Ziprasidone and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2020

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "Been on it for a month, and my mood swings are smoother. I don't feel as manic. But it doesn't get rid of the anxiety or low moods. I don't feel as negative. I don't experience intrusive thoughts as much. I did gain a few pounds, and I do feel tired and weak."

• Dav...
• November 18, 2011

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I have bipolar disorder and have been on Geodon and Lamictal since 2006. Geodon was prescribed to help me with anger issues. I have mellowed out considerably. I have taken dosages ranging from 40-80 mg. I was told the 80 mg made me very lethargic. 60 mg worked with no problems. I am currently on 40 mg, and it is working great."

• Kee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 8, 2015

Ziprasidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "When I first started any medication, I was put on Depakote and Risperdal. However, the Risperdal made me gain 40 pounds in 2 months, so I had to get off of it. After that, I was put on Geodon for my delusional behaviors and auditory hallucinations. The Geodon helped but only barely scratched the surface. They added Abilify to the mix, and I was so unbelievably tired that I couldn't even walk a straight line, so they took me off the Abilify. I'm currently going back to the doctor in a couple of days to be put on something else. I've heard of other people getting a miracle out of Geodon, but it just didn't cut it for me."

• Ter...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2019

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I had to give up my Latuda, which works wonders, because my insurance wouldn’t pay for it. Geodon makes me beyond tired. I almost fell asleep at work a few times. So not worth this side effect. I’ll go on Seroquel. I’d rather have weight gain than not be able to work!!!!"

• Jes...
• August 3, 2015

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I take 80 mg of Geodon in the evening for bipolar I with psychotic features. It really helps to cut down the visual and auditory hallucinations, though it sometimes makes me pretty tired in the morning. Sometimes I have a hard time driving first thing in the morning. It is worth it to straighten out my mind."

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2010

Ziprasidone for Schizophrenia "Geodon has worked wonders on both my visual and auditory hallucinations. I have no side effects from it other than being a little tired from time to time. I'm taking 40 mg twice a day and have been on it for about a month and a half."

• Anonymous
• November 14, 2010

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "First started on 80 mg 2x a day. Could not stop sleeping. Doctor had to put me on temporary leave from work. Then went back to the doctor 1 wk later and he put me on 60 mg 2x a day. I'm tired all day, having panic attacks and just really want to stop taking it. I sure hope there is something out there that does not make me want to sleep all the time."

• Col...
• March 13, 2012

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "When I first began on Geodon, I was filled with anxiety. In fact, even though I was more or less covered for mania and depression, this was still the darkest period of my life. It went on for six months without getting better. Then I switched to Lamictal, which worked on my depression but left me 'high' all the time. Small amounts of Geodon countered that, which at these low levels mostly behaved itself. It still made me either insomniac or lethargic, depending on exactly what time of the evening I took it. I was anxious only a few hours in the late afternoon. Eventually, I've worked my way all the way back up to 120 mg a day, which has reduced my manic spells to zero. The goal now is to get off Lamictal again to improve my concentration."

• Jes...
• September 20, 2016

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I have very recently started taking this medicine. The doctor seemed very adamant that it would set me straight and make me super tired and sedate as well, potentially helping treat my somniphobia as well as the bipolar. The medication has made me so manic that I am having mixed bipolar episodes and seriously feel like jumping out of my own skin. While I appreciate not being so depressed that I'm laying on the floor crying my eyes out, I do not enjoy jittering and being so amped up that I start screaming every time something frustrates me. I am so manic that it is surreal. So much for Geodon helping me out XD."

• C11...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2020

Ziprasidone "I think perhaps I was prescribed this wrongly, as I had depression, not the other conditions it is meant for. But it was truly awful. It made me so incredibly tired that I had been walking down the hallway and falling asleep at the same time. I'm not easily affected by sedatives or medications that make you tired without blinking an eye. But this really put me out. I had taken it a very long time ago, about 6-8 years ago, I believe. I hope it's changed since then, and that it's no longer prescribed for depression by itself. I hope that it works better for others though. I had been in school at the time and couldn't stay awake in my classes because of it."

• Alw...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 27, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Geodon (Ziprasidone) 100 mg for 5 years to treat my Bipolar II. I also take an antidepressant. For me, Ziprasidone was highly effective in that it treated my depression, mood swings, and mania. Ziprasidone has kept me stable for the past 5 years and enabled me to keep several part-time jobs (I lost all of my full-time jobs due to my illness or wrong medications). However, I have just weaned off Ziprasidone over a one-month period (no problems). I finally had to give it up because of the constant tiredness and lack of motivation that it leaves me with. I wake up tired, it is hard to get out of bed every morning, and I have no motivation once I do so. Obviously, I cannot lie in bed because I must work. I have read on another column that Ziprasidone is extremely sedating. Well, this has been the experience with me. No other side effects, no weight gain, so it may be a good drug for you if you do not experience the sedation effect."

• Mon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I've currently taken 60 mg once a day for the past 4 months. So far, I haven't gained any weight, I actually lost 17 lbs. It does make me extremely tired within 3 hours of taking it, so I take it at night. I feel it stabilizes my mood and makes my life more manageable without making me feel like a zombie. My anxiety is still there, but not as bad as it used to be."

