Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 332225

Shown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

geodon, depression, sleepiness

Posted by River1924 on April 3, 2004, at 20:47:21

Is a geodon likely to make my hypersomnia worse? I tend to be sensitive to any meds that affect histamine. Is a low dose likely to make me stay in bed 20 hours a day?

 

Re: geodon, depression, sleepiness

Posted by Ruru on April 3, 2004, at 23:18:41

In reply to geodon, depression, sleepiness, posted by River1924 on April 3, 2004, at 20:47:21

All I know is it helped me daughter while she was on it but she had to have monthly EKGs and the medication had to be stopped due to the changes it showed.
Ruru

 

Re: geodon, depression, sleepiness

Posted by Sad Panda on April 4, 2004, at 3:23:48

In reply to geodon, depression, sleepiness, posted by River1924 on April 3, 2004, at 20:47:21

> Is a geodon likely to make my hypersomnia worse? I tend to be sensitive to any meds that affect histamine. Is a low dose likely to make me stay in bed 20 hours a day?
>
>

I can't help you with geodon, but, you say antihistaminergic meds make your hypersomnia worse? I use to have inital insomnia combined with hypersomnia until I started Remeron. Intitally I slept longer, but within a month it reduced my sleep time down to 8 hours. Which antihistamines did you try?

Cheers,
Panda.


 

Re: geodon, depression, sleepiness

Posted by MichaelJr on April 5, 2004, at 7:11:34

In reply to Re: geodon, depression, sleepiness, posted by Sad Panda on April 4, 2004, at 3:23:48

I'm not sure about your specific chemistry, but Geodone is definitely an upper. I had to stop taking it because it kept me up for 2 days straight.

 

geodon ziprasidone insomnia lose weight loss gain

Posted by jtevers on April 6, 2004, at 18:03:24

In reply to Re: geodon, depression, sleepiness, posted by MichaelJr on April 5, 2004, at 7:11:34

to those interested,

i am currently on my third attempt with geodon / ziprasidone in a desperate attempt to lose over 60lbs. gained while on seroquel and neurontin / gabapentin ... any insight?

with each try of geodon the following side effects evolved and needed to be remedied:

initially insomnia ( for days on end ), that i have heard eventually disipates, which i treated with an antihistamine or ambien. any insight?

then depression which i treated with wellbutrin.

and finally vertigo or dizziness ... i am currently seeking the insight of a doctor to help me over this hurdle ... perhaps an anticholinergic or benzodiazepine.

do you hope to or have you lost weight switching to ziprasidone or have you experienced the kind of side effect profile i have?

quite a cocktail i have created, huh?

thanx.

 

Re: geodon ziprasidone insomnia lose weight loss g

Posted by River1924 on April 6, 2004, at 23:30:05

In reply to geodon ziprasidone insomnia lose weight loss gain, posted by jtevers on April 6, 2004, at 18:03:24

Thanks for the info. Since I keep thinking about suicide, my doc mailed me some samples today. I'll get back to you about my experience once I get the capsules in the mail. I really doubt if I'll get insomnia. I can take ritalin and provigil and a bucket of caffeine pills and still fall asleep. I'd enjoy a life not spent sleeping. I have never heard geodon causes weight loss. Wellbutrin helps me lose weight but I hardly can ever take it more than a month before I decide I can't stand this med. I need to lose a lot of weight so I hope you are right.

 

Geodon

Posted by River 1924 on April 16, 2004, at 0:30:22

In reply to Re: geodon ziprasidone insomnia lose weight loss g, posted by River1924 on April 6, 2004, at 23:30:05

Ideally, I'd like this med to cure all those little problems: depression, apathy, social phobia, suicidal thoughts, sleeping far too much, inability to plan ahead or care much.

For me, this med is unusual in that after a day or two of sleepiness, I'm having trouble falling asleep...which at this point is a nice change. I've only been on it a week and I'm only taking 20mg one time a day. It is very expensive...$350.00 for 60 pills. I take other meds. If this alertness continues, I may discontinue my meds for hypersomnia: provigil, concerta and ritalin. I take klonopin for anxiety and social phobia...I might take it at bedtime if I feel I'm developing insomnia.

As for my moods and anxiety, it is too early to tell. Nothing bad. I'm fairly good right now but that may be placebo effect or coincidence.

As for other side effects, it may be causing mild muscle cramping (a few times a day); technically, this is called dystonia when it worsens and it tends to be more of a problem with this med...but so far at this very low dose, I wouldn't even call it a problem.

 

GEODON ziprasidone insomnia lose weight loss gain?

Posted by jtevers on April 16, 2004, at 18:29:34

In reply to Geodon, posted by River 1924 on April 16, 2004, at 0:30:22

i am on my third trial of ziprasidone / geodon in under two years... i am trying to lose over 60lbs. i had gained while on seroquel and neurontin.

in each trial (although geodon has been wonderful for the treatment of the symptoms of bipolar, including psychosis) a seperate side effect evolved and needed to be resolved :

for the depression secondary to ziprasidone i take wellbutrin and while it does compromise the effectiveness of the ziprasidone, it works well.

for the vertigo / dizziness i will be seeking a second opinion, but understand anticholinergics work well. any insight?

for the insomnia, well i just don't know the solution and will be seeking your advice as well as that of my doctor(s). i understand the chronic insomnia caused by geodon is sometimes difficult to treat, and sometimes abates. any insight?

i know, River, that this doesn't help but perhaps a response to both of our pleas may.

