[LittleMouse]

I have been treated for major depression for six years now and have only recently been re-diangosed with bipolar disorder. I have tried to tell my psy doctor several times in the past that I have been having hypomanic episodes well he finally listened to me and put me on Geodon. He has taken me off my antidepressant Lexapro and now I'm trying to get use to Geodon. Has anyone had any experience with this medicaiton. I seem to be tolerating it OK but feel very restlesss a great deal of the time. It's like I just can't still for very long and NEED to move. Any information would be helpful. I was last in the hosptiatl in 2006 was psychotic/depressed/high anxiety level. Don't want to go there again.

[Navygrrl]

How long have you been taking it? I know a lot of the prescribed meds take up to two months to show any effectiveness, although I dont' know anything about Geodon. Hopefully those more knowledgeable than I am will have some answers for you.

[solemnversifier]

Hm.. I'm not sure why your doctor would put you on Geodon for hypomania, as it is an anti-psychotic. Hypomania and psychosis are completely different states. Geodon is usually a "last resort" drug that Pdocs try if nothing else works for the patient. It doesn't work well with many people, so that is why it is usually used as a last resort.

My experience with Geodon was horrible. I don't want to scare you with this, but if this hasn't happened to you yet, it probably won't.

I was put in the hospital for being hypermanic, and the very first thing they put me on was Geodon (keep in mind, this hospital is NOT reputable for it's mental health ward). The next day, I had a terrible reaction. I believe it's called "akasthasia". Basically what happened is my neck was permanently bent all the way to my right shoulder, and my tongue stuck out involuntarily. I couldn't stop this. I couldn't speak to tell them what was going on. They thought I was nuts and put me in the "quiet room". Idiots.

Besides that, the only thing geodon really did for me was knock me out. Didn't get rid of my hypermania at all. Is your doctor positive you have bipolar? I mean, I'm no doctor, but I don't think this was a very good choice on his/her part.

[perpetuallysad]

I don't have anything positive to say about geodon either. It was horrible for me. I was only on it for a few days, but those days were a nightmare.

How is taking it making you feel? I didn't have the neck thing, but I couldn't talk, it was like my tongue was swollen or something and I could barely stay awake. My ability to think and form coherent thoughts was almost non-existent. Arg.

[LittleMouse]

I've been on the medication for over a month and basically it makes me feel like I have to move all the time. About two hour after I take it i feel sleepy, but the next day (I take it at night) I feel this almost constant urge to move. Other than the urge to move I feel OK. He put me on it because it is weight nutural and I did not want to take anything that would make me gain weight. I've done some research and it is suppose to be used for manic eipsodes and for schizophrenia. My moods are stable now and overall except for the movement thing I feel fine.

[perpetuallysad]

I'm glad you are tolerating it so well! Its unfortunate that so many of our needed meds cause weight gain. Nothing like gaining weight to add to all the other mental/emotional problems?! Is the movement thing like a weird muscle achy thing where if you move the achiness goes away? That's what I seem to get from all of the psychotropic meds I've ever been on. I tend to wiggle my legs a lot in general, especially when my mind is zooming, but I can get this awful restless feeling in my legs sometimes that's a nightmare, I cannot go to sleep sometimes. I've found that if I rub my calves down with something like icy hot, I can sleep finally. (Sorry that was an awful long response!)

[Pamela Choi]

Hey Perpetually- I am on Limictal for my mania, it seems to be working for me. Talk to you soon!

I took geodon for quite a while. It worked really well in keeping my thoughts slowed down which was one of my manic symptoms. It did make me really drowsy though, so I always took it around supper time in hope that I'd sleep through that.

[Portals]

I was on geodone briefly in the past - for one day. When I took it my nerves in my legs and arms felt like they were on fire. It was horrible and lasted for hours.

I am on lamictal (300mg) and it seems to help somewhat but I still cycle and I feel dangerously indifferent about the things in my life that are detremental. Overall though I would probably recommend it as things are much better than they were when I was not on it.

[spiritual_emergency]

LittleMouse: I seem to be tolerating it OK but feel very restlesss a great deal of the time. It's like I just can't still for very long and NEED to move. Any information would be helpful.

solemnversifier: ... my neck was permanently bent all the way to my right shoulder, and my tongue stuck out involuntarily. I couldn't stop this. I couldn't speak to tell them what was going on.

LittleMouse, what you seem to be experiencing sounds like akathisia. solemnversifier, what you seemed to have experienced was a form of tardive dyskinesia. Both are associated with anti-psychotic medications...

Tardive Dyskinesia and Akathisia
Tardive dyskinesia is involuntary, repetitive movements of muscles. Akathisia is a feeling of restlessness. People with akathisia cannot sit still.

Tardive dyskinesia and akathisia are often caused by antipsychotic drugs or related drugs. Certain antidepressants (tricyclic antidepressants) can cause tardive dyskinesia.

Symptoms
In tardive dyskinesia, the muscles of the face are affected most often. Typically, people grimace, chew, stick their tongue out, and pucker or smack their lips. The muscles of the arms, legs, or trunk may also be affected. People with the disorder may rock back and forth or rotate their ankles. They may march in place. Their fingers may seem to be playing an invisible guitar or piano.

People with akathisia feel restless and anxious when they are not moving. They may repeatedly stroke parts of their body or pick at their clothes. They may cross and uncross arms and legs, pace, or march in place. They may moan, groan, or shout.

Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis is based on symptoms and a history of taking an antipsychotic, a related drug, or a tricyclic antidepressant for a long time.

Treatment begins with discontinuing the drug or lowering the dose if possible. Sometimes a different drug can be substituted. After the drug is discontinued, symptoms may lessen, sometimes after worsening temporarily. But they may persist.

If the drug that may be causing tardive dyskinesia or akathisia cannot be discontinued, certain other drugs may help. They include benzodiazepines (a type of sedative), opioids (narcotics), and reserpine or propranolol (a beta-blocker, a type of drug used to treat high blood pressure).

Source: The Merck Manual

LittleMouse, you'd probably be well-advised to speak with your doctor to see if he/she can recommend a substitute to the Geodon.

solemnversifier, it sounds as if your doc has already switched you to a different medication.