Asha Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 I'm BP 2. My dr. added a new medicine 2 weeks ago. Geodon. I had been able to be on just Lamictal for a few months, but I know I have to be real with myself. I know I am spiraling down when I start thinking I'm fat and ugly, and I change my clothes 50 times before leaving to go somewhere. So, I was honest and said I needed something BUT it had to be weight neutral. My psych is such an amazing Dr. I've worked really hard since July to lose 20 lbs of the 50 I gained from Lithium ? For one, I am stuttering and mixing my words up letters in words. My brain is working faster than my mouth, and it is so frustrating. I noticed it and mentioned it to my husband, and he agreed. I own a business where I have to do Facebook Lives and Video recordings a lot. I sound like a complete spaz!! So now in a few social settings we've had and I'm talking, my husband just casually leans to my ear and says "slow down". Thankfully my entire circle knows about my diagnosis. But the public watching my videos don't!! haha! Also, 5th night in a row I can't sleep. I am sleeping fine once morning hits, but it's like I have my days and nights are mixed up. I can't continue doing this.... because sleeplessness just sets me off to manic anyways. And I don't feel manic. Like I feel good, but not exaggerated. Just wondering if anyone has had any similar experiences with this med and if it warrants me to suggest a switch, or do I just need to get used to it, and then the side effects will wear off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savannah Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 I couldn't sleep with just Geodon. Had to take trazadone and Rozerem to sleep. geodon worked well for a few years. Then I had a really bad manic episode and had to also take seroquel and an older AP, Prolixin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browri Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 On 10/16/2017 at 2:21 AM, Asha said: I'm BP 2. My dr. added a new medicine 2 weeks ago. Geodon. I had been able to be on just Lamictal for a few months, but I know I have to be real with myself. I know I am spiraling down when I start thinking I'm fat and ugly, and I change my clothes 50 times before leaving to go somewhere. So, I was honest and said I needed something BUT it had to be weight neutral. My psych is such an amazing Dr. I've worked really hard since July to lose 20 lbs of the 50 I gained from Lithium ? For one, I am stuttering and mixing my words up letters in words. My brain is working faster than my mouth, and it is so frustrating. I noticed it and mentioned it to my husband, and he agreed. I own a business where I have to do Facebook Lives and Video recordings a lot. I sound like a complete spaz!! So now in a few social settings we've had and I'm talking, my husband just casually leans to my ear and says "slow down". Thankfully my entire circle knows about my diagnosis. But the public watching my videos don't!! haha! Also, 5th night in a row I can't sleep. I am sleeping fine once morning hits, but it's like I have my days and nights are mixed up. I can't continue doing this.... because sleeplessness just sets me off to manic anyways. And I don't feel manic. Like I feel good, but not exaggerated. Just wondering if anyone has had any similar experiences with this med and if it warrants me to suggest a switch, or do I just need to get used to it, and then the side effects will wear off. How much did your doctor start you out on? Lower doses are activating, whereas the higher doses are sedating. In fact weirdly enough it can cause hypomania in some people who just take lower doses, so pdocs generally titrate you quickly to around 120mg to get the sedating effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 I hate geodon-just to disclose. It made me sleepy slurry and pissed off all that the same time. Only Med I ever stopped with out Drs permission. That said @browri is right that higher dose is better to chill, especially if treating mania. But I'm right there with ya on the mind fog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browri Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 (edited) @Asha How much Geodon does your doctor have you on at this point? If you're noticing side effects during the day that you don't like, there's a body of evidence that says those who take Geodon could take it all at night and have it still be effective. Pdocs generally don't do that unless you complain about daytime akathisia or other side effects because ziprasidone has a very short half-life and overall it's more effective when it's taken twice a day. However, if for example you were on a total daily dose of 120mg you may find that taking all of it at night may sedate you more effectively and help prevent insomnia. The idea is that 40mg, 60mg, and 80mg on their own can be stimulating in some people but higher doses can be profoundly sedating especially when they're taken all at once. Talk to your doctor though before you decide to just start taking it all at night. There may be a very good reason he has you taking it twice a day if you are. Neither am I a doctor nor do I know your specific case and other medications that you are taking. It's simply a suggestion for discussion based on what Stephen Stahl says in his psych physician's PDR. Edited October 25, 2017 by browri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.Daniels Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 I can relate to you on this topic. Geodon was causing me become faster in thought processing and because of that my mouth was speaking slower than i was able to think. At work i used to yell at people, speak in louder voice and make big statements over things i knew nothing about.. my weight gain stopped after the remeron (which i took prior to geodon). Geodon is absolutely fantastic medicine if you can tolerate the side effect; akathisia, jumpiness, insomnia etc etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts