Schizotypal Disorder Resources & Support Forum

Hey,

I just recently started taking Geodon (Ziprasidone) in doses of 40mg per day because I had read that mild doses of atypical antipsychotics may help with SPD symptoms. I have been taking 100mg/day of Luvox for several months now, and continue to do so. I wanted to share my experience and ask that anyone else who'd like to would do the same.

So far, I've been extremely pleased with the results. I'm a university student, and where last semester I spent the second half skipping class due to apathy (a problem I've had for over a year now, off and on), I've now become as fascinated a student of life as ever before. Every subject is riveting, it seems, from European Art to the geography of cities. This has most certainly not been the case in the past,for me. I'm having much less social anxiety than before, as well-- last week I ran into a former high school friend and not only wasn't it excruciatingly painful, it was a rather fun chat (for half an hour)! Of course, some or all of this could have nothing to do with the new medication, but I thought I'd share nonetheless.

The things that haven't been meliorated are my OCD-like intrusive images, among other things. I'm actually having some intense intrusive fantasies, now, as well. The new incidence of this may not be related to Geodon.

Anyway, just thought I'd share.

~Systemstheory88

Wow system, it's great that the AP is working so well for you! I am having exactly the same problems with my studies and apathy, but unfortunately Abilify hasn't helped me in that way. It helps with these weird thoughts I have though - macabre thoughts about my bones breaking or dislocating, etc. Abilify is suppoesed to be activating, but sadly I haven't noticed that effect at all.

I'm sorry to hear you're having those thoughts. I cannot say that my macabre mind has been quieted by any drug combination I've found thus far... I'm especially preoccupied with the end of the world and/or nuclear explosions, and that has not changed since it began in my early teens, despite dozens of different drugs. For my part, I have resigned myself to deal with the thoughts as they happen as best I can, reassuring myself that everything will be okay, and attempting to return to life as quickly as possible.

Just to update anyone who is interested (assuming anyone is interested), I have found that even these medications were unable to fend off my complete inability to deal with stress. When midterms rolled around, I stopped attending class and ended up failing several of them, despite my excellent attendance heretofore. Apparently the magical drug is not so magical after all.

Did the drug not work at all, or is it just when it comes to stress? Was the intention with the drug to help you with stress related to school?

I wouldn't expect that much from a drug... My AP has helped me in lots of ways; it got rid of some intrusive images and thoughts like you're talking about, and it even lifted my moods a little. But I wouldn't expect it to do miracles.

And did you tell your doctor that you don't think it's working?

I'm not exactly sure what I expected it to do. I had read about studies in which atypical antipsychotics had had some benefit for people with SPD, and asked my therapist what she thought. She's extremely open-minded, so she said I could try whatever I wanted to, and I did. My behavior changed much for the better beginning a few weeks after once school started, and I assumed that was because of the Geodon. Then when I reached a period of stress, the effects which I attributed to the new medication were reversed and I reverted back to the same tension filled person who missed classes and performed poorly on exams because of it.

Yeah, they tried to get me to take that stuff. I was ready to pass out after taking a 80mg pill for a day. I went to work and felt like I was tripping on something and my co-worker told me I need to leave that stuff alone because coming to work like that again would get me fired. I have unusual reactions to these medications apparently so if they work for you then use them.

Agony wrote:Yeah, they tried to get me to take that stuff. I was ready to pass out after taking a 80mg pill for a day. I went to work and felt like I was tripping on something and my co-worker told me I need to leave that stuff alone because coming to work like that again would get me fired. I have unusual reactions to these medications apparently so if they work for you then use them.

Its usual for new meds (especially APs and AAPs) to cause drowsiness and a good number of sideaffects. It takes your body time to adjust to new meds. So a day with 80mg will make you feel like you would "pass out". I was like that on lower dosages but after 3 years on 160mg (and a while on 240mg), my body is used to it and I dont even feel sideaffects anymore.

Mckey wrote:

Agony wrote:Yeah, they tried to get me to take that stuff. I was ready to pass out after taking a 80mg pill for a day. I went to work and felt like I was tripping on something and my co-worker told me I need to leave that stuff alone because coming to work like that again would get me fired. I have unusual reactions to these medications apparently so if they work for you then use them.

Its usual for new meds (especially APs and AAPs) to cause drowsiness and a good number of sideaffects. It takes your body time to adjust to new meds. So a day with 80mg will make you feel like you would "pass out". I was like that on lower dosages but after 3 years on 160mg (and a while on 240mg), my body is used to it and I dont even feel sideaffects anymore.

Well, my side effects were unusual. I experienced some normal ones, and some that were unusual. One of the unusual side effected forced me to leave work early because it prevented me from doing anything other than sit down. Most medications state that any feeling unusual side effects should give reason to ask your doctor what you should do, and he agreed with me in saying that I should probably refrain from taking that particular medication. Although if Geodon has been effective for living productively then by all means stay with it.

Agony wrote:

Mckey wrote:

Agony wrote:Yeah, they tried to get me to take that stuff. I was ready to pass out after taking a 80mg pill for a day. I went to work and felt like I was tripping on something and my co-worker told me I need to leave that stuff alone because coming to work like that again would get me fired. I have unusual reactions to these medications apparently so if they work for you then use them.

Its usual for new meds (especially APs and AAPs) to cause drowsiness and a good number of sideaffects. It takes your body time to adjust to new meds. So a day with 80mg will make you feel like you would "pass out". I was like that on lower dosages but after 3 years on 160mg (and a while on 240mg), my body is used to it and I dont even feel sideaffects anymore.

Well, my side effects were unusual. I experienced some normal ones, and some that were unusual. One of the unusual side effected forced me to leave work early because it prevented me from doing anything other than sit down. Most medications state that any feeling unusual side effects should give reason to ask your doctor what you should do, and he agreed with me in saying that I should probably refrain from taking that particular medication. Although if Geodon has been effective for living productively then by all means stay with it.

What were your unusual sideaffects? What I was getting at is that you were on this particular med for a short period of time, and if you have stayed with that med the sideaffects would very well have gone away,