Re: Experience with Geodon or Gabitril? Desperate!

[Guest guest]

Hi Becky

My name is Lynda and my Son has either been on or is on some of the

medications your Daughter is on, I am also a nurse, and have worked with these

drugs

in dealing with my Son, as well as through my job and will tell you first and

foremost, these drugs Geodon, Gabitril, and Seroquel, are all at way too

high of dosages, at those high level of dosages, they will fry your Daughter's

liver in no time, the best rule to follow is this one, if your Daughter is

having anxiety and is put on medication, it should be at the lowest dose, if

she does not get relief, then the drug is not the right medicine for her, you

don't keep increasing a drug that does not work, because if they don't help at

a low dose to relieve the anxiety, they will not work at a higher dose.

Gabitril made my Son extremely agitated when they tried it, and I immediately

stopped giving it to him, and told the Doctor, its not working, and I will not

give it to him, Doctors are not God's, they get a kick back from the

Pharmaceutical Companies for prescribing these medications, so of course, they

will

want to prescribe more and more, Geodon can be a good drug for anxiety but once

again, its a heavy duty psychotropic drug that should be used in extreme

caution, its hard on the liver, and one of the side effects they forget to

mention is that it increases the appetite, my Son gained 150 pounds in 2 years

with being on this med, He is now being weaned off of it, NO MEDICATION should

just be stopped immediantly, they have to be weaned off it. Seroquel at 1000mg

a day will totally destroy the liver, if she did not get relief from her

anxiety, at 200mg, then it is the wrong medicine for her, cut it down and get

her off of it. My Son also has sleep issues, ambien does not work for him

either, I might try looking into trazadone for sleep. The medication should be

out

of her system after 30-60 days, so she still could be having troubles

because the medicine is still in her blood stream. If it were my Daughter, I

would

find a Doctor who knows what the heck they are doing, more is not better when

it comes to these high powered drugs, all the side effects are worse than

the cure. You have to be your own best advocate, and know what they are, what

they do, and when you start on a new med, combined with others, you have more

going on, many meds do not mix, and work against each other.

Keep us informed as to how she is doing.

Lynda

[Guest guest]

My son was on Geodon and it did nothing for him but sleep. He slept

night and day. I'll tell you some of the side effects are scarey

though, one says death for no apparant reason or something like

that. The Dr. told me that was soooo rare. Rare means it's

possible though to me. The most Geodon should be 100 milligrams.

My son was at 60 and that was too much for him. Geodon did not

touch my son's anxiety so maybe it wont your daughter's either.

Seroquel made my son plain mean, he was on that not even a week, it

was 100 mg. I think. Not at the same time! You should find out if

that's even safe giving two antipsychotics at the same time! I

don't know what to tell you with all the medicines she's on. I

finally took my son off all medications and put him on the gluten

free diet with some digestive enzymes, kept him on 20 mg. of Lexapro

(recently I've lowered it to 10 mg.) and he is 99% better than when

he was on all the medications. It sounds like my son and your

daughter are a lot alike and the medicaitons are just backfiring on

them. He used to cry whenever the T.V. was on he would run out of

the room saying " They're laughing at me!!! " Now he watches T.V.

with us and when they laugh he says " They're laughing but all they

can see is a camera. huh. " He got to the point on the medications

that he was sent into a deep depression and would just sit in his

room in the dark and do nothing. One month on this diet and he is

out with the family.

>

> I have been reading the posts here for about six weeks and have

> responded to one or two posts. I have a question regarding

medication

> that was prescribed to my AS daughter by her Medi-Cal doctor. Does

> anyone have experience with either Geodon or Gabitril and what

were

> the side effects and/or withdrawal symptoms? I am not getting any

> answers from her new doctor-I put her on my insurance to get a

better

> psychiatrist.

>

> She had basically been on Tegretol for her rages for about 8 years

> and Welbutrin and Lexapro for her anxiety/depression for about a

> year. She also had Xanax as needed for panic attacks. We moved a

year

> ago and even though she was able to go to the same community

college

> she had to take 2 buses to get there and two buses to get back.

The

> new home and bus changes made her anxiety around other people

really,

> really bad so she asked her Medi-Cal doctor to switch her from

> Lexapro/Welbutrin to something else. He had her stop taking the

> Lexapro/Welbutrin immediately without any weaning off and start

> taking Geodon, Seroquel and Amitriptiline. This increased her

anxiety

> so he told her to take more Geodon and kept telling her to take

more

> until she was up to 400 mg/day. He then put her on Gabitril for

the

> anxiety from the Geodon and that caused even MORE anxiety, which

he

> responded to by telling her to increase the Gabitril. Basically,

> within two months she went from Lexapro 60 mg/Welbutrin 300mg XL

and

> Xanax 1mg as needed to Geodon 400mg/Gabitril 400mg/Serequel

> 200mg/Amitriptiline-I don't remember the dose.

>

> At this point she was just a basket case, crying all the time, not

> able to concentrate enough to read-she's a book-worm-and could

barely

> watch TV at night with me. She also could not sleep AT ALL. The

> doctor told her that these were just side effects and would go

away.

> Yeah, right.

>

> I put her on my insurance and she saw her new doctor on July 1st.

He

> told her to stop the Geodon and Gabitril and Amitriptiline and put

> her on Zoloft 50mg and increased the Seroquel to 400mg. He also

did

> not tell her to wean off the Geodon/Gabitril just to stop taking

> them. Well, at this point I had been researching everything about

> these two drugs on the Internet because her Medi-cal doctor was

> clearly giving her the wrong medicine for the past 2 1/2 months.

> Everything I read told of bad reactions to both medications and

> severe withdrawal symptoms. I told her to go down by 1 pill a week

> for each medicine based on my experience with other psych drugs

that

> I had been weaned off of. This means that she immediately went to

> 300mg Geodon/300mg Gabitril/and 3/4 of the dose of Amitriptiline,

> which I can't remember. So, for three weeks she went down by 100mg

of

> each medicine but also took the Zoloft and the Seroquel. The

fourth

> week-within 24 hours of taking the last pill of Geodon and

Gabitril

> she was having " panic attacks all day and all night long " as she

put

> it. We made an emergency appointment with the doctor three days

later

> and he increased her Zoloft to 100mg and also increased her

Seroquel

> to 600mg and gave her Ambien to sleep.

>

> This was on the 18th of July. It is now 45 days later and at our

last

> appointment on Friday he increased her Zoloft to 150mg and

increased

> her Seroquel to 1000mg. She is still not any better.

>

> He does not know if what she is still feeling is withdrawal from

the

> Geodon/Gabitril so he doesn't want to try any other anti-anxiety

> medication except the Seroquel which she swears does nothing for

her.

> She is still waking up in the middle of the night and has to take

> another Ambien to go back to sleep.

>

> So to sum it up, since the middle of April she has had increased

> anxiety and panic attacks for 2 1/2 months because of the switch

to

> Geodon/Gabitril and maybe withdrawal from the Lexapro/Welbutrin?

>

> Since the middle of July-another 45 days-she has had her already

> horrible anxiety increase to " panic attacks all day long " from the

> withdrawal-MAYBE-of Geodon/Gabitril and/or the switch to Zoloft.

>

> This has now been going on for more than 4 months and I don't know

> what to do. She is so miserable and had to drop her fall college

> classes.

>

> Does anyone have ANY information on these two drugs,

Geodon/Gabitril

> and whether the withdrawal symptoms would last this long-45 days

from

> July 15th? I know I said I researched other boards but I would

like

> just one person to tell me that yes, this is withdrawal and it

will

> get better. So if you have any real-life experience with

either/both

> of these drugs could you let me know?

>

> We went to ANOTHER P-doc for a second opinion but he was even

worse

> than the Medi-cal doctor because he told us that he could give no

> opinion since HE hadn't been treating her!

>

> Any help/encouragement/alternative treatments/apricot pit

> treatments/witch doctor or Shaman advice would be really helpful

> about now!

>

> Becky

>

[Guest guest]

Becky email me if you want, if you have any questions about my post.

> >

> > I have been reading the posts here for about six weeks and have

> > responded to one or two posts. I have a question regarding

> medication

> > that was prescribed to my AS daughter by her Medi-Cal doctor.

