Schizophrenia symptoms and conditions

I have been on Geodon for 6 months now as treatment for schizophrenia. It totally gets rid of the paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions. The only bad thing that I noticed right off was the insomnia. I never feel sleepy and if I'm awakened in the middle of the night or early morning, I'm wide awake and cannot get back to sleep easily. I feel restless sometimes and never feel relaxed or rested. Lately, I've noticed my tongue moving involuntarily and some shortness of breath when I am in bed trying to get to sleep (I take 80mg Geodon once at night) I am worried about the shortness of breath because I previously was on Seroquel and stopped taking it because I was feeling dizziness and shortness of breath. I have to be on some form of medication though because I don't want to have another episode with the schizophrenia.

My son is suffering from psychosis because of prednisone. He had severe poison ivy and was given 10 day course of pills that tapered and a shot. Since then he has been in the psych ward for a week , released given respirdal and lithium. After 3 weeks we tried to wean him from the respidal but the psychosis came right back. ;He is 17 and never had any symptoms of psychosis or mania before. He has every symptom now. BTW his psychosis did not appear until he was finished with the prednisone for several days. Will he ever recover?????

there are some positives with Zyprexa. I took it briefly to treat Schizoaffective disorder, which is half schizophrenia half bipolar disorder.

Zypexa helped me sleep. After years and years of sleep disorder, I actually slept so well and used to wake up feeling invigorated. However, often it would be difficult to get out of bed. Not great if you're trying to work and run your own business.

The downside of Zyprexa is the weight gain. I was always careful about what I ate, but I could not control eating whilst on Zyprexa. I'd literally eat a full meal in the evening and then go out for a pizza afterwards. My weight gain was 30%.

Our son was put on several medications 9/07 due to bad asthma and allergies. Since then we saw his behavior begin to go down hill. He would complain of stomaches, not want to go to school, became increasingly more irritable and has mood swings. He was a good student and we have never had a problem with him attending school. Since 9/07 we have taken him to a total of 10 different doctors. Pediatricians, therapist, allergy doctor and three licensed psychiatrists. Everyone said that we were crazy when we suggested that this behavior was linked to the medication. The psychiatrist diagnosed him with anxiety disorder along with school phobia. This has been a nightmare. I finally took him to an acupuncture doctor as a last resort because the doctors wanted us to put him on Prozac for the anxiety. Our family doctor has even suggested he is Bipolar! The acupuncture doctor has recommended a diet change and some treatments with her so that we can remove him from all his medications. I am so glad that I listened to my instincts and did not put him on the Prozac. I was so upset when this story aired about the Singulair. We have been trying to get the doctors to listen to us since 9/07 about the possible link. They still deny the connection and advised us to not remove him from the medicine. But for once I am going to handle things my way and we have already seen a difference in his behavior. We will keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. My heart goes out to everyone that has had similiar experiences. These doctors should listen to the parents instead of assuming we are all trying to blame behavior problems on medication.

My fifteen year old son—all star athlete, good student, always following the rules has been through hell and back with this too, and is still feeling the stigma. After being on Singulair about 6 months, he started hearing and seeing things. He woke the whole house up one night with a blood-curdling scream. We immediately sought help and i started investigating the side-effects of Singulair. Every doctor we spoke too, Primary care, Allergy specialist, and 2 psychiatrists, discounted my theory that the Singulair might be causing all this. He did express having depressed emotions and thoughts of suicide. This kid had no previous pre-existing conditions that would account for these symptoms. Thank god the Psychs ruled out schizophrenia, which was what we were all afraid of, including my very intuitive son. I NOW FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. This is so wrong. I tried to speak up about it and was swept under the rug many times. Please tell me if there are lucrative organizations i can report this too. My kids has been emotionally injured from this drug and it seems there are many more that have actually years from their childhood.

my mother was on Advair for COPD and now she is totally messed up mentally....My mother is paranoid. She refuses to go outside and thinks people are bugging our house and are all out to get her....she never used to behave like this. My mother is from the generation that I like to call "old school" Its a generation that goes to the doctor and takes whatever the doctor prescribes without questioning it. I'm "new school" I question everything and only take medicine as a last resort....I believe in natural alternatives....if there is anyone else out there who is suffering or has a loved one suffering from paranoia please contact me at ***

Geodon - Weight Loss, Mania Anyone?
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I've been on Geodon for 5 wx & have lost 15 #'s. I usually weigh 130, now 115. looking anorexic, but my depression is a lot better now, I'm happy, first time in ovr a yr. nothing else could break the barrier except the Geodon, but it makes me manic, on top of already being manic…can't sleep. as I was about to crash & burn (thu), before I went running to the ER, i found my stash of 4 mg Risperdal that I just weened myself off of 3 mos ago, due to the long term side effects I was having (td, slurring, twitching, sexual dysfunction...). it took the edge off, til I can talk to the pdoc on tue.

like many of you, i’ve tried everything. i’m at my wit’s end. This bizarre combo seems to work for me. It puts a muzzle on the mania, allowing me a more hypomanic state where I can function & still feel really happy. although I’m going to try 40 vs 60 mg geodon. & try going down to 2 mg risperdal or try another a/p. adding the risperdal allowed me to sleep, along w/the lorazepam. but, I prefer not to be on risperdal

So, as of now…i'm on 60 mg geodon, 675 mg lithium, 4 mg risperdal & 1 mg lorazepam X 2/day.

has anyone else had this experience? Especially w/the mania & weight loss?

