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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JerryPharmStudent on April 30, 2007, at 22:15:27
Geodon is making ms so uncomfortable. I can't stand it. I'm going nuts. I can't sit still and I rock back and forth - meanwhile it make me drowy so I'm in this stateof being half awake and restless at the same time. The akathasia is rellay causing me to go crazy.
what do I do
Posted by Declan on April 30, 2007, at 22:47:21
In reply to I can't stand the restlessness!!!!!!!, posted by JerryPharmStudent on April 30, 2007, at 22:15:27
What's the problem with stopping the Geodon?
Do you think something awful might happen?
Or could you cut the dose back (to whatever level is neccessary) to avoid all akathesia and any withdrawal?
Other than that it's anticholinergics, and that doesn't sound optimal.
Posted by Phillipa on April 30, 2007, at 22:58:29
In reply to Re: I can't stand the restlessness!!!!!!! » JerryPharmStudent, posted by Declan on April 30, 2007, at 22:47:21
Sounds like geodon is not the med for you call your doc and let him know what's going on. Love Phillipa
Posted by football on April 30, 2007, at 23:35:22
In reply to I can't stand the restlessness!!!!!!!, posted by JerryPharmStudent on April 30, 2007, at 22:15:27
> Geodon is making ms so uncomfortable. I can't stand it. I'm going nuts. I can't sit still and I rock back and forth - meanwhile it make me drowy so I'm in this stateof being half awake and restless at the same time. The akathasia is rellay causing me to go crazy.
>
> what do I doMy Abilify akathisia was so unbearable, that I went off the drug, so I know how miserable you feel.
I think you have two options...Option 1. Get prescribed some drug to help with akathisia. I think there are several options. If you can get a drug that makes living with the akathisia bearable, it will eventually go away.
Option 2. If you can't and/or don't like option number one, please get off the Geodon immediately. Akathisia can be such a monster that it has lead people to commit suicide who weren't previously suicidal.
Posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2007, at 0:35:44
In reply to I can't stand the restlessness!!!!!!!, posted by JerryPharmStudent on April 30, 2007, at 22:15:27
you might also consider not doing antipsychotics in general.
Here's the deal: some meds can make akathisia more bearable, but that doesn't mean the akathisia is gone per se; benzos, in particular, exert their anti-akathisia effect just by adding more sedation. There's nothing really *special* about them.
Here's the other problem: akathisia can be permanent. Most of the attention is paid to tardive dyskinesia and tardive dystonia, since both of those are observable and can be crippling. Tardive akathisia can happen, too.What's the problem? I mean, you don't have to be exact but..from reading your posts, I never recall you mentioning intense psychosis. So why is your doc pushing the Geodon?
I think you might want to avoid the antipsychotics all together, if you can--its rough stuff, no matter what drug reps and trendy docs say. Yes, some people benefit from the off-off-label RXing, but lots of other people suffer, too.Good luck.
Posted by Honore on May 1, 2007, at 1:07:06
In reply to ditch the geodon..., posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2007, at 0:35:44
I've got to agree with med_empowered on this one. Definitely at the minimum reduce the dose of Geodon, and possibly try something else altogether. Suppressing the symptoms at a higher dose probaby isn't a good stategy long-term.
Honore
Posted by JerryPharmStudent on May 1, 2007, at 6:38:53
In reply to Re: I can't stand the restlessness!!!!!!! » JerryPharmStudent, posted by Declan on April 30, 2007, at 22:47:21
> What's the problem with stopping the Geodon?
>
> Do you think something awful might happen?
>
> Or could you cut the dose back (to whatever level is neccessary) to avoid all akathesia and any withdrawal?
>
> Other than that it's anticholinergics, and that doesn't sound optimal.It's just that I keep thinking "What if it works?" and I give up on it too early.
Posted by JerryPharmStudent on May 1, 2007, at 6:40:50
In reply to Re: I can't stand the restlessness!!!!!!!, posted by football on April 30, 2007, at 23:35:22
> > Geodon is making ms so uncomfortable. I can't stand it. I'm going nuts. I can't sit still and I rock back and forth - meanwhile it make me drowy so I'm in this stateof being half awake and restless at the same time. The akathasia is rellay causing me to go crazy.
> >
> > what do I do
>
> My Abilify akathisia was so unbearable, that I went off the drug, so I know how miserable you feel.
> I think you have two options...
>
> Option 1. Get prescribed some drug to help with akathisia. I think there are several options. If you can get a drug that makes living with the akathisia bearable, it will eventually go away.
>
> Option 2. If you can't and/or don't like option number one, please get off the Geodon immediately. Akathisia can be such a monster that it has lead people to commit suicide who weren't previously suicidal.It got so severe yesterday that I was about to commit suicide. I was thinking "OMG - I can't believe I want to end my life over side effects of a medication." It really made me crazy - seriously.
Posted by JerryPharmStudent on May 1, 2007, at 6:52:51
In reply to ditch the geodon..., posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2007, at 0:35:44
> you might also consider not doing antipsychotics in general.
> Here's the deal: some meds can make akathisia more bearable, but that doesn't mean the akathisia is gone per se; benzos, in particular, exert their anti-akathisia effect just by adding more sedation. There's nothing really *special* about them.
> Here's the other problem: akathisia can be permanent. Most of the attention is paid to tardive dyskinesia and tardive dystonia, since both of those are observable and can be crippling. Tardive akathisia can happen, too.
>
> What's the problem? I mean, you don't have to be exact but..from reading your posts, I never recall you mentioning intense psychosis. So why is your doc pushing the Geodon?
> I think you might want to avoid the antipsychotics all together, if you can--its rough stuff, no matter what drug reps and trendy docs say. Yes, some people benefit from the off-off-label RXing, but lots of other people suffer, too.
>
> Good luck.I have TRD and am on a hand full of meds that only help me 40%. So my doc thought to try Geodon because it has 'SSRI -like proterites in that it blocks reuptake of SE and NE " and that it hits all kinds of Dopamine receptors. He's thinking that if we hit a lot of receptors maybe it will work and I can wean off most of the other 6 meds I'm on.
But Antipsychotics have never really worked for me for depression or motivation. They'v eonly really made me worse or have just kept me the same. I was on Seroquel for years for sleep. It did nothing but get me fired from my job.
I'm into off-label pharmacy because I think what's out there for TRD specifically isn't really worth much for me. I've been on EVERY SSRI, Effexor, Remeron, Nortryptaline, Imipramine, Risperdal, BuSpar, Serzone, Trazodone, Nardil, Wellbutrin, ECT, VNS implant, every benzo, Ambien, Lunesta...and not much has helped.
What keeps me goign now is the Adderall and the Klonopin and the Hydrocodone. Yes, one can look and say "Ahh - you're on NARCOTICS of course you're gonna feel good and they are all controlled substances!!"" Well, they work and I don't abuse them. And they don't help the underlying depression long term. They are only short-acting meds with short acting benefits, but they have kept me going for 3 years now (I've had depresion for 15 tho). What did I do before them that helped? Dexedrine and a bezo always helped me. SSRIs always made me lose motivation and feel plain amongother things.
ON a side note. My brother takes 200mg of Zoloft for severe OCD and it works wonders for him. Although I have benn on Zoloft about 3-4 times at 200mg - -I'm wondering if revisiting it might work? Since all that research about meds and genes in families?
I dunno.......
but thanks for your post.
Jerry
Posted by Declan on May 1, 2007, at 14:17:57
In reply to Re: ditch the geodon... » med_empowered, posted by JerryPharmStudent on May 1, 2007, at 6:52:51
>What keeps me going now is the Adderall and the Klonopin and the Hydrocodone.
>Dexedrine and a benzo always helped me.Well yes.
I dunno anything about the atypicals but my hopes would be low enough that I would not put up with too much from the Geodon....way less than you have.
And if it does work, what about the akathesia?
Posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2007, at 15:02:39
In reply to Re: ditch the geodon..., posted by Declan on May 1, 2007, at 14:17:57
Geodon isn't primarily a mood disorder, especially unipolar depression, medication. Its better than Haldol for schizophrenia, but thats about as far as I'd go with it...
Obviously, you can and should do what you want, what you think will work best but...the risks are there. Geodon is fairly weight neutral, but you do have to consider tardive dyskinesia, tardive dementia, tardive akathisia, and the neuroleptic induced dysphoria and Neuroleptic-induced deficit syndrome (NIDS).My advice would be to ditch the geodon now, early on, before you create any problems and before withdrawal could lead to a discontinuation syndrome.
Good luck.
Posted by kaleidoscope on May 1, 2007, at 15:27:35
In reply to I can't stand the restlessness!!!!!!!, posted by JerryPharmStudent on April 30, 2007, at 22:15:27
Hi Jerry
Neuroleptic-induced akathisia is very unpleasant. You should reduce your Geodon dose immediately. You must then review whether the continued use of Geodon is appropriate.
Ed
Posted by olysi79 on May 1, 2007, at 17:33:54
In reply to ditch the geodon..., posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2007, at 0:35:44
I agree...
Get on the phone with that PDOC and tell them... "NO EPS please!"... they can do better than this.
Posted by JerryPharmStudent on May 1, 2007, at 17:57:21
In reply to Re: ditch the geodon..., posted by Declan on May 1, 2007, at 14:17:57
> >What keeps me going now is the Adderall and the Klonopin and the Hydrocodone.
> >Dexedrine and a benzo always helped me.
>
> Well yes.
>
> I dunno anything about the atypicals but my hopes would be low enough that I would not put up with too much from the Geodon....way less than you have.
> And if it does work, what about the akathesia?
>Well waht if it gets better?
Posted by JerryPharmStudent on May 1, 2007, at 18:05:26
In reply to Re: ditch the geodon..., posted by olysi79 on May 1, 2007, at 17:33:54
> I agree...
> Get on the phone with that PDOC and tell them... "NO EPS please!"... they can do better than this.I called the nurse and told her to talk to the doc (he was out today) because I can't stand it and I want to change immediately.
Posted by Phillipa on May 1, 2007, at 19:10:35
In reply to Re: ditch the geodon..., posted by JerryPharmStudent on May 1, 2007, at 18:05:26
Jerry then start reducing now how long have you been on it as that would play into how long it will take to come off of it I would think. Love Phillipa
Posted by JerryPharmStudent on May 1, 2007, at 19:39:43
In reply to Re: ditch the geodon... » JerryPharmStudent, posted by Phillipa on May 1, 2007, at 19:10:35
> Jerry then start reducing now how long have you been on it as that would play into how long it will take to come off of it I would think. Love Phillipa
ONly been on it for 5 days....
Posted by Phillipa on May 1, 2007, at 20:30:28
In reply to Re: ditch the geodon... » Phillipa, posted by JerryPharmStudent on May 1, 2007, at 19:39:43
Can you just stop the med? Doesn't sound like a long time. What were you taking in it's place? Maybe put that back in and please call the pdoc. Love Phillipa
Posted by JerryPharmStudent on May 2, 2007, at 1:04:42
In reply to Re: ditch the geodon... » JerryPharmStudent, posted by Phillipa on May 1, 2007, at 20:30:28
> Can you just stop the med? Doesn't sound like a long time. What were you taking in it's place? Maybe put that back in and please call the pdoc. Love Phillipa
Yeah I've stopped the med completely. Was only on 80 mg. No withdrawl or anything and I'm sticking to what I was on before.
Posted by KayeBaby on May 4, 2007, at 15:26:30
In reply to Re: ditch the geodon... » Phillipa, posted by JerryPharmStudent on May 2, 2007, at 1:04:42
Maybe your response to Geodon will lead your Dr. to a more appropriate med for you.
Take care of yourself.
Kaye
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