Does

> > anyone have experience with either Geodon or Gabitril and what

> were

> > the side effects and/or withdrawal symptoms? I am not getting

any

> > answers from her new doctor-I put her on my insurance to get a

> better

> > psychiatrist.

> >

> > She had basically been on Tegretol for her rages for about 8

years

> > and Welbutrin and Lexapro for her anxiety/depression for about a

> > year. She also had Xanax as needed for panic attacks. We moved a

> year

> > ago and even though she was able to go to the same community

> college

> > she had to take 2 buses to get there and two buses to get back.

> The

> > new home and bus changes made her anxiety around other people

> really,

> > really bad so she asked her Medi-Cal doctor to switch her from

> > Lexapro/Welbutrin to something else. He had her stop taking the

> > Lexapro/Welbutrin immediately without any weaning off and start

> > taking Geodon, Seroquel and Amitriptiline. This increased her

> anxiety

> > so he told her to take more Geodon and kept telling her to take

> more

> > until she was up to 400 mg/day. He then put her on Gabitril for

> the

> > anxiety from the Geodon and that caused even MORE anxiety, which

> he

> > responded to by telling her to increase the Gabitril. Basically,

> > within two months she went from Lexapro 60 mg/Welbutrin 300mg XL

> and

> > Xanax 1mg as needed to Geodon 400mg/Gabitril 400mg/Serequel

> > 200mg/Amitriptiline-I don't remember the dose.

> >

> > At this point she was just a basket case, crying all the time,

not

> > able to concentrate enough to read-she's a book-worm-and could

> barely

> > watch TV at night with me. She also could not sleep AT ALL. The

> > doctor told her that these were just side effects and would go

> away.

> > Yeah, right.

> >

> > I put her on my insurance and she saw her new doctor on July

1st.

> He

> > told her to stop the Geodon and Gabitril and Amitriptiline and

put

> > her on Zoloft 50mg and increased the Seroquel to 400mg. He also

> did

> > not tell her to wean off the Geodon/Gabitril just to stop taking

> > them. Well, at this point I had been researching everything

about

> > these two drugs on the Internet because her Medi-cal doctor was

> > clearly giving her the wrong medicine for the past 2 1/2 months.

> > Everything I read told of bad reactions to both medications and

> > severe withdrawal symptoms. I told her to go down by 1 pill a

week

> > for each medicine based on my experience with other psych drugs

> that

> > I had been weaned off of. This means that she immediately went

to

> > 300mg Geodon/300mg Gabitril/and 3/4 of the dose of

Amitriptiline,

> > which I can't remember. So, for three weeks she went down by

100mg

> of

> > each medicine but also took the Zoloft and the Seroquel. The

> fourth

> > week-within 24 hours of taking the last pill of Geodon and

> Gabitril

> > she was having " panic attacks all day and all night long " as she

> put

> > it. We made an emergency appointment with the doctor three days

> later

> > and he increased her Zoloft to 100mg and also increased her

> Seroquel

> > to 600mg and gave her Ambien to sleep.

> >

> > This was on the 18th of July. It is now 45 days later and at our

> last

> > appointment on Friday he increased her Zoloft to 150mg and

> increased

> > her Seroquel to 1000mg. She is still not any better.

> >

> > He does not know if what she is still feeling is withdrawal from

> the

> > Geodon/Gabitril so he doesn't want to try any other anti-anxiety

> > medication except the Seroquel which she swears does nothing for

> her.

> > She is still waking up in the middle of the night and has to

take

> > another Ambien to go back to sleep.

> >

> > So to sum it up, since the middle of April she has had increased

> > anxiety and panic attacks for 2 1/2 months because of the switch

> to

> > Geodon/Gabitril and maybe withdrawal from the Lexapro/Welbutrin?

> >

> > Since the middle of July-another 45 days-she has had her already

> > horrible anxiety increase to " panic attacks all day long " from

the

> > withdrawal-MAYBE-of Geodon/Gabitril and/or the switch to Zoloft.

> >

> > This has now been going on for more than 4 months and I don't

know

> > what to do. She is so miserable and had to drop her fall college

> > classes.

> >

> > Does anyone have ANY information on these two drugs,

> Geodon/Gabitril

> > and whether the withdrawal symptoms would last this long-45 days

> from

> > July 15th? I know I said I researched other boards but I would

> like

> > just one person to tell me that yes, this is withdrawal and it

> will

> > get better. So if you have any real-life experience with

> either/both

> > of these drugs could you let me know?

> >

> > We went to ANOTHER P-doc for a second opinion but he was even

> worse

> > than the Medi-cal doctor because he told us that he could give

no

> > opinion since HE hadn't been treating her!

> >

> > Any help/encouragement/alternative treatments/apricot pit

> > treatments/witch doctor or Shaman advice would be really helpful

> > about now!

> >

> > Becky

> >

>

[Guest guest]

One more thing. I wouldn't change anything until you ask her Dr.

though, sudden drop of medications could cause problems and so much

medicine I'd ask a Dr. before diet change too, just in case. One

thing I would change though is Drs. If you can that is. I don't

know how old she is but my son is not 18 yet and I found very few

psychitrists that would take kids under the age of 18. The reason

I'm writing this late is that my son does not sleep yet, this is one

thing I'm still trying to figure out. When he forgets to sleep (as

he calls it) then I have to forget to sleep.

> > >

> > > I have been reading the posts here for about six weeks and

have

> > > responded to one or two posts. I have a question regarding

> > medication

> > > that was prescribed to my AS daughter by her Medi-Cal doctor.

> Does

> > > anyone have experience with either Geodon or Gabitril and what

> > were

> > > the side effects and/or withdrawal symptoms? I am not getting

> any

> > > answers from her new doctor-I put her on my insurance to get a

> > better

> > > psychiatrist.

> > >

> > > She had basically been on Tegretol for her rages for about 8

> years

> > > and Welbutrin and Lexapro for her anxiety/depression for about

a

> > > year. She also had Xanax as needed for panic attacks. We moved

a

> > year

> > > ago and even though she was able to go to the same community

> > college

> > > she had to take 2 buses to get there and two buses to get

back.

> > The

> > > new home and bus changes made her anxiety around other people

> > really,

> > > really bad so she asked her Medi-Cal doctor to switch her from

> > > Lexapro/Welbutrin to something else. He had her stop taking

the

> > > Lexapro/Welbutrin immediately without any weaning off and

start

> > > taking Geodon, Seroquel and Amitriptiline. This increased her

> > anxiety

> > > so he told her to take more Geodon and kept telling her to

take

> > more

> > > until she was up to 400 mg/day. He then put her on Gabitril

for

> > the

> > > anxiety from the Geodon and that caused even MORE anxiety,

which

> > he

> > > responded to by telling her to increase the Gabitril.

Basically,

> > > within two months she went from Lexapro 60 mg/Welbutrin 300mg

XL

> > and

> > > Xanax 1mg as needed to Geodon 400mg/Gabitril 400mg/Serequel

> > > 200mg/Amitriptiline-I don't remember the dose.

> > >

> > > At this point she was just a basket case, crying all the time,

> not

> > > able to concentrate enough to read-she's a book-worm-and could

> > barely

> > > watch TV at night with me. She also could not sleep AT ALL.

The

> > > doctor told her that these were just side effects and would go

> > away.

> > > Yeah, right.

> > >

> > > I put her on my insurance and she saw her new doctor on July

> 1st.

> > He

> > > told her to stop the Geodon and Gabitril and Amitriptiline and

> put

> > > her on Zoloft 50mg and increased the Seroquel to 400mg. He

also

> > did

> > > not tell her to wean off the Geodon/Gabitril just to stop

taking

> > > them. Well, at this point I had been researching everything

> about

> > > these two drugs on the Internet because her Medi-cal doctor

was

> > > clearly giving her the wrong medicine for the past 2 1/2

months.

> > > Everything I read told of bad reactions to both medications

and

> > > severe withdrawal symptoms. I told her to go down by 1 pill a

> week

> > > for each medicine based on my experience with other psych

drugs

> > that

> > > I had been weaned off of. This means that she immediately went

> to

> > > 300mg Geodon/300mg Gabitril/and 3/4 of the dose of

> Amitriptiline,

> > > which I can't remember. So, for three weeks she went down by

> 100mg

> > of

> > > each medicine but also took the Zoloft and the Seroquel. The

> > fourth

> > > week-within 24 hours of taking the last pill of Geodon and

> > Gabitril

> > > she was having " panic attacks all day and all night long " as

she

> > put

> > > it. We made an emergency appointment with the doctor three

days

> > later

> > > and he increased her Zoloft to 100mg and also increased her

> > Seroquel

> > > to 600mg and gave her Ambien to sleep.

