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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Snaily on September 24, 2010, at 19:37:38
Hi, I am considering yet another possible med switch. Possibly to Trilafon. Looking for opinions.
My diagnosis is schizoaffective disorder. I have been taking antipsychotics continuously for about 15 years. Some of the ones I have tried are:
-Risperdal - worked, then: lactation
-Geodon - dizzy, quit
-Seroquel - didn't help at the time, quit
-Trilafon - worked to knock me out of a break in the 90s but that pdoc discharged me on Risperdal.
-Invega - didn't seem to help
-Loxapine - worked, then akathisia
-Moban - worked, then caused EPS (oculogyric crisis)
-Abilify - worked and I like it BUT... allowed breakthrus of paranoia....I am currently taking Abilify 20 mg. Have tried doses up to 30-40 mg which is NOT a good situation (flattens the personality into a drugged up pancake at 40. dont try this at home). I can tolerate the 20 but paranoia keeps sneaking back around the edges.
Discussed options today with my pdoc. we are going to try Abilify 25 daily for a steady dose but if that does not work out well for me, will consider another switcharoo.
I told pdoc I would like to consider trying Trilafon again because it got such good results in the recent CATIE study. What's old is new again right?!? Anyway my current pdoc is rather a youngster and he has never written an RX for, or worked with, someone on Trilafon. he said he would have to read about it. I mailed him an article today.
Does anyone reading this have any actual experience taking Trilafon for a maintenance dose to control psychotic symptoms?
I would be interested in your views.
I see pdoc again in 2 weeks.
thanks
Posted by Christ_empowered on September 25, 2010, at 4:50:55
In reply to Trilafon/perphenadine, posted by Snaily on September 24, 2010, at 19:37:38
hey. I don't have any personal experience with perphenazine, but Zyprexa, a regular contributor to this board, takes it (along with..you guessed it...Zyprexa) and he seems to like it.
I think if you can avoid EPS (short-term) and TD (long-term), you'll be good to go. I've personally started an anti-TD vitamin program (vitamin e, b-complex, niacinamide, selenium, etc.) along with my Abilify (30mgs/day). I feel better...less flattened by the meds, and the really annoying low-level EPS I used to get from this dose of Abilify is now gone.
From what I've read, perphenazine is pretty good at handling agitation and anxiety. It's also relatively cheap. If you have significant mood problems, you can get it mixed with Elavil in the form of Etrafon or Triavil capsules.
Good luck.
Posted by emmanuel98 on September 25, 2010, at 9:05:43
In reply to Re: Trilafon/perphenadine, posted by Christ_empowered on September 25, 2010, at 4:50:55
Itake trilafon 12mg daily. It helps with psychotic thoughts and with anxiety. I have no side effects.
Posted by Phillipa on September 25, 2010, at 12:09:40
In reply to Re: Trilafon/perphenadine, posted by emmanuel98 on September 25, 2010, at 9:05:43
Seriously didn't think they used trilafon anymore. Isn't it very strong? Phillipa
Posted by Snaily on September 25, 2010, at 14:15:30
In reply to Re: Trilafon/perphenadine, posted by Christ_empowered on September 25, 2010, at 4:50:55
Thank you Christ_empowered. Great help. Thanks for fixing my spelling also.
Speaking of Zyprexa (the med not the person) I have taken that one also. I only did take it for a fairly short span of a couple weeks in a multi-drug combination along with BOTH Abilify and Moban which I was on for maintenance.... anyway the purpose of the added Zyprexa was to knock down some mania. It worked, however it gave me a bad hangover feeling. Like slamming on the brakes with the motor running is what my pdoc said it would be like, & he was right. I was glad to get off the Zyprexa.
Posted by Maxime on September 25, 2010, at 20:09:23
In reply to Re: Trilafon/perphenadine, posted by Phillipa on September 25, 2010, at 12:09:40
> Seriously didn't think they used trilafon anymore. Isn't it very strong? Phillipa
I think now the dosage are a lot lower than when the med was first introduced.
I am glad old meds are still around. I have had better success on the old meds than the new ones.
But everyone is different.
Posted by Zyprexa on September 27, 2010, at 21:05:33
In reply to Trilafon/perphenadine, posted by Snaily on September 24, 2010, at 19:37:38
I find that perphenazine makes a nice addition to zyprexa. It won't replace it, but helps me only need a lower dose of zyprexa. The nice thing about this is perphenazine does not have the side effects of zyprexa, like weight gain, but does have ticks that zyprexa doesn't.
You might try taking it with abilify?
Posted by Snaily on September 28, 2010, at 5:04:53
In reply to Re: Zyprexa/perphenazine, posted by Zyprexa on September 27, 2010, at 21:05:33
Hello, thanks so much for your post. Can you give me a little more info about your experience with perphenazine? Like the "ticks" you mentioned? I am interested in trying it. Maybe I could take some with the Abilify but of course I need to educate my pdoc and myself about this whole thing.
Thanks-
Snaily.> I find that perphenazine makes a nice addition to zyprexa. It won't replace it, but helps me only need a lower dose of zyprexa. The nice thing about this is perphenazine does not have the side effects of zyprexa, like weight gain, but does have ticks that zyprexa doesn't.
>
> You might try taking it with abilify?
Posted by Zyprexa on September 28, 2010, at 18:03:26
In reply to Re: Zyprexa/perphenazine, posted by Snaily on September 28, 2010, at 5:04:53
I take cogentin for the tics. They are not as bad as when I first started the perphenazine. They may have actualy been from the abilify. Thats when they started, and I had it real bad. I don't notice them any more. I've been on perphenazine for about 3+ years now. I was on abilify for about 6 months. I take the sandoz brand of perphenazine, I find it does not give me the headacks that the other does. And its more calmining and sedating. I've never taken trilafon.
This is the end of the thread.
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