Posted by yxibow on March 11, 2006, at 2:06:05
In reply to I'm Scared! I'm afraid of taking Geodon, posted by KrystalR on March 8, 2006, at 15:51:38
> Hi. My name is Krystal. I have been diagnosed as having bipolar disorder and a pretty bad anxiety disorder as well. I would like to think that I am pretty high functioning. I have had this problem since I was only 13 and have been hospitalized twice for attempted suicide. I thought that I had my life together, when honestly I was making very impulsive decisions, spending tons of cash, doing a lot of drugs, and basically killing myself slowly. Things started shaping up for me after I married at the young age of 21. I have two kids, and most people have no idea what I deal with on a day to day basis. In fact, people would probably think I have the perfect life. In reality, I am going through my own personal hell trying to find the "right" medication. So far, I have tried lithium, Seroquel, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Zyprexa, and the worst: Abilify. Right now I am on Paxil, Xanax, and have just started Geodon. I hated the weight gain that was associated with Zyprexa, so this is our next step. In researching Geodon, I have found many scary side effects including sudden death. This has scared me so much that I had a horrible panic attack and had to take a xanax. I am supposed to double my dose tonight, from 20mg to 40mg. I am terrified that I will die! Please tell me that this is false, that it's an extremely safe drug, and that I will be safe and fine.
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If you research the PDR or online PIs, you will probably find every possible ailment out there. You could also walk across the street or drive a car and get into an accident at a similar rate. We collectively place a false sense of security in things that we believe we have full control over in society when in fact there really are not guarantees.But as far as the major worry of Geodon, the Qt interval (heart issues), it was recertified by the FDA after a 4,000 patient study and declared marketable again. In fact to this day, Mellaril has a greater Qt interval issue and is still used extensively.
"Sudden death" has to be listed but way way more often than not it is not necessarily causally linked solely to the drug itself. The individual may have had multiple issues.
As for anything else, Geodon may have greater akathisia than Seroquel, for some individuals, but that would be the only issue I would say. I'm sensitive to that so do not take that as something you would necessarily experience.
Good luck with the Geodon, and remember full trials of medications take a number of weeks to settle out. It does sound like you have been through a number of drugs and I'm sure you have tried them extensively, but it does happen that people quit too early. Again, I'm not saying that you have not given any of the drugs a fair try, but brain chemistry changes do not occur overnight, certainly not in these types of medications, although AP tend to work faster than AD medications.
Tidings and best wishes
-- Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:617590
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060310/msgs/618703.html