> > >

> > > This was on the 18th of July. It is now 45 days later and at

our

> > last

> > > appointment on Friday he increased her Zoloft to 150mg and

> > increased

> > > her Seroquel to 1000mg. She is still not any better.

> > >

> > > He does not know if what she is still feeling is withdrawal

from

> > the

> > > Geodon/Gabitril so he doesn't want to try any other anti-

anxiety

> > > medication except the Seroquel which she swears does nothing

for

> > her.

> > > She is still waking up in the middle of the night and has to

> take

> > > another Ambien to go back to sleep.

> > >

> > > So to sum it up, since the middle of April she has had

increased

> > > anxiety and panic attacks for 2 1/2 months because of the

switch

> > to

> > > Geodon/Gabitril and maybe withdrawal from the

Lexapro/Welbutrin?

> > >

> > > Since the middle of July-another 45 days-she has had her

already

> > > horrible anxiety increase to " panic attacks all day long " from

> the

> > > withdrawal-MAYBE-of Geodon/Gabitril and/or the switch to

Zoloft.

> > >

> > > This has now been going on for more than 4 months and I don't

> know

> > > what to do. She is so miserable and had to drop her fall

college

> > > classes.

> > >

> > > Does anyone have ANY information on these two drugs,

> > Geodon/Gabitril

> > > and whether the withdrawal symptoms would last this long-45

days

> > from

> > > July 15th? I know I said I researched other boards but I would

> > like

> > > just one person to tell me that yes, this is withdrawal and it

> > will

> > > get better. So if you have any real-life experience with

> > either/both

> > > of these drugs could you let me know?

> > >

> > > We went to ANOTHER P-doc for a second opinion but he was even

> > worse

> > > than the Medi-cal doctor because he told us that he could give

> no

> > > opinion since HE hadn't been treating her!

> > >

> > > Any help/encouragement/alternative treatments/apricot pit

> > > treatments/witch doctor or Shaman advice would be really

helpful

> > > about now!

> > >

> > > Becky

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Becky,

The amounts of medications and the changes are a big concern. I am

NOT a doctor. I am a parent. I do have personal experience. I live

in Dallas, Texas. I recently bought a book:

The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome by Bashe and Barbara L

Kirby. In it they talk about all Psychotropic Medications.

Another book you could buy is by Dr. Luke Tsai of University of

Michigan. He is an another expert on Autism and medications. It

cost around $20 from on-line sources.

Right now I am trying to decrease the SSRI my son takes for his OCD,

which is Zoloft. My psychiatrist did NOT want me to change, but

taking the highest amount allowable by the FDA bothered me. I just

can't accept this.......I'm being a Dad first.

BUT BACK TO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONE

MOST IMPORTANT FROM ALL LITERATURE I READ, YOUR CHANGES TO DECREASE

MEDICATIONS SHOULD BE DONE SLOWLY......of course, your doctor is

advising you, but most every publication I read says change should

be gradual and then only certain medications at a time if possible.

Your situation sounds like intervention.

In this Group, it often bothers me that one typical question

that must be posted is " Where do you live? "

It sounds like California. If so, do you live near UCLA. If so, I

would call that university and see if you can get direct

intervention. I hear San Diego also has great Autism experts.

If things get out-of-hand, please keep in mind a clinic for a more

controlled clinical intervention. This will give you some rest and

help you should things get too uncontrollable. Do this for a short

period, though, and then get your loved one back out. You will need

to continue medications with a Doctor you trust.

Geodon is an " Atypical " Neuroleptic and is a

antipsychotic/tranquilizer type medication that can be effective in

treating symptoms of tic disorders, dramatic mood swings, self-

injurious behavior, and agressive or violent behavior. Geoden works

very quickly in the blood system. My son is on a low dose of

Abilify, 5 mg, the same type, an " Atypical " Neuroleptic.

Gabitril is a Mood Stabilizer and is further known as an

anticonvulsant and are used to control seizures. Off-label it is

also used to stabilize mood (your ASD loved one)

Do you use a website in researching medications?

Here is a link I use:

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/ziprasidone_ids.htm

The link I posted for you is from RXlist.com, but it is a specific

page to your Geodon. They break down even to treatment and

recommended dosage use.

As you well know, you will be your child's expert and ALSO the

ADVOCATE. No one else can do it.

You are doing a great thing by posting here. If you have not done

so, I would pull up/join a Group for Autism in Your STATE. If

you do this, you will meet people in your city and State that can

immediately tell you a doctor they have had good results with.

I hope this may help. There is so much to learn.

Mark

Carrollton, TX

> > > >

> > > > I have been reading the posts here for about six weeks and

> have

> > > > responded to one or two posts. I have a question regarding

> > > medication

> > > > that was prescribed to my AS daughter by her Medi-Cal

doctor.

> > Does

> > > > anyone have experience with either Geodon or Gabitril and

what

> > > were

> > > > the side effects and/or withdrawal symptoms? I am not

getting

> > any

> > > > answers from her new doctor-I put her on my insurance to get

a

> > > better

> > > > psychiatrist.

> > > >

> > > > She had basically been on Tegretol for her rages for about 8

> > years

> > > > and Welbutrin and Lexapro for her anxiety/depression for

about

> a

> > > > year. She also had Xanax as needed for panic attacks. We

moved

> a

> > > year

> > > > ago and even though she was able to go to the same community

> > > college

> > > > she had to take 2 buses to get there and two buses to get

> back.

> > > The

> > > > new home and bus changes made her anxiety around other

people

> > > really,

> > > > really bad so she asked her Medi-Cal doctor to switch her

from

> > > > Lexapro/Welbutrin to something else. He had her stop taking

> the

> > > > Lexapro/Welbutrin immediately without any weaning off and

> start

> > > > taking Geodon, Seroquel and Amitriptiline. This increased

her

> > > anxiety

> > > > so he told her to take more Geodon and kept telling her to

> take

> > > more

> > > > until she was up to 400 mg/day. He then put her on Gabitril

> for

> > > the

> > > > anxiety from the Geodon and that caused even MORE anxiety,

> which

> > > he

> > > > responded to by telling her to increase the Gabitril.

> Basically,

> > > > within two months she went from Lexapro 60 mg/Welbutrin

300mg

> XL

> > > and

> > > > Xanax 1mg as needed to Geodon 400mg/Gabitril 400mg/Serequel

> > > > 200mg/Amitriptiline-I don't remember the dose.

> > > >

> > > > At this point she was just a basket case, crying all the

time,

> > not

> > > > able to concentrate enough to read-she's a book-worm-and

could

> > > barely

> > > > watch TV at night with me. She also could not sleep AT ALL.

> The

> > > > doctor told her that these were just side effects and would

go

> > > away.

> > > > Yeah, right.

> > > >

> > > > I put her on my insurance and she saw her new doctor on July

> > 1st.

> > > He

> > > > told her to stop the Geodon and Gabitril and Amitriptiline

and

> > put

> > > > her on Zoloft 50mg and increased the Seroquel to 400mg. He

> also

> > > did

> > > > not tell her to wean off the Geodon/Gabitril just to stop

> taking

> > > > them. Well, at this point I had been researching everything

> > about

> > > > these two drugs on the Internet because her Medi-cal doctor

> was

> > > > clearly giving her the wrong medicine for the past 2 1/2

> months.

> > > > Everything I read told of bad reactions to both medications

> and

> > > > severe withdrawal symptoms. I told her to go down by 1 pill

a

> > week

> > > > for each medicine based on my experience with other psych

> drugs

> > > that

> > > > I had been weaned off of. This means that she immediately

went

> > to

> > > > 300mg Geodon/300mg Gabitril/and 3/4 of the dose of

> > Amitriptiline,

> > > > which I can't remember. So, for three weeks she went down by

> > 100mg

> > > of

> > > > each medicine but also took the Zoloft and the Seroquel. The

> > > fourth

> > > > week-within 24 hours of taking the last pill of Geodon and

> > > Gabitril

> > > > she was having " panic attacks all day and all night long " as

> she

> > > put

> > > > it. We made an emergency appointment with the doctor three

> days

> > > later

> > > > and he increased her Zoloft to 100mg and also increased her

> > > Seroquel

> > > > to 600mg and gave her Ambien to sleep.

