[swimmom]

I am currently on 160 mg Geodon, 1000 mg Depakote, and 30 mg adderall. Each time I start a new combo, everything seems better for a while. Then my pdoc has to increase the dose so they remain effective b/c the symptoms creep back. When the doses are increased, I become zombie-like. I really hope there's something out there that will work for me without all the zombie-like side effects. Without the meds, I am intensely paranoid, anxious, and I hear voices and see things. I can't function well, but which is worse? The symptoms or the med side effects?

[MickG]

I think alot of people have the misconception that the side effects are worse than the symptoms. If there were any medications that worked at all that ever possibly burbled into existence ever, EVER...I would be on them.

The fact that they have not nor have they ever worked for me and yet the literature out there says something completely different is enough to make a man...well, paranoid.

[swimmom]

Originally Posted by MickG

I think alot of people have the misconception that the side effects are worse than the symptoms. If there were any medications that worked at all that ever possibly burbled into existence ever, EVER...I would be on them.

The fact that they have not nor have they ever worked for me and yet the literature out there says something completely different is enough to make a man...well, paranoid.

You are right that the symptoms are worse than the side effects, and I am thankful that the meds work for most of the symptoms. Just wish the side effects weren't so frustrating.

[sdgirl]

geodon is enough to make you zombie like. why don't you switch to a much lower dose drug like olanzapine.

[netsavy006]

Well I would say that over time, your body should become more and more use to the medication (in terms of side effects), but over time your not going to become more and more use to your symptoms so it's best to stay on medications.

For the paranoia, there are lots of medications out there to try besides geodon. I don't know where you live but here in the US there's:
Abilify, Zyprexa, Seroquel (or Seroquel XR), Risperdal, Invega, Fanapt, Saphris, and should all these fail there's the option of using Clozaril.

All these medications will take you to the drug's website should you type them in google.

I wish you luck and I hope you find the med combination that works for you.
Andy...

[WLFTW]

I have faced the exact same issues. For certain medication cocktails, I felt strongly that it was altering my personality into someone that wasn't me at all. I am usually highly creative and such but the meds robbed me of that. Think "Beautiful Mind" when Dr. Nash was on his medication and the only math he could do regarding the Riemann hypothesis was revealed to be the scribblings in crayons of a remedial student. I felt that my intellectual gifts were robbed from me while on medication.

For me, the side effects were not better than the symptoms. Additionally, the meds I were on didn't eliminate the symptoms sufficiently anyway. So it seemed a no brainer that I stop my meds. Mistake.

Several times have I gone through cycles of taking meds and staying out of trouble and then going off them again because of how they affected me and getting into trouble.

At first, the trouble entailed things like hospitalizations and quitting my career so I could walk the earth and help people. It has escalated since then: a couple of years ago I was charged with resisting arrest on top of a DUI. Both charges were lessened, with a letter from my doctor, to disturbing the peace and wet reckless (which sounds worse but is a lesser charge). Part of the deal included a court order to take whatever medications my doctor prescribes.

And guess what. Most of the trouble in my life has occurred off meds. I hate that truth.

I wish I could tell you which medications are best for you. Moreover, I wish your doctor could tell you what meds are best for you. It took me about 8 years to find a cocktail that works for me. I feel like I'm still creative and retain most of my personality.

I'm currently taking Abilify 20mg, Lamictal 300mg, Klonopin 0.5mg , and Seroquel between 300 and 1200, depending on how bad my insomnia is. I started the Klonopin recently and due to its heavy sedating effect I might talk with my doctor about stopping it. Out of those, the one I recommend you talk with your doctor about is Abilify. It's an atypical antipsychotic meaning it doesn't work like the heavy stuff like Geodon.