PLZ HELP! QUEENIE

My mother is on Geodon. I cant remember how long shes been on it. but in the changes I have seen in her. I want her off ASAP. she used to enjoy life...you know..going to work, going out with friends, talking and hanging out with me but now I don't even recognize her. to me its like she is a zombie. all she does now is just sits at the house and watches TV all day. and as far as talking to her....it seems like shes not even interested in having a normal conversation with anybody. I think shes taking a bigger MG than she should but that cant be it cuz shes only taking 60mgs twice a day. half of the things she says I can barely understand. I have to listen carefully or I have to ask her to repeat what she said. anybody have ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS PLEASE LET ME KNOW

I was on Singulair for about 5-6 years and I rarely had an asthma attack. I had the vivid dreams that are common with Singulair, but that didn't bother me. I also had the occasional earache, but it was tolerable. My last 3 months of taking this drug, I started "seeing things." I would see shadows darting out of the corner of my eye. At the time I was waitressing and I went out to wait on a table that I thought was there. When I looked up to take their order, there was no one there. One night I almost got into an accident because I thought a car was behind me that was tailing me when there wasn't one. It was at that point that I really started to freak out. I thought I was going insane, possibly schizophrenia. One day I was flipping through a magazine and happened to see an ad for Singulair. I read through all the fine print and saw that a rare side effect was hallucinations! It all made sense at that point and I knew I wasn't going crazy!

I stopped taking Singulair and then started to have breathing problems (I wasn't taking anything for my asthma at that point). I went to the doctor and he laughed when I told him about the hallucinations being from Singulair. He told me to go back on it and see if it happened again. The second or third day I started to see shadows again. I lasted about a week and then just stopped and went to Advair. It doesn't help much.

It makes me really sad that Singulair did this to me. It was the only time in my life where I didn't have to worry about breathing. Now I have to take prednisone about twice a year, which I never had to do on Singulair. I just wanted to write this in case anyone else was experiencing anything similar.

Finally, I found a blog that I can relate to. I've tried all types of alternative treatments and nothing seemed to work. Finally after much dismay, I decided to take Lisinopril and HCTZ to control my BP. In May of this year the doctor went up on my meds from 10.2 to 30mg of Lisinopril. I've had struggles with depression and ED. I also have itches and had an allergic reaction with my throat almost closing and later vomited. I've had enough of this trickery by the pharmaceutical industry. I strongly recommend a book by Gwen Olsen called Confessions Of An RX Drug Pusher. That book has changed my perception completely on the drug industry.

Impotence, etc:

I have been on Geodon for about 8 months to treat my schizophrenia. It has given me sexual dysfunction: decreased libido, impotence, decreased sensation and excitement, and premature ejaculation. I did not have these problems before I started antipsychotic medicine. I had my testosterone and prolactin levels checked and they are normal, so it is most likely the medicine. I am rather angry that I wasn't warned that this could happen from my medicines.

Other side effects I have experienced are dizziness and teeth clenching. The dizziness went away after my dose was increased to 120 mg. The teeth clenching went away after a few months. Geodon also seems to have affected my sleep. I would sleep about 12 hours a night. However, the long sleeping has decreased over the months to about 9 hours of sleep per night.

Despite these side effects, the Geodon has successfully treated my hallucinating and delusions. I occasionally experience anhedonia and it isn't clear yet whether or not the Geodon treats this. It certainly doesn't treat it on a lower dose. I hope this information is helpful to other people.

Anxiety and Psychiatric Disorders

Magnesium deficiency causes increased levels of adrenaline, which can lead to a feeling of anxiety. Rats who become magnesium deficient have an increased level of urinary catecholamine excretion (a by-product of adrenaline).

People who have mitral valve prolapse have also been found to have an increased state of anxiety and have an increased level of urinary catecholamine excretion, the exact same condition found in rats who are Mg deficient.

It is not surprising then, to find that people with mitral valve prolapse are usually low in magnesium, and that magnesium supplementation alleviates the symptoms of mitral valve prolapse and reduces the level of urinary catecholamine excretion, i.e. it also reduces the anxiety symptoms.

