Geodon for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• Brian
• June 21, 2019

"I started Geodon a few months ago. I like it much better than Abilify which I was previously on. Prior to Geodon I was waking up at 3:00 am 3-4 nights per week. Since I have been on Geodon I consistently sleep through the night. Geodon is a great adjunct to Lithium. They together really quell my Mania. Overall Geodon is a great medication in my opinion."

• Netty...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 31, 2021

"Worse experience ever. I was on it for about 3 years. Gained over 100 pounds and was so out of it couldn’t even figure out that it was this medication that was doing it. Missed out on those years of my kids life and still paying for it. Stay away from this medication"

• Bipol...
• September 16, 2014

"I have only been on Geodon a few days and I can't tolerate it. I feel intoxicated, can't type very well, and am already having some involuntary movements in my face. I am not taking it tonight and will see my doctor tomorrow and request something else."

• Ramet...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 18, 2016

"Geodon changed my life. The first thing that happened was it was VERY sedating. Within an hour of taking it I was asleep so deeply that I could not be woken up no matter what happened. You could yell, shake me, nothing would wake me. I did not wake up groggy though and within 3 days my mind no longer raced and I started thinking clearly. As time went on the sedating effect lessened though it took a really long time. While I'm on it my brain just isn't mean to me and I sleep like a normal person. Tough to start as you need someone who can be with you in case there is an emergency because you will not be able to wake up or move for hours but it works. I wouldn't trade it for the world."

• BandB...
• November 29, 2008

"After my first major breakdown in which I was diagnosedd, I spent a year trying different medicines. I felt like a new (or like my old) self within a couple days, on this miracle drug. My dosages have varied depending on the other medicines (antidepressants and ADD medicines) I'm on. The only major side effect I've had that never went away (been on it for 7 years) was the sedation in the morn ing (I took my whole dose in evening). Now I take 20mgs 3x/day and 40mgs at bedtime, then 20mgs when required for anxiety. Right now I also take Wellbutrin XL and I'm titrating up on Abilify due to breakthrough depression. Geodon helps both mania and depression and I found it to be very weight neutral."

• Mary
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 15, 2019

"I took Geodon for one year. While this drug did increase my motivation to exercise, I felt the side effects were too negative to continue using. It ruined my personality for some reason and interfered with my ability to make quick, witty jokes like I am normally able to do when not taking this med. For that reason, I did not like it because it turned me into a robotic, unemotional Stepford wife or something. It gave me such severe anxiety that I had frequent panic attacks and had to be treated with an anti-anxiety med to counteract the negative side effects of the Geodon. It made me have to frequently urinate or feel like I had to go at least every 20 minutes. If you want to flatline your personality, have severely agitated anxiety, and spend your life in the bathroom, take this drug."

• Desti...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2021

"This is by far the worst medication I have ever taken for my bipolar. I would give this a zero if I could. I didn’t feel terrible at first but I noticed some mild paranoia and anxiety. I ignored it though because I was actually more motivated and able to get more things done and I was finally losing weight. I desperately wanted this med to work. The doctor increased my dose and things got bad very quickly. I was having intense delusions, the worst I’ve ever had. They were so bad that I would just start crying because I was so scared. The brain fog, memory problems, and dissociation on this medication are awful as well. I feel so out of it all the time and I even went the the ER because it felt like I had been drugged. My head constantly feels funny. I’m dizzy and lightheaded. My vision is blurry. Currently switching to a different med and dealing with awful withdrawal. Hopefully the side effects go away soon. Please take caution with this medication"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 1, 2023

"I was on Geodon for 20 years which it turns out wasn’t necessary at all. I had so many side effects, I was taking 11 medications to treat them. NONE of my Drs. attributed my symptoms to the Geodon unfortunately until one of my side effects was so bad that my Neurologist finally said I either had Parkinson’s or it was the Geodon. I tapered off the Geodon and all my 20 years of medical symptoms disappeared. Everything that was wrong with me medically was caused by the Geodon. The worst was permanent brain damage that resulted in permanent tardive dyskinesia, that appeared after I stopped using the drug. My Psychiatrists NEVER warned me of this possibility. Mentally I am 100% normal for the first time in 20 years as well. My Psychiatrist should have stopped this drug after a short period to reevaluate its necessity and warned me of the risks of long term use. This drug ruined 20 years of my life and I blame all my Drs. for allowing this to happen."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2012

