Geodon for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Jilly...
• November 15, 2016

"My Dr. switched me from Risperidone to Geodon because of weight gain. I had taken Geodon back in 2002 and didn't have any side effects that I can recall. However this time it was a nightmare. As soon as I started taking it I felt sick. The side effects I experienced: Sore throat, cough, sore throat glands, restlessness, acid indigestion, heartburn, belching, depression, rash on my neck, loss of appetite, back pain, joint pain, flatulence, hot flashes, insomnia, unable to stay asleep, exhausted. I was on it for 2 1/2 weeks. My Dr. told me to stop cold turkey. The withdrawal was hell. I was dizzy for a week, hot flashes, chills, shaking, nauseous, vomiting, terrible spasms in my thighs. It took about 8 days for me to feel better."

• Dirty...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2013

"Geodon made me a zombie. I cried a lot more, I could barely drive. My eyes were half shut. I took it with lots of fatty foods as ordered. I couldn't speak coherently. Seroquel caused blackouts and rage, Zyprexa made me gain 45lb and caused akasthesia. "

• one...
• October 9, 2009

"Just came off Lithium and Lamictal combo. I needed a change plus having surgery, have pain medication needs that can't be addressed with a drug like Lithium. Loving the Geodon so far. Energetic and "lifted," sleeping like a baby. I hope it lasts."

• Anonymous
• July 29, 2010

"My experiment under my doctors orders for bipolar depression has been working for me now for about 3 years and I have found it to work great for me. I have been diagnosed with chronic depression for over 16 years now and I have tried everything out there but with Lamictal and Geodon along with gabapentin and Xanax I have finally found the right combination. Without the gabapentin I have found that I can't get moving without it. It really works for me. I am bipolar and have been all my life. Being depressed has affected every part of my life and I mean every aspect. I feel that bipolar is highly underrated. It is debilitating and causes you to make so many wrong choices in life but I have been fortunate to find my husband."

• bernie
• February 6, 2020

"I’ve been on this med Geodon for about a year for bipolar and bpd. I am on a dose of 160 mg and I take it all at night. I still have mania symptoms but the only symptom I have is not sleeping. A couple of weeks ago I was up for 60 hours non stop and this past week I've been getting 3-4 hours of sleep and have felt fully energized. The first time I took this medication I slept from 8pm to 5pm and was groggy for the 4 hours. I was awake before I went back to bed. I haven’t been tired because of it since, though. I also developed an acute dystonic reaction called an “oculogyric crisis” because of this med. I am on amandatine to stop it. This med has been a game changer for me despite this. I don’t get severely depressed anymore and my depressive episodes would be really terrible and my manic episodes would always end me up in the hospital because I'd go on a bender and overdose or I'd be up for days and be extremely irritable and cranky."

• Bh216
• December 17, 2016

"I have been taking Geodon for 2 weeks yesterday 20mg x 2. And this is my first day on 40mg x 2 . So far I can't tell if in manic or getting better. I'm getting a lot more done and feels like manic. I don't mind. But you hope it lasts I have been in a ....dark?... depression for almost 3 years ( and had 2 children), so now I'm just happy to be motivated to do anything at all. I'm really happy "

• Gone...
• April 22, 2017

"Possibly the worst mental med I've ever taken, & I've taken many over the years. It gave me an intense derealization side effect (only time I've experienced this, & it was unsettling as hell), and truly horrible, constant gas (as in, so bad I couldn't be in public)! Those who were brave enough to hold their breath & be around me told me that my affect was pretty flat as well. So basically it made me freaked out, flat, & repulsive all at the same time: thumbs down."

• This...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2015

"I took Geodon alongside lexapro. I have already taken lexapro for this past year and never had a dystonic reaction. However, when my nurse practitioner introduced geodon I went into dystonia . Dystonia is when your body begins to contort on itself involuntarily. I could literally feel my neck twisting on itself trying to snap. Thankfully i was cured with benadryl, and the dystonia was not permanent. If you want to try this med, keep a supply of benadryl to stop a dystonic reaction and call an ambulance right away. Even more, this is not the only medication that can cause dystonia. Several others can to - like risperidone, halodol , and abilify. When they are combined with an anti depressant they can increase the risk of dystonia.goodluck"

• Leese
• July 30, 2013

"This is the only medicine that I have taken without any side effects! I love it! After the initial 2 week period of sleepiness it wears off and does what it's supposed. I do miss my mania no lie but I know that it wasn't good for me but it takes most of my depression down and I can enjoy my life. I've been on Lamictal which did nothing for me except give me horrid night terrors, Risperdal made me lactate, and Seroquel gave me frequent urination. I was so happy after struggling with my insurance that they put me back on the Geodon. Been on it for 2 months."

• Rache...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 24, 2021

"I was on Geodon for at least 12 years and then developed a gait disturbance. I got off the Geodon and it went away. I was off Geodon for 6 years. Now I am in a manic state. Was prescribed 20mg generic Geodon and after 1 dose I feel SO much better!"

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2020

"Geodon is a very fickle drug. Make sure to take it with food (500 calories). Sometimes it sedates you and sometimes it doesn't. I found to avoid eating beef and hot liquids with the medication especially hot coffee. I take 40mg twice a day. Otherwise it works very well at smoothing out the peaks of mania and mixed states. Doesn't do much for depression or Anhedonia. I wonder if in a way it causes the Anhedonia by preventing excitation. It doesn't mess with cognition though and makes you feel like you're not taking a med. And I didn't gain any weight on it too!"

