Geodon and insomnia

I have been off geodon for 2 weeks now and am still so nauseated I can barely function. Does anyone know how long this lasts?

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.

Hello All. Diagnosed bipolar in 2004, been on and off meds realizing that I guess I can't really be off of them, though having a hard time dealing with it. Been on Lamictal, Lithium, Geodon, and several anti-depressants and others I can't remember honestly in the past, now just Geodon, 80 mg at night (can't do it in the morning, can't work). It's now 2 a.m. and I'm desperate. I feel worse on my meds than I do off, though I get suicidal and sabotage my life and my marriage and kids. I have experienced insomnia, tired in the morning, my muscles ache, I dance all morning long and my co-workers think I'm crazy ( I guess I may be). I have landed in crutches because my "dancing" has caused shin splits. I hold a good job and I have two kids that I need to tend to. My husband travels a lot and I just can't seem to deal with the Geodon. All others caused similar issues. I'm desperate on my meds, but I suffer schitzo symptoms off meds. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. BTW, just found two great doctor's, one for therapy and one for med admin. Only been back on my meds and doctor's appts for 2 months after being off meds for 9 months and suffering another "great" relapse. Help me!!!!

Hi all. My DH has been taking Geodon for 5 months for "delusion - other". The docs don't feel he's bi-polar or schizophrenic. He started up on 20mg and was taken all the way up to 160mg at night until he got ridiculously drowsy on this drug from that dose. He was having issues getting up in the morning (even after 9 1/2+ hours of sleep the night before) and was getting scared of driving to work as out of it as he'd be. The doc took him down to 120mg and it was still bad. So, then they dropped him down to 80mg and he started experiencing severe anxiety. He said he felt like his chest was closing in on him. So, now he's on 100mg and still tired, but not as bad.

Don't get me wrong.. if this was the only issue, I'd be fine with it. The Geodon was a godsend, at first. It really made his delusion dissipate (he wanted to run off and preach the word of God on street corners) and he was able to go back to working 8-hour days after a few months.

But now that he's gotten past that (he's had this once before, 6 years ago, and they had him on risperdal and depakote until the delusion was gone and then took him off of everything completely) he is BEYOND depressed. He has no history whatsoever of depression and has never felt this way before.Our family has never seen him like this. It's increasingly interfering with our relationship, as he just stares at me blankly if I happen to get upset about anything. He's just completely dead inside and feeling worthless. He can't even have an emotional conversation with me anymore and he used to be the most attentive, wonderful husband and friend he could ever be before he got on Geodon.

He also has zero interest in sex. I mean, he can go through it just fine, but he just doesn't want it on his own. And that's depressing for me!!

All in all, I want him off this drug as it seems that, once it did its job, it's eating away at his cognitive and emotional sides. He has a hard time reasoning and, of course, then ends up getting depressed because he feels worthless at his job. I just don't get it.

My question is: if he should happen to be bi-polar ( I mean, if the docs have all gotten it wrong) and he's going through a depressive phase, shouldn't the Geodon be helping? He just seems to get more and more depressed as gets further and further away from being delusional.

We're going to the doc on Thursday and I'm going to tell him that I want DH off this med.. no matter what he thinks. We just can't keep going through this crud anymore. I'd appreciate any feedback/advice/empathy you all can give.

I just miss my husband and I feel like this drug is running him into the ground and wrecking our marriage. :(

I took Zyprexa for 11 yrs always pleading with my psychiatrist to let me try something else. I had gained 90+ lbs with Zyprexa and slept about 12-14 hrs every day. Plus I just sat around watching TV all the time. No motivation. But it did stabilize me when it seemed nothing else could.

Two weeks ago my doctor changed me to Geodon. What a wonderful change! At least the first 12 days I had no problems and lost 7 lbs. My head is clear, I am hypomanic which is so much better than mired in drowsiness and trouble thinking. Now I have energy galore and feel maybe I can even return to work soon.

HOWEVER, the last two nights I just can't go to sleep. Night before last I tossed and turned for 2 hrs before I could sleep. Last night it was 4 hrs. I tried taking the Geodon (80mg) this morning instead of taking it tonight, hoping that would help the situation. But after taking it in the morning, I was in terrible shape. I couldn't seem to keep my mouth closed -- it kept falling open and I looked like an idiot. I couldn't concentrate to drive -- I know I ran at least one red light. Finally I just went home and slept for a couple of hours. Then I was fine.