"I was only taking Geodon for 3 weeks (tapered up to 60mg), and one evening I was sitting in front of my computer and experienced the worst panic attack of my life (also my first panic attack). I was admitted to the ER that day. I felt like I was about to have a drug induced psychosis. My pdoc instructed me to stop taking it immediately. The withdrawal was an absolute nightmare. I experienced over 30 different symptoms (anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, paranoia, nausea, crawling skin, heart palpitations, chills, & tingling just to name a few). It has been almost 2 months and I am still struggling with anxiety. "

• GreenKt
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2015

"I'm 28 with Bipolar 1 Disorder with psychotic features, and I switched from Abilify to Geodon a couple months ago. I immediately loved it. I had more productive energy than I'd had in YEARS, but nothing verging on mania, anxiety, or restlessness. It helped both with psychotic symptoms completely, and even Bipolar depression - always the hardest to treat. I was happy, energetic, and more focused, and experienced no sedation. Unfortunately I have a history of minor heart problems--related to past meds and over-exercise in the past--and they were triggered. Tachycardia and it's symptoms, which all stopped as soon as I stopped Geodon. If I didn't have pre-existing heart problems, I would have loved to stay on it."

• mikrw
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2015

"I switched recently to this medicine from Latuda due to akathisia and lack of effectiveness. It has work wonders on my mood. It has paired up with Zoloft to make a solid team of an antidepressant/mood stabilizer combination. I feel like I can do much more now, my sociability has increased, even my anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder have been helped by it! My experience on this medicine has been better overall in the past month I've been on it than the two years I was on Latuda. The only negative side effect so far is sexual side effects."

• elpjo...
• August 6, 2007

"I've been on Geodon for over a year now, I take 20mg in the am and 160mg in the pm.I have Bipolar (mixed).Geodon has literally saved my life and the side effects for me have been minimal.I also take wellbutrin and I was taking seroquel as well but that lowered my blood pressure too much and I fainted a couple of times.Geodon is a very good drug in my opinion but you need to be monitored closely by your psychiatrist while taking this medication.Geodon is the most effective drug I have ever taken."

• Myste...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 31, 2021

"Geodon causes horrible nausea and working memory problems. I can't remember what I'm supposed to be doing at work sometimes. I go into a rooma and forget why I'm there. I had to switch to one dose in the morning (I work at night) because taking two doses a day just made me too sleepy. Truthfully, this is the best antipsychotic I've been on (I don't like antipsychotics period). At least it doesn't cause weight gain. Risperidone made me a zombie, Latuda didn't work, Abilify gave me insomnia and Seroquel made me suicidal."

• jessi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 21, 2015

"I've had a good experience with Geodon. It has controlled my mania and I have 0 side effects. I started at 40mg. which was not doing anything and then switched doctors and am now at 120 mg. 40mg in the day and 80mg. at night. It's truly been a blessing. I also take Zoloft for depression and anxiety. Together they work well for me. My 8 year old son has just been diagnosed with bi polar and he has just started on Geodon. In the beginning, he was very drowsy, but in a matter of days, his hyperactivity, non-stop pressured speech, risky behavior and emotional meltdowns and temper tantrums have all but disappeared! We all thought he had ADHD, but so far, no more ADHD meds, just Zoloft and Geodon, and he's doing well!"

• PAULi...
• December 26, 2009

"Geodon at 80mg makes me dazed, confused and dumb as a rock. I lost my job due to it (forgetfulness, can't concentrate). For Bipolar II and me, it's not a drug for me, but when I complain to the doctor that I want to come off Geodon, he increases it! I am in the process of changing doctors, but in the meantime, I am hostile and negative to the world, especially my partner.... not good! "

• liberty
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2014

"Geodon has been great for me. It balances out my moods. I'm weaning down off Lamictal because it just didn't do the trick. Geodon makes me feel more "smooth" I guess, not apathetic, but just my overall mood is on an even keel, without taking away from the creativity I like to display."

