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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 12 to 36 of 36. Go back in thread:
Posted by comftnumb on December 7, 2002, at 14:50:40
In reply to Re: Mmmmmm, Coffee, the other dark meat., posted by Dave1 on December 3, 2002, at 20:39:42
Geodon's came on the market February of 2001 so it's the newest antipsychotic besides Abilify, which came out November 18th (aripiprazole).
I haven't tried Abilify, no one has really, so if you want to give it a shot you'll have to be a guinea pig. It's FDA approved, so I would consider it safe.
I'm on Geodon right now and it works great. I used to be on Zyprexa and I gained 30lbs and slept 12hours a day. Since switching to Geodon I sleep 8hours a day and have lost 35lbs.
Posted by xjs7 on December 7, 2002, at 15:41:04
In reply to Geodon or Abilify: alternatives, posted by comftnumb on December 7, 2002, at 14:50:40
Geodon is a great drug for me too--I take 120 mg and have been on it for almost the whole time it has been available (in the U.S.). I haven't gained any weight from it. I don't know why psychiatrists prescribe Zyprexa so much--people who have mental illness don't need weight gain and diabetes to deal with. Clozapine also causes a lot of weight gain (more than Zyprexa I think) but it is superior for some refractory patients, so its use is justified.
Geodon does make me sleep a little too much--I need at least 10 hours of sleep a night or else I need to take an afternoon nap. Also, I get extrapyramidal problems from it, so I have to take benztropine (Cogentin). Other than that, Geodon is great, and I recommend it to anyone who needs this class of medications.
xjs7
Posted by Joel Maxuel on December 7, 2002, at 17:03:59
In reply to Re: Geodon or Abilify: alternatives, posted by xjs7 on December 7, 2002, at 15:41:04
Both of them sound really good, especially ther geodon, I know someone who is on it (who took it while it was in the testing stage), but neither still hasn't been realeased in Canada. At least I'm very sure none of them have.
--
Joel Maxuel
ShamelessPlug(http://www.maxuel.ca);
Posted by Sebastian on December 10, 2002, at 21:56:55
In reply to Re: Geodon or Abilify: alternatives, posted by Joel Maxuel on December 7, 2002, at 17:03:59
Well I have a prescription for Abillify, I start taking it tomorow. I hope it proves to be as effective as the Zyprexa I've been taking, without the weight-gain. I'll tell you tomorow, if anyone doesn't first.
Sebastian
No, I skiped over the Geodon in fear of twice a day and somnolence
Posted by katiemom on December 12, 2002, at 10:46:43
In reply to Re: Abilify; alternative to Zyprexa I hope!, posted by Sebastian on December 10, 2002, at 21:56:55
I'll be interested in how Abilify works. I tried Geodon and for my Psychosis is worked really good. I was able to think clearly and started to become social. Unfortunatly it caused my Anxieties to get very bad, even though my pdoc put me on Paxil CR, which made things worse. Please let me know how it works and if you get anyside affects.
Colleen
Posted by sebastian on December 12, 2002, at 13:39:48
In reply to Re: Abilify; alternative to Zyprexa I hope!, posted by katiemom on December 12, 2002, at 10:46:43
Collen
Abilify sucks! I was up all night till about 6-7am when I took a little pice of Zyprexa to put me to sleep. Mostly I had felt nosiated, wanted to throw up. I never felt like that when I have missed a dose of the Zyprexa before.
Sebastian
Posted by comftnumb on December 14, 2002, at 0:55:22
In reply to Re: Abilify not a alternative to Zyprexa, posted by sebastian on December 12, 2002, at 13:39:48
I wouldn't give up on it so quickly. When I started Wellbutrin I couldn't sleep well for about a week. Then over the next month my sleep got progressively better until it was normal again.
A lot of side effects to meds go away. Be patient. Give it a chance.
Posted by Joel Maxuel on December 14, 2002, at 16:05:53
In reply to Re: Success with Clozapine (Clozaril), posted by xjs7 on November 26, 2002, at 22:27:39
I'm not sure what to say. But it is about that time to report what has been happening. My so-called "delusions" are still going strong, which in result put me into some danger, and within a couple days I may be facing that danger again. The next couple of days would in fact be the anniversary of my operation, the result of my "delusions." if they don't go away, and I start to feel my negative symptoms go away, would that mean I'm right? I recently wrote a rant about my feelings, and mention of my "delusions" and posted it on my website. Still feel like not going anywhere (I guess), and still feel depressed. At least I'm not wasting my time totally, although i did get up at 1:30, which is longer than usual, and usual usually means 12:00.
