Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 711083

Shown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Anyone tried Geodon for SA?

Posted by Malcolm64 on December 7, 2006, at 1:28:35

Hi: I'm a 42 yo male who's had, at various times, moderate to severe social anxiety.

I was on Nardil earlier this year, and after experiencing what an almost hypomanic state of euphoria, it began to taper off, until 2 months later, it stopped working altogether.

I mean, it was wonderful to be so f**kin happy and to experience life for the first time without any social inhibitions whatsoever. Of course, it had some unpleasant side effects (the worst of which was insomnia).

So I'm on Remeron (which doesn't seem to be doing anything, positive or negative). And last week, my doc gave me an Rx for a med called Geodon. He told me that it's used primarily to treat patients who are Bipolar. But he said that it also has some other properties (one of which is relief of SA) and that it's one of the best AD's out there (and also, as I found out when I went to pick up the prescription, one of the most expensive!!) .

Has anyone here tried Geodon for social anxiety that can report their experiences with it (overall effectiveness, side effects, etc) Also, sexual side effects? I'm 42 and am experiencing impotence and a lack of sex drive that's waaaaaaaaay too premature for my age (although I'm pretty muscular, so my Testosterone levels are normal; confirmed by an endocrinologist).

Anyway, anyone who's had experiences with Geodon and can share their experiences, it would greatly help.

Thanks-
Malcolm

 

Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA?

Posted by med_empowered on December 7, 2006, at 2:45:20

In reply to Anyone tried Geodon for SA?, posted by Malcolm64 on December 7, 2006, at 1:28:35

Geodon is one of the "atypical" antipsychotics. Its original purpose was long-term treatment of schizophrenia. It has become kind of popular for bipolar, but it can induce mania and cause cardiovascular problems, plus its sedating and can cause all kinds of antipsychotic-type problems (akathisia, neuroleptic malignancy syndrome, tardive dyskinesia). Plus, its really, really expen$ive.

I'm not on to second-guess docs but..unless you have some sort of psychosis driving your anxiety, you might want to try something (safe, cheaper, proven effective) *before* going for the Geodon. It may work, but then again so could xanax--and xanax is cheap and won't kill you or cause brain damage.

Good luck!

 

Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA?

Posted by blueberry on December 7, 2006, at 4:38:02

In reply to Anyone tried Geodon for SA?, posted by Malcolm64 on December 7, 2006, at 1:28:35

I agree with med_empowered. I think antipsychotics of any kind should be avoided except in serious schizophrenia. Even in those cases, I think depakote and other mood stabilizers should be tried first for longterm use, with short term antipsychotic use for immediate control. Longterm antipyschotic use often results in problems worse than the original. Depending on how many years someone is on an antipsychotic, the odds of developing other neurological problems approahes 100%. Can they help though? Most definitely. And almost immediately.

If someone is going to be on a medication for a long time to control SA, I would much rather see them on an ssri that works and they can live with, a benzo that works and they can live with, a low/medium dose mood stabilizer such as lithium or depakote, or any combination of these meds.

But, these are just opinions.

 

Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA? » blueberry

Posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2006, at 9:48:53

In reply to Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA?, posted by blueberry on December 7, 2006, at 4:38:02

Gotta stop the 25mg of seroquel with the valium and xanax to sleep. I've become weak minded. Love Phillipa

 

Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA?

Posted by Malcolm64 on December 7, 2006, at 10:00:19

In reply to Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA?, posted by med_empowered on December 7, 2006, at 2:45:20

> Geodon is one of the "atypical" antipsychotics. Its original purpose was long-term treatment of schizophrenia. It has become kind of popular for bipolar, but it can induce mania and cause cardiovascular problems, plus its sedating and can cause all kinds of antipsychotic-type problems (akathisia, neuroleptic malignancy syndrome, tardive dyskinesia). Plus, its really, really expen$ive.
>
> I'm not on to second-guess docs but..unless you have some sort of psychosis driving your anxiety, you might want to try something (safe, cheaper, proven effective) *before* going for the Geodon. It may work, but then again so could xanax--and xanax is cheap and won't kill you or cause brain damage.
>
> Good luck!

My doc didn't say anything about a risk of brain damage. And he's one of the top docs in his field.
Do you mean brain damage as a result of an OD or from just a normal, steady dose?

B/C I'm not suicidal (any more, that is).

But back to my orginal question. How long does it take before you notice an effect? And what can I expect? He's got me on 20 mgs daily and told me to increase it to 40 mgs if I don't feel anything by the second week.

 

Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA?

Posted by SLS on December 7, 2006, at 10:58:53

In reply to Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA?, posted by blueberry on December 7, 2006, at 4:38:02

> I agree with med_empowered. I think antipsychotics of any kind should be avoided except in serious schizophrenia.

I know someone with bipolar disorder with mixed states for whom Risperdal and Seroquel are miracle pills. I don't know the extent to which mood stabilizers were explored, though. Maybe I could ask.

> Even in those cases, I think depakote and other mood stabilizers should be tried first for longterm use

For schizophrenia?

> Longterm antipyschotic use often results in problems worse than the original.

How so?

> Depending on how many years someone is on an antipsychotic, the odds of developing other neurological problems approahes 100%.

That's a pretty strong statement to make. Personally, I have not seen evidence in medical literature which describes such.

