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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ihatedrugs on November 13, 2013, at 10:41:34
So my stint with Abilify came to an end after a month,due to increased anxiety-like symptoms, more like Akathisia. It also exacerbated my insomnia which is bad to begin with. My doctor suggested Geodon as it provides a fast anti-depressant effect and it helps with sleep. I've been on it for a week and it does offer semi-robust anti-depressant effects though not as strong as Abilify. Also I've read that weight gain shouldn't be a problem with Geodon but had to keep an eye for high blood pressure (mine tends to be on the low side). I can't find as much info on Geodon as I do on Abilify.
Abilify's "inside nervousness" drove me crazy. I couldn't sit and watch a movie or read. I had to keep on moving even if I were dead tired. I also suffer from fibromyalgia an read that Geodon my help as it has srni properties much like cymbalta or savella. I don't know if that is true as I don't really understand these meds mechanisms of action. Nonetheless, if anyone has used it, can you let me know what to expect? Please no horror "I lost my ears" stories because I will begin somatizing...foh realz!My diagnosis is MDD treatment resistant (because they haven't found a damn pill that works)and GAD.
Fibromyalgia with mostly exhaustion and not much pain.I take
Geodon 20mg (tried 40, didn't make me any sleepier)
Vyvanse 40mg for energey
Deplin 15mg positive for A1298 mutation
Ambien 10-20 works sometimes sometimes it doesn't even touch me.
Alprazolam 1-3mg
Lexapro 20 don't even know if it works or not
Good day
ihatedrugs
Posted by Phillipa on November 13, 2013, at 11:27:03
In reply to switched to Geodon from Abilify...experiences?, posted by ihatedrugs on November 13, 2013, at 10:41:34
Didn't take either. But wanted to say hope you find an answer I have yet to. Phillipa
Posted by Sheilac on November 13, 2013, at 14:04:48
In reply to switched to Geodon from Abilify...experiences?, posted by ihatedrugs on November 13, 2013, at 10:41:34
I tried Abilify and had the same experience - terrible inner restlessness and weight gain.
I love Geodon. It has kicked my depression's butt. I tried 20-40mg at night and they zonked me out so hard, but only got the antidepressant feel from 40mg. I definitely couldn't take it during the day because it would make me sleep all day.
I now take 80mg and might be moving up to 120mg. At this higher dose it loses it's sleepy side effect, but is still awesome for my depression.
I can't take antidepressants, for my MDD or BPII, but Geodon works for me.
I hope it works for you. I love it and haven't had any weight issues with it. Seems weight neutral. I take my whole dose at dinner.
Hope you like it. Good luck. Stick with it. Hope you feel better.
Posted by ihatedrugs on November 13, 2013, at 14:29:10
In reply to Re: switched to Geodon from Abilify...experiences?, posted by Sheilac on November 13, 2013, at 14:04:48
> I tried Abilify and had the same experience - terrible inner restlessness and weight gain.
>
> I love Geodon. It has kicked my depression's butt. I tried 20-40mg at night and they zonked me out so hard, but only got the antidepressant feel from 40mg. I definitely couldn't take it during the day because it would make me sleep all day.
>
> I now take 80mg and might be moving up to 120mg. At this higher dose it loses it's sleepy side effect, but is still awesome for my depression.
>
> I can't take antidepressants, for my MDD or BPII, but Geodon works for me.
>
> I hope it works for you. I love it and haven't had any weight issues with it. Seems weight neutral. I take my whole dose at dinner.
>
> Hope you like it. Good luck. Stick with it. Hope you feel better.Sheilac,
Thank you for posting this. I was beginning to lose all hope. I will stick with it for a little longer. I wished it zonked me out. It doesn't make me sleepy at all. How long did it take for it to work? My doctor said it's supposed to be super fast. I've been on it two weeks at 20mg but my mood has begun to change for the worse so I upped the dosage to 40mg. We'll see how this works. My dx is MDD and GAD. Wish you continued improvement.