--
Joel Maxuel
ShamelessPlug(http://www.maxuel.ca);
Posted by SLS on December 14, 2002, at 16:06:21
In reply to Re: Abilify not a alternative to Zyprexa, posted by sebastian on December 12, 2002, at 13:39:48
> Abilify sucks! I was up all night till about 6-7am when I took a little pice of Zyprexa to put me to sleep. Mostly I had felt nosiated, wanted to throw up. I never felt like that when I have missed a dose of the Zyprexa before.
>
Hi.It sounds like you are experiencing the side effects one would expect of a dopaminergic antidepressant. That's exciting.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on December 14, 2002, at 16:09:06
In reply to Clozapine (Clozaril) Update, posted by Joel Maxuel on December 14, 2002, at 16:05:53
Have you tried Risperdal?
I know Clozaril is considered "the most potent" of the atypicals reserved for difficult cases, but which others have you tried?
- Scott
Posted by Joel Maxuel on December 14, 2002, at 16:14:43
In reply to Re: Clozapine (Clozaril) Update » Joel Maxuel, posted by SLS on December 14, 2002, at 16:09:06
> Have you tried Risperdal?
>
> I know Clozaril is considered "the most potent" of the atypicals reserved for difficult cases, but which others have you tried?I have tried risperdal and zyprexa. I was up to 5mg of risperidrone while I was in hospital, figured it was accounting to the reason why i was sleeping so much so i'd swallow only the 3mg, slip the other 2 under my tongue and spit it out only a minute later.
As for the zyprexa, i was only on 0.75mg, which I figure was a small dose, but i was too sensitive on it, I'd become jumpy, shaky, and unable to concetrate. Lucky me, my university (Dalhousie) had a faculty strike at the time so it didn't affect much of my school work.
--
Joel Maxuel
ShamelessPlug(http://www.maxuel.ca);
Posted by SLS on December 14, 2002, at 16:25:53
In reply to Re: Abilify; alternative to Zyprexa I hope!, posted by Sebastian on December 10, 2002, at 21:56:55
Abilify (aripiprazole) info:
http://www.lexi.com/web/content/newdrugs/chapter/mono/newdrugsdisp.jsp?id=hf008613
Posted by SLS on December 14, 2002, at 16:44:27
In reply to Re: Clozapine (Clozaril) Update, posted by Joel Maxuel on December 14, 2002, at 16:14:43
There is an antipsychotic drug called Moban (molindone) that is not used very often. It chemically distinct from other neuroleptics. It has qualities of both the older neuroleptics and the newer atypical ones. It binds to every receptor, unlike most others, but not very tightly. It is similar to Seroquel in this regard. It does not cause weight gain and has a relatively low rate of EPS. Even EPS is trial and error. It is hard to predict which drugs will produce it in any one individual.
I wish you luck in finding something quickly.
- Scott
Posted by sebastian on December 14, 2002, at 18:38:36
In reply to Re: Abilify; alternative to Zyprexa I hope!, posted by SLS on December 14, 2002, at 16:25:53
It's not so bad anymore! It was just the first day. Only one problem now. I have to take 2.5-mgs of Zyprexa with it, because of the lack of sleep I had on the first day and everything else. Hopefuly I will get compleatly off the Zyprexa in a few days.
I feel much more like I can handle the change now. I even lost a few pounds!!!
Sebastian
Posted by Joel Maxuel on December 14, 2002, at 19:06:43
In reply to Re: Clozapine (Clozaril) Update, posted by Joel Maxuel on December 14, 2002, at 16:14:43
> As for the zyprexa, i was only on 0.75mg, which
Oops, i meant to say 7.5 mg.
--
Joel Maxuel
ShamelessPlug(http://www.maxuel.ca);
Posted by cybercafe on December 16, 2002, at 12:40:13
In reply to Re: Abilify not a alternative to Zyprexa, posted by SLS on December 14, 2002, at 16:06:21
> Hi.
>
> It sounds like you are experiencing the side effects one would expect of a dopaminergic antidepressant. That's exciting.cool... does it work for ADD as well then?
Posted by katiemom on December 16, 2002, at 14:40:22
In reply to Re: Abilify not a alternative to Zyprexa, posted by cybercafe on December 16, 2002, at 12:40:13
I've been taking Abilify for one week (15mg) and I don't see any effect. In fact my Psychotic rages are getting worse. Yesterday I almost picked up the Christmas tree (decorations and all) and threw it across the room because my husband said a remark that made me mad. Luckly he told me to go into the bedroom, for my daughter was sitting their watching all this. I feel real bad for she is such a sweet child. I'm having trouble dealing with the Christmas pressure. I was on Risperidol and I was doing good except I gained tons of weight and wanted to switch to a new drug that would not do it. Now I feel maybe it was better to be fat than out of my mind. Who knows. Anyway, (sorry for the babbling) can anyone tell me how long it takes for the drug to take effect. I've also have terrible headaches where I'm going to ask my pdoc for some Vicondean (sp???) to help with them. Any suggestions would be helpful for I'm nearing to end up in the hospital and I don't want that to happen around this time of year.