• All...
• September 19, 2021

Ziprasidone "Backstory: took Lexapro due to anxiety so bad I had to take FMLA for work. Was on it for 18 months and had gained 50 lbs. Tried to wean off Lexapro (probably too quickly) and start something else, and anxiety came back in full force. Went back up on Lexapro, and after 6 weeks, anxiety was still high. My NP prescribed Geodon, and I had little hope after reading scary reviews. 20 mg 2x a day. First day, tired and a little sluggish. After that, I noticed my thoughts were positive and I began to have motivation. I cleaned my car out, and I had wanted to do that for over a month. No dread, just did what needed to be done. Before, I would sleep as much as I could to check out of reality. Now, I just feel good and do what I need to without a second thought. I even got a gym membership to start working out and get this weight off. Appetite is less, which is a bonus for me. Only con so far is constipation, but Miralax is an easy remedy. Hope this helps someone have a glimmer of hope!!!"

• Ppr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I am taking ziprasidone 80 mg at night for my bipolar. At first, the drug made me feel extremely lethargic and sleepy when I would first take it, I could not get up from the bed or move until the next morning. The sedating effect goes away and gets better after a while. The drug makes me feel like I am very confident and gives me the will to take care of myself, whereas on previous olanzapine, I would not even brush my hair most days. The only bad part is the constant feeling of being mildly sick in my throat and sometimes my nose running. But it comes and goes and is not that annoying. Out of all the annoying medications I had to take, I would rate this one the highest so far. I actually feel like a person while on it."

• Anonymous
• March 7, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "This drug is the worst! I feel exhausted all day and can hardly keep my eyes open. My brain feels numb, and I feel emotionless. I’m hoping my doctor decreases this med for me because all I need is to sleep and zone out all day. Can’t clean, can hardly shower... have just enough energy to cook dinner because I have to eat with the pills (even though I’m never hungry)."

• Nov...
• September 22, 2016

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Although with side effects, this medication made my bipolar symptoms almost disappear. It works a little on my delusions. The side effects I have are tiredness, akathisia (internal restlessness), and muscle twitches. My hands especially tremble a lot. Overall, it's worth it to not be suicidal constantly."

• bee...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 1, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "This is the cornerstone of my treatment for bipolar. It has given me the most stability of any medicine I've tried. Since I started taking it in 2004, I've had the most stability I could possibly have. I was an ultra-rapid cycler, cycling up and down several times a day. This took away the cycles. I was able to get married, move to a new state, and have a great career. When I started it, I had a huge surge of energy and was manic at first. But it settled down. It makes me tired if I take too much at one time. And I can't take it before sex because it's a little tough on libido, although I can still have sex after I take it, it's just not as good. Diet Mountain Dew can cause tardive dyskinesia with this. Brominated veg oil."

• lkb...
• February 18, 2009

Ziprasidone "Geodon has been working but not without its side effects. I have been on it for over 2 weeks now and having issues. Get very tired during the day but up at night. Have the shakes, my eyes blink a lot. My anxiety is up, and I cannot take my Xanax, even 0.25 mg makes me very sleepy. It does help stabilize mood, but I also do not have a thyroid, so my system is very sensitive to side effects."

• Kie...
• July 11, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I've taken it for only 3 days and a half. It has a positive effect for my bipolar. The 1st day I was so scared and wanted to give up because of drowsiness and tiredness, nightmares (40 mg morning and 40 mg afternoon). But after I cut the dose down (40 mg/night only), everything's gone good. I've got feelings of happiness which I've lost for a long time!!! I think it works for depression combined with bipolar. But the problem is that it makes it difficult to feel asleep. I couldn't sleep early, I woke up until 2 am!!! I'm looking to see my doctor soon."

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2015

"I just recently started on this medicine for hallucinations, etc. It has caused several things. One: I'm tired all the time. Two: sleep for about 14 hours a day. Three: muscles hurt, and so on. I don't know what to do, I was previously on Risperidone and gained over 50 lbs. Not happy at all with my life as of right now."

• Del...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2021

"I was prescribed this for delusional disorder. I'm a very active and social person, and ziprasidone made me a zombie in three months. I normally love life and wake up every morning at 6 a.m. to do my daily workout. Ziprasidone made me first very anxious, and then I lost interest in anything in my life. I didn't want to work, socialize, or do any sports. All I wanted to do was sleep. Ziprasidone also messed up my sleep rhythm since I couldn't fall asleep before 1-2 a.m. and was very tired when trying to wake up at 6 a.m. Even when I slept longer, I was just overall very tired and lethargic, having absolutely no interest in doing anything at all, which is not normal for me. I changed to this medication since other antipsychotics have made me gain weight. I can see why ziprasidone doesn't do that since I felt sick even when thinking of food. I normally love cooking, but I didn't feel like eating at all. Clearly not a suitable medication for me. I almost lost my job because I had no motivation at all, and I just couldn't concentrate."

• Del...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2021

"I was prescribed this for delusional disorder. I'm a very active and social person, and ziprasidone made me a zombie in three months. I normally love life and wake up every morning at 6 a.m. to do my daily workout. Ziprasidone made me first very anxious, and then I lost interest in anything in my life. I didn't want to work, socialize, or do any sports. All I wanted to do was sleep. Ziprasidone also messed up my sleep rhythm since I couldn't fall asleep before 1-2 a.m. and was very tired when trying to wake up at 6 a.m. Even when I slept longer, I was just overall very tired and lethargic, having absolutely no interest in doing anything at all, which is not normal for me. I changed to this medication since other antipsychotics have made me gain weight. I can see why ziprasidone doesn't do that since I felt sick even when thinking of food. I normally love cooking, but I didn't feel like eating at all. Clearly not a suitable medication for me. I almost lost my job because I had no motivation at all, and I just couldn't concentrate."

• drw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2021

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I was on Geodon for only a short time. It made me so tired I couldn't wake up."

• Mat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2021

Ziprasidone for Autism "It significantly improved my feelings of rage, but I only lasted 3 weeks on it as it made me so tired I was falling asleep at uni, eating, talking, etc. all day long."