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Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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Geodon Question...

BipolarPrincess
BipolarPrincess
I just had a raise in my medicine and now take 100 mg instead of 80. I am to take 20 mg instead of 80 in the morning and 80 at night. The problem I am having is withdrawals. i am so used to the higher dose in the morning that when I take the 20 mg it seems like a drop in the bucket and i end up with migraine headaches. I dismissed the first day I had headache as a stress headache because I was under a significant amount of stress from this disorder lately as far as my unstableness goes. So I thought it was the disease causing me stress and not the withdrawals when it is apparent that it IS the withdrawals. I didn't get a chance to talk to the pdoc today about switching doses because she is not in the office today. Also when I called it was too late and I found out that the secretary is here but she is at dinner and won't be back till her break is over.Also on the answering machine message it says if you call after three thirty the calls don't get screened till the next business day. These migraines are driving me insane. I missed workout class today because of this. I need to know what you'd do if you were me. I got advice from the hotline in our area to go to the er and get stronger pain meds but I have no way to the ER and my husband can't afford me going to the ER for a migraine headache. What would help is switching the doses around making the smaller dose the night time dose and the larger dose the day time dose but I won't be able to consult with the pdoc till tomorrow and I have a medical issue now. I already took my 20 mg this morning and am in the process of taking the nighttime dose because once the meds hit I should have an easier time getting rid of this migrane. I can't wait till tomorrow to talk to the pdoc and need advice now.

What would you do?

Princess
veryblue
veryblue
can you sleep ? i don't get that very often but if i go to sleep in a cold dark room it helps me even for an hour but thats just normal migraine not from withdrawal im not sure what to do

i hope it eases up on you
XForTheLoveOFX
XForTheLoveOFX
sorry sweetie , i had a rough time with geodon withdrawl but its been 4 years and all i remember was throwing up like crazy , and sweats but i was also takin 80 in the am and 80 in the pm and stopped taking it cold turkey so it really messed me up for a solid week. do the best you can with what you havwe i guess is the only advice i can give you.
-James
deleted_user
deleted_user
Does your pdoc have an emergency number that you can call? That's all I can think of besides going to the ER. I had horrible withdrawals coming off Lexapro when I was on it - only because I couldn't afford it at the time. I thought I was going to die from the withdrawals... It's miserable.
abielle
abielle
It sounds like you are already at the point that the larger dose might take care of the headache...if you take what you are scheduled to now. I wouldn't take any more than prescribed either.
I hope you feel better!
BipolarPrincess
BipolarPrincess
update.....going to the er to get something stronger than xtra strength Tylenol. Finally got a way there. I don't care what the husband says.....I'm gonna take the hotline counselor's advice.
deleted_user
deleted_user
It's up to you. Personally I would switch around the dosing, and take the higher dose just this night - and then go back around to taking it in the morning. You are no where near the max dose, so I wouldn't worry - but that is what I would do in your shoes... again that is your call..
deleted_user
deleted_user
I must add that I take Seroquel and can handle doses much higher than the one I take (I take 800mg and have gone up to 1200mg) and it does not really affect me much different and I do not get tired from it ( I have stayed up over 24 hours on Seroquel and I was not manic) My pdoc is ok with me going up to certain doses occasionally so I do not need to ask him. You may have a different reaction and relationship with your doctor so do what you think is right.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Great bipolarprincess!! Let us know how you are doing when you get home...
deleted_user
deleted_user
it sounds weird but if you soak a paper bag in white vinegar and put it on your forehead it will help with most migraines. you stink for a while but its worth it. my mom has a problem with migraines and it has gotten rid of ones that beta blockers didnt do anything for. also i wouldnt do anything tricky with geodon. i was on it before and i got nasty side effects (blacking out, memory damage) and while that doesnt seem to be the case with you, it still probably isnt a great idea
simplegirl
simplegirl
That's a tough one. Call your doctor and ask him what to do. I was on Geodon 80mg, and I took 40mg in the am & 40mg in the pm. I didn't take it one morning and went to work. I was a total bitch to people, very irritable. I got nausea, headache, shaking, just felt awful. I drove home, but was very nervous about wrecking. I was so sick I felt that I shouldn't drive. When I got home, i took that pill & sat down. I started feeling way better after a half hour. This is some pretty potent stuff and it can make you really sick. Try calling your doctor if you can and see what he says. You could try to tough it out too. It depends on how sick the withdrawals make you. Good luck.
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