Ziprasidone and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 2)

• tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2013

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "Horrible! I have done nothing but sleep. I was on 40 mg 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 medicine might help some people, but not me."

• hea...
• January 19, 2012

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I have only been taking this medicine for a few days to replace Seroquel, and I feel good but very jittery at 80 mg PM. I gained a lot of weight on Seroquel, and my blood tests were not good. My doctor said for some people Geodon is 'activating' at this dose, and he raised it 20 more mg and said maybe I would feel calmer. I have read reviews of people getting sleepy - I hope I get sleepier! I have a great doctor - that also makes a difference!"

• 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!!!!"

• the...
• May 11, 2009

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I have found that Geodon has been the best medication, after trying so many different ones. It is helping me to lose weight as well, which is a plus because they tried me on Risperdal, and I gained 30 pounds."

• vik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2021

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I'm 62, and many years ago I was given Geodon, but I only took it for a week (and it was amazing how it helped my depression), but I stopped because I've always struggled with my weight. Anyhow, 10 years later, I'm asking for it in desperation since everything else has not worked very well for so long. My doctor prescribed it just the other day: 20 mg twice a day. I'm already feeling better, and I don't care if I gain weight this time. However, my doctor told me to eat at least a half banana, if not a meal, close to the time I take it. He also prescribed me a drug called Topamate to help with the weight gain. I haven't taken any of that as yet because I'm concerned about the reviews I've seen. But I most likely will try it for a month."

• Kel...
• November 5, 2017

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I started Geodon with Celexa nine years ago. It worked amazingly for the first couple of years. But then I started getting physical side effects. I began to have tics on my face, and I gained a total of 60 pounds on this med. My vision became poor, and I needed glasses. I became numb to my feelings. I started to wake up at night half asleep, eating and doing really weird things. I tapered off over a few months because stopping cold turkey causes me extreme mental withdrawal. I was off it for a year and couldn't handle the depression, anxiety, and mood swings anymore. I recently went back on a week ago, and already my vision is blurry, I'm sleepwalking, and I've gained two pounds. It does wonders for me mentally, but I can't handle the side effects."

• mus...
• October 29, 2020

For Schizophrenia "Ziprasidone has been a slight game changer for me. Although the game is still the same, it's been able to level the playing field a bit and make things seem a lot easier. It doesn't feel like I'm taking a serious drug, it just feels like I'm taking something mild that takes the edge off. My psychotic episodes are more manageable, and life is getting better. I've gained weight, but I needed to gain weight anyway. I was underweight and taking Adderall every day to now gaining weight and feeling more normal and just taking Ziprasidone (80 mg/day). It's a mild drug that if you give a chance can really help things feel better."

• liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 23, 2023

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "So far, this is the best antipsychotic I have been on. I have bipolar II and ADD. I tried Latuda, and it gave me horrible akathisia and threw me into a mixed episode. Next, Vraylar, which I liked in some ways, but I was always spending too much money on it, tired, weight gain. Abilify was just awful irritability and immediate weight gain. Geodon takes out the irritability that plagues me. I seem to definitely have less depression, and that is what I was going for since lithium does not help with my depression. I do notice it wears off a couple of hours before my next dose, and I'll feel a bit depressed. I might need to take a dose twice a day. Unsure about weight gain. The doctor started me on progesterone the same week, which I have already gone off of because I am pretty sure it was causing weight gain, bloating, and a lot of other bad side effects. So far, I am only on 20 mg per day, and I don't know if I will be going up or not. I always feel a little funny right after taking it, but then I am fine."

• Abs...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 22, 2018

For Schizophrenia "I have been taking ziprasidone for a year and a half now. Previously, I have taken risperidone for a number of years, but it caused a lot of weight gain and worked very well for my symptoms of schizophrenia. Later, I took Loxapine for about 3 years, but that too didn't help me with my weight concerns even though it worked well for my symptoms. I tried aripiprazole for a while, but it didn't help with my weight, nor did it help with my symptoms. Finally, I took ziprasidone. It has worked well for my symptoms just like risperidone and Loxapine, but it has also helped me get back to my normal weight which I had before taking any medications. So, naturally, I am very happy for the existence of this wonderful drug."

• Kyl...
• August 24, 2016

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I went on this drug because I was gaining too much weight on Zyprexa. I've lost some weight so far, but literally feel like shit every day. Feel sick to my stomach and can barely keep my eyes open throughout the day. If I forget to take it, I can't fall asleep, and I've never had that problem with other meds."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2020

For Schizophrenia "This medicine, ziprasidone, did nothing to stop racing thoughts. Doctor suggested increasing to max therapeutic dose, so I did. Gave me terrible akathisia, did not want to be alive on this medicine. Thank goodness I had some Ativan, or I might not be here. Made me gain 50 pounds as well. Wouldn't matter to me if it actually treated what doctor said it would. This is no good."

• Big...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2016

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I have been bipolar since the age of 21. I'm now 28. Was put on Zyprexa for 6 years. Changed this med because I was gaining too much weight. I'm now 3 and a half months on Geodon in combination with Zoloft. All I can say is this medication sucks, it makes me more manic than ever. My doc wants me to try lithium. I hope I'll get better results. Been sleeping 3 hours at night for weeks. This was the worst medication I have ever been on, and I have only been on Zyprexa. I started on 80 mg, now I'm on 120 mg. Don't recommend, don't try this drug!!!"