> > > >

> > > > This was on the 18th of July. It is now 45 days later and at

> our

> > > last

> > > > appointment on Friday he increased her Zoloft to 150mg and

> > > increased

> > > > her Seroquel to 1000mg. She is still not any better.

> > > >

> > > > He does not know if what she is still feeling is withdrawal

> from

> > > the

> > > > Geodon/Gabitril so he doesn't want to try any other anti-

> anxiety

> > > > medication except the Seroquel which she swears does nothing

> for

> > > her.

> > > > She is still waking up in the middle of the night and has to

> > take

> > > > another Ambien to go back to sleep.

> > > >

> > > > So to sum it up, since the middle of April she has had

> increased

> > > > anxiety and panic attacks for 2 1/2 months because of the

> switch

> > > to

> > > > Geodon/Gabitril and maybe withdrawal from the

> Lexapro/Welbutrin?

> > > >

> > > > Since the middle of July-another 45 days-she has had her

> already

> > > > horrible anxiety increase to " panic attacks all day long "

from

> > the

> > > > withdrawal-MAYBE-of Geodon/Gabitril and/or the switch to

> Zoloft.

> > > >

> > > > This has now been going on for more than 4 months and I

don't

> > know

> > > > what to do. She is so miserable and had to drop her fall

> college

> > > > classes.

> > > >

> > > > Does anyone have ANY information on these two drugs,

> > > Geodon/Gabitril

> > > > and whether the withdrawal symptoms would last this long-45

> days

> > > from

> > > > July 15th? I know I said I researched other boards but I

would

> > > like

> > > > just one person to tell me that yes, this is withdrawal and

it

> > > will

> > > > get better. So if you have any real-life experience with

> > > either/both

> > > > of these drugs could you let me know?

> > > >

> > > > We went to ANOTHER P-doc for a second opinion but he was

even

> > > worse

> > > > than the Medi-cal doctor because he told us that he could

give

> > no

> > > > opinion since HE hadn't been treating her!

> > > >

> > > > Any help/encouragement/alternative treatments/apricot pit

> > > > treatments/witch doctor or Shaman advice would be really

> helpful

> > > > about now!

> > > >

> > > > Becky

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>

first and

> foremost, these drugs Geodon, Gabitril, and Seroquel, are all at

way too

> high of dosages, at those high level of dosages, they will fry

your Daughter's

> liver in no time

HI Lynda,

Thanks for your great input.

Please don't be offended but I just have some questions for you

because I am totally confused/exhausted/burned out from trying to

figure out what is best for her and the doctors are no help.

Yes, I agree with you that the doses of Geodon/Gabitril were too

high. That is why I put her on my insurance and changed from the Medi-

cal doctor to the new doctor. She is no longer on the Geodon/Gabitril

since 45 days ago-July 15th. I also questioned the huge amount of

Seroquel but the doctor-at the last visit on Friday said that she

was " not on a high dose yet " when he increased her from 800mg to

1000mg. I know that drugs damage the liver but can you explain how?

Also, what would be the symptoms if her liver is damaged? She was

only on the Geodon/Gabitril for 3 months. Could she have damage from

that short period of time? Should she get tested?

> the best rule to follow is this one, if your Daughter is

> having anxiety and is put on medication, it should be at the

lowest dose, if

> she does not get relief, then the drug is not the right medicine

for her, you

> don't keep increasing a drug that does not work, because if they

don't help at

> a low dose to relieve the anxiety, they will not work at a higher

dose.

Are you talking about just anti-anxiety drugs? All of the P-docs-

including my own- have said just the opposite regarding meds. I know

the Tegretol took a long time to get the right dosage and once it did

you could really see a difference. We have had 6 P-docs for her in

the last 8 years. The last one was the best and seemed to " know what

she was talking about " . Unfortunately my insurance changed at work-to

an HMO-and she is not one of the providers. I did try a 2nd opinion

last week with another P-doc who specialized in adolescant

psychiatry. He just blew us off because he said he could not give us

an opinion since he had not been treating her. I guess I will have to

find another doctor.

Doctors are not God's, they get a kick back from the

> Pharmaceutical Companies for prescribing these medications, so of

course, they will

> want to prescribe more and more

Yes I know about that. It just is so hard to know if the doctor is

wrong or not. Even with researching on the Internet for hours I come

up with so many different opinions/experiences on the drugs and

dosage amounts.

>NO MEDICATION should just be stopped immediantly, they have to be

weaned off it.

Yes I know that too, that is why I did not listen to this doctor

about just stopping the Geodon/Gabitril. I did what I thought was the

right way by cutting her dosage in half each week until she was down

to 1/2 pill a week and after a week on that we stopped. Was that too

quick of a weaning period?

>Seroquel at 1000mg

> a day will totally destroy the liver, if she did not get relief

from her

> anxiety, at 200mg, then it is the wrong medicine for her, cut it

down and get

> her off of it.

How should I do that? How much should I cut down and how often? I

can't ask the current doc because I don't trust him after he told her

to just stop the Geodon/Gabitril and it will take at least 2 weeks to

get an appointment with another doctor. Could it be making her MORE

anxious because of the high dose?

>My Son also has sleep issues, ambien does not work for him

> either, I might try looking into trazadone for sleep.

My son just started Trazadone and it is working really well for him

which is a relief as he has chronic insomnia. He previously took

Ambien-which made him hallucinate and tamazepan and vistaril, neither

of which worked.

The medication should be out

> of her system after 30-60 days, so she still could be having

troubles

> because the medicine is still in her blood stream.

That's so great to hear. Before this whole medication switch which

started in April she was having moderate anxiety regarding the new

move/new bus system. Right now she is so anxious she has regressed in

many social areas including walking to the store, calling the

pharmacy for refills and calling her doctor. She has also dropped out

of school for the Fall semester. It just feels like this will never

end right now.

>If it were my Daughter, I would

> find a Doctor who knows what the heck they are doing, more is not

better when

> it comes to these high powered drugs, all the side effects are

worse than

> the cure. You have to be your own best advocate, and know what

they are, what

> they do, and when you start on a new med, combined with others,

you have more

> going on, many meds do not mix, and work against each other.

> Keep us informed as to how she is doing.

It is just so hard to find the right doctor but I know I have to do

this after reading the responses to my post. It's like shooting in

the dark because I don't know anything about the doctors to be able

to make an informed decision.

Thank you for your great input. I am feeling better now that I know

that this huge dose of Seroqeul is wrong.

Becky

[Guest guest]

> >

> > I have been reading the posts here for about six weeks and have

> > responded to one or two posts. I have a question regarding

> medication

> > that was prescribed to my AS daughter by her Medi-Cal doctor.

Does

> > anyone have experience with either Geodon or Gabitril and what

> were

> > the side effects and/or withdrawal symptoms? I am not getting any

> > answers from her new doctor-I put her on my insurance to get a

> better

> > psychiatrist.

> >

> > She had basically been on Tegretol for her rages for about 8

years

> > and Welbutrin and Lexapro for her anxiety/depression for about a

> > year. She also had Xanax as needed for panic attacks. We moved a

> year

> > ago and even though she was able to go to the same community

> college

> > she had to take 2 buses to get there and two buses to get back.

> The

> > new home and bus changes made her anxiety around other people

> really,

> > really bad so she asked her Medi-Cal doctor to switch her from

> > Lexapro/Welbutrin to something else. He had her stop taking the

> > Lexapro/Welbutrin immediately without any weaning off and start

> > taking Geodon, Seroquel and Amitriptiline. This increased her

> anxiety

> > so he told her to take more Geodon and kept telling her to take

> more

> > until she was up to 400 mg/day. He then put her on Gabitril for

> the

> > anxiety from the Geodon and that caused even MORE anxiety, which

> he

> > responded to by telling her to increase the Gabitril. Basically,

> > within two months she went from Lexapro 60 mg/Welbutrin 300mg XL

> and

> > Xanax 1mg as needed to Geodon 400mg/Gabitril 400mg/Serequel

> > 200mg/Amitriptiline-I don't remember the dose.

