Ziprasidone and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Non...
• November 14, 2011

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Geodon for about a week now. The side effects I have experienced have been dreaming and waking up and having to decipher whether or not it was a dream or if I actually did the task I dreamt about. I have taken Seroquel, fluoxetine, Lexapro, Abilify, Klonopin, Ambien, Lunesta. Seroquel was the worst, I gained 30 lbs, and I'm an extremely active person and have been my entire life. All the other medicines either gave me horrible side effects or had no effect at all. I am now on lamotrigine, 4 mgs of Xanax a day, and Geodon. This 'cocktail' seems to be working."

• Ani...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 3, 2022

For Autism "I love this med, it works really well. I have been on 40 mg for, I think, 6 or 7 years now, and it works well. I feel less cluttered in my brain and see fewer figures. I also notice that my service dog is still on high alert for stuff I need help with but is able to rest more, with other issues helping me, but with episodes that are not as bad. I was off it for a while due to no way to get to the doctor at the time but am now back on it. Right now, I get super sleepy on it but know that will get better soon, it did before. I don't mind the sleepiness since I take mine before bed, after my husband goes to sleep and after my bath. It has been good because I have had major insomnia lately, so this side effect is helping me get on a better sleeping schedule. Not bad since I take it at times where I can wake up at a good time still."

• JBa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2021

For Schizophrenia "This medication was suggested on my son's GeneSight for his MDD with psychotic features. I just knew it was going to be a game changer until it took away his appetite. Food is necessary in order for the medication to work properly. He also couldn’t sleep on this med. No appetite and no sleep for a person struggling with MDD with psychotic features is a no-no. He was on Olanzapine at first, which took him out of psychosis, he slept great but did nothing for his auditory hallucinations. I will now try to find an all-natural appetite stimulant and something to help him sleep. They should probably add an antidepressant to his cocktail. Maybe that will help with the auditory hallucinations. This medication could be a 10 if the person keeps their appetite."

• Anonymous
• September 26, 2009

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking Geodon for about 2 years and still having depression. Doctor is getting me off slowly, can't sleep without it. Need a new cocktail. Lexapro and Wellbutrin XL have been working great for my depression."

• Chr...
• March 18, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I took Geodon for many years as a kid, from about 13-17 years old. My mood swings were gone. But it had truly awful side effects. If I didn't take it with food, I would fall asleep 30 minutes later and could not be woken up for anything for about two hours. I remember one time sitting on the bottom shelf at a clothing store, sleeping with my head in my hands and my elbows against my knees, thoroughly exhausted and completely unable to move. After that, I was impossible to sleep for at least 10 hours, which is horrible as a developing teenager. As an adult with randomly developed epilepsy, I now know that it was giving me seizures in my sleep, basically every night; horrible dreams of unspeakable fear, flashing lights, pulsing sounds, physical shock feelings. If I didn't take it at the same time every day, I got really bad withdrawal symptoms; unable to sleep, every light was painfully bright, every sound was ear-splitting, every texture felt like sandpaper, I couldn't think right."

• Mum...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 16, 2019

"I've been on ziprasidone for 4 years now for borderline personality disorder, and at first, I thought it was wonderful. Late last year, I developed an involuntary clenching of my jaw and teeth grinding, it's absolutely horrible, my whole face contorts. About 2 months ago, my psychiatrist said to stop taking it. I went downhill very fast, I suffered anxiety like I've never had before, and suffered a psychotic episode and became acutely unwell. I also fell asleep while driving, causing havoc. I was unable to get into my psychiatrist for two weeks and started taking Zeldox again. When I did see my psychiatrist once again, he said to stop the Zeldox as it was getting dangerous. That was 2 weeks ago, and I'm going through such a bad time trying to kick this drug. I was on 40 mg morning, 40 mg night, I have managed to get down to one a day. I'm very depressed, my thoughts are bad, I can't sleep at times, other times I cannot stay awake. My children had to move in with their dad. I've been unable to work and now in financial hardship."

• Jac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 7, 2022

Ziprasidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG: REALLY BAD INSOMNIA. This medicine helped with my symptoms, but it wasn't worth it. It made me feel like a zombie, it made me feel like, it rubbish got rid of my appetite and I lost 70 lbs in about 6 months, it took away all creativity and motivation I had. It made me severely depressed and anxious for a while, made me restless where I couldn't get comfortable, and worst of all was the chronic insomnia. That started with me waking up after three hours of sleep sometimes and not being able to fall back asleep, then turned into me laying awake for hours without even getting close to sleep. I started taking sleeping pills to sleep, and sometimes they wouldn't even work. And even when they did, they made you feel horrible the next day. I never felt sleepy. I know if I wouldn't have taken those sleep aids, I probably would never have slept. Stay away from this drug if you value sleeping."

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2014

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "Legs/ankles swell. Get more sleepless and agitated, jittery."