Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1015909

Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed??

Posted by displaced9 on April 18, 2012, at 19:38:27

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can offer advice. I have been taking Effexor XR 225mg w/ Wellbutrin XL 300mg both in the AM for dysthymia and anxiety for awhile but have had trouble sleeping since I stopped taking Remeron (Mirtazapine) at bedtime about 4 months ago due to massive weight gain and irritability. My pdoc tried me on Geodon 40mg w/ food an hour so befor bed for sleep. The first night , this knocked me out. Subsequent nights, not so much, then it started having the opposite effect. I felt very "sped up" after taking it at night and it made it even more difficult to sleep. I contacted him and let him know and he advised me to try taking (2) 40mg capsules to make 80mg, as the 40mg was to test tolerability as 40mg is plenty for some patients but the 40mg can cause the keyed up feeling in others. He reminded me to take it with food. I tried this for several nights. Again, knocked me out first 2 nights. It's been about 1.5 weeks at 80mg, and the past 4 days have absolutely miserable. I have had trouble sleeping, so I take melatonin and unisom to sleep, but the following day I feel SO keyed up, sped up , etc like I am on amphetamines. The same feelings I got many years ago when I used methamphetamine once, and when I was misdiagnosed as ADHD and put on Adderall for a few days. Restless, sweating and just can't calm down. I have to take 3-4 mg of klonopin just to be decently at ease, mind you, i'm not anxious.. just restless.

I cut back my Effexor dosage to 75mg and today didn't take the Wellbutrin at all, as I read that Geodon can potentiate CNS stimulating effects of drugs, but none of this helping so far. Do I need to go to a higher dose on the Geodon? The Effexor + WB + Geodon (prior to the keyed up feeling) had me feeling really good. Probably the best ever. Will 120 mg get me to that nice even plateau again?

Many thanks all!
Jason

 

Re: Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed?? » displaced9

Posted by Phillipa on April 18, 2012, at 20:56:16

In reply to Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed??, posted by displaced9 on April 18, 2012, at 19:38:27

You feel miserable? Personally I'd get off this med doesn't seem to be the one for you. Phillipa

 

Re: Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed??

Posted by Raisinb on April 18, 2012, at 21:19:05

In reply to Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed??, posted by displaced9 on April 18, 2012, at 19:38:27

Honestly it sounds like as soon as the higher dosage builds up in your system, you will get the agitated feeling. I guess it could be different at 120 mg. Have you noticed that it is adding other benefits? If so you could ask the doctor for something else to calm you down and help you sleep. If not, you might consider trying another AAP.

However, I'm wondering why your doc jumped to an AAP so quickly if your condition is dysthymia/anxiety and you have only tried a couple ADs?

 

Re: Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed?? » displaced9

Posted by phidippus on April 18, 2012, at 22:39:33

In reply to Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed??, posted by displaced9 on April 18, 2012, at 19:38:27

Geodon can be simulating at low doses. Keep in mind it acts like an SNRI, which may be having additive effects with your Effexor. Maybe too much norepinephrine. 120 mg may be a less activating dose.

Eric

 

Re: Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed??

Posted by Christ_empowered on April 20, 2012, at 4:51:50

In reply to Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed??, posted by displaced9 on April 18, 2012, at 19:38:27

I'd just ditch it and try something else. Low dose abilify, lamictal..I dunno. I wouldn't ramp it up to full antipsychotic levels.

 

Re: Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed?? » Christ_empowered

Posted by displaced9 on April 20, 2012, at 17:58:25

In reply to Re: Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed??, posted by Christ_empowered on April 20, 2012, at 4:51:50

> I'd just ditch it and try something else. Low dose abilify, lamictal..I dunno. I wouldn't ramp it up to full antipsychotic levels.

To all:

I couldn't take it anymore. Even at 120mg, I was still agitated, although not as much. I called the Doctor and he agreed, Geodon was not the one for me. He suggested the Geodon AAP because it augments the effects of the other meds / boots their effectiveness, and I've tried other "atypical" sleeping medications and darn near every other SSRI out there. He prescribed Trazodone 150mg 1-2 tablets at bedtime. He told me I could start out at 50-100mg to figure out what my comfort zone was. I was still pretty jacked up last night so I took a full 150, and i went to sleep, but woke up after 5 hours. I'm hoping as the effects of the Geodon wears off that the 150 will work much better. If not, I can go to 200, 250 or 300. Trazodone is pretty much weight neutral, etc. so that is good.

My question remains.. I am on 300mg of Wellbutrin plus 225 of Effexor and 200mg of Topamax (the Topamax for weight loss) and the other NDRI/SNRI cause weight loss yet I'm not losing an ounce even with the Topamax.. What am I doing wrong? Did the Remeron screw me up permanently? My thyroid is fine, or at least it was before the Remeron. I don't feel sluggish or anything like that. I dropped 10 lbs right when I stopped the Remeron but that was it. It stopped there, and I've been at the same weight since. I'm trying to increase my protein intake significantly and I don't eat many refined carbs, I take a whole food multi, New Chapter Wholemega (Omega Fatty Acids), drink lots of water, and take a Men's Probiotic.

Should I give CLA a try?

 

Re: Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed??

Posted by creepy on April 25, 2012, at 7:03:05

In reply to Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed??, posted by displaced9 on April 18, 2012, at 19:38:27

Thats a strange combo for anxiety. Youve got 3 meds that work on norepinephrine. NE reuptake inhibition causes anxiety in a lot of folks apparently. Wellbutrin is a big one for me.
Are you trying to find a combo that works without causing weight gain or anhedonia? Because the only way Ive seen that done successfully is with topamax.
I found desipramine was a little easier on anxiety than wellbutrin, if that helps.
Smaller doses of geodon are usually more activating, its a weird drug.

 

Re: Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed??

Posted by creepy on April 25, 2012, at 7:08:26

In reply to Re: Geodon 80 mg bedtime - next day -- like on speed?? » Christ_empowered, posted by displaced9 on April 20, 2012, at 17:58:25

The appetite suppression of topamax isnt something everyone gets. The first time I tried topamax I was a hyper-responder and even 25mg was enough to make me not want to eat anything.
I went back to it recently at that dose and it did nothing for my appetite. My feeling is that it works on the sort of carb cravings I get when Im on something really stimulating as well.
Im still impressed that you can tolerate so much NE with those meds and have anxiety. Even the wellbutrin alone would send me off the deep end =)


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