geodon withdrawl?
 

I have not slept well since decreasing the geodon and adding abilify.
It was/is a quick transition, no real taper over 5 days. I was taking a total of 160 mg of geodon the 80 then 40 for 3 days and none. mean while taking 10mg of abilify for 3 days then 20mg for a regular dose.
This seems rather quick, I did not question my pdoc about this.
I have not slept well the past 3 nights.
am very tired right now, will go to bed shortly.
I am feeling a little nauseated and have a slight headache.
I have not googled geodon with drawl.
I wonder more about the abilify.
Some have said it is activating for them and they take it in the morning for that reason. I am taking mine at night like ordered. I called the pharmacist about that and she said there is a potential side effect of blurred vision and dizziness and sedation that is why they recommend taking it at night. Others have said it made them manic.
That is not very reassuring. I will call into my pdoc office on monday morning. the other night I took an extra 1mg of klonipin thinking that would put me to sleep.
nope.
She wants to start seroquel to sleep. My guess is that she will order that on monday.
bizi

Insomnia, symptoms of bipolar disorder, and symptoms of schizophrenia are common Geodon withdrawal side effects which may occur if this drug is discontinued. In order to reduce the chance of developing serious Geodon withdrawal effects, consult with a healthcare provider to create a drug tapering schedule.
Some people go cold turkey with out any problems from what I have read on the psychcentral bipolar forums.
bizi

Abilify didn't work for me either. I was given Seroquel instead. I'm sorry that you are going through difficulties. BF:hug::hug::hug:

I hope that you are going to be o.k.

Can you add some Geodon back?


M

4.25 hours of sleep last night, guessing that is. terrible sleep.
And I was so tired, I thought surely I would sleep well. nope.
I on purpose did not drink much at the festival and did not eat after 6pm.
I was a little snacky before bed but resisted.I guess I want to be off the geodon and on the full dose of abilify as soon as possible. Because geodon and other AP don't mix well. There is a serious drug interaction from what the pharmacist says.
bizi

Geodon, Abilify and Seroquel are all atypical antipsychotics, so the pharmacist will give you the same warning about taking the Abilify and Seroquel together if you ask. Most pdocs don't like prescribing more than one atypical antipsychotic togetherlong-term, but they will do it at their own discretion.

I know it's hard to hold off on taking advantage of an appealing solution when you're not getting enough sleep, but I don't think it's a good idea to do it in this case. You're at an increased risk of adverse effects because that Geodon "taper" was so fast, you've really just started on a new mood stabilizer and don't know how it will work or what the side effects will be at its full dose, and you're also quadrupling (or have already quadrupled), your dose of Lamictal. I just worry that adding another med right now may be too much :hug::hug::hug:

I hope that if your insomnia is due to Geodon withdrawal, it will be over quick, and Klonopin can help you out while you are going through it :hug::hug::hug:

Thanks Kay,
I know that the insomnia is from the geodon withdrawl. even klonipin is not working at this point. Once off of geodon completely the plan is to use seroquel for sleep. starting at 25mg and going on up to 300mg as needed for sleep.
Treating the insomnia is of utmost priority.
So far I have not really experienced any other with drawl symptoms, but it is still early in this transition.
bizi

I hope and think 25-50mg of Seroquel for sleep will be enough for you because it's really sedating. 300mg is NOT a small dose and would be very worrisome.

The same thing happened with me.

How did you know that it did not work for you?
bizi

I have finished my night exercises and have taken my night meds, a full dose of abilify 20mg and I am feeling slightly nauseated.
We shall see if I can get some sleep tonight.
bizi who is tired from the festival today.

alittle better sleep, 5 hours I think still interupted so not good.
Last dose of 40mg today then no more geodon. I don't think that I am having any other symptoms of withdrawl except for the not sleeping part which is not good. How do I know if it the abilify being activating (I should take it during the day) or if it is geodon withdrawl?
bizi

I was still alternating between mania and hypomania at the highest therapeutic dose.

Try taking the Abilify with a little snack or some milk to try to reduce the nausea, at least until you are on the 20mg for a few days-week before trying to take it on an empty stomach again. Sometimes if you are still nauseous eating/drinking something with more calories (I know you don't want to hear that) may help. You may not need to do that anymore once your body gets used to the medication.

As long as you are taking Abilify at night, I don't think you will be able to tell with certainty if it is activating or not until the Geodon withdrawl is over. The taper, if you can call it that, has been very fast.

I started Abilify in the hospital and took it in the morning. I know that you are concerned about taking it in the morning because of some of the potential side effects that your pharmacist mentioned, but those are only potential side effects not experienced by most people, and since the med stays in your body, some of them could occur at any time of day regardless of when you take it...

Since insomnia is such a big concern, I would ask your pdoc about taking it in the morning vs. at night, especially since if it is activating you could end up taking more Seroquel than you would need otherwise.

Thank you kay, I think I will call them in the morning to report the poor sleep and request that I take the abilify in the morning to see if that helps.
Since I am also exercising I have been achey in bed in the mornings after being in bed too long. I also wake up sometimes with a sore back if I roll over and try to sleep on my back. I can't do this too long as I have some weird kind of ailment that interfers with breathing, like my diaphragm freezes up on me.
bizi

Have you been to the doctor about your breathing problem? How long has it been going on?