• Rache...
• November 19, 2014

"I've been taking Geodon for about four weeks. Before that I was on Quetiapine which works well but gave me horrible weight gain (their paper says 10 pounds a year average and I gained 23 in 6 week! Still eating well too!) I have had minor side effects. When I first take it, it affects my concentration. I have a hard time driving and specifically moving things like looking at the road make me sleepy. If I'm not driving (or looking at the road specifically) my tiredness seems to be much better. I have had some short term memory problems especially if I'm stressed at the same time. Other than that this med has worked well for me and is keeping my weight down. Now I just have to exercise off the 23 pound belly and thighs the quetiapine gave me."

• early
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 25, 2016

"Mania and especially mixed mania are the problem. Geodon is my solution. I took myself off because of mouth moves. Bad move? Almost divorced. I can tell when I am manic because I have ideas and insights. Example: the graph of user ratings for geodon treatment of bipolar is itself bipolar. I was doing 3x80mg when the moves started. Back to 1x80 now. Will report back. p.s. great site. I've been here many times but my first post. Thought I should contribute."

• Sandi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2012

"I'm on 60mg twice a day. I have been on Geodon for about 2 weeks. I am 42 and just diagnosed mixed mood bi-polar. This medicine has done nothing to my mood but make it worse. I'm about ready to bite people's heads off. I am extremely agitated, with thoughts of rage running through my head more than not. I also sweat more, and am paranoid a lot. I want to give it some time, but don't know how long I can take these feelings."

• RJano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2020

"At first taking Geodon it was great, felt alive for the first time in so, so many years it was for my major depression disorder. Then after three weeks of taking it, it stopped working. Now increasing to 40 mg daily. I’m hoping that works but kinda nervous it’s not going to. Just my experience for taking it for 3 going on 4 weeks. The side effects I had were nausea, lack of appetite, shaking and some vision issues. Side effects seem to be subsiding."

• caw...
• January 15, 2017

"All I can say is that for the first time in my life, I feel like I can take care of myself. I owe this completely to this drug. No more manic episodes. Everything has sort of evened out for me. It's wonderful and I cannot be without and will freak out if I ever have to! Oh and I'm on 20mg twice a day. So far, no side affects other than a small twitch in my face. That sort of thing can easily be counteracted with additional medicines, though. It is very expensive, but it is completely worth it."

• espre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2016

"I was on this for several months and had great experiences with it. It made all the weird little hallucinations go away, caused me to effortlessly drop all of the risperdal weight (60lbs!), and just generally really helped stabilize my mood, combined with the xanax and Depakote. Unfortunately, it's about $300 a bottle on my insurance (generic)."

• Cleo
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 14, 2015

"This medication turned me into a zombie. I was so tired and unmotivated all the time. I decided I wanted off of this poison and had to taper so slow because I got bad withdrawls in the smallest dose changes. I even went down to 10mg by empting out half the capsule. When I went to zero I ended up in the emergency room with severe dehydration from the vomiting and diareah caused by the withdrawls and I was unable to care for myself or my daughter for about two weeks, I thought my body was giving up it's will to live. I have quit dilaudid cold turkey with minimal discomfort so it's not like I can't handle discomfort but quitting geodon was terrible and from now on I will be doing more research on each medication I put in my body."

• pyrof...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 6, 2013

"Other then feeling numb on geodon (partly I think my antidepressant too) I love it. I've been on geodon for a little over a year. Honestly I'll probably die taking this drug. It has saved me and brought me back to reality, after a mania-induced psychosis a year and a half ago. I'm almost never paranoid anymore, I can function in my day to day life, I am stable. I've even been able to cut down dramatically on how much I take."

• Me an...
• September 20, 2013

"I have a 10 yr old daughter ( Bi Polar, Anxiety and ADHD ) who has been taking Geodon for about two months and it's been working great! I think the most important thing to remember is to go slow. 20mg for a couple weeks then 40mg for a couple weeks and so on and so forth. It does make you tired at 1st but it wears off after a while. My Daughter was 1st on Risperdal for a couple years starting at age 6 but it stopped working well and she was gaining a lot of weight. Then we eased her into Abilify and she was on it for 2 years and still was gaining to much weight. I don't think the Abilify ever worked that effectively and she was just getting out of control."