I have been taking geodon for years....80mg twice a day the max dose.
I worked my way up to that dose over the years, my moods are some what stable but I still have manic episodes so it doesn't work all of the time.
I missed a dose this morning forgot to take all of my vits etc after lunch , I use a pill box during the week and have a nice routine set up with out fail.
It is the weekends that mess me up. I am out of my routine.
I was fine until this evenings walk, granted it was hot but there were clouds and a breeze..it felt nice out.
Half way thru the walk I started sweating.
After the walk I went home and cooled off in the air conditioning. I am starting to go thru menopause so my temperatures have been fluctuating.
My brain is already off by the time dinner had come around...I had decided to go off geodon so I did not take my evening dose with dinner.
I can't believe after all of these years taking it I just decided to go off it..
I came on line and googled geodon withdrawl and scared myself to death.
after reading about the horror stories and potential for Tarditive dyskinicia and rebound psychosis...I went in to the bath room and took my evening dose with my night meds. I am afraid of withdrawl and wonder about developing a tolerance at this maximum dose for so long.
geesh
what an impulsive thing to do...maybe I am getting hypomanic????? I have been eating and drinking excessively lately and stopped seeing my therapist because I felt she was judging me.... my sleep is good so that is good.
sigh
some times I am an idiot.....

bizi

Bizi,

I am glad you took your Geodon and night meds.

These things happen. You are back on track.
You can find a new therapist. Or when you go back to the current therapist, have a talk with her first about what is bothering you.

I am grateful that your sleep is good.

Mari

Stay safe.
Remind yourself that you are ok.

M

Dear Bizi

I'm sorry about all these things happening. It sounds like a bit of a whirlwind. You don't sound hypo to me but what do I know.

• Sounds like there's an issue with your therapist - happens in therapy.
• Sounds like you got drug-spooked on google - happens on the internet.
• Peri-menopause is a confusing time. Your hormones are almost certainly affecting your feelings, so that you do not feel well centered.

That's my take.

---------------

Remember that side effects and after effects of any drug only affect a portion of patients. They have to list everything imaginable or ever reported but most side effects affect only a small % of patients, sometimes a downright miniscule %. Tardive dyskinesia has been known to affect patients who come off the old antipsychotics after much longer-term use than you have been on Geodon.

Another thing. If you google acetaminophen for side effects, you will find out a lot of scary stuff. They have to put all possible side effects on the labeling. It doesn't mean we should all stop taking Tylenol or that if we do we will wind up comatose or die a premature death from liver failure. How many people do you know who take Tylenol? And are they alive and well? You see? So please, stay away from googling drugs for now.

Please call your pdoc if you want to change med. You will need a replacement. It is not a good idea to just get off a prophylactic antimanic. I know you don't want to become manic, Bizi. Really, that is the biggest concern.

Actually, I think you should call your pdoc regardless unless you have an appointment this same week. Voice your fears about the Geodon. I think she will be able to reassure you.

----------------------------------

It is ok to take a break from your therapist until you sort out your feelings. I'd encourage you to find someone you can see meanwhile, to help you through this difficult time - possibly someone you can see often. When you are ready, I would go to see your old therapist and confront her. I am glad you are owning the feelings, and the apparent suspicion of her judgement. Whether you continue to see her after that or not is up to you, but working out what happened will help you to grow. The same kinds of dynamics will happen with other people in your life, with whom you will not have the opportunity to dialog in the way you do with a therapist.

I do understand that right now might not be the best time - that's ok. However, if later on you go back to her and no longer feel that she was judging you, I would talk with her about what happened. I believe you will gain insight from doing this.

I hope you feel much better soon Bizi. Remember we are all here to support you. I am your friend and don't worry, I will remain your friend even if you don't take any of my longwinded "advice" LOL.



love,

~ waves ~

Please be careful.

Drugs that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, all have some sort of discontinuance/withdrawal effects.

These are the receptors affected:
from http://www.rxlist.com/geodon-drug/cl...armacology.htm

So discontinuing this drug would have to be done carefully.
The link to the alpha-1-adrenergic receptors suggests that there may be elevated blood pressure on discontinuance. So I would be sure to monitor that as well.

I am so glad you posted. you need to seek treatment and probably a new therapist. If you hadn't said you have been eating and drinking a lot more i wouldn't be as concerned about your impulse and especially that you no longer like seeing your therapist. I really like that your sleep has been good.
we all care so much about you. I didn't have any trouble with menopause but one hears so many stories how it affects so many women. who knows, maybe your body is telling you that your body needs a change from geodon. maybe that is where the impulse came from.
post a lot and let us know what you decide. sorry if i came on strong
love
bobby

I told jeff what happened and he asked me why did I do that.
It is hard to explain, I am seeking a way to get more motivated in life, exhibiting some depression both my pdoc and tdoc worried about that and wanted me to try a small dose of an ssri which scared me since the last time I tried that I went manic. so my illogical thinking thought that if I went off the geodon then I would maybe experience some hypomania and give me some extra energy....bad thinking. This all happened in such a short amount of time...I really had not even thought of going off of geodon until I realized that I accidentally missed the dose then it just was impulsive and then the thinking came about after I took the evening dose with my nite meds.... hind site.
The therapy was getting to be primarily about my drinking behavior and how I was abusing alcohol and should quit. I don't want to quit....until I have a better handle on my drinking I am not going to see her until then.
thank you for your comments and support.
bizi