Oh I have had the breathing thing for ages. never mentioned it to a doctor.
slept about 5 hours last night.
I will keep taking the abilify at night. I don't want to risk blurry vision or dizzyness.
bizi

Bizi

I sure hope things start to get better. Have you tried melatonin for the
sleep by any chance.

The other things is amtriplline helps with sleep too. Along with migraines.
Which I realize you don't have.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

5 hours is not enough because you are just continuing to add to your sleep deficit :hug:

Have you gotten your script for Seroquel yet?

I'm very concerned that most of my ladies here are not sleeping, or not sleeping well :group hug:

I tried amitriptyline for sleep ages ago, but it didn't work. I don't think I let it, or gave it, a real chance to work tho.

I finally got 7.5 hours of sleep! woke up 2 times but went back to sleep.
I did take 25mg of seroquel after all. and that did the trick.
happy to report that.
bizi
who needs to get in the *******shower!:o

Seroquel does let you sleep. I've been taking it for years. Sleep is very important for us with mental health issues as you know. I'm glad that you got some sleep. Have a nice evening. BF:hug::hug::hug:

yes I slept on .5mg of klonipin and 25mg of seroquel.
Thanks Friend!
hope you are sleeping well these days.
((((((HUGS))))))
bizi

You are right BF, sleep is very important for us, and can be very difficult, too :grouphug:

Hey Bizi Are you still getting enough sleep? Are you still taking 25 Mgs of Seroquel before bed? I hope that it helps you like it's helping me. BF:hug::hug::hug:

I decided that I was only going to take the seroquel as needed because I worry about side effects. I think I slept 7.25 hours which is acceptable to me. I slept thru the night which is good.
bizi

7 1/4 hours is much better.. and no Seroquel! Taking it sparingly is a good idea, no matter what the side effects are.

One of the side affects that I had when I first started taking Seroquel were red, or pink eyes. The next side affect was the gaining of weight. I just hated the gaining of weight. I was slender most of my life until I started taking Seroquel. The thing is, It's the only thing that works that Is not a barbiturate, or narcotic. It has no feel good affect, but it helps to stop the mind from going into tailspins most of the time. It has slowed down my activity.

Years ago the doctors gave me barbiturates, and Quaaludes. They were extremely addictive, and I went through horrible withdrawals when I asked to be taken off those medications. It was awful. I started drinking again to help with the withdrawals. I didn't know what else to do, and I was very young at the time. The doctor didn't gradually phase me off of those medications. It was a living nightmare. I'm glad that I survived the experience. I'm glad that they don't prescribe those medications these days unless it's for a couple of nights. I have not had any barbiturates, or quaaludes in more then three decades. I'm scared of those type of medications. BF:hug::hug::hug:

You have been through so much BF :hug::hug::hug:

I'm glad that they don't use those meds regularly anymore.

friend, I am glad that you are doing somewhat better on these meds. thank goddess for our medications!
bizi

Thank you Kay, and bizi. :hug: It was excruciating to not be medicated with these issues. At one time in the 80s, I was not being prescribed anything. That was difficult, and the OCD had me all messed up.

There is so much misunderstanding out there. Doctors sometimes don't know how to treat us. I'm glad that they have stopped treating us with strong narcotics. With people like Elvis, and other entertainers getting in trouble with those strong prescriptions, they had to come out with better medications. BF:hug::hug::hug:

My pdoc did not refill my klonipin and did not tell me about it.
I am thinking she wants me to take the seroquel to replace the klonipin.
The pharmacist is going to question the lamictal dose and then the klonipin refills tomorrow.
bizi

Oh, Boy,

I thought at the very least Klonopin needed to be tapered.

Maybe it is a mistake. Call the pdoc's office.

M

I thought you were on the same page with her on the Klonopin… I hope it was just a brain fart on her part. I know you don't want to take the Seroquel unless you have to :hug:

Why would the pharmacist question the Lamictal dose?

She called in the rx for 300mg of lamictal instead of 400mg, so they need to get the increased order straight and will ask about refilling the klonipin.
I took 25mg of seroquel last night with the .5mg of klonipin and did not sleep well. It is not a fair assessment as I drank yesterday and ate sort of late for us and was very full, not good to sleep on.
bizi

You do have to taper the klonpin so I wouldn't think its anything but
an mistake.

Seroquel has worked very well for Derrick. Twice a day. Except now
the primary wants him to have psychiatrist to prescribe it and the Lexapro.

Donna :grouphug::hug:

I told my pdoc that I wanted to keep taking the klonipn and take the seroquel prn as needed. I did not want the added risk of diabetes. I see her next tuesday.
bizi

Klonopin definitely needs to be tapered. Don't let them do this to you. I've been through it with other medications like it.

Please call your doctor. Seroquel, and Klonopin are totally different medications. Some of these doctors make major mistakes. BF:hug::hug::hug:

she said that I could take up to 300mg for sleep but that would really knock me out.
bizi

300mg of Seroquel is not a small dose. Some people take that much as a mood stabilizer. Usually as an adjunct though.

25mg is a far cry from that, and you will find 50mg is much more sedating.

I took the 25mg of seroquel last night and did not sleep that great. I did have a couple so maybe that contributed but that was early evening.???:confused:
bizi