[Mamabug1981]

So, I'm brand new to this bipolar diagnosis. I was diagnosed major depressive about 15 years ago, and just now at the age of almost 33 has my primary care doctor (been seeing her for about 3 years) realized something more was going on. We're still in the initial phases, she has conferred with their in-house mental health specialist, but I have not met him yet.

In a way, the tendency for antidepressants to trigger mania worked in my favor. I've always had "up" periods, but always just assumed they were periods where my depression was lifted and that was what was "normal". About 6 months ago, my Zoloft stopped working for me, so I was switched to Trazadone for a month, but we quickly ended that as it made me very angry and aggressive. I've spent the last 5 months on a low dose of citalopram. It worked ok, but I started having memory issues and anxiety attacks, along with periods of paranoia and even worse insomnia than my norm. When I was in a couple of months ago, my primary care doc asked off-handedly if I had issues with money during the times my insomnia was bad. I answered no at the time, but started paying closer attention and realized that it WAS happening. I started researching WHY she would ask me that, and was lead to research bipolar further. It clicked, like a light went on. So I made an appointment to see her again, and had that appt today. In the meantime, I started realizing that stuff I'd just written off previously as my mind being silly might actually be symptoms. Like thinking everyone was watching and judging me. Even just yesterday I almost skipped going to rest because I was convinced for some reason my neighbor would peek in my bedroom window and scold me for lying on my bed in my underwear (we're mid-heat wave). One evening I had myself convinced we owned 2 brown cats (we own 3 cats, none of which are brown). I asked her today why she'd asked about the money stuff, and she confirmed that she'd been considering bipolar. We talked for awhile and compared my symptoms and agreed it was probably the right diagnosis. But while she was comfortable treating my depression diagnosis, she's not comfortable heading treatment for the bipolar.

So the tentative diagnosis is that the Celexa triggered a hypomanic episode. My primary care, following the advice of the psych and my own research and suggestions (love love love my doc for the sole reason she's fabulous at taking my opinions into consideration without making me feel stupid about researching in the first place), is tapering me of the Celexa and put me on Geodon 40mg twice a day. I'm supposed to follow up with the psych in the next month for a formal interview/diagnosis, and to formalize a treatment plan.

Meanwhile, what have been your experiences with the Geodon? It was one of the two I proposed to my doctor based on the comparative side effects and my insurance coverage, though I originally suggested pairing it with Effexor, which she did not prescribe. After dealing with the depression for several years unmedicated before I got back on treatment for it, I'm a little nervous to be going forward without an antidepressant in my arsenal. Maybe the psych will add something back in later, I don't know.

My doctor and the pharmacist were both really dismissive of some of the serious side effects ever actually happening, and really vague when I directly asked what I could expect, what would warrant a phone call to my doctor, and what would warrant an immediate trip to the ER. Maybe those of you more familiar can fill in the blanks? I've got mixed feelings about this right now, as it turns out my ENTIRE support system (husband, parents, and every single person who watches my kids for me) is going out of town this weekend. So I'm nervous to be starting this med right now, but also worried about the Celexa continuing to push me ever more manic at a time I will have no one around to call me out on my behaviors and it's just me and the kids. I've reached out to my extended network of friends to let folks know this is happening, so hopefully someone is keeping an eye on me.

So, after that novel, hello! lol I guess I'll be seeing you all around the boards. Any advice regarding the Geodon is appreciated.

[OutlawedSpirit]

Hello and welcome! I'm currently taking 80mg of geodon. I've had really good luck with the med. It can be sedating but not as much as some other meds, like seroquel, that I've been on. So be prepared for that. Other than that I haven't really had any side effects from it so I don't know how much help I can really be. Best of luck and I hope you can find the right combo of meds.

[Mamabug1981]

I took my first dose last night, feeling a little groggy and wobbly, off-center physically, like I'm a bit drunk today. Hubby leaves town today, so I'm thinking I'm going to just take the night time doses for a few days til he gets home, then start the am doses. Also have a headache that won't go away.

Is there a list anywhere of the abbreviations you guys use? I've been able to sort out a couple of them, but the rest are a mystery to me!

[wiretwister]

geodon knocked me flat on my butt for a few days then that went away and i have no side effects,,but after a year on it i tried to quit and was unable to sleep until i went back on it,,but all in all i am ok with it..

[~Christina]

Welcome to PC

You will find loads of support here.

[Mamabug1981]

The wobbly feeling went away after a couple of hours, good thing as I'm now on my own for a few days with our 5 and 2 year old sons, and I have a better idea of how I'll feel tomorrow. But just the one day on it so far, wow! I actually had the motivation to cook dinner and run a load of dishes, something I usually pawn off on my hubby cause I just don't care enough to do them. Might even get the living room picked up tomorrow, possibly tidy the boys' room yet this evening. If the fatigue and wobblies go away with time, and I don't experience any other side effects, I think I'll keep the Geodon! Though I wouldn't mind being one of the folks that gets hit with the weight loss side effect, gods know I can certainly afford to lose more than a few pounds! More than a few years on antidepressants has taken it's toll.

[Curiosity77]

Originally Posted by Mamabug1981

I took my first dose last night, feeling a little groggy and wobbly, off-center physically, like I'm a bit drunk today. Hubby leaves town today, so I'm thinking I'm going to just take the night time doses for a few days til he gets home, then start the am doses. Also have a headache that won't go away.

Is there a list anywhere of the abbreviations you guys use? I've been able to sort out a couple of them, but the rest are a mystery to me!

There's no list, but some common ones are:
pdoc = psychiatrist
T = therapist
AP = antipsychotic
AD = antidepressant
There are a few for partial hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient programs, but I forget the exact letters.

I can't think of any more right now, but I hope those help.