Geodon

. I was in the hospital last night for severe depression...but I decided not to go to psyche ward. My case worker was with me and we talked about it. I have been in psyche ward in Feb with psychosis and mixed mania.

I quit taking Geodon three weeks ago this and have been super depressed on just the 200 Lamictal and 20 mg celexa. I stopped taking it because it made my stomach hurt and I had to eat with it.

I called Pdoc this am to ask if I should go back on geodon or he may call something in for the depression. I see him next week.

My question...does geodon help any with depression and anxiety?

Thanks guys!
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Geodon is unique in that you must eat to have it absorbed by the body. Many medications cause nausea and stomach upset and you are advised to eat to ease the discomfort, but it is not that you MUST eat with them. With Geodon, you MUST eat when taking it.

How long did you take it for? Stomach upset can go away after a few weeks.

Geodon is not used for depression and anxiety in its primary indication.

My experience with Geodon:

December 30th 2012 I had a full blown major depressive episode. I mean I had an absolute meltdown, crying on the floor in a fetal position for about an hour straight, just felt like dying so I didn't have to feel the emotional pain anymore... it was intense (I have these "episodes" about 2-3 times a year and seemingly tend to come out of nowhere). Anyway, it was terrible... at the time I wasn't medicated and called my doctor the next day, told him what happened and told him I wanted to be put back on BP meds and his office gave me a sample dose of Geodon to take. I took one of the smallest doses the next day, I believe it was 40mg. So December 31st I took it around 12pm and I was a complete ZOMBIE the entire day! I mean I took a 6 hour nap... after I woke up I called my mom to tell her what happened the day before and she said "Hunny have you been drinking? you sound like you're drunk" to which I giggled and said "nope, it's just my meds!" I felt so sedated even hours after taking it... I actually had to call it sick to work that night. I worked at a busy restaurant/bar and it was New Years Eve and because the meds knocked me on my *** so hard, I called in sick. Ultimately I think I got fired because of it... a week and half later my boss called me and told me "we appreciate your help, but unfortunately things aren't working out and we're going to have to let you go." And the ONLY thing I ever did wrong was call in sick that night... but there is NO way I could have functioned at work.

Anyway I kind of got lost on a ramble there so sorry about that :P To answer your question... I believe Geodon IS designed to help with depression, because that's the first thing my doctor prescribed me after he heard about my major depressive episode... but I'm also Bipolar I so maybe he thought Geodon would be good to help with my mania as well. All I know is that PERSONALLY... it was the most sedating medication I have ever taken. I slept all day, and an hour after I woke up sounded drunk on the phone to my mom. (I actually felt drunk too... like I couldn't speak or walk correctly) Needless to say I made him switch me to something I read a lot about (Saphris) which I am SO fortunate to have found. It's been a God send for me.

I'm obviously not a doctor so I'm not sure if Geodon does infact work for depression but I just wanted to share my experience with the drug!

Oh this is so sad, with your losing the job "thanks" to sedation.

I have not had that happen to me, but I lost an interview due to an extreme sedation after being put on Depakote.

I take geodon very successfully for my bipolar. yes, it is very sedating, that is why i take it at night. yes, it has to be taken with food. it was very unsettling for my stomach. i take prevacid, which i took before, but needed more antiacid effect after taking geodon. i am much more stable on geodon. dont know if it helps with depression as i wasnt depressed when i started it but i have changed my attitude toward life to one of wanting to live from wanting to die since i have been on it. i am also less anxious on it tho i dont know if it has anti anxity properties. i just noticed that i am less anxious since taking it. i have tried every bipolar med out there and except for the sedation and stomach upset, which i have learned to work with, it is working very well for me.

Make sure if you go back on the Geodon you do it slowly. My old pdoc upped it too fast for me the first time I took it and I had a couple seizures.

This time around my new pdoc titrated me up slowly, so I didn't have a problem. I swear by this med. It has helped me immensely. It's really nice not being psychotic.

I'm on a minuscule dose of Geodon, which has helped pull everything else together for me. Been in a great mood since starting it.....I got a little overamped for a couple of weeks right after starting, but things smoothed out for quite a while. Probably time to titrate up.

I must say that it doesn't do a damned thing for anxiety, at least not the tiny dose I'm taking. I had to go on Klonopin for that last week......the on-call prescribed it and it's been a godsend. This has been the best week of sleep in years! Not looking forward to discussing it w/ pdoc this Friday, though; I'm mortified about the meltdown, and wish we didn't have to talk about it. But I know it's necessary.