• jer...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2016

Ziprasidone for Schizophrenia "Been on it for nearly 2 months now, and I always take it at a time when I have a meal for the best effect. No relapse. I do not gain psychosis when having Geodon. And I do not gain weight on it or feel too extremely hungry when having this. But I've got the same problem that actually occurs with those who have ADHD. Among the problems is lower memory and shutting down things that happen at the same time. Has someone else experienced problems that remind them of ADHD on Geodon? And my dreams at night are not always something to be proud of or try to impress with. I have very sick dreams on Geodon. But it feels like I can be myself on it and still be the person who I really am. Geodon got 7 of 10. Still good. This is my experience on Geodon."

• m89...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 1, 2020

Ziprasidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "Geodon made me gain 40 pounds, caused my esophagus to tighten where swallowing was difficult and gagging to drink, caused severe hand tremors. It stopped manic episodes and hallucinations but not depression, made me very fatigued and feel out of it/drunk most of the time."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2019

Ziprasidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "Started Geodon after a bad reaction to Latuda. EXTREME WEIGHT GAIN!!!! Gained 15 lbs in 2 weeks! So sad because it helped my voices, but I think something is wrong with my kidneys now. I am not peeing well and have horrible anxiety! Use with caution!!!"

• HDa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I started having mania even with the other medications, so ziprasidone was prescribed to me to see if it would help. Well, the first couple of days I took it during the day - big mistake as I passed out for a couple of hours both days. However, when I started taking it at night, things got way different. For two weeks, I felt like I was on a major happy high all the time. It was awesome. Quite frankly, I didn't want it to end. I'm a month into it now, and I am feeling normal again. No weight gain, no highs/lows/anger, just nice, even feelings."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2018

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "Geodon worked really well in treating my psychosis, but I experienced too many of the side effects. I gained 25 lbs in a month. My normal headaches turned into migraines, and I had the stuffy nose thing nonstop. I wish I would have been able to continue taking it, it helped more than any of the other meds."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Ziprasidone (antipsychotic) is the best medication that happened to me. All hallucinations are gone, haven't really gained weight. The only negative side effects are that I feel the need to be moving constantly (could be my ADHD), and I get knocked out within 3 hours of taking the high dose (60 mg) at night. But if I time it right, I can fall asleep at the right time. Caffeine does not reverse the sedation, by the way. I recommend having peanut butter with this. But otherwise, it has been amazing, the positives outweigh the negatives."

• imf...
• July 10, 2017

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I took this. It was great for sleeping, helped me less manic. I started gaining too much weight, so I decided not to take it for a couple of days. I lost 5 pounds, so I'm trying to switch to something else."

• Kit...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 27, 2023

"My doctor started me on this medication, and I have started gaining weight, hallucinating, and paranoia, which is debilitating. I only have ADHD, so I’m not sure why he added this medication. At first, I just slept all the time, but as the two doses a day started, I experienced not normal mental behaviors."

• Hos...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 11, 2022

Ziprasidone for Bipolar Disorder "I was on this medication and tapered off under doctor’s care, over about 4 months. It was the best decision I made. This medicine causes weight gain, breast cancer, uncontrollable bleeding from your rear end and nose, vision problems, tardive dyskinesia (side effect from coming off a medication like this). I will never take this or any other medication again."

• Anonymous
• March 22, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "First of all, I hate when doctors lie. I was told no weight gain with this med, and I gained 4 pounds the first month. I only took the lowest dosage at night. I noticed after three weeks my weight gain, dizziness, blurred vision, the base of my tongue seemed swollen, visual hallucinations, and a dry mouth. I also became unusually depressed. I was trying to help myself because of anger outbursts. This was a terrible experience."

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

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Medication took much trial and error, but ziprasidone really works for me. It doesn't completely make my symptoms go away, but they are relieved enough that I can function properly. It's an effective mood stabilizer at 160 mg/day, and I can always feel it doing its job when I think I'm going into another episode. I have no akathisia, no weight gain, no anhedonia, no sleepiness like other antipsychotics. My only complaint is that it's short-acting, and you will have to take it twice a day."

• Ron...
• December 27, 2020

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Gained over one hundred pounds, lost interest in everything I held dear, felt consistently like I was intoxicated to a small degree. Would stand at my work station and cry for no reason. Mood swings were worse than ever. Snapped at people over jokes I normally would've shrugged off because I was hours late on my dosage. Libido non-existent. Almost chemically castrated. Had weight gain, worsened symptoms, loss of appetite that often concluded in binge-eating, episode of tardive dyskinesia, hospitalized twice while on the medication. All discussed with my psych. Withdrawals were enough to want to quit and be afraid of it. Nothing in my life has been worse than missing a dose of Geodon. Nothing in this world that will convince me to try another medication. The only good part was that my incredibly mild, almost completely unobtrusive schizophrenia was even harder to notice. Still wasn't gone."