• tripp
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2013

"Horrible! I have done nothing but sleep... I was on 40mg for a few days, I have quit taking it. After 3 days I have literally gained 2 lbs.. I never gain weight, I have been the same weight for the last 5 years.. This is medicine might help some people, but not me."

• bipol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2021

"I had a bad experience with this, it didn't really help it just made me tired. Annoying to take with food. Made me groggy in the morning I'm so frustrated I feel like no meds work and the ones that do give me side effects."

• iluzz...
• October 30, 2007

"I was switched from Seroquel to Geodon (Bipolar 1 Disorder) for about 1 1/2 months. My feelings of "crawling the walls", restlessness, sleeplessness, and a general feeling that Geodon was not working like my old Seroquel returned in less than 2 weeks. After the 1 1/2 months, I called my doctor back and requested to be switched back to my Seroquel and life feels back to normal (as normal as it gets) with the combination of Seroquel and Invega. Thank God for the meds. I can begin to live again!"

• deadp...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 12, 2022

"I've been on this medication for almost seven years and actually have Major Depressive Disorder. If you don't have Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia, STAY AWAY from this medication. It has severely ruined my quality of life. I've been on the highest dose possible, and am almost off of it completely. The involuntary facial movements, weight gain, withdrawals from missing a dose by 30 minutes to an hour, paranoia, passing out at jobs from feeling so sedated and drugged out - all of it, and more, are NOT worth it. I don't think I'll ever recover from this medication. STAY AWAY ! Don't let your pill pusher psychiatrist suggest it to you if you have Depression, Anxiety, BPD, basically anything but Bipolar and Schizophrenia. If you're in recovery from an Eating Disorder, STAY AWAY ! I haven't been myself for the past 6 1/2 years. I don't even know who I am anymore. The withdrawals are so deadly. Please don't put yourself through this. This medication has been pulled off the market by the FDA multiple times. Stay safe x"

• Grace
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 10, 2020

"I've had a very similar experience to the last post. Began taking Geodon for Bipolar disorder 1 and felt cured, energetic, happy. My depression was gone, as was my anxiety and I had much better work ethic. Fast forward a few weeks and the effects are subsiding. I upped my dose to 60mg but it's still not the same as initially. I've had some pretty low points. I'm hoping it still works to prevent manic episodes despite not having the antidepressant effects any longer. Considering switching to latuda, or adding an SSRI/SNRI to the mix."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2019

"Ziprasidone made me feel like a zombie. It made me really tired all day. I had a hard time waking up and carrying out my daily activities. I am not sure whether it helped me with controlling mania. Also, it made my vision really blurry and dry. I had a hard time seeing things literally."

• Serenaa
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2013

"Ive only been taking it for 3 DAYS. Gave me every side effect in the book. I'm currently up all night its 3:14 and I have to be at school at 8. Also, I have been nonstop shaking and have devoured four whole bags of chips. This medicine is NOT good. Not for bipolar at least"

• CM31
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2017

"When I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder my doctor prescribed Geodon at 40mg once daily to help with my mixed episodes. I immediately felt the effect of the drug. I had Insomnia. I was hallucinating, I would here voices at night. I was aggitated and yelling at my husband and children for no real reason. My mixed episodes got much worse. I quit taking it after 4 days of absolute hell. I know everyone reacts differently the these drugs but my experience was awful."

• FSE
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 9, 2017

"I guess drugs really do affect people differently. I have nothing but good things to say about Geodon. I've been on it for a year and a half and my mania has only revealed itself twice since, but didn't last as long. It has also helped with my anxiety. The only thing I wish it helped more of is my depression. I am not as depressed as I used to get, but it's still there. And I really don't laugh a lot on it. But as far as treating my bipolar episodes, it's a great drug. I have had no side effects with it."

• April...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 18, 2017

"This causes crazy weight gain. I was 120 now 177 pounds... yup! Other than that it works I take 80mg before bed every night but the craving at night for food will get the best of you. It took not long to gain weight now it's taking forever to lose it. But I'm still happy with this drug. Better then haldol and seroquel :)"

• Jaspa
• November 12, 2009

"I have taken so many different a typical antipsychotics, and became worried I would never find the right one. I was diagnosed bipolar although I believe I may be schizoaffective instead, due to the classification guidelines I have read. But this medicine is amazing. I gave it a P because the only negative effect I have experienced was sleepiness but Adderall or Provigil fixes that and I have become so much more willing to do things and have fun with life rather than just be in a negative mood all the time, or become agitated with people."

• Marvin
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 9, 2014

"I have been taking Geodon for about 10 months now and unfortunately it has given me erectile dysfunction. I started to reduce the dosage in order to stop but not taking it affects my mood tremendously. Without it I feel hopeless, I cry a lot and it is difficult for me to get out of bed. However, I can't risk it affecting my sexual well-being (I sincerely hope it's not too late!) So I guess Geodon did not help me and my bipolar disorder."

• hunne...
• February 17, 2010

"I have been taking this medication for 2 months. I am so unbearably tired. It has affected my quality of life. I called my doctor today and am waiting on a call back. She HAS to change my meds. I can't tolerate the point of exhaustion. I can't even make it through a grocery store without feeling the uncontrollable need to sleep. My husband is fed up with me right now due to this, but it is not something I can help as long as I take it. If it wasn't for that it would be a miracle drug. I have felt better besides that."

• Anonymous
• March 3, 2009

"I have been on Geodon for approximately 2 years and have found it to be very effective. The only side effects I have experienced are significant sleepiness in the morning and muscle twitches and stiffness. My doctor prescribed Provigil to get rid of the morning zombie and it works great too."