> >

> > At this point she was just a basket case, crying all the time,

not

> > able to concentrate enough to read-she's a book-worm-and could

> barely

> > watch TV at night with me. She also could not sleep AT ALL. The

> > doctor told her that these were just side effects and would go

> away.

> > Yeah, right.

> >

> > I put her on my insurance and she saw her new doctor on July 1st.

> He

> > told her to stop the Geodon and Gabitril and Amitriptiline and

put

> > her on Zoloft 50mg and increased the Seroquel to 400mg. He also

> did

> > not tell her to wean off the Geodon/Gabitril just to stop taking

> > them. Well, at this point I had been researching everything about

> > these two drugs on the Internet because her Medi-cal doctor was

> > clearly giving her the wrong medicine for the past 2 1/2 months.

> > Everything I read told of bad reactions to both medications and

> > severe withdrawal symptoms. I told her to go down by 1 pill a

week

> > for each medicine based on my experience with other psych drugs

> that

> > I had been weaned off of. This means that she immediately went to

> > 300mg Geodon/300mg Gabitril/and 3/4 of the dose of Amitriptiline,

> > which I can't remember. So, for three weeks she went down by

100mg

> of

> > each medicine but also took the Zoloft and the Seroquel. The

> fourth

> > week-within 24 hours of taking the last pill of Geodon and

> Gabitril

> > she was having " panic attacks all day and all night long " as she

> put

> > it. We made an emergency appointment with the doctor three days

> later

> > and he increased her Zoloft to 100mg and also increased her

> Seroquel

> > to 600mg and gave her Ambien to sleep.

> >

> > This was on the 18th of July. It is now 45 days later and at our

> last

> > appointment on Friday he increased her Zoloft to 150mg and

> increased

> > her Seroquel to 1000mg. She is still not any better.

> >

> > He does not know if what she is still feeling is withdrawal from

> the

> > Geodon/Gabitril so he doesn't want to try any other anti-anxiety

> > medication except the Seroquel which she swears does nothing for

> her.

> > She is still waking up in the middle of the night and has to take

> > another Ambien to go back to sleep.

> >

> > So to sum it up, since the middle of April she has had increased

> > anxiety and panic attacks for 2 1/2 months because of the switch

> to

> > Geodon/Gabitril and maybe withdrawal from the Lexapro/Welbutrin?

> >

> > Since the middle of July-another 45 days-she has had her already

> > horrible anxiety increase to " panic attacks all day long " from

the

> > withdrawal-MAYBE-of Geodon/Gabitril and/or the switch to Zoloft.

> >

> > This has now been going on for more than 4 months and I don't

know

> > what to do. She is so miserable and had to drop her fall college

> > classes.

> >

> > Does anyone have ANY information on these two drugs,

> Geodon/Gabitril

> > and whether the withdrawal symptoms would last this long-45 days

> from

> > July 15th? I know I said I researched other boards but I would

> like

> > just one person to tell me that yes, this is withdrawal and it

> will

> > get better. So if you have any real-life experience with

> either/both

> > of these drugs could you let me know?

> >

> > We went to ANOTHER P-doc for a second opinion but he was even

> worse

> > than the Medi-cal doctor because he told us that he could give no

> > opinion since HE hadn't been treating her!

> >

> > Any help/encouragement/alternative treatments/apricot pit

> > treatments/witch doctor or Shaman advice would be really helpful

> > about now!

> >

> > Becky

> >

>

[Guest guest]

> > >

> > > I have been reading the posts here for about six weeks and have

> > > responded to one or two posts. I have a question regarding

> > medication

> > > that was prescribed to my AS daughter by her Medi-Cal doctor.

> Does

> > > anyone have experience with either Geodon or Gabitril and what

> > were

> > > the side effects and/or withdrawal symptoms? I am not getting

> any

> > > answers from her new doctor-I put her on my insurance to get a

> > better

> > > psychiatrist.

> > >

> > > She had basically been on Tegretol for her rages for about 8

> years

> > > and Welbutrin and Lexapro for her anxiety/depression for about

a

> > > year. She also had Xanax as needed for panic attacks. We moved

a

> > year

> > > ago and even though she was able to go to the same community

> > college

> > > she had to take 2 buses to get there and two buses to get back.

> > The

> > > new home and bus changes made her anxiety around other people

> > really,

> > > really bad so she asked her Medi-Cal doctor to switch her from

> > > Lexapro/Welbutrin to something else. He had her stop taking the

> > > Lexapro/Welbutrin immediately without any weaning off and start

> > > taking Geodon, Seroquel and Amitriptiline. This increased her

> > anxiety

> > > so he told her to take more Geodon and kept telling her to take

> > more

> > > until she was up to 400 mg/day. He then put her on Gabitril for

> > the

> > > anxiety from the Geodon and that caused even MORE anxiety,

which

> > he

> > > responded to by telling her to increase the Gabitril.

Basically,

> > > within two months she went from Lexapro 60 mg/Welbutrin 300mg

XL

> > and

> > > Xanax 1mg as needed to Geodon 400mg/Gabitril 400mg/Serequel

> > > 200mg/Amitriptiline-I don't remember the dose.

> > >

> > > At this point she was just a basket case, crying all the time,

> not

> > > able to concentrate enough to read-she's a book-worm-and could

> > barely

> > > watch TV at night with me. She also could not sleep AT ALL. The

> > > doctor told her that these were just side effects and would go

> > away.

> > > Yeah, right.

> > >

> > > I put her on my insurance and she saw her new doctor on July

> 1st.

> > He

> > > told her to stop the Geodon and Gabitril and Amitriptiline and

> put

> > > her on Zoloft 50mg and increased the Seroquel to 400mg. He also

> > did

> > > not tell her to wean off the Geodon/Gabitril just to stop

taking

> > > them. Well, at this point I had been researching everything

> about

> > > these two drugs on the Internet because her Medi-cal doctor was

> > > clearly giving her the wrong medicine for the past 2 1/2

months.

> > > Everything I read told of bad reactions to both medications and

> > > severe withdrawal symptoms. I told her to go down by 1 pill a

> week

> > > for each medicine based on my experience with other psych drugs

> > that

> > > I had been weaned off of. This means that she immediately went

> to

> > > 300mg Geodon/300mg Gabitril/and 3/4 of the dose of

> Amitriptiline,

> > > which I can't remember. So, for three weeks she went down by

> 100mg

> > of

> > > each medicine but also took the Zoloft and the Seroquel. The

> > fourth

> > > week-within 24 hours of taking the last pill of Geodon and

> > Gabitril

> > > she was having " panic attacks all day and all night long " as

she

> > put

> > > it. We made an emergency appointment with the doctor three days

> > later

> > > and he increased her Zoloft to 100mg and also increased her

> > Seroquel

> > > to 600mg and gave her Ambien to sleep.

> > >

> > > This was on the 18th of July. It is now 45 days later and at

our

> > last

> > > appointment on Friday he increased her Zoloft to 150mg and

> > increased

> > > her Seroquel to 1000mg. She is still not any better.

> > >

> > > He does not know if what she is still feeling is withdrawal

from

> > the

> > > Geodon/Gabitril so he doesn't want to try any other anti-

anxiety

> > > medication except the Seroquel which she swears does nothing

for

> > her.

> > > She is still waking up in the middle of the night and has to

> take

> > > another Ambien to go back to sleep.

> > >

> > > So to sum it up, since the middle of April she has had

increased

> > > anxiety and panic attacks for 2 1/2 months because of the

switch

> > to

> > > Geodon/Gabitril and maybe withdrawal from the

Lexapro/Welbutrin?

> > >

> > > Since the middle of July-another 45 days-she has had her

already

> > > horrible anxiety increase to " panic attacks all day long " from

> the

> > > withdrawal-MAYBE-of Geodon/Gabitril and/or the switch to Zoloft.

> > >

> > > This has now been going on for more than 4 months and I don't

> know

> > > what to do. She is so miserable and had to drop her fall

college

> > > classes.