Researchers in Spain found a correlation between anxiety disorders and hypermobility. In fact, they found that patients with anxiety disorder were over 16 times more likely than control subjects to have joint laxity. If you put the study results together, then there's a link between anxiety and hypermobility, a link between anxiety and mitral valve prolapse, and a link between mitral valve prolapse and hypermobility.

These studies tell us that anxiety disorders occur in many people who simply have mitral valve prolapse and/or joint hypermobility, meaning anxiety disorders are not specific to EDS or any particular connective tissue disorder. Marfans also have mitral valve prolapse and joint hypermobility which would lead one to conjecture that they, too, have anxiety related disorders. As it turns out, a connection between Marfans and anxiety related disorders has been noted.

A study in Bulgaria also found magnesium abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia and depression. The authors thought the schizophrenia and depression caused the magnesium deficiencies, but I disagree that that was necessarily the case. When you look at this study within the context of all the other studies mentioned in this section, it is more likely that the magnesium abnormalities caused the mental illness. (There are quite a few studies on magnesium and mental illness on Medline. I just included a few to highlight my points.)

In a study from England, there was a strong association for more disturbed and excitable patients to have abnormal (either high or low) magnesium levels. The authors thought that the patients who seemed most disturbed may have some abnormality of magnesium metabolism.

To read up on the link between cholesterol levels and anxiety and depression, see my web page on low cholesterol levels.

For more on this topic, see my section on Anxiety and Depression - overlooked nutritional causes.

after reading others sideeffects i wanted to input mine
i suffer from bpd and schizophrenia defective disorder i have been on geodon going on 3 weeks now i like how it makes me feel normalized but i find my self pacing the floor or when siting moving my foot or leg i allso suffer from insomnia at od times of the day i feel what fred from dropdeadfred looks like will i keep feeling this way or will it pass i do everything my doctor has told me eating after i take my pills i take 2 60mgs at bedtime . That is 120mgs total i have allso been geting maina i ran around my apartment complex 3 times without stoping and before i took geodon i could not run 100 yards with out stoping to rest 2 or 3 times its all driving me mad the hand shakes dont help much when writing and typing or playing xbox and ps2 games im going to talk to my doctor about being put on somthing elce i will never take this drug agin any hints or help please e-mail me please

I am on my 7th day of 500mg/once a day clarithromycin, prescribed to me for a sinus infection. On the third day, I read all of the below comments and had a mild panic attack fueled by paranoia. Once I came back to reality, and in touch with my body, I realized which, in fact, of the common side effects I have been experiencing. The most notable is sleeplessnes. I have been having very intense dreams which have been waking me up every 30 to 45 minutes; upon waking my mind is charged and rearing to go. This side effect was attended to by a prescription of Ambien, made to me for this specific incidence. The Ambien has helped, I am now getting a solid 5 hours of sleep, still intense dreams, but sleep. For someone who typically requires 8 -10 hours a night, I find this 5 hour deal amusing. I don't feel particularly tired as a result, although I admit it has only been a week - it could catch up with me. This brings me to the other most obvious side effect, which I can only describe as mania - ready to go go go, constantly up, alert, ambitious (for what, I am not sure). Again, for a groggy girl like me these are actually welcome side effects! Other than that, I am experiencing a small amount of gas, and a slight spacieness (lack of sleep? or just an effect?). For these I have found lots of yougurt, fresh foods, and fluids, all in small servings and at regular intervals, ie: every 1 1/2 - 2 hours, to be allievating. My infection seems to have cleared up, I have a small amount of clear drainage in the morning, no more facial tenderness, headaches, and obviously my sense of fatigue is gone. All in all, I must say I would take this antibiotic again, which is not how I usually feel after most antibiotics I have, as an adult, taken.

I have been on Gedon for about 3 months for schizophrenia. I am mostly happy with it. The only disturbing thing is sometimes I have trouble breathing. I can breathe, but I feel like I'm not getting any oxygen. It usually lasts about a half hour and goes away if I take a nap. Other than that, I had some muscle tension at first, but it went away. I'm glad that I am on it instead of Risperidone. I hated Risperidone. On Geodon I actually regained some of my sexual functioning. I mostly feel like myself again on Geodon.

