should be on an antidepressant as maintenance therapy and we're now in agreement that it was the right thing to do. The lamictal has antidepressant properties for me and I guess that's all I need.
>
> It's been very helpful for me to read the posts here about different medications, but you're 100% right, everyone is different and you sometimes have to try things to figure out what's going to work.
>
> About the sexual side effects, I definitely feel more interested than I did on my Zyprexa/Celexa combo.
>
> Is your doc opposed to trying Geodon because it's new?Hi Girl
My doc is not opposed to starting Geodon. In fact, he prescribed it yesterday and I took first dose last night 20mg with dinner. I slept great last night and had a hard time getting up this morning. I have a very slight headache and feel a little slow. I will not take Prozac anymore.
My doc said he has had great success with Geodon for Bipolar I and II. He thinks I'm BPII.
I will update my experience periodically. It will take some time for the Prozac to get out and the Geodon to get a good level. He just wants me to take 20mg once a day in the evening then move up to 40mg in the evening. He said taking it in the morning might make me sleepy all day.
How do you take yours? Do you remember how you felt when you first started.
I am really grateful for your feedback!
Posted by Betternow on January 28, 2004, at 8:49:02
In reply to Re: Calling all past or present Geodon users!!!, posted by Shane M on January 27, 2004, at 1:58:18
> I used Geodon for depression. It had amazing results, and I achieved full remission. I was taking 40 mg Geodon. I was also taking 300mg Effexor XR plus 30mg Buspar a day. It worked for me until I came in contact with marijuana smoke by accident. After that it hasn't quite worked as well. I would definately give it a shot, should be a plus for the libido as well.
Shane,
Thanks so much for your feedback. I started last night at 20mg qd. Will move to 40mg qd in a few weeks.
Sorry to hear of your exposure to second hand marijuana smoke.
Hope you are felling good now!
I'm curious if you were taking Geodon with Effexor, did you have sexual side effects, low libido and takes forever to orgasm?
If you did not experience these side effect I wonder if Geodons 5ht2 antagonism offset those side effects.
Posted by Shane M on January 28, 2004, at 23:49:30
In reply to Re: Calling all past or present Geodon users!!!, posted by Betternow on January 28, 2004, at 8:49:02
I was taking Effexor XR 300 mg with the Geodon. I have sexual difficulties because of my depression alone, so I couldn't say if the Geodon or Effexor would have caused the same. I think the Geodon would have been beneficial to those aspects as well though if I had been on it longer before it stopped working due to the marijuana smoke.
Posted by girl1969 on January 30, 2004, at 6:13:49
In reply to Re: Calling all past or present Geodon users!!!, posted by Betternow on January 28, 2004, at 8:40:07
Hi Betternow...
I started taking Geodon around the same time I started Lamictal, so it's difficult to say which side effects were due to what. I am definitely sleeping very well. Since starting this combo, I have absolutely no appetite. I don't know if this is the Geodon or not, but let me know if the same thing happens to you.
I used to take Zyprexa and Depakote, but I refused to accept the weight gain anymore and that's why my meds have been switched around so much. I've lost 35 pounds since starting the Lamictal/Geodon cocktail. I also feel a lot less like a zombie. I became hypomanic for a while, but I rode it out and I think things are back to baseline now.
I REALLY hope that Geodon works well for you. I am thrilled that it's been working so well for me. I haven't ruminated or had any intrusive thoughts in the past 2 months!
Keep us updated...
Girl
PS. No sexual side effects so far ;)
This is the end of the thread.
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