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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Collette on November 4, 2001, at 10:55:10
I have been taking Geodon for 5 weeks now, along with Prozac( which has pooped out somewhat after 10+ years). I found the first AP I tried, Zyprexa, to be the best drug I have ever taken, but it caused tremendous weight gain. The Geodon is keeping me very stable(mood-wise)and not depressed, so I think it is working well for me. The problem is that I still lack motivation, energy and a desire to leave the house. I stll find daily tasks very difficult. Zyprexa seemed to stimulate & energize me. It was almost like a tiny mania that was SO NICE. Just enough for me to actually DO the things I wanted to do. So am I on track by thinking that a stimulant will help me? I have been researching here and have come up with Provigil or Adderall. Actually Adrafinil sounds good, but I live in the USA. Do I need more of a dopamine antagonist? ( I am not very phamacologically literate). Thank you so much if you can help to point me in the right direction. So far, my pdoc has been willing to try whatever I have suggested from here! Collette
Posted by ChrisK on November 5, 2001, at 3:54:57
In reply to How can I make Geodon like Zyprexa?, posted by Collette on November 4, 2001, at 10:55:10
Before trying a stimulant may I suggest looking into Mirapex? I take it along with Zyprexa and Nortriptyline. It has been the only med that has helped with my anhedonia and apathy. In the past I have had unsuccessful trials with Adderall, Ritalin and Provigil.
Mirapex hasn't neccesarilly given me more energy but it has given me back some enjoyment and motivation. BTW I also took it in combo with Geodon for 3 months. My mood was fairly stable on Geodon except for some irritability and insomnia. I didn't like those attributes so I went back to Zyprexa which I have been taking for several years now.
There have been many studies to date showing that Mirapex does have some good AD qualities. It also works on the Dopamine system but I won't pretend to understand just how. I know that when my doctor and I first looked at it we thought it would conflict with Zyprexa but the opposite has turned out to be true.
After years of trials I have finally settled on these meds for my own condition:
Nortriptyline - relieves baseline depression
Zyprexa - relives dark, ruminating thoughts
Mirapex - relieves anhedonia and apathy.Best of luck with whatever you try,
Chris
Posted by SLS on November 6, 2001, at 12:20:34
In reply to Re: How can I make Geodon like Zyprexa?, posted by ChrisK on November 5, 2001, at 3:54:57
> After years of trials I have finally settled on these meds for my own condition:
>
> Nortriptyline - relieves baseline depression
> Zyprexa - relives dark, ruminating thoughts
> Mirapex - relieves anhedonia and apathy.
>
> Best of luck with whatever you try,
> Chris
Hi Chris.If you don't mind my asking, how much nortriptyline are you taking? What is your blood level at this dosage? Did you ever take a higher dosage and lose the antidepressant effect?
Thanks much.
I am so glad to hear that everything has stuck so well.
- Scott
Posted by ChrisK on November 6, 2001, at 16:46:32
In reply to Re: How can I make Geodon like Zyprexa? » ChrisK, posted by SLS on November 6, 2001, at 12:20:34
> Hi Chris.
>
> If you don't mind my asking, how much nortriptyline are you taking? What is your blood level at this dosage? Did you ever take a higher dosage and lose the antidepressant effect?
>
> Thanks much.
>
> I am so glad to hear that everything has stuck so well.
>Scott, couldn't tell you my blood level right now but I take 100 mg/day in one morning dose. I hit this dose very early in my trials so it's been at least 3 or 4 years since I took a lower dose. I don't remember ever taking a dose higher than 100. So far there has been no poopout and I really haven't had any major setbacks in my baseline depression. It's not the be-all and end-all as an AD butit's put me on a level plane where I know what to expect from day to day.
Chris
> - Scott
Posted by Chocoholic on November 8, 2001, at 18:36:14
In reply to How can I make Geodon like Zyprexa?, posted by Collette on November 4, 2001, at 10:55:10
Hi, Collette. I have been taking Geodon since March and also take dexedrine and Mirapex, along with other meds. The Mirapex has been very helpful for decreasing anhedonia, but is very sedating for me. The dexedrine has been invaluable--without it I would be an absolute blob.
Chocoholic > I have been taking Geodon for 5 weeks now, along with Prozac( which has pooped out somewhat after 10+ years). I found the first AP I tried, Zyprexa, to be the best drug I have ever taken, but it caused tremendous weight gain. The Geodon is keeping me very stable(mood-wise)and not depressed, so I think it is working well for me. The problem is that I still lack motivation, energy and a desire to leave the house. I stll find daily tasks very difficult. Zyprexa seemed to stimulate & energize me. It was almost like a tiny mania that was SO NICE. Just enough for me to actually DO the things I wanted to do. So am I on track by thinking that a stimulant will help me? I have been researching here and have come up with Provigil or Adderall. Actually Adrafinil sounds good, but I live in the USA. Do I need more of a dopamine antagonist? ( I am not very phamacologically literate). Thank you so much if you can help to point me in the right direction. So far, my pdoc has been willing to try whatever I have suggested from here! Collette
Posted by Collette on November 8, 2001, at 20:35:08
In reply to Re: How can I make Geodon like Zyprexa?, posted by Chocoholic on November 8, 2001, at 18:36:14
> Hi, Collette. I have been taking Geodon since March and also take dexedrine and Mirapex, along with other meds. The Mirapex has been very helpful for decreasing anhedonia, but is very sedating for me. The dexedrine has been invaluable--without it I would be an absolute blob.
What exactly do you take the Mirapex for? I was thinking of adding Provigil or possibly Adderall.
Posted by Chocoholic on November 9, 2001, at 0:37:13
In reply to Re: How can I make Geodon like Zyprexa? » Chocoholic, posted by Collette on November 8, 2001, at 20:35:08
>Hi, Collette--
I originally took Mirapex as an adjunct anti-depressant--it is a dopamine agonist. But I have also gotten major mood-stabilizing and anti-anxiety benefits. I think the dexedrine impacts D1 and Mirpex is mostly a D3 agonist, which makes sense because they feel like they affect different things. The Mirapex is definitly not activating. By the way, I have tried Adderall, Ritalin, Cylert and Modafinil, which are all stimulants, and dexedrine has worked by far the best for me.
Zyprexa impacted me differently than Geodon--it really mellowed me out and cut out the ruminations. Although they both seem to be mood-stabilizing for me, the Geodon has worked better in the capacity of an antidepressant.Ask Cam or Scott about the structural differences. I think Geodon has much stronger serotonergic antagonism than Zyprexa, which for reasons I don't understand, increase the availability of serotonin.
Good luck with all of this!Chocoholic
> Hi, Collette. I have been taking Geodon since March and also take dexedrine and Mirapex, along with other meds. The Mirapex has been very helpful for decreasing anhedonia, but is very sedating for me. The dexedrine has been invaluable--without it I would be an absolute blob.
>
> What exactly do you take the Mirapex for? I was thinking of adding Provigil or possibly Adderall.
This is the end of the thread.
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