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#1
Aug 09, 2019, 01:08 PM
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I did well on antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds for 20 years. Then, at about age 44 (eight or so years ago), I had a serious, debilitating depressive episode and finally got better when my new doctor started me on Cymbalta and Zyprexa (my first antipsychotic). I've taken an antipsychotic since then but have come a long way in eight years and feel like I might not need one now. I take 80 mg of Geodon which I just cut back to 60 mg. The side effect profile of antipsychotics is scary and I want to see if I'm OK without them. Has anyone else tapered off of Geodon after being on it for a long time? Has anyone else ditched antipsychotics after taking them for a long time? Did you replace them with a different type of medication? (By the way, I don't have a clear diagnosis but my main issue is a history of depression related to childhood trauma, and occasional bipolar "features" like insomnia and irritability).
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 still_crazy
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 still_crazy
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#2
Aug 09, 2019, 06:32 PM
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I’m really surprised you are prescribed an antipsychotic at that dose without a bipolar diagnosis. Seems weird, but I’m no doc. I’ve not been off since I started 20 years ago, but I’ve been cross-tapered to switch to a new antipsychotic. It has not always gone smoothly. A couple years ago I was switched to an antipsychotic not meant for bipolar. Yeah it was a new doc who was that clueless. I’ve since fired her. My new doc was astonished at her prescription for me. Bottom line I did go a few months without an effective med. It only brought all the worst of my bipolar symptoms out. Now I’m on new AP and am fine. So based on that, my guess is that you might backslide Into the person you were before you started taking it. I think you should ask your doc about this. It is a discussion worth having.
__________________
Dx: BPI-Complex PTSD-ADHD Lamotrigine 300 mg; Vryalar 3 mg; Saphris 5 mg; Adderall 40 mg; Doxazosin 2 mg; Xanax prn |
| Amy3boys, still_crazy
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#3
Aug 26, 2019, 04:18 PM
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Hey Amy, I am about to test the Geodon withdrawal waters. I take 20mg at night and my doctor wants to see how I do without it. It is the only med I'm on at the moment.
My diagnosis is up in the air. I was diagnosed as Bipolar 1 w/psychotic features, but now my doctors have said it doesn't fit. I don't have mood swings and I've only had one episode. It was psychotic in nature. I'm 38. I created a post asking for help with this in the bipolar forum. A lot of people weighed in with very helpful experiences and suggestions. I hope this helps. Geodon Withdrawal |
| still_crazy
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#4
Aug 30, 2019, 07:58 AM
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Thanks so much for your reply!
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| fern46
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#5
Sep 13, 2019, 07:20 PM
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I think it is worth a try. I am also currently in the process of weaning off antipsychotcs (thats why I made an account on this website today). I have been on 3 antipsychotics at one time.
I also used to take Geodon 80mg twice per day and often felt like my heart was beating wrong. Geodon can cause heart problems. I have been diagnosed with some serious disorders (several) and have almost sucessfully weaned off these meds so I think it is worth a try. I think I misdiagnosed but anyways that is irrelevant to this. I am almost off all antipsychotics and have been weaning with Dr support for 6 months. I was on 160mg Geodon per day and 20mg haldol 6 months ago. I am now on just 1.25mg Haldol per day (1/4 of a tablet). I feel like its worth a try under Dr supervision. You have to wean off slowly so your system does not go into shock. That is key. Your brain is used to the meds and if you stop too quickly the chemcials will be out of balance possibly causing the symptoms to come back much worse or it could cause psychosis. |
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#6
Oct 09, 2019, 06:09 PM
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Quote:
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#7
Oct 12, 2019, 10:10 AM
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I believe it's hard to know how you would respond simply because your diagnosis is, quite honestly, somewhat blurry. If you actually do have some variant of bipol Food for thought.ar 1 and you d/c the Geodon, the data show that you have a high likelihood of relapse within 12 months. So, as mentioned above, you are taking a risk. That said, I have bipolar 1 and I have been on no antipsychotics for about a year. I had a fairly large depressive recurrence this summer and still struggle with suicidality. My mood stabilizer is lithium. My pdoc is strongly considering clozaril, because of the severity and danger of the depression (I have multiple past suicide attempts). In the end, I'm not sure how much I've gained if the reward for getting off antipsychotics is to be on clozaril.
__________________
When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield |
| bpforever1
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#8
Oct 12, 2019, 05:55 PM
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I gradually weaned off geodon and it was difficult. Geodon gave me severe anxiety and insomnia. The withdrawal symptoms from geodon were even worse than the medication. I had night sweats and severe psychosis. I then switched to abilify and still am on it.
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| bpcyclist
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#9
Oct 12, 2019, 06:01 PM
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I am not bipolar, but I take a small dose of Abilify to help augment my anti-depressants. It seems to help me sleep. When I went off it, I had a lot of trouble sleeping. It doesn't really have negative side effects for me, so I'm going to stay on it. If you do go off the Geodon, taper with the supervision of your doctor.
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| bpcyclist
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#10
Oct 14, 2019, 03:44 AM
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Hey @Holdingbacktyrs
Quote:
__________________
"I carried a watermelon?" President of the no F's given society. |
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#11
Oct 14, 2019, 06:03 PM
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Thank goodness down to 20mg nightly for the last week I’m more alert have feelings now instead of a robot I plan to get off this medication and be med free for the rest of my life
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| Travelinglady
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#12
Jun 16, 2020, 02:15 PM
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Yes, I got off Geodon and no longer take antipsychotics. I don't rhink bipolars should have to take them, anyway.
 But I do take other meds for bipolar. |
| Reply |
This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.|
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