 

Re: GEODON ziprasidone ..... » jtevers

Posted by River1924 on April 16, 2004, at 23:56:47

In reply to GEODON ziprasidone insomnia lose weight loss gain?, posted by jtevers on April 16, 2004, at 18:29:34

Although I am currently on wellbutrin, it is a poor choice for people prone to insomnia or psychosis...could you take a lower dose? Ziprasidone probably has antidepressant qualities...could it be enough by itself. Klonopin is an addictive medicine...by that I mean, one cannot stop taking it cold turkey but it will probably be what I will use for insomnia. (I hope it works @ my current daily dose of 4mg.) Have you tried one of the newer sleeping agents like Ambien or Sonata or an older med (technically an antidepressant) called trazodone? Good Luck.

 

Geodon anxiety

Posted by River 1924 on April 18, 2004, at 22:30:33

In reply to Geodon, posted by River 1924 on April 16, 2004, at 0:30:22

I'm starting to feel real anxious. If I see my neighbors outside, I go upstairs in case (like this ever happens) they come to the door. It may be the wellbutrin I started with the geodon because I assumed geodon would make me sleepy. I think I'll switch to zoloft or stop taking an antidepressant and see what happens. We'll see.

 

Re: Geodon anxiety

Posted by jtevers on April 19, 2004, at 18:17:28

In reply to Geodon anxiety, posted by River 1924 on April 18, 2004, at 22:30:33

> I'm starting to feel real anxious. If I see my neighbors outside, I go upstairs in case (like this ever happens) they come to the door. It may be the wellbutrin I started with the geodon because I assumed geodon would make me sleepy. I think I'll switch to zoloft or stop taking an antidepressant and see what happens. We'll see.

river,

i have heard more often that wellbutrin is responsible for triggering anxiety than geodon. welllbutrin is not the anti-anxiety agent that many of the SSRIs are.

geodon is supposed to be "activating" not sedating, perhaps you don't need the wellbutrin at all. this is why i generally experience insomnia rather than excessive sleepiness.

antipsychotics are supposed to suppress anxiety and paranoia, but everyone reacts differently. hence, the depression i experience with geodon ... i also take wellbutrin for it.

i wouldn't make any changes without consulting a doctor ... i have fallen in that trap before. please be careful.

 

Geodon: Can antipsychotics cause back spasms?

Posted by River 1924 on April 29, 2004, at 0:10:37

In reply to Geodon anxiety, posted by River 1924 on April 18, 2004, at 22:30:33

For 2 or 3 weeks, I've taken Geodon. I had some minor cramping early on and now my back goes into spasms if I lean over. Could a drug cause this or do you think it is just a bad back? Thanks

 

Geodon: Back spasms...had to quit geodon (nm)

Posted by River 1924 on May 3, 2004, at 0:19:01

In reply to Geodon: Can antipsychotics cause back spasms?, posted by River 1924 on April 29, 2004, at 0:10:37

 

GEODON: lose weight loss gain, insomnia, vertigo?

Posted by jtevers on May 4, 2004, at 16:35:04

In reply to Geodon: Back spasms...had to quit geodon (nm), posted by River 1924 on May 3, 2004, at 0:19:01

to one and all, esp. river,

i am on my third trial with geodon / ziprasidone as a supplement to neurontin (a mood stabilizer) since a 2001 diagnosis of bipolar.

since then my weight had ballooned in two increments over 70 lbs totally ... i am fighting the "battle of the bulge." i also sleep excessively because of seroquel's antihistamine property.

geodon, so i hope and have heard, will alleviate some of the weight gain and actually causes insomnia ... how do i deal with that? i understand that benzos are not the solution to chronic insomnia because their hypnotic effect wains.

i also experience dizziness ( vertigo ) on geodon that is disabling in it's extremity. any shared experience? i have heard antihistamines work, but they also cause weight gain. i have heard anticholinergics may work as well?

anticholinergics may be the solution for your back spasms, river, they are often prescribed for dystonia secondary to medication ... ask a doctor.

thanks.

 

Geodon » jtevers

Posted by River 1924 on May 5, 2004, at 23:20:26

In reply to GEODON: lose weight loss gain, insomnia, vertigo?, posted by jtevers on May 4, 2004, at 16:35:04

I didn't have dizziness or vertigo on geodon. Of course I was at a relatively low dose (20mg bid). I wish I could help. The herb Ginko might help though it is unlikely to be an inner ear problem. I did take ginger capsules four times a day for nausea on geodon. It worked but I really wasn't dizzy so to speak. I can't really give you advice. I've taken lots of meds but I've never been afflicted with vertigo. Could it be an interaction with another med you take? For me, I wish geodon had come in tablets instead of capsules. Five or ten milligrams twice a day might have been enough for me. I liked 20 mgs once a day (I seemed better mentally and more organized) but I could almost feel my blood level go up and down. Forty milligrams caused the back spasms and made me kinda spacey and distant. When I took Abilify, I took 1/4 tablets and it worked fine (except for the akathisia which I couldn't manage to treat with other meds.) I wish I could have cut geodon in halves and quarters. Good Luck. (PS: I'm trying to lose 100lbs of mostly med induced weight gain. I hope we both win that battle.)

 

Re: Geodon

Posted by jtevers on May 6, 2004, at 17:34:11

In reply to Geodon » jtevers, posted by River 1924 on May 5, 2004, at 23:20:26

river,

have you ever investigated whether or not you could get your geodon from a "compounding" pharmacist.

this is special function ( compounding ) pharmacists perform at certain pharmacies to aid people with special requests and needs ... such as dosages ( sometimes cut for children ), or med. formulations not found in generic pharmacies ( sometimes also needed for the elderly or pets and animals ).

perhaps you could have your geodon "cut" into smaller dosages...even though they are capsules.

i have never had this done but this is what i understand compounding pharmacists to do.

maybe this will help.

john


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