> > >

> > > Does anyone have ANY information on these two drugs,

> > Geodon/Gabitril

> > > and whether the withdrawal symptoms would last this long-45

days

> > from

> > > July 15th? I know I said I researched other boards but I would

> > like

> > > just one person to tell me that yes, this is withdrawal and it

> > will

> > > get better. So if you have any real-life experience with

> > either/both

> > > of these drugs could you let me know?

> > >

> > > We went to ANOTHER P-doc for a second opinion but he was even

> > worse

> > > than the Medi-cal doctor because he told us that he could give

> no

> > > opinion since HE hadn't been treating her!

> > >

> > > Any help/encouragement/alternative treatments/apricot pit

> > > treatments/witch doctor or Shaman advice would be really

helpful

> > > about now!

> > >

> > > Becky

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

> > > >

> > > > I have been reading the posts here for about six weeks and

> have

> > > > responded to one or two posts. I have a question regarding

> > > medication

> > > > that was prescribed to my AS daughter by her Medi-Cal doctor.

> > Does

> > > > anyone have experience with either Geodon or Gabitril and

what

> > > were

> > > > the side effects and/or withdrawal symptoms? I am not getting

> > any

> > > > answers from her new doctor-I put her on my insurance to get

a

> > > better

> > > > psychiatrist.

> > > >

> > > > She had basically been on Tegretol for her rages for about 8

> > years

> > > > and Welbutrin and Lexapro for her anxiety/depression for

about

> a

> > > > year. She also had Xanax as needed for panic attacks. We

moved

> a

> > > year

> > > > ago and even though she was able to go to the same community

> > > college

> > > > she had to take 2 buses to get there and two buses to get

> back.

> > > The

> > > > new home and bus changes made her anxiety around other people

> > > really,

> > > > really bad so she asked her Medi-Cal doctor to switch her

from

> > > > Lexapro/Welbutrin to something else. He had her stop taking

> the

> > > > Lexapro/Welbutrin immediately without any weaning off and

> start

> > > > taking Geodon, Seroquel and Amitriptiline. This increased her

> > > anxiety

> > > > so he told her to take more Geodon and kept telling her to

> take

> > > more

> > > > until she was up to 400 mg/day. He then put her on Gabitril

> for

> > > the

> > > > anxiety from the Geodon and that caused even MORE anxiety,

> which

> > > he

> > > > responded to by telling her to increase the Gabitril.

> Basically,

> > > > within two months she went from Lexapro 60 mg/Welbutrin 300mg

> XL

> > > and

> > > > Xanax 1mg as needed to Geodon 400mg/Gabitril 400mg/Serequel

> > > > 200mg/Amitriptiline-I don't remember the dose.

> > > >

> > > > At this point she was just a basket case, crying all the

time,

> > not

> > > > able to concentrate enough to read-she's a book-worm-and

could

> > > barely

> > > > watch TV at night with me. She also could not sleep AT ALL.

> The

> > > > doctor told her that these were just side effects and would

go

> > > away.

> > > > Yeah, right.

> > > >

> > > > I put her on my insurance and she saw her new doctor on July

> > 1st.

> > > He

> > > > told her to stop the Geodon and Gabitril and Amitriptiline

and

> > put

> > > > her on Zoloft 50mg and increased the Seroquel to 400mg. He

> also

> > > did

> > > > not tell her to wean off the Geodon/Gabitril just to stop

> taking

> > > > them. Well, at this point I had been researching everything

> > about

> > > > these two drugs on the Internet because her Medi-cal doctor

> was

> > > > clearly giving her the wrong medicine for the past 2 1/2

> months.

> > > > Everything I read told of bad reactions to both medications

> and

> > > > severe withdrawal symptoms. I told her to go down by 1 pill a

> > week

> > > > for each medicine based on my experience with other psych

> drugs

> > > that

> > > > I had been weaned off of. This means that she immediately

went

> > to

> > > > 300mg Geodon/300mg Gabitril/and 3/4 of the dose of

> > Amitriptiline,

> > > > which I can't remember. So, for three weeks she went down by

> > 100mg

> > > of

> > > > each medicine but also took the Zoloft and the Seroquel. The

> > > fourth

> > > > week-within 24 hours of taking the last pill of Geodon and

> > > Gabitril

> > > > she was having " panic attacks all day and all night long " as

> she

> > > put

> > > > it. We made an emergency appointment with the doctor three

> days

> > > later

> > > > and he increased her Zoloft to 100mg and also increased her

> > > Seroquel

> > > > to 600mg and gave her Ambien to sleep.

> > > >

> > > > This was on the 18th of July. It is now 45 days later and at

> our

> > > last

> > > > appointment on Friday he increased her Zoloft to 150mg and

> > > increased

> > > > her Seroquel to 1000mg. She is still not any better.

> > > >

> > > > He does not know if what she is still feeling is withdrawal

> from

> > > the

> > > > Geodon/Gabitril so he doesn't want to try any other anti-

> anxiety

> > > > medication except the Seroquel which she swears does nothing

> for

> > > her.

> > > > She is still waking up in the middle of the night and has to

> > take

> > > > another Ambien to go back to sleep.

> > > >

> > > > So to sum it up, since the middle of April she has had

> increased

> > > > anxiety and panic attacks for 2 1/2 months because of the

> switch

> > > to

> > > > Geodon/Gabitril and maybe withdrawal from the

> Lexapro/Welbutrin?

> > > >

> > > > Since the middle of July-another 45 days-she has had her

> already

> > > > horrible anxiety increase to " panic attacks all day long "

from

> > the

> > > > withdrawal-MAYBE-of Geodon/Gabitril and/or the switch to

> Zoloft.

> > > >

> > > > This has now been going on for more than 4 months and I don't

> > know

> > > > what to do. She is so miserable and had to drop her fall

> college

> > > > classes.

> > > >

> > > > Does anyone have ANY information on these two drugs,

> > > Geodon/Gabitril

> > > > and whether the withdrawal symptoms would last this long-45

> days

> > > from

> > > > July 15th? I know I said I researched other boards but I

would

> > > like

> > > > just one person to tell me that yes, this is withdrawal and

it

> > > will

> > > > get better. So if you have any real-life experience with

> > > either/both

> > > > of these drugs could you let me know?

> > > >

> > > > We went to ANOTHER P-doc for a second opinion but he was even

> > > worse

> > > > than the Medi-cal doctor because he told us that he could

give

> > no

> > > > opinion since HE hadn't been treating her!

> > > >

> > > > Any help/encouragement/alternative treatments/apricot pit

> > > > treatments/witch doctor or Shaman advice would be really

> helpful

> > > > about now!

> > > >

> > > > Becky

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

> > > > >

> > > > > I have been reading the posts here for about six weeks and

> > have

> > > > > responded to one or two posts. I have a question regarding

> > > > medication

> > > > > that was prescribed to my AS daughter by her Medi-Cal

> doctor.

> > > Does

> > > > > anyone have experience with either Geodon or Gabitril and

> what

> > > > were

> > > > > the side effects and/or withdrawal symptoms? I am not

> getting

> > > any

> > > > > answers from her new doctor-I put her on my insurance to

get

> a

> > > > better

> > > > > psychiatrist.

> > > > >

> > > > > She had basically been on Tegretol for her rages for about

8

> > > years

> > > > > and Welbutrin and Lexapro for her anxiety/depression for

> about

> > a

> > > > > year. She also had Xanax as needed for panic attacks. We

> moved

> > a

> > > > year

> > > > > ago and even though she was able to go to the same

community

> > > > college

> > > > > she had to take 2 buses to get there and two buses to get

> > back.

> > > > The

> > > > > new home and bus changes made her anxiety around other

> people

> > > > really,

> > > > > really bad so she asked her Medi-Cal doctor to switch her

> from

> > > > > Lexapro/Welbutrin to something else. He had her stop taking

> > the

> > > > > Lexapro/Welbutrin immediately without any weaning off and

> > start

> > > > > taking Geodon, Seroquel and Amitriptiline. This increased

> her

> > > > anxiety

> > > > > so he told her to take more Geodon and kept telling her to

> > take

> > > > more

> > > > > until she was up to 400 mg/day. He then put her on Gabitril

> > for

> > > > the

> > > > > anxiety from the Geodon and that caused even MORE anxiety,

> > which

> > > > he

> > > > > responded to by telling her to increase the Gabitril.