Also I have light headaches and nausea off and on and totally no appetite. I like the appetite part but have had anorexia in the past so I have to be careful when I don't want to eat. Insomnia too, as I said. And hypomania. All in all, a trade up from Zyprexa, which I hated. I just hope I can manage the side effects enough to stick with it. I hope they will go away, but you never know about that. Zyprexa's side effects never went away.

Been on Geodon, substituted for weight-gaining Zyprexa, 3 weeks. No more paranoia, clear thinking, but want to go off because of horrible insomnia. Racing heart while on too high a dose of Geodon. Doc won't let me off, so here I go myself....

I have been on 40 mg Geodon for over 6 months, and I stay like I am in the clouds and my legs and hands will shake ,bad anxiety,I don't want to go out and do anything.I want to get off this drug against my docs orders , does anyone have any information on withdrawals from the Geodon?and how do you tapper yourself off it . email me *** thank you Melissa

Geodon - Weight Loss, Mania Anyone?
________________________________________
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

I take 5 diff. drugs and am trying to figure out which side effect is associated with which drug. I have a really shotty memory now where I have lost perception of time. I thought I had spoken to my friend two weeks ago and I spoke to her two days ago. I read the news all day at work and can't remember any of it. This could be from the Ativan, Ambien, Lamictal or Provigil that I am also taking, but I have no idea which or if its the combo of a few. I am on all of these drugs because i have Bipolar 1 disorder. I take 160 mg of Geodon at night. Also, horrible facial paresthesia and insomnia. Does anyone know if this drug causes memory loss?? Thanks

Geodon was not worth it for me. I took 60 mg in the evenings and noticed I had a clenched jaw, anxiety, blurred vision, late menstrual periods, and HORRIBLE insomnia. I took myself off it with no problems.

I've been on 160 mg at night for most of this year. When my doctor switched me to a different anti-psychotic (Invega), I started having suicidal thoughts, so I went back on Geodon. I feel like I am happier and starting to do more things, but I have horrible physical side effects like brain zaps, energy running through my face and teeth, pins and needles in my eyes and on the tip of my tongue...It also gives me horrible insomnia. I have to take 25 mg of Ambien and 6 mg of Ativan at night just to get to bed! and then it makes me tired in the morning, so I take Provigil to stay awake during the day. I am confused as to what to do because I feel more sane and am becoming less preoccupied with myself daily, but these physical sensations are freaking me out!

Within 5 days of beginning course of Geodon, 40mg daily, doc doubled my dosage to 80mg, began to have problems. Intensely manic, easily frightened, insomnia, terrifying dreams. I decided to get out of hospital ASAP and decide if to quit taking Geodon.
On day six already my face was twitching, was irritable and manic, pacing, increasingly manic throughout day, decided to skip evening dose, keep total dosage same as before, 40mg. Began tripping around midnight and it was all downhill from there. Sleepless all night, by morning I had convulsions, increased heart rate, fear and anxiety, psychosis, uncontrollable crying. Had another seizure 12 hours later. Slept a little with help of Valium. Next day developed Parkinson's like symptoms, had my father not been there to help me, Lord knows what would have happened to me. Still awake in day 3 of withdrawal. Hoping the worst is over.

Well I been on Geodon for about a year and a half now and at first I was taking two 80mg pills at night which was making me so tired the next morning that I had trouble waking up for class and so after the next time seeing my doctor I was told to take one 80mg pill during the day and one at night.For a few months everything was fine because I was going to class and working and then all of a sudden I started having trouble sleeping at night.I was sleeping maybe two or three hours at night which was effecting everything.I had stop going to my classes and I had quit my job because I kept getting written up because I kept falling asleep at work .Now my doctor has me on 10mg of Zyprexa and I take two 60mg of geodon during the day but I still feel tired all the time.

I can't say if I do or don't recommend this drug because the side effects are different for each person and I haven't had a good experience with Geodon

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 was giving Geodon to help with my insomnia, it did help at first . My husband had surgery and during this time I went without my 60mg dose of geodon at night because of how sleepy it made me. During this time I started having uncontrollable chills, then my skin would feel like it was crawling, nausea, and weird obsessive thoughts in my head. After I started back on the medicine the side effects diminished. Even though I noticed that everyday I was having trouble controlling my body temperature and was having all these weird thoughts in my head and confusion.
Finally, I have decided that I have to get off this medication even though everytime I try to go off of this medicine the side effects are terrible. I don't think that this medication should even be on the market. It is a dangerous medication.
I just pray that I keep my sanity while I get off of this medicine. I wonder how long it takes to get it out of your system.

