With this post, we continue our biweekly series on medications used to treat bipolar disorder and related symptoms. Over the past couple weeks, we covered three commonly used atypical antipsychotics – Zyprexa (olanzapine), Risperdal (risperidone), and Seroquel (quetiapine). Because the Zyprexa post contains a great deal of information that applies to the atypical antipsychotics as a group, we encourage you to read it first.
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I have taken a number of the atypicals, with not so great results (side effects). I recently changed to Geodon, and it’s been frustrating getting to the right dose that doesn’t include being over sleepy or having horrible akasthisia. It’s not as severe as the akasthisia I experienced on Abilify, but close. I’m still in the process of tweaking the dose, but I’m happy that I don’t have the massive carb cravings anymore. I’m hoping this is going to be “the” atypical that does if for me *crosses fingers*
cybermember
11:14 am on
December 20th, 2008Decreasing your dosage will decrease akathisia symptoms. Also, you might try taking Geodon all at once in the evening with food which would help alleviate the daytime drowsiness. Keep tweaking, eventually you will find your therapeutic level. Here’s to hoping that Geodon works for you.
skymonk
4:47 pm on
December 20th, 2008I’ve been taking Geodon since February of this year(2008)&haven’t experienced any of the bad side effects that others have reported. The only thing I can complain about is trouble remembering the words I need for things, but that could be due to other meds I take as well. I did notice that it’s greatly decreased the amount&frequency of aural hallucinations I have-they’re not “cured”, but the meds have helped. I now have the aural hallucinations more frequently only if I let myself brood or get stressed out by others’ behavior towards me. Also I have lost a great deal of weight which was great because every drug I’ve been on since I was first diagnosed with bipolar at 19(I’m 40 now.)has usually put about 20lbs. on me because of the carb cravings. I have a heart murmur&had an EKG done before taking Geodon&I’m doing fine. I would definitely recommend looking at the drug company website&also know that the manufacturer has a program for those of us who can’t afford it without help-it’s not as expensive as Abilify-but it’s still spendy.
Tawny
10:39 pm on
December 20th, 2008I’ve been on Geodon since 2001. I went on it after I gained ten pounds in one week on Risperdal. I went through hell getting the dosage right, but I also found that if I take the entire dosage at night with food I am okay. One thing you should know about Geodon is that quite often reducing the dosage actually increases the side effects. I had to go on a higher dosage to get rid of the sleepiness. I haven’t changed the dosage in seven years. For me, it has been a miracle drug.
Will
11:11 pm on
December 28th, 2008DO NOT TAKE GEODON! I was on it for three months – until I developed a heart murmer and was unable to sleep for days on end. I now take benztropine to counter the side effects of Geodon. My tongue is swollen, I have trouble swallowing, I can no longer regulate my body temperature, I slur my speach, my memory has deteriorated and I generally feel bad. Geodon is one dangerous medicine.
Hi, Will
I appreciate your contribution to the discussion. I think many medications used to treat bipolar have some pretty weird side effects, sometimes very serious ones, that you never see in the manufacturer’s list of “possible side effects.”
Telling people not to take Geodon, because of your experience with it, however, seems a little drastic to me. I once had a serious reaction after taking Alleve that sent me to the hospital with anaphylaxis. That doesn’t mean that the millions of people who use Alleve for treating their pain should stop taking it. It just means that I can’t take it.
catherine
11:39 pm on
January 1st, 2009I did not have any problems on it – in fact, I actually lost weight and started sleeping (of course, I lost the weight because I had no appetite). Coming off of it though was a different story.
Kitten
1:16 am on
January 16th, 2009I’ve taken Geodon for about three months and initially the dose was too high — I had racing thoughts, anxiety, couldn’t settle down. Now I’m taking 40mg and it seems to work okay. It doesn’t work as well as Seroquel did, but I gained so much weight, I had to switch. I have lost weight since I’ve been on Geodon. I think I still have some tweaking to do, but the side effects are dry mouth, shaking hands,poor memory,poor concentration…
dominick
9:09 pm on
January 24th, 2009hi i have been taking geodon for a little over 3 years now. i was originally on 80mg twice a day and over the course of these years have worked my way down to 20mg twice a day. i know better than to quit cold turkey-have done it with other meds and the results werent good. i plan to eventually get off these pills all together. i hope to offer hope to those of you who wish to do the same.
Steven
8:11 am on
February 10th, 2009I have been taking Geodon 40mg at night for Bipolar I depression with mixed states. I tolerate the drug well but I see that it is usually given twice daily. I also had taken it all at night because I thought it would help my severe insomnia. Sometimes I feel that it makes me drowsy and other times I feel it amps me up; one other peculiar side effect is that in the morning my speech is slurred as if I have marbles in my mouth and my neck is a bit stiff. For this I have taken 25 mg benedryl. I am still not sure how to best take it. Any comments or suggestions?? I also take Trazadone 150mg. for insomnia/depression and Diazepam (Valium)10 mg for anxiety all at bedtime. Thanks!
kelley
10:55 pm on
February 22nd, 2009Has anyone heard of auditory hallucinations being present with bi-polar disorder?