That being said, I wouldn't find the use of Geodon to be the usual treatment for SA. I certainly wouldn't want it to be used on me as the first-line treatment.

- Scott

 

Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA? » SLS

Posted by blueberry on December 8, 2006, at 4:27:19

In reply to Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA?, posted by SLS on December 7, 2006, at 10:58:53


> > Even in those cases, I think depakote and other mood stabilizers should be tried first for longterm use
>
> For schizophrenia?

***Yeah, according to an excellent psychopharmacology website from a popular psychiatrist. It was in a recent thread.

> > Longterm antipyschotic use often results in problems worse than the original.

> How so?

***Sleep disorders, metabolic disorders of all kinds, tardive dyskenisia, EPS, and psychiatric conditions that never existed in the first place.

> > Depending on how many years someone is on an antipsychotic, the odds of developing other neurological problems approahes 100%.

***Another psychopharmacology website stated that the risk of EPS or tardive dyskenisia with any of the atypicals is about 15%-30% the first, and increases by 10%-15% each year, so that by year 8 you are approaching 100%. From my 10 year experience with a modest dose of 5mg zyprexa, I have developed all kinds of neuromuscular movement problems, sleep disorder problems, poopout problems, metabolic problems, and anxiety that never existed up until year 8.

> That's a pretty strong statement to make. Personally, I have not seen evidence in medical literature which describes such.

***It's there. I mainly speak of my personal experience and observing other people's comments here over the years. It is a strong statement because I wish for fellow pbabblers to not experience the same crap.

> That being said, I wouldn't find the use of Geodon to be the usual treatment for SA. I certainly wouldn't want it to be used on me as the first-line treatment.
>
> - Scott

***Everything is arguable in psychiatry. Literature from one source might differ from literature from another. Mileage varies. But when it comes to blocking dopamine receptors and messing with metabolic function the way atypicals do for many years, I think trouble is inevitable.

***My problems have improved about 30% since stopping 10 years of prozac. So the ssris are not without longterm risk either.

***I do know one lady who had psychotic schcizoaffective mania. She was started on zyprexa for the acute phase then tapered over to depakote and lithium. She remains symptom free on just medium dose lithium. Anecdotal report only.

***I think psychiatry is too complicated, genetics are too complicated, for any research or any literature to apply to every person. Literature is good for general guidelines I believe, but is by no means a bible.

***Personally I do believe atypicals are handed out like candy way too often for conditions they are not FDA approved for, and that since they are fairly new, it won't be until 20 or 30 years that the full risk of their use is well known.

 

Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA? » blueberry

Posted by SLS on December 8, 2006, at 5:37:16

In reply to Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA? » SLS, posted by blueberry on December 8, 2006, at 4:27:19

Blueberry, you make some excellent lists, and I will not debate them here. I understand your motivation for presenting them.

I'm sorry that you have been affected adversely by Zyprexa. I hope it is reversible.

> ***Yeah, according to an excellent psychopharmacology website from a popular psychiatrist. It was in a recent thread.

Can you please post the URL link to this site? It sounds like an important thread.

> ***Another psychopharmacology website stated that the risk of EPS or tardive dyskenisia with any of the atypicals is about 15%-30% the first, and increases by 10%-15% each year, so that by year 8 you are approaching 100%.

And perhaps this one too?

Thanks.


- Scott

 

Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA?

Posted by shadowplayers721 on December 8, 2006, at 10:39:19

In reply to Anyone tried Geodon for SA?, posted by Malcolm64 on December 7, 2006, at 1:28:35

I really don't why my pdoc put me on that drug. She got angry that I had to stop it. I dissociated so much that I actually began talking like other people. I had no control over my voice or what I was saying. I told the pdoc, "No." to the Geodon. She almost d/c me from her care. I said, "How the heck was I going to be functional talking like that on that med?" I am sure my reaction was not typical. It made my dissociation problem - well - become everyone's problem. My mother thought it was so funny. I didn't think it was funny.

 

Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA? » SLS

Posted by blueberry on December 8, 2006, at 11:56:12

In reply to Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA? » blueberry, posted by SLS on December 8, 2006, at 5:37:16

Hi Scott,

Hey, by the way, you have an awesome website. I found it very informative.

Two other websites that may or may not be of interest to you. The first one was posted by tensor on 12/4. The second one I have to go find if I can and share that with you. Actually when I read about the high percentage of EPS and tardive dyskenisia stuff I just wanted to block it out of my mind and didn't save it.

 

Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA? » blueberry

Posted by SLS on December 8, 2006, at 12:35:07

In reply to Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA? » SLS, posted by blueberry on December 8, 2006, at 11:56:12

> Hi Scott,
>
> Hey, by the way, you have an awesome website. I found it very informative.
>
> Two other websites that may or may not be of interest to you. The first one was posted by tensor on 12/4. The second one I have to go find if I can and share that with you. Actually when I read about the high percentage of EPS and tardive dyskenisia stuff I just wanted to block it out of my mind and didn't save it.

I don't blame you.

Was it a Peter Breggin site?


- Scott

 

Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA?

Posted by Sebastian on December 11, 2006, at 16:18:41

In reply to Re: Anyone tried Geodon for SA?, posted by blueberry on December 7, 2006, at 4:38:02

Geodon did not reduce my social anxiety. The zyprexa did. Zyprexa is the greatest. Geodon is more like a nice anti-depressant for me.


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