Yes, it is 3:40am and I too am up searching the internet to find out which medication is giving me insomnia! Looks like it's Geodon! I started with 40mg at bedtime for one month and they just upped my dose to 80mg at bedtime. My main problem has been sweating! As a 30 year young female living in sunny California (100 degress plus) it isn't to attractive to have a sweating problem. I am miserable! My eyes are so dilated and dry my husband actually asked me if I was using drugs (ha ha ha) and I am getting "trails" off things and small hallucinations if I wake up in the middle of the night (like a washcloth crawled away on the counter). I have trouble swallowing, am restless and anxious. I feel the symptoms worsened with the increasing dosage. But I guess this is better than the Zyprexa when I gained 30lbs in two weeks! I'm gonna give this drug a chance, hoping the sweat thing will get better with time. I've been playing this medication game long enough to know that unless the side effects are life threatening to stick with it and give it time. I have read many places that if you have stiffness and shuffling walk to stop the drug immediately and I saw a couple posts that were having that problem. It's on the manufacturers website; stop the drug immediately!

geodon is awful... its been 5 months that im on it, it was only in the last month that i started developing some shitty symtomps, such as palpitations and insomnia...
my advise is, dont take it!!!!

I have been taking Geodon for about 4-5 years. I was diagnosed with schizophrena in 97. I had tried Seroquel and Zyprexa prior but quit because I still heard things. I saw things. I had disillusions. On top of this, I have extreme anxiety as a symptom. I saw my doctor as a drug dealer trying to take my money. At $240 an hour, he probably was.

After 2 years of being off the medicine, I was quite a mess. In retrospect, my psychosis was influencing my thoughts. In an attempt to be normal by not being on medication, I had reached a whole new definition of abnormal thinking. I justified it by thinking I was a psychic and not psychotic. Hey, if spirits spoke to John Edwards, why not to me. They do make sense sometimes. They are just intrusive.

I came to a point of depression. I had never thought of killing myself before but it became an obsession. I just wanted it all to end. So back with the doctor and he prescribes me Zoloft and Geodon. The Zoloft had to go after 2 weeks because it made me extremely anxious. Anxiety causes increased thoughts and more anxiety.

I stayed on the Geodon. My doctor said that 120mg was the theraputic dose but I take 80 at night. Does it help. I guess. I have forgotten how I was before it. I still hear voices but my anxiety is under control. I can sleep at night when I take it without feeling like I am privy to some celestrial conversation. I haven't layed in bed worrying for years. I forgot a pill last week and had a restless sleep and that isn't fun.

I get hateful thoughts when I am getting close to the night. Anxiety starts to build and I am uncomfortable for a few hours. It takes about 3 hours for me to have an effect. I don't have the side effects other than insomnia when I skip. Sleep is impossible.

The major problem I have been having lately is with my memory. I feel like I am living life with a chemical labotomy. I can study for tests and pass but then forget the material shortly after. I can't remember if today was yesterday or a week before. This could be because I'm getting old though.

Geodon has definitely proved useful for me, thus far, for the depression side of my bipolar disorder, and compared to Lamictal (which had many and terrible side effects for me, even at a low dose) and Trileptal (to which I discovered I'm quite allergic), it's been a blessing. Took it for three days and it was like throwing a switch to turn off my depression, which had been increasingly bad and getting worse over the past two years. I've been on it for only two weeks, but thus far, I have had minor problems with a rash (easily controlled with a small dose of benedryl, and which will hopefully go away in time), one night of insomnia, and a day of frequent need to urinate. The jury's still out as to whether or not it is affecting my blood pressure. I'm also taking Klonopin, which may be why I have not had much trouble with sleeping, but the need to suddenly run to the bathroom every two hours (or less) is disconcerting and will be watched. I'm taking what most doctors would probably consider an extremely low dose, only 20 mg, but my particular variety of BPD makes me extremely hypersensitive to drugs of any kind. My doctor has suggested that I try increasing the dose in another two weeks, but so long as I'm doing well at this level, I have no intention of doing so, and he knows it. I am seldom able to reach "normal therapeutic levels" for these kinds of drugs, and if I do, it takes years for me to get there. Thank God my doctor understands that if the level I'm taking is effective for me, it doesn't matter that it's half, or less, of what "normal" people take. Because nobody's body chemistry is the same, and one size does not fit all when it comes to drug dosage.

