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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AMD on March 16, 2005, at 14:39:01
Folks,
I took Geodon for about five days last week in an effort to combat some anxiety brought on by a night of cocaine. When I stopped it I started to feel horrible ... jittery, yucky, shakey. Is this a common withdrawal effect after having been on the medicine for such a short time?
Last night I self-medicated with alcohol to allow me to get some sleep. Overdrank: didn't black out, but definitely got close. Now I feel hungover, and still a bit jittery. And it got me thinking: perhaps I'm having withdrawal from alcohol? Would that even be possible after two nights of heavy drinking, one week apart? (Besides those two nights of binging, I hadn't had alcohol in about a year.)
I feel mentally slow today, too. I'm worried the Geodon wasn't out of my system and perhaps mixed with the alcohol to produce this slowness. Or perhaps I'm hung over. Is alcohol so deadly by itself or in combination with Geodon to produce this as a /long-lasting/ side-effect, or can I more-or-less expect to be clear-headed again later today, tomorrow, etc.?
You hear about the extreme dangers of binge drinking, etc., as if one night will turn you from a smart guy into some bumbling idiot ... and based on this post I'm starting to think that's happened to me! Who knows what my BAL was last night -- but I can tell you, I had about three large gin martinis' worth of alcohol in two hours last night.
amd
Posted by Mark H. on March 16, 2005, at 16:49:51
In reply to Alcohol withdrawal? Geodon withdrawal? Larry?, posted by AMD on March 16, 2005, at 14:39:01
Dear AMD,
Because you admit to going on periodic binges of excessive alcohol and cocaine use, the best advice I can offer is to stay clear of both forever. Not everyone who has an addictive predisposition needs to hit bottom, go through rehab or attend meetings. Many people recognize they have a problem and quit on their own.
If you feel you cannot do it alone (and that's perfectly OK as well), then please seek the support of a local group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.
I very rarely give this advice, because people usually have to find it on their own. But your posts lately have seemed like cries for help, and it's not too late for you to stop this cycle if you want to.
I hope you find a way to leave this part of your life behind.
With kind regards,
Mark H.
Posted by TomG on March 16, 2005, at 17:26:07
In reply to Alcohol withdrawal? Geodon withdrawal? Larry?, posted by AMD on March 16, 2005, at 14:39:01
You're asking if 5 days of Geodon might have caused withdrawal effects of jitteriness, shakiness, and yuckey feelings when you took it to combat anxiety caused by cocaine use? Possibly. Its also a common feeling people have when they use cocaine. I know people that have suffered from cocaine use weeks after they use it. You probably double your chances of this when you have psychiatric problems and use cocaine. I also think unless you're in some sort of amphetamine or cocaine psychosis you shouldn't be treating common reactions to cocaine with antipsychotic drugs. If you have a p'doc who you should be talking to at this time by the way if you can't sleep I'm sure he'll agree with me. First thing he'll tell you is stop the cocaine. Its real simple. If you don't like the undesireable side effects that come with cocaine use like anxiety then don't use it. Are the euphoric effects you get from cocaine use worth the anxiety you get afterwards? I guess that will be up to you.
As with the alcohol you say that you feel "hungover" and that it caused a "slowness". Funny, this is what I used to feel like when I drank too much.
I think you need to contact your doc and be straight with him about what you did and take it from there.
BTW are you on any other psychiatric drugs or are you in remission while using cocaine and binge drinking? I'm sure that will factor into the equation.
Posted by Phillipa on March 16, 2005, at 20:39:35
In reply to Re: Alcohol withdrawal? Geodon withdrawal? Larry?, posted by TomG on March 16, 2005, at 17:26:07
Posted by AMD on March 17, 2005, at 1:27:59
In reply to Re: Alcohol withdrawal? Geodon withdrawal? Larry?, posted by TomG on March 16, 2005, at 17:26:07
It was a slip, the alcohol and cocaine. Not a habit. So I've been beating myself up a bit over it.
Basically I just wanted to know if combating the bad side-effect of the cocaine crash with the ziprasidone was a stupid thing to do. Consensus seems to be "well, talk to you doctor!" I just wanted to make sure I didn't cause some toxic effect.
No more alcohol for me! Too bad, because I used to enjoy drinking. Now it just seems to set off the cuckoo-alarm in my brain.
amd
This is the end of the thread.
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