I started taking geodon a couple years ago when I had a "psychotic episode" so to speak. They diagnosed me with schizophrenia. They put me on geodon which did wonders for me and helped all my symptoms go away. I'm perfectly functioning and capable now. However, Geodon does have some side affects that I"m dealing with. It makes me tired all the time. I'm tired all day and can't sleep at night. It seems to be progressive as in the longer I'm on it the more I have to take. If I miss a pill I get very tense physcially like and my jaw clamps down. I also feel like I'm going crazy if I miss a pill. Thoughts start to race, however the natrue of the drug is that one pill missed shouldn't cause psychotic symptoms. I can't think as clearly because it makes it harder to think abstractly. I take it when I need the down feeling. Sometimes more then it's perscribed. I'm clearly addicted to it like somebody would be addicted beer or pot, perhaps psychological. I tried to switch to abilify and I couldn't function because of the hard with
drawl from geodon. Good luck at your venture with geodon

rapid weight gain,inability to concentrate,still no sex drive,leg pains and muscle weakness. from respirdal.it did clear up psychosis (schizophrenia) i also take wellbutrin for depression.

just a warning to parents, this drug as well as risperdal has been used on children, for reasons other than mentil illness. but, the FDA has NEVER approved for its use in children, not even for schizophrenia. it is not only dangerous to use in adult schizophrenics, it is much more so in children, and the damage it causes, is tragically irriversable. those with five year olds on this medication, i hope you take into consideration the effects it will have. its safety was never evaluated.

I've been taking Zyprexa for 6 wks. Gained about 20 lbs. Also on Valium, Paxil for several yrs. Started Depakote 9 mos. ago so I figured that was reason for weight gain. Now after 6 weeks I have extremely swollen legs & feet. Mostly on right side which is weird if you ask me! I was pretty much knocked out at onset of taking RX but now I'm up till 2 a.m. putzing around. So why bother taking the Zyprexa I ask. Hmm, I called doc today re: swelling but of course, no response as yet. I don't know what my DX is; I believe it's Bipolar or Unipolar. Definitely not schizophrenia (per doc) but one never knows. I actually have had some ringing type sensation in left ear, too. My face is swollen, sore throat at times and it feelsl like my glands are as well. (when I look in the mirror I look like I have mumps - I'm 53 y/o so I doubt it!). My eyes are swollen too. Basically I'm foraging around the kitchen all the time. Day, night, in-between. Hard as I'm a vegan and I'm running out of veggies all the time. Considering d/c ing myself but afraid of seizures. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Thanks and Bright Blessings to all.

I have been taking Risperdal for 5 years now. I was diagnosed with mild schizophrenia. I responded to a small 2mg dose and within weeks my weird thoughts went away. I have had no really bad side effects or weight gain apart from decreased libido and I think that it has taken away some of my creativity.

Summary: WARNING ABOUT stelazine, moban, paxil, risperdal, haloperidol

my doctor just prescribed me zyprexa, i'm supposed to go to the drug store and pick it up tomorrow. I'm NOT going to take it after reading the side effects people have had here. Reason being i have had serious sideffect problems.

The problem is every drug he has prescribed me for schizophrenia for the last 3 years has had some side effect. I've been mentally healthy because of them but physically sick. I've been on 5 different medications for schizophrenia. (and then numerous medications for the health problems they caused) I was healthy and athletic 6'0 155pounds gym girl when i was diagnosised with it and put in the hospital.

Over the 3 years i've taken stelazine, moban, paxil, risperdal, haldal. Before stopping them all together. First the pills robbed me of all my energy so i couldn't work out anymore. Then my hair started to fall out in clumps. (i had to shave my head at the time) Then i started to gain weight in 3 years i went from 155 to 250. Then i got insomnia (that still hasn't gone away) Then i was diagnosed with Tartive something (something technical i'm not sure what its called but i have the same symptoms as parkison disease) I went to different medical drs and they said it was caused by taking medication for schizophrenia for so long and that it would go away once i stopped taking them or by taking another medicine to combat sideeffects and or lorasipam when the illness occurs. That was last year. i have uncontrolled body movements of my hands and legs, more than trembling actual movement. It has not gone away. It is something i have to live with now. Because of it i had refused to take anti-psychotics for a long time. (Although i still took other medications from a dr for health problems that were orginally caused by the anti-psychotics) Last month my dr insisted that i've been off them too long and that i may relapse if i didn't start them again so i tried haloperidol. My feet and legs swoll up. (that went away) I have pain in my feet and legs. And they found blood in my urine. (that didn't go away) I have gone for blood tests, a ultrasound of the kidney and legs. But they didn't find anything else. Looking back i would have prefered to remain mentally ill than to have the health problems i have now by using the medicines to cure mental illness. The ironic thing about it is now that i plan to refuse the anti-psychotics again i may just end up back at square one but with this parkison like disease in addition. I want to warn everyone please go to a medical doctor and get a check up a month after starting any of these medications.

I HAVE BEEN ON SEROQUEL FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. iT IS THE ONLY MEDICATION THAT GIVES ME A FULL NIGHTS REST. I don't want to give it up but the fact is I am always tired in the mornings. I can't think as sharply. It doesn't wear off until mid afternoon. I only take 1/4 of a 25 mg. tablet nightly. I don't have schizophrenia. I have bipolar disorder.