Thanks Colleen
Posted by SLS on December 16, 2002, at 16:34:44
In reply to Re: Abilify not a alternative to Zyprexa, posted by katiemom on December 16, 2002, at 14:40:22
Hi Katie
My first suggestion is to talk to your doctor about this. I would call him. He might have been given information by the drug company representative of what to expect. If not, perhaps the two of you will agree to switch back to Risperdal until you get past this stressful period.
The drug is so new, you might not find anyone on Psycho-Babble who has taken it for long enough to give you advice as to what to expect. Perhaps your doctor would consider as an option adding back the Risperdal to the Abilify and gradually reduce it as the dosage of Abilify is increased and takes effect.
From the way you describe your fear of impending hospitalization, I think it is important to get relief as soon as possible. You'll be alright. Just give your doctor a call.
- Scott
Posted by sebastian on December 17, 2002, at 0:34:11
In reply to Re: Abilify not a alternative to Zyprexa, posted by katiemom on December 16, 2002, at 14:40:22
The drug takes 1-3 weeks to reach peak concentrations. maybe you should mix the two? I did that with the Zyprexa for a little at first. and was still loosing weight!
Posted by sebastian on December 17, 2002, at 16:39:53
In reply to Re: Abilify posible alternative to Zyprexa I hope!, posted by sebastian on December 14, 2002, at 18:38:36
I have been totaly off the Zyprexa, for 2 days now. Feel great!
Sebastian
Posted by gregg on December 19, 2002, at 21:32:09
In reply to Re: Abilify posible alternative to Zyprexa !, posted by sebastian on December 17, 2002, at 16:39:53
> I have been totaly off the Zyprexa, for 2 days now. Feel great!
>
> SebastianSebastian,
I'm glad to hear that some of the earlier Zyprexa/Abilify transition problems appear to be going away. Please keep us posted on how Abilify works out.
Thanks,
greg
Posted by Sebastian on December 20, 2002, at 2:30:44
In reply to Re: Abilify posible alternative to Zyprexa !, posted by gregg on December 19, 2002, at 21:32:09
I feel better and better every day! More normal, like my old self.
Sebastian
Posted by Dalilah on December 3, 2003, at 21:04:17
In reply to Re: Clozapine (Clozaril) Update » Joel Maxuel, posted by SLS on December 14, 2002, at 16:09:06
How dangerous is clozaril? Is it worth it? My sister's schizo-affective is not fully treated with just seroquel. Her doctor says she just has to ignore her "delusions." Sometimes are much worse than others, like now.
Any help is welcome.
-Dalilah
Posted by Joel Maxuel on December 4, 2003, at 8:54:08
In reply to Re: Clozapine (Clozaril) Update, posted by Dalilah on December 3, 2003, at 21:04:17
> How dangerous is clozaril? Is it worth it? My sister's schizo-affective is not fully treated with just seroquel. Her doctor says she just has to ignore her "delusions." Sometimes are much worse than others, like now.
>
> Any help is welcome.The most dangerous side effect with Clozaril would have to be the agranulocytosis (depletion of white blood cells which can start with flu-like symptoms and end up being fatal), hence the reason for the weekly blood tests, and is typically a last resort. The drug has also been linked to diabetes, but I think it is a smaller percentage than olanzapine (3-3.5%).
I have been on it for over a year, and only encountered a few side effects:
- hypersalivation (almost always while sleeping)
- weight gain
- tiredness
- constipation (TOTALLY reccomend magnesium supplement)
- hives (although I don't think clozapine was the cause)Although I don't feel completely well yet, It is enough to stay in balance (between school, community, and other aspects of life).
--
Joel Maxuel
http://www.maxuel.ca
Posted by Joel Maxuel on December 15, 2003, at 11:28:41
In reply to Re: Clozapine (Clozaril) Update, posted by Joel Maxuel on December 4, 2003, at 8:54:08
A small change, I got the offical statistic of probability to getting diabetes because of clozapine, turns out to be 1 in 250. (Olanzapine is very close to this value as well). So in theory, you have a 3.25-3.5% chance of geting diabetes on these drugs, and a 3.0-3.25% chance without. At this point, since I'm young, I'm not too worried. I should probably take the effort in reducing the weight I gained when I started the drug.
--
Joel Maxuel
ShamelessPlug("http://www.maxuel.ca");
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