ihatedrugs
Posted by ihatedrugs on November 13, 2013, at 14:42:46
In reply to Re: switched to Geodon from Abilify...experiences? » ihatedrugs, posted by Phillipa on November 13, 2013, at 11:27:03
Posted by Sheilac on November 13, 2013, at 16:14:01
In reply to Re: switched to Geodon from Abilify...experiences? » Sheilac, posted by ihatedrugs on November 13, 2013, at 14:29:10
> Sheilac,
>
> Thank you for posting this. I was beginning to lose all hope. I will stick with it for a little longer. I wished it zonked me out. It doesn't make me sleepy at all. How long did it take for it to work? My doctor said it's supposed to be super fast. I've been on it two weeks at 20mg but my mood has begun to change for the worse so I upped the dosage to 40mg. We'll see how this works. My dx is MDD and GAD. Wish you continued improvement.
>
> ihatedrugs
20mg did not help me sleep at all, nor did it help with my depression. 40mg was like taking a sleeping pill! I took it at dinner and was sleepy within 2-3 hours! But, at one point, I too took Vyvanse and stayed awake for days! I never came down when I took Vyvanse. I switched to Adderall XR and it at least wore off, but 1 dose of Vyvanse never wore off.I've since stopped Adderall and just take Trileptal, Geodon and Klonopin. At 80mg of Geodon, I've lost that good knock out sleep, so I take 2mg of Klonopin and 3-6mg of melatonin and I sleep great! I won't give up my Geodon - it keeps my head above water. No breakthrough depression since I've been on it. If I exercise, I can actually lose weight with it. No increased hunger either. I'm sure your doc won't have a problem going to a higher dose. I was freaked out about 80mg and my doc said a "high dose" is more like 240-320mg! That's not me. I just use it for depression.
Posted by phidippus on November 16, 2013, at 13:55:25
In reply to switched to Geodon from Abilify...experiences?, posted by ihatedrugs on November 13, 2013, at 10:41:34
> Abilify's "inside nervousness" drove me crazy.
Yeah, that's akathisia. Cogentin can be used to treat it.
>I also suffer from fibromyalgia an read that Geodon my help as it has srni properties much like cymbalta or savella.
If patients do get pain relief from one of the SNRIs, it's likely to be only slight, and it's not clear how long that relief might last.
I've taken Geodon before and found it to be a little weak as an antipsychotic.
> My diagnosis is MDD treatment resistant (because they haven't found a damn pill that works)and GAD.
> Fibromyalgia with mostly exhaustion and not much pain.
>
> I take
> Geodon 20mg (tried 40, didn't make me any sleepier)
> Vyvanse 40mg for energey
> Deplin 15mg positive for A1298 mutation
> Ambien 10-20 works sometimes sometimes it doesn't even touch me.
> Alprazolam 1-3mg
> Lexapro 20 don't even know if it works or not
Why are you taking the Geodon?Eric
Posted by ihatedrugs on November 16, 2013, at 21:34:19
In reply to Re: switched to Geodon from Abilify...experiences? » ihatedrugs, posted by phidippus on November 16, 2013, at 13:55:25
>
> Why are you taking the Geodon?
>
> Eric
>
>
For depression.
Posted by phidippus on November 17, 2013, at 18:06:47
In reply to Re: switched to Geodon from Abilify...experiences?, posted by ihatedrugs on November 16, 2013, at 21:34:19
Why don't you try something like Tramadol, Memantine, Riluzole,etc. to augment your antidepressant?
Eric
Posted by porkpiehat on November 22, 2013, at 18:50:10
In reply to Re: switched to Geodon from Abilify...experiences? » Sheilac, posted by ihatedrugs on November 13, 2013, at 14:29:10
So How is your trial going? I have a bottle sitting in my bathroom and I have been toying with the idea of giving it a try to supplement my Celexa. But I'm a little scared.
>
> Thank you for posting this. I was beginning to lose all hope. I will stick with it for a little longer. I wished it zonked me out. It doesn't make me sleepy at all. How long did it take for it to work? My doctor said it's supposed to be super fast. I've been on it two weeks at 20mg but my mood has begun to change for the worse so I upped the dosage to 40mg. We'll see how this works. My dx is MDD and GAD. Wish you continued improvement.
>
> ihatedrugs
This is the end of the thread.
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