> > Basically,

> > > > > within two months she went from Lexapro 60 mg/Welbutrin

> 300mg

> > XL

> > > > and

> > > > > Xanax 1mg as needed to Geodon 400mg/Gabitril 400mg/Serequel

> > > > > 200mg/Amitriptiline-I don't remember the dose.

> > > > >

> > > > > At this point she was just a basket case, crying all the

> time,

> > > not

> > > > > able to concentrate enough to read-she's a book-worm-and

> could

> > > > barely

> > > > > watch TV at night with me. She also could not sleep AT ALL.

> > The

> > > > > doctor told her that these were just side effects and would

> go

> > > > away.

> > > > > Yeah, right.

> > > > >

> > > > > I put her on my insurance and she saw her new doctor on

July

> > > 1st.

> > > > He

> > > > > told her to stop the Geodon and Gabitril and Amitriptiline

> and

> > > put

> > > > > her on Zoloft 50mg and increased the Seroquel to 400mg. He

> > also

> > > > did

> > > > > not tell her to wean off the Geodon/Gabitril just to stop

> > taking

> > > > > them. Well, at this point I had been researching everything

> > > about

> > > > > these two drugs on the Internet because her Medi-cal doctor

> > was

> > > > > clearly giving her the wrong medicine for the past 2 1/2

> > months.

> > > > > Everything I read told of bad reactions to both medications

> > and

> > > > > severe withdrawal symptoms. I told her to go down by 1 pill

> a

> > > week

> > > > > for each medicine based on my experience with other psych

> > drugs

> > > > that

> > > > > I had been weaned off of. This means that she immediately

> went

> > > to

> > > > > 300mg Geodon/300mg Gabitril/and 3/4 of the dose of

> > > Amitriptiline,

> > > > > which I can't remember. So, for three weeks she went down

by

> > > 100mg

> > > > of

> > > > > each medicine but also took the Zoloft and the Seroquel.

The

> > > > fourth

> > > > > week-within 24 hours of taking the last pill of Geodon and

> > > > Gabitril

> > > > > she was having " panic attacks all day and all night long "

as

> > she

> > > > put

> > > > > it. We made an emergency appointment with the doctor three

> > days

> > > > later

> > > > > and he increased her Zoloft to 100mg and also increased her

> > > > Seroquel

> > > > > to 600mg and gave her Ambien to sleep.

> > > > >

> > > > > This was on the 18th of July. It is now 45 days later and

at

> > our

> > > > last

> > > > > appointment on Friday he increased her Zoloft to 150mg and

> > > > increased

> > > > > her Seroquel to 1000mg. She is still not any better.

> > > > >

> > > > > He does not know if what she is still feeling is withdrawal

> > from

> > > > the

> > > > > Geodon/Gabitril so he doesn't want to try any other anti-

> > anxiety

> > > > > medication except the Seroquel which she swears does

nothing

> > for

> > > > her.

> > > > > She is still waking up in the middle of the night and has

to

> > > take

> > > > > another Ambien to go back to sleep.

> > > > >

> > > > > So to sum it up, since the middle of April she has had

> > increased

> > > > > anxiety and panic attacks for 2 1/2 months because of the

> > switch

> > > > to

> > > > > Geodon/Gabitril and maybe withdrawal from the

> > Lexapro/Welbutrin?

> > > > >

> > > > > Since the middle of July-another 45 days-she has had her

> > already

> > > > > horrible anxiety increase to " panic attacks all day long "

> from

> > > the

> > > > > withdrawal-MAYBE-of Geodon/Gabitril and/or the switch to

> > Zoloft.

> > > > >

> > > > > This has now been going on for more than 4 months and I

> don't

> > > know

> > > > > what to do. She is so miserable and had to drop her fall

> > college

> > > > > classes.

> > > > >

> > > > > Does anyone have ANY information on these two drugs,

> > > > Geodon/Gabitril

> > > > > and whether the withdrawal symptoms would last this long-45

> > days

> > > > from

> > > > > July 15th? I know I said I researched other boards but I

> would

> > > > like

> > > > > just one person to tell me that yes, this is withdrawal and

> it

> > > > will

> > > > > get better. So if you have any real-life experience with

> > > > either/both

> > > > > of these drugs could you let me know?

> > > > >

> > > > > We went to ANOTHER P-doc for a second opinion but he was

> even

> > > > worse

> > > > > than the Medi-cal doctor because he told us that he could

> give

> > > no

> > > > > opinion since HE hadn't been treating her!

> > > > >

> > > > > Any help/encouragement/alternative treatments/apricot pit

> > > > > treatments/witch doctor or Shaman advice would be really

> > helpful

> > > > > about now!

> > > > >

> > > > > Becky

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Becky, Well the reason I don't like to sleep when he's awake is

because even though he is 15 mentally he is still 7 or 8 and I

wouldn't leave a 7 or 8 year old awake alone all night. He will

roam the house, eat, go on the computer, listen to his music while

he writes down the song titles, etc. He told me the reason he

doesn't sleep is that he forgets to sleep, but I remind him so I

don't know the real reason. Sorry about the medicine mixup I had

when I told you it sounded like your daughter was on two

antipsychotics I was thinking of Zoloft and got it confused with

Zyprexa. Neither of which we have been on so they are both new

names for me. My son's Dr. said he wouldn't ever put him on Zyprexa

because my son gained 60 pounds when he was on Risperdal he said he

would gain double that on Zyprexa.

> > > > >

> > > > > I have been reading the posts here for about six weeks and

> > have

> > > > > responded to one or two posts. I have a question regarding

> > > > medication

> > > > > that was prescribed to my AS daughter by her Medi-Cal

doctor.

> > > Does

> > > > > anyone have experience with either Geodon or Gabitril and

> what

> > > > were

> > > > > the side effects and/or withdrawal symptoms? I am not

getting

> > > any

> > > > > answers from her new doctor-I put her on my insurance to

get

> a

> > > > better

> > > > > psychiatrist.

> > > > >

> > > > > She had basically been on Tegretol for her rages for about

8

> > > years

> > > > > and Welbutrin and Lexapro for her anxiety/depression for

> about

> > a

> > > > > year. She also had Xanax as needed for panic attacks. We

> moved

> > a

> > > > year

> > > > > ago and even though she was able to go to the same

community

> > > > college

> > > > > she had to take 2 buses to get there and two buses to get

> > back.

> > > > The

> > > > > new home and bus changes made her anxiety around other

people

> > > > really,

> > > > > really bad so she asked her Medi-Cal doctor to switch her

> from

> > > > > Lexapro/Welbutrin to something else. He had her stop

taking

> > the

> > > > > Lexapro/Welbutrin immediately without any weaning off and

> > start

> > > > > taking Geodon, Seroquel and Amitriptiline. This increased

her

> > > > anxiety

> > > > > so he told her to take more Geodon and kept telling her to

> > take

> > > > more

> > > > > until she was up to 400 mg/day. He then put her on

Gabitril

> > for

> > > > the

> > > > > anxiety from the Geodon and that caused even MORE anxiety,

> > which

> > > > he

> > > > > responded to by telling her to increase the Gabitril.

> > Basically,

> > > > > within two months she went from Lexapro 60 mg/Welbutrin

300mg

> > XL

> > > > and

> > > > > Xanax 1mg as needed to Geodon 400mg/Gabitril

400mg/Serequel

> > > > > 200mg/Amitriptiline-I don't remember the dose.

> > > > >

> > > > > At this point she was just a basket case, crying all the

> time,

> > > not

> > > > > able to concentrate enough to read-she's a book-worm-and

> could

> > > > barely

> > > > > watch TV at night with me. She also could not sleep AT

ALL.

> > The

> > > > > doctor told her that these were just side effects and

would

> go

> > > > away.

> > > > > Yeah, right.

> > > > >

> > > > > I put her on my insurance and she saw her new doctor on

July

> > > 1st.

> > > > He

> > > > > told her to stop the Geodon and Gabitril and Amitriptiline

> and

> > > put

> > > > > her on Zoloft 50mg and increased the Seroquel to 400mg. He

> > also

> > > > did

> > > > > not tell her to wean off the Geodon/Gabitril just to stop

> > taking

> > > > > them. Well, at this point I had been researching

everything

> > > about

> > > > > these two drugs on the Internet because her Medi-cal

doctor

> > was

> > > > > clearly giving her the wrong medicine for the past 2 1/2

> > months.