Thank you!
Hi, Kelley–
Yes, when my wife is cycling into mania, she experiences auditory hallucinations as a part of the psychosis. She’ll pass people in the street and believes they say things to her when they’re not even saying anything.
Happy Again Bipolar
5:20 pm on
March 4th, 2009I have Bipolar, mostly mania.I started Geodon at 160 mg a day. Intolerable side affects so I had the doctor go to the lowest 20 mg a day. I ended up in the hospital again.Was released on 160mg a day, I again had the doctor lower me to 80 mg. I still felt terribly screwed up when taking 80 mg a day. The knock you out side affect, was awful and I was pacing, cognitive thinking problems, bad depression,totally off kilter. I had my doctor slowley lower the dosage down 60 mg still felt yucky, now I am at 40 mg a day. I take it before bedtime with food and I finally feel completely normal and am symptom free. I am so greatful I stuck with this medicine. I dont have any side affects now and I feel like myself before I got bipolar disorder. 1 pill a day no other meds. I am working, no problems at all with side affects or Bipolar disorder now that I am on the right dose.It was hell to get to this point but, I believe it is all atributed to exacting the dosage. It takes quite awhile to get it just right but when you do you will realize what a Godsend this medicine is.
concerned
1:14 pm on
March 12th, 2009Our 16yr old daughter has been on geodon(20mg) with seroquel(100mg) daily for the past two weeks. First week she woke up with her jaw dislocated on both sides and as of date she mumbles as though she has marbles in her mouth. Her doctor (although he is very aware of what is happening)wants her to continue with it so she can sleep and be sedated while her cyclic mania passes (caused by her menstrual cycle)
Are these symptoms normal or is she being overdosed???
chell
3:57 pm on
May 2nd, 2009I did not think you were suppose to take geodon and seroquel together. I am on seroque now and am being switched to geodon because of the weight gain.
dallas
6:56 am on
May 9th, 2009I have started geodon 40 mg at nite b/c I was on Seroquel and I gained weight and was starving all the time so I told my doctor I was not willing to deal with that. So far it has been great. Will the sedating effects at night decrease?
Dustin
9:07 pm on
May 29th, 2009I’ve just started taking geodon about one and a half weeks ago. I’ve already noticed some bennefits to my bipolar II disorder. I am starting to socialize more and my thoughts have started to slow down a little (good thing). The sedation was rough the first few days, but as I only take 80mg in the evening it wasn’t to bad, and the sedation lessened day by day. Now I seem to also have a little more energy (not much, but it is noticable).I hope it helps even more, but if it doesn’t that’s ok because it is helping. Dusty.
My daughter who is 27 years old is taking 40mg of Geodon and 20mg of Lexapro in evening with food as directed by her doctor. Her original diagnosis 9 months ago was bipolar with schizophrenia, then changed to schizoaffective. Her complaint was for this diagnosis was negative thoughts, hearing voices in her mind only, anxiety and racing thoughts. She has not suffered from this continuously, only once before while in junior high and starting again last year. She has never be suicidal. She would like to evenually get off this medication since it is so sedating. Her doctor is wanting her to be on this medication for a full year to a year and a half then look at weaning off to see if she can. My question is what will the easiest way to wean off these medications? I’ve on websites how difficult it is and was wondering if anyone has found a successful way to do this?
Chris
10:10 am on
June 25th, 2009I have Bipolar II disorder and I have been taking Geodon for about 2 weeks. I previously tried it but it was so sedating and my new doctor said it was not just the Geodon – but the combination. Also I was taking a very high dose – 160mgs all at night.
Now I just take 80mgs at night with food. It has been incredible – I love it. It has really virtually eliminated my depression. I’ve begun to lose the weight I gained with Seroquel. I was very sleepy in the morning for the first week but that has passed. I have more energy, I actually talk to people at work, I’m not constantly thinking negatively anymore. It really has almost been miraculous. I definitely think it’s worth a try for people suffering with Bipolar Depression.
Cristina
6:48 am on
July 13th, 2009My daughter is on Depakote 1000mg and Abilify 10mg and struggles with the weight gain, (She had previously been on Seroquel four months ago) which seems to have accelerated with the recent increase in dose of Depakote. I’m considering asking her MD to change the Depakote to carbamazepine and abilify to geodon. Are they compatible together? I don’t want her to try lamictal due to severe rash associated with it. And she tried Topamax only for two days and immediately had cognitive and memory problems. Stopped it immediately.
Stacy
11:31 am on
September 4th, 2009I have been taking Geodon and Seroquel for 3 years now. At first from switching from Risperdal to Geodon I experienced weightloss. Now that ive been on Geodon and Seroquel for so long i gained 70 lbs. I also have blood sugar issues. I’m trying to ask my doctor if I should stop using Seroquel and lower the dosage of Geodon. I am currently taking 40mg. of Geodon daily,in the am. and pm. Has anyone had withdraw symptoms from lowering the dosage of Geodon?