....ok, it is 4am and I am never up at 4am....been up all night...in reading some of these other posts aparently this drug causes insomnia. I have been on Ambien for years now and have not had trouble sleeping with the Ambien, until tonight. I even got up and took a second Ambien...no help. I feel wired and jumpy. No evil thoughts though.

The ironic part is that my neurologist just put me on geodon for a headache that I have had for almost three years. One nonstop every day all day all night headache for 3 years. I have been on meds that had other wonderful side effects such as an unexpected ability to lactate, wieght gain (50lbs) and oh of course there was the time that I asked for a stronger pain med than oxycodone and he put me on the same medication they give herione addicts...that made me lose 2 full weeks of my life and almost lost great friends and family.

I am surprised by the insomnia...I started with 20mg per day, increasing it to 20mg 2x per day....and here comes the insomnia....I guess there could be worse things! I dont care for the tightnessd in my jaw and lower facial area which causes me to look like i am making a sour face -as my husband put it.

time will tell if i stay on this...should be interesting if they take me off of it as I am also going to try to quit smoking in the next few weeks. Could be a bad combination.

thanks for reading!

I too had the evelids that would NOT stay open ...this is fun while trying to drive to your job then trying to actually work while slurring your speech while not being able to see your computer screen....oh and then having to pee every 5 minutes was also very productive for my job. It s also fabulous to have the stupid psych doc just prescribe this shit like candy and not mention or care to ask you about your family history of diabetes or irregular heart beats...Definitely NOT worth the hassle. These drugs make your symtoms and anxiety and insomnia worse than before...so the doctors can give you more drugsand then try to act like you are crazy....hell they are crazy for thinking I am going to fall for this shit anymore. I am bipolar but going to go to a holistic doctor and fix my diet and vitamin intake and tell all the money grubbing condesceding psychiatrists to kiss my ass!!!

on geodon for three months went to go off and on abilify could not sleep the whole nite.now i am experiencing insomnia .off geodon 10 day still sleep only 3 hrs a night.,sweats lasted 8 days.this drug is bad news stay away.at first you sleep all the time then you cant sleep.

I have been on Geodon for a little over a week. The doctor told me to take 120 mg once daily in the morning. No one else on this page seems to take all this in the morning. About 2 hours after taking it, I crash. I can't even keep my eyes open. Throughout the day I get really tired. Like I have no energy in my body. Towards the evening, about 6pm, I get really cold. I feel like I have to stretch all the time, especially in my legs and arms. Dry mouth, dizziness...I also have insomnia, since I do not take this medicine at night. Overall, the experience hasn't been that bad. I used to have visual and auditory hallucinations (I am bipolar/personality disorder/schizoaffective disorder). Now I do not have these symptoms at all. I am also taking Wellbutrin for mood and Desyrel for insomnia. Want to know if anyone recomends getting OFF this medicine before I get in over my head with symptoms. If you have any suggestions for a different medicine, please post it.

makes me sleepy.. getting off of it now after 1 1/2 yrs and have trouble sleeping (light sleeping) but its only been a few days. wonder how long the withdrawal will last. Will try to post again when withdrawal symptoms have diminished.

I have been taking Geodon for 2 wks. It has put out the fire of anxiety that has caused me nights of insomnia and depression. I was diagnosted with OCD and depression. I am thankful for the drug even though it does make me tired and I have weird dreams that I did not experience before taking geodon. I see that many testimonials are negative, but I am a positive one. Living with mental illness has been my life. I am now getting my life back from the constant worry and negative thoughts that run 100 mph in my head. I am now not in constant fear of the future. It has stabilized me.

I just switched from Geodon to Abilify last night...and my side effects were 1) incredible insomnia and mania (although the mania might have been caused by an excessive dose of lexapro)...i didn't sleep at all (literally) last night. and 2) sudden tic-like twitches, often involving more than one body part at once (e.g., leg and arm and head).