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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KrystalR on March 8, 2006, at 15:51:38
Hi. My name is Krystal. I have been diagnosed as having bipolar disorder and a pretty bad anxiety disorder as well. I would like to think that I am pretty high functioning. I have had this problem since I was only 13 and have been hospitalized twice for attempted suicide. I thought that I had my life together, when honestly I was making very impulsive decisions, spending tons of cash, doing a lot of drugs, and basically killing myself slowly. Things started shaping up for me after I married at the young age of 21. I have two kids, and most people have no idea what I deal with on a day to day basis. In fact, people would probably think I have the perfect life. In reality, I am going through my own personal hell trying to find the "right" medication. So far, I have tried lithium, Seroquel, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Zyprexa, and the worst: Abilify. Right now I am on Paxil, Xanax, and have just started Geodon. I hated the weight gain that was associated with Zyprexa, so this is our next step. In researching Geodon, I have found many scary side effects including sudden death. This has scared me so much that I had a horrible panic attack and had to take a xanax. I am supposed to double my dose tonight, from 20mg to 40mg. I am terrified that I will die! Please tell me that this is false, that it's an extremely safe drug, and that I will be safe and fine.
Posted by Racer on March 8, 2006, at 17:58:14
In reply to I'm Scared! I'm afraid of taking Geodon, posted by KrystalR on March 8, 2006, at 15:51:38
I don't know anything about Geodon, so I can't tell you what the side effects are -- but I can and will tell you that most serious side effects are quite rare, with most any drug. The sudden death thing sounds as though it's probably related to undiagnosed cardiac rhythm abnormalities, like prolonged Q-T intervals, so that's more unlikely than, say, winning the Powerball. Yes, it could happen, and it does happen to someone out there -- but it's very unlikely to be you.
Also, many times the side effects listed for a medication just mean that someone experienced something while taking the drug in the study. It doesn't even mean it's directly related to taking the drug. If someone were in a car accident while taking Drug A, then Motor Vehicle Accident could, conceivably, end up listed as a side effect of the medication.
So, I guess the bottom line is that adjusting to these drugs is a lot easier if you keep the side effects in perspective. Especially since we all react differently to all of these drugs. Personally, I tend to get sedated by Provigil, the wakefulness drug, and stimulants make me ravenously hungry. Trust me -- those reactions are NOT listed as side effects for either drug...
Good luck.
Posted by Phillipa on March 8, 2006, at 18:45:32
In reply to Re: I'm Scared! I'm afraid of taking Geodon, posted by Racer on March 8, 2006, at 17:58:14
Same here if a drug is supposed to make you tired as the ad's are they wire me and make me horribly anxious. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by KrystalR on March 8, 2006, at 19:52:33
In reply to Re: I'm Scared! I'm afraid of taking Geodon, posted by Phillipa on March 8, 2006, at 18:45:32
Thank you so much for your voice of reason. I went to see my therapist today and she said basically the same thing. I just need to chill out and give the medication a chance to work. Your responses really mean a lot to me:) Thanks again for taking the time to calm some of my fears!
Krystal
Posted by Racer on March 8, 2006, at 20:17:05
In reply to Re: I'm Scared! I'm afraid of taking Geodon, posted by KrystalR on March 8, 2006, at 19:52:33
That's one of the best parts of this place -- when we get anxious and work ourselves up over something, someone else will come along and say, "Now wait just one little minute here..."
I'm glad it helped. Think of it as being a pass through: I'm giving to you, what has been given to me, and you will one day pass it along to someone else.
Good luck with the Geodon.
Posted by 4WD on March 10, 2006, at 22:48:19
In reply to I'm Scared! I'm afraid of taking Geodon, posted by KrystalR on March 8, 2006, at 15:51:38
Hi Krystal,
I took Geodon for several months and had no side effects at all. I was also taking 40mg per day. I can't say that it helped my anxiety or depression all that much, but then neither have the other 20 drugs I've tried lately.
Did your doctor do an EKG on you before putting you on the Geodon? They usually do that to rule out any existing cardiac problems. Once that's done, you can feel fairly safe taking the med. I mean all drugs can cause side effects and the APs in general scare me but really, Geodon was very benign for me and I am the Queen of side effects.
Marsha
Posted by yxibow on March 11, 2006, at 2:06:05
In reply to I'm Scared! I'm afraid of taking Geodon, posted by KrystalR on March 8, 2006, at 15:51:38
> Hi. My name is Krystal. I have been diagnosed as having bipolar disorder and a pretty bad anxiety disorder as well. I would like to think that I am pretty high functioning. I have had this problem since I was only 13 and have been hospitalized twice for attempted suicide. I thought that I had my life together, when honestly I was making very impulsive decisions, spending tons of cash, doing a lot of drugs, and basically killing myself slowly. Things started shaping up for me after I married at the young age of 21. I have two kids, and most people have no idea what I deal with on a day to day basis. In fact, people would probably think I have the perfect life. In reality, I am going through my own personal hell trying to find the "right" medication. So far, I have tried lithium, Seroquel, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Zyprexa, and the worst: Abilify. Right now I am on Paxil, Xanax, and have just started Geodon. I hated the weight gain that was associated with Zyprexa, so this is our next step. In researching Geodon, I have found many scary side effects including sudden death. This has scared me so much that I had a horrible panic attack and had to take a xanax. I am supposed to double my dose tonight, from 20mg to 40mg. I am terrified that I will die! Please tell me that this is false, that it's an extremely safe drug, and that I will be safe and fine.
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If you research the PDR or online PIs, you will probably find every possible ailment out there. You could also walk across the street or drive a car and get into an accident at a similar rate. We collectively place a false sense of security in things that we believe we have full control over in society when in fact there really are not guarantees.But as far as the major worry of Geodon, the Qt interval (heart issues), it was recertified by the FDA after a 4,000 patient study and declared marketable again. In fact to this day, Mellaril has a greater Qt interval issue and is still used extensively.
"Sudden death" has to be listed but way way more often than not it is not necessarily causally linked solely to the drug itself. The individual may have had multiple issues.
As for anything else, Geodon may have greater akathisia than Seroquel, for some individuals, but that would be the only issue I would say. I'm sensitive to that so do not take that as something you would necessarily experience.
Good luck with the Geodon, and remember full trials of medications take a number of weeks to settle out. It does sound like you have been through a number of drugs and I'm sure you have tried them extensively, but it does happen that people quit too early. Again, I'm not saying that you have not given any of the drugs a fair try, but brain chemistry changes do not occur overnight, certainly not in these types of medications, although AP tend to work faster than AD medications.
Tidings and best wishes
-- Jay
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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