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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Collete on October 11, 2001, at 4:10:58
I realize that my overnight success with Zyprexa was unusual and that I am impatient, but even my pdoc felt that I might start to feel somewhat better by now. It's as if I am taking sugar pills. Geodon seems to have absolutly no effect on me and can't stand spending even more days of my life in this depressed state. I am not saying I am suicidal at all, just that I am sick & tired of being sick & tired. My pdoc is ready to try Lamictal now. Is it too soon to ditch the Geodon trial? I am not so sure I want to stay on this incredibly expensive drug anyway.
How long does it take to get OUT of one's system?
Can I start tritrating onto Lamictal while it's still in my system? Many questions, I know....sorry and thanks, Collette
Posted by Karen Curtis on October 11, 2001, at 15:01:43
In reply to 15 days on Geodon and...nothing, posted by Collete on October 11, 2001, at 4:10:58
> I realize that my overnight success with Zyprexa was unusual and that I am impatient, but even my pdoc felt that I might start to feel somewhat better by now. It's as if I am taking sugar pills. Geodon seems to have absolutly no effect on me and can't stand spending even more days of my life in this depressed state. I am not saying I am suicidal at all, just that I am sick & tired of being sick & tired. My pdoc is ready to try Lamictal now. Is it too soon to ditch the Geodon trial? I am not so sure I want to stay on this incredibly expensive drug anyway.
> How long does it take to get OUT of one's system?
> Can I start tritrating onto Lamictal while it's still in my system? Many questions, I know....sorry and thanks, ColletteLamictal and geodon can be taken together- my son is on both, and he has a wonderful psychiatrist. Also, you did not say how much geodon. Our psychiatrist thinks that under a certain dosage it just won't do anything. His target dose is 120mg, but remember this dose is for psychosis. However, I did read that for depression the dose should be at the high end also. Karen Curtis
Posted by Greg on October 12, 2001, at 19:41:18
In reply to 15 days on Geodon and...nothing, posted by Collete on October 11, 2001, at 4:10:58
Collette,
Can I ask why you stopped taking the Zyprexa? I had the same success with it, it worked immediately for me. I've been taking it for almost a year. I'm really sorry to hear the the Geodon isn't working out for you.
Greg
> I realize that my overnight success with Zyprexa was unusual and that I am impatient, but even my pdoc felt that I might start to feel somewhat better by now. It's as if I am taking sugar pills. Geodon seems to have absolutly no effect on me and can't stand spending even more days of my life in this depressed state. I am not saying I am suicidal at all, just that I am sick & tired of being sick & tired. My pdoc is ready to try Lamictal now. Is it too soon to ditch the Geodon trial? I am not so sure I want to stay on this incredibly expensive drug anyway.
> How long does it take to get OUT of one's system?
> Can I start tritrating onto Lamictal while it's still in my system? Many questions, I know....sorry and thanks, Collette
Posted by Collete on October 12, 2001, at 20:14:43
In reply to Re: 15 days on Geodon and...nothing » Collete, posted by Greg on October 12, 2001, at 19:41:18
> Collette,
>
> Can I ask why you stopped taking the Zyprexa? I had the same success with it, it worked immediately for me. I've been taking it for almost a year. I'm really sorry to hear the the Geodon isn't working out for you.
>
> Greg
I am on 40 mg of Geodon and I did have a good day today. I will be seeing my pdoc this Mon. to decide what to do next. I have been reading so much good stuff about Lamictal that I am kind of wanting to try it, plus is it less expensive for me too. I stopped the Zyprexa ( 2.5mg) because I could NOT stop eating and I couldn't control it. I got overwhelming urges and was starting to gain weight very quickly. In amost no time I couldn't fit into almost anything I owned! Collette
Posted by Greg on October 12, 2001, at 21:57:56
In reply to Re: 15 days on Geodon and...nothing » Greg, posted by Collete on October 12, 2001, at 20:14:43
> > Collette,
> >
> > Can I ask why you stopped taking the Zyprexa? I had the same success with it, it worked immediately for me. I've been taking it for almost a year. I'm really sorry to hear the the Geodon isn't working out for you.
> >
> > Greg
> I am on 40 mg of Geodon and I did have a good day today. I will be seeing my pdoc this Mon. to decide what to do next. I have been reading so much good stuff about Lamictal that I am kind of wanting to try it, plus is it less expensive for me too. I stopped the Zyprexa ( 2.5mg) because I could NOT stop eating and I couldn't control it. I got overwhelming urges and was starting to gain weight very quickly. In amost no time I couldn't fit into almost anything I owned! ColletteI had a feeling you would say that...It seems weight gain is the reason most people give it up. It's a shame too cause it's such a successful med for a lot of people. I gained about 45lbs in 10 months on it. I talked to my psych and he started me on Topamax for both a mood stabilizer and to help me lose weight. Also, one of the other posters here helped me setup a diet and I started exercising a bit more and have managed to lose about 20lbs in the last 6 weeks.
I'm glad to hear that today was a good one. I hope you have a lot more of them. I haven't heard much about Lamictal, but I hope you'll let me know how it works out for you if you and your doc decide to give it a shot.
Greg
Posted by Collete on October 13, 2001, at 2:23:21
In reply to Re: 15 days on Geodon and...nothing » Collete, posted by Greg on October 12, 2001, at 21:57:56
> > > Collette,
> > >
> > > Can I ask why you stopped taking the Zyprexa? I had the same success with it, it worked immediately for me. I've been taking it for almost a year. I'm really sorry to hear the the Geodon isn't working out for you.