Brent
7:15 am on
September 13th, 2009Carrollton, from what I have heard it is easier to get off the medication earlier. In my experience I was able to get off Zyprexa after taking it for 6 months, however I had another episode and was placed on Geodon. I have found Geodon to be very effective at a low dose (I take 20 mg in the morning and 40 mg at night). Higher doses seem to increase the side effects, especially drowsiness, at least for me.
To Stacy and Carrollton, the biggest concern with lowering doses of Geodon is what it does to you heart rhythms. Lowering doses quickly can be dangerous, so work with your doctor on lowering them slowly.
I’VE BEEN ON SEREQUEL, AND OTHER MEDS FOR 10 YEARS, MY DOCTOR PERSCRIBED ME GEODAN, I WAS HAVING HORRIBLE FEELINGS IN MY BODY, PRETTY MUCH THE SAME FEELNG WHEN YOU ARE COMING OFF OF HEROIN.WHAT IS THIS AND HOW CAN I MAKE IT GO AWAY?
PLEASE HELP I CAN’T ATKE IT ANYMORE,IV’E BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE NOVEMBER 23 2009, NOW ITS JANUARY 5,2010. I FEEL LIKE CUTTING MY ARMS AND LEGS OFF.PLEASE HELP!
I have been on Geodon for 2 weeks. I am 60 mg. My biggest complaint is the periods I have of anxiety and weird feelings in my heart. I also seem to have a little mania about an hour to two hours after I take it. I only take it in the evening with food. I also found out, i get shaky, anxiety, weird feelings in my heart and mania if I have any caffiene at all. Any advise?
laurie
2:57 am on
April 24th, 2010BAD DRUG GET OFF IT AS SOON AS YOU CAN BAD SIDE EFFECTS BEEN ON IT FOR NEARLY 1 YEAR NOW. UNDER DRS CARE WENT FROM 40 TO 25 TO 20 MG. NOW TONIGHT ON 10 MG. WIRED UP CANT SLEEP, HANDS GOING NUMB AND CLOSING UP. TERRIBLE SICK THOUGHTS, IN 2 WEEKS WITH JESUS CHRIST HELP MY GOD I SHALL GO DOWN TO 5 MG THEN OFF IT COMPLETELY. THIS DRUG HAS MADE MY ANXIETY WORSE, AND MY HEART RACES FAST, BAD DRUG TO BE ON. LAURIE B.
laurie
2:59 am on
April 24th, 2010PLEASE PEOPLE OUT THERE RESPONSE TO GETTING OFF THIS WICKED DRUG TO ME. THANKS SO DEARLY
LAURIE B.
M
10:10 am on
August 20th, 2010I am a Bipolar I with rapid cycling (Daily mood swings.) My doctors have put me on Geodon since the beginning of my treatment 3 years ago, and in all that time they tinkered with the dosage. They have now used a combination of Depakote (500mg 2/day), Citalopram (for depression) and I am on 160mg Geodon at dinner so I can function all day long and let the lulling effects of the Geodon take effect at night.
Geodon is not for everyone, but for some of us, it’s a lifesaver. It is always best to educate yourself with as much information as you can get your hands on and make a decision with your doctor that is right for you
Henry
3:52 am on
January 18th, 2011Re: Horrible feeling on antipsychotic
Called akathisa.
Probably best to lower the dose, then stop altogether if that doesn’t work. Next step: take a beta blocker like propranolol (Inderal, long acting) and maybe gabapentin (Neurontin). Also there is preliminary research saying 100 mg at night of trazodone for 5 nights will block akathisia while taking the offending antipsychotic.
Of course bring this up you pdoc.
Good luck.
Vanessa
10:30 pm on
May 13th, 2011@Chris
My husband has had similar successes with Geodon. He had taken other things prior to this and they literally made him crazy. This medication has been a godsend in both of our eyes. He is amazing. He talks, he isn’t lying in bed all day, he hasn’t been down at all and he’s actually feeling good. He said he feels like the same person, but a new him. What he should be like. Anyway, the first week or so he slept so much and hated it but I encouraged him to continue. I am so happy to have my husband of 23 years back (ok boyfriend then husband). He is 38 and recently diagnosed. I am thrilled!
lynn tynon
2:25 pm on
February 19th, 2012Hi my name is lynn and I was taking geodon (60 mg) for a total of 3 days and had a terrible reaction that lasted for two days until I finally decided to go to the emergency room. and give me a shot of the drug to counteract geodon in my butt my neck would tilt itself back my jaw would lock unlock and grind together my lips would pucker my arms and hands moved odd ways on their own my throat closed up I had twitching movements in my face my mouth would open wide and not close my neck would rock back and fourth I could not control my movements what so ever and fighting it seemed harder it was an extremely terrible feeling to feel locked up and controlled like a puppet on a string I mean my tounge would even stick out on its own with my mouth wide open I felt completely exhausted it hurt especially my jaw they gave me the medicine to contract the reaction to take it but I have not taken either of them since I am terrified to experience this feeling again its very dangerous and scary and I’m usually a tough cookie but this was rough!
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