> > >
> > > Greg
> > I am on 40 mg of Geodon and I did have a good day today. I will be seeing my pdoc this Mon. to decide what to do next. I have been reading so much good stuff about Lamictal that I am kind of wanting to try it, plus is it less expensive for me too. I stopped the Zyprexa ( 2.5mg) because I could NOT stop eating and I couldn't control it. I got overwhelming urges and was starting to gain weight very quickly. In amost no time I couldn't fit into almost anything I owned! Collette
>
> I had a feeling you would say that...It seems weight gain is the reason most people give it up. It's a shame too cause it's such a successful med for a lot of people. I gained about 45lbs in 10 months on it. I talked to my psych and he started me on Topamax for both a mood stabilizer and to help me lose weight. Also, one of the other posters here helped me setup a diet and I started exercising a bit more and have managed to lose about 20lbs in the last 6 weeks.
>
> I'm glad to hear that today was a good one. I hope you have a lot more of them. I haven't heard much about Lamictal, but I hope you'll let me know how it works out for you if you and your doc decide to give it a shot.
>
> Greg
Can you please tell me more about Topamax? Did you have a huge appetite AND cravings? What exactly is Topamax? Thanks, Collette
Posted by Greg on October 13, 2001, at 10:01:31
In reply to Topamax » Greg, posted by Collete on October 13, 2001, at 2:23:21
I hope someone will correct me if I give any misinformation here and you can check with your doc and the internet more reliable resources.
Topamax is an anti-seisure med that is also used by many pdocs and psychs as a mood stabilizer. It also has had the benefit of helping me to lose weight, unfortunately I can't tell you how that works. I'd be glad to do some research and get back to you on it. My psych told me that at a recent conference he attended there was some discussion that more and more doctors were using the Zyprexa/Topamax combo with BP II patients as a way of combatting weight gain because it seemed to be so effective. I was on Neurontin initially for moods, but stopped it because it left me feeling extremely fatigued.
Yeah, I did have a huge appetite. My cravings were mostly for carbohydrates, pastas and stuff like that. I've always been a junk-food junkie, anything I can eat on the run, so that didn't help either. All my weight sits in my stomach and joke in the family is asking me when the baby is going to arrive or rubbing the buddah's belly for luck...
Please remember that this is just my experience with it and yours might be completely different. But it might be worth it to do some research and talk to your doc and see what he/she thinks. And also that the Topamax alone wont do the trick for the weight gain, a good healthy diet and exercise will have to be part of your gameplan.
Let me know if I can help you gather some info.
Greg
> > > > Collette,
> > > >
> > > > Can I ask why you stopped taking the Zyprexa? I had the same success with it, it worked immediately for me. I've been taking it for almost a year. I'm really sorry to hear the the Geodon isn't working out for you.
> > > >
> > > > Greg
> > > I am on 40 mg of Geodon and I did have a good day today. I will be seeing my pdoc this Mon. to decide what to do next. I have been reading so much good stuff about Lamictal that I am kind of wanting to try it, plus is it less expensive for me too. I stopped the Zyprexa ( 2.5mg) because I could NOT stop eating and I couldn't control it. I got overwhelming urges and was starting to gain weight very quickly. In amost no time I couldn't fit into almost anything I owned! Collette
> >
> > I had a feeling you would say that...It seems weight gain is the reason most people give it up. It's a shame too cause it's such a successful med for a lot of people. I gained about 45lbs in 10 months on it. I talked to my psych and he started me on Topamax for both a mood stabilizer and to help me lose weight. Also, one of the other posters here helped me setup a diet and I started exercising a bit more and have managed to lose about 20lbs in the last 6 weeks.
> >
> > I'm glad to hear that today was a good one. I hope you have a lot more of them. I haven't heard much about Lamictal, but I hope you'll let me know how it works out for you if you and your doc decide to give it a shot.
> >
> > Greg
> Can you please tell me more about Topamax? Did you have a huge appetite AND cravings? What exactly is Topamax? Thanks, Collette
Posted by Collete on October 13, 2001, at 10:15:08
In reply to Re: Topamax » Collete, posted by Greg on October 13, 2001, at 10:01:31
THANK YOU, Greg! I will bring this up on Monday. I would give (almost) anything to be back on Zyprexa, but the weight gain was as distressing to me as depression! I am a great dieter, so that part is not a problem but some gremlin in my brain was overriding everything I usually do to maintain my weight. I am going to discuss Topamax and maybe an even smaller dose of Zyprexa than 2.5 or maybe every other day...I don't know if these are possibilities. I will certainly keep you posted and thanks for the inspiration! Collette
Posted by Greg on October 13, 2001, at 11:26:08
In reply to Re: Topamax and Zyprexa » Greg, posted by Collete on October 13, 2001, at 10:15:08
With the Topamax a lot of people experience a start up side-effect of cognitive dulling, or what I call "a case of the stupids". The dose should be titrated up slowly. I started with 25mgs am and pm and went up 25mgs at a time every week until reaching my target dose of 100mgs am and 100mgs pm. I got these effects to some degree with each dose increase but they usually passed within a day or two, but the end results were worth it for me.
Greg
> THANK YOU, Greg! I will bring this up on Monday. I would give (almost) anything to be back on Zyprexa, but the weight gain was as distressing to me as depression! I am a great dieter, so that part is not a problem but some gremlin in my brain was overriding everything I usually do to maintain my weight. I am going to discuss Topamax and maybe an even smaller dose of Zyprexa than 2.5 or maybe every other day...I don't know if these are possibilities. I will certainly keep you posted and thanks for the inspiration! Collette
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