> > > > > Everything I read told of bad reactions to both

medications

> > and

> > > > > severe withdrawal symptoms. I told her to go down by 1

pill a

> > > week

> > > > > for each medicine based on my experience with other psych

> > drugs

> > > > that

> > > > > I had been weaned off of. This means that she immediately

> went

> > > to

> > > > > 300mg Geodon/300mg Gabitril/and 3/4 of the dose of

> > > Amitriptiline,

> > > > > which I can't remember. So, for three weeks she went down

by

> > > 100mg

> > > > of

> > > > > each medicine but also took the Zoloft and the Seroquel.

The

> > > > fourth

> > > > > week-within 24 hours of taking the last pill of Geodon and

> > > > Gabitril

> > > > > she was having " panic attacks all day and all night long "

as

> > she

> > > > put

> > > > > it. We made an emergency appointment with the doctor three

> > days

> > > > later

> > > > > and he increased her Zoloft to 100mg and also increased

her

> > > > Seroquel

> > > > > to 600mg and gave her Ambien to sleep.

> > > > >

> > > > > This was on the 18th of July. It is now 45 days later and

at

> > our

> > > > last

> > > > > appointment on Friday he increased her Zoloft to 150mg and

> > > > increased

> > > > > her Seroquel to 1000mg. She is still not any better.

> > > > >

> > > > > He does not know if what she is still feeling is

withdrawal

> > from

> > > > the

> > > > > Geodon/Gabitril so he doesn't want to try any other anti-

> > anxiety

> > > > > medication except the Seroquel which she swears does

nothing

> > for

> > > > her.

> > > > > She is still waking up in the middle of the night and has

to

> > > take

> > > > > another Ambien to go back to sleep.

> > > > >

> > > > > So to sum it up, since the middle of April she has had

> > increased

> > > > > anxiety and panic attacks for 2 1/2 months because of the

> > switch

> > > > to

> > > > > Geodon/Gabitril and maybe withdrawal from the

> > Lexapro/Welbutrin?

> > > > >

> > > > > Since the middle of July-another 45 days-she has had her

> > already

> > > > > horrible anxiety increase to " panic attacks all day long "

> from

> > > the

> > > > > withdrawal-MAYBE-of Geodon/Gabitril and/or the switch to

> > Zoloft.

> > > > >

> > > > > This has now been going on for more than 4 months and I

don't

> > > know

> > > > > what to do. She is so miserable and had to drop her fall

> > college

> > > > > classes.

> > > > >

> > > > > Does anyone have ANY information on these two drugs,

> > > > Geodon/Gabitril

> > > > > and whether the withdrawal symptoms would last this long-

45

> > days

> > > > from

> > > > > July 15th? I know I said I researched other boards but I

> would

> > > > like

> > > > > just one person to tell me that yes, this is withdrawal

and

> it

> > > > will

> > > > > get better. So if you have any real-life experience with

> > > > either/both

> > > > > of these drugs could you let me know?

> > > > >

> > > > > We went to ANOTHER P-doc for a second opinion but he was

even

> > > > worse

> > > > > than the Medi-cal doctor because he told us that he could

> give

> > > no

> > > > > opinion since HE hadn't been treating her!

> > > > >

> > > > > Any help/encouragement/alternative treatments/apricot pit

> > > > > treatments/witch doctor or Shaman advice would be really

> > helpful

> > > > > about now!

> > > > >

> > > > > Becky

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Sorry I took so long to reply. It has been one of those weeks and

it's only Wednesday!

What is your son's dx? That sounds like such a hard situation. When

my son was 15 he had just been diagnosed and one day when I went to

pick him up from school he was around the side of the school on the

sidewalk curled up in a ball and it took me a long time to get him to

respond and get into the car. It turns out he got enough courage to

talk to a girl he had liked for a long time and she was, let's just

say, not very nice about it. He then got teased by all the boys who

witnessed this exchange. Aren't teenagers great? I know I thought I

would never get through those years. The good news is now that they

are in their 20's we are back to being a family and most of the times

are good times.

My son was on Zyprexa and he gained 30lbs in a very short time. This

is a boy who was so skinny his whole life! LOL. Now he knows what Mom

goes through as he is still trying to lose the weight 4 months later.

Becky

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I have been reading the posts here for about six weeks

and

> > > have

> > > > > > responded to one or two posts. I have a question

regarding

> > > > > medication

> > > > > > that was prescribed to my AS daughter by her Medi-Cal

> doctor.

> > > > Does

> > > > > > anyone have experience with either Geodon or Gabitril and

> > what

> > > > > were

> > > > > > the side effects and/or withdrawal symptoms? I am not

> getting

> > > > any

> > > > > > answers from her new doctor-I put her on my insurance to

> get

> > a

> > > > > better

> > > > > > psychiatrist.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > She had basically been on Tegretol for her rages for

about

> 8

> > > > years

> > > > > > and Welbutrin and Lexapro for her anxiety/depression for

> > about

> > > a

> > > > > > year. She also had Xanax as needed for panic attacks. We

> > moved

> > > a

> > > > > year

> > > > > > ago and even though she was able to go to the same

> community

> > > > > college

> > > > > > she had to take 2 buses to get there and two buses to get

> > > back.

> > > > > The

> > > > > > new home and bus changes made her anxiety around other

> people

> > > > > really,

> > > > > > really bad so she asked her Medi-Cal doctor to switch her

> > from

> > > > > > Lexapro/Welbutrin to something else. He had her stop

> taking

> > > the

> > > > > > Lexapro/Welbutrin immediately without any weaning off and

> > > start

> > > > > > taking Geodon, Seroquel and Amitriptiline. This increased

> her

> > > > > anxiety

> > > > > > so he told her to take more Geodon and kept telling her

to

> > > take

> > > > > more

> > > > > > until she was up to 400 mg/day. He then put her on

> Gabitril

> > > for

> > > > > the

> > > > > > anxiety from the Geodon and that caused even MORE

anxiety,

> > > which

> > > > > he

> > > > > > responded to by telling her to increase the Gabitril.

> > > Basically,

> > > > > > within two months she went from Lexapro 60 mg/Welbutrin

> 300mg

> > > XL

> > > > > and

> > > > > > Xanax 1mg as needed to Geodon 400mg/Gabitril

> 400mg/Serequel

> > > > > > 200mg/Amitriptiline-I don't remember the dose.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > At this point she was just a basket case, crying all the

> > time,

> > > > not

> > > > > > able to concentrate enough to read-she's a book-worm-and

> > could

> > > > > barely

> > > > > > watch TV at night with me. She also could not sleep AT

> ALL.

> > > The

> > > > > > doctor told her that these were just side effects and

> would

> > go

> > > > > away.

> > > > > > Yeah, right.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I put her on my insurance and she saw her new doctor on

> July

> > > > 1st.

> > > > > He

> > > > > > told her to stop the Geodon and Gabitril and

Amitriptiline

> > and

> > > > put

> > > > > > her on Zoloft 50mg and increased the Seroquel to 400mg.

He

> > > also

> > > > > did

> > > > > > not tell her to wean off the Geodon/Gabitril just to stop

> > > taking

> > > > > > them. Well, at this point I had been researching

> everything

> > > > about

> > > > > > these two drugs on the Internet because her Medi-cal

> doctor

> > > was

> > > > > > clearly giving her the wrong medicine for the past 2 1/2

> > > months.

> > > > > > Everything I read told of bad reactions to both

> medications

> > > and

> > > > > > severe withdrawal symptoms. I told her to go down by 1

> pill a

> > > > week

> > > > > > for each medicine based on my experience with other psych

> > > drugs

> > > > > that

> > > > > > I had been weaned off of. This means that she immediately

> > went

> > > > to

> > > > > > 300mg Geodon/300mg Gabitril/and 3/4 of the dose of

> > > > Amitriptiline,

> > > > > > which I can't remember. So, for three weeks she went down

> by

> > > > 100mg

> > > > > of

> > > > > > each medicine but also took the Zoloft and the Seroquel.

> The

> > > > > fourth

> > > > > > week-within 24 hours of taking the last pill of Geodon

and

> > > > > Gabitril

> > > > > > she was having " panic attacks all day and all night long "

> as

> > > she

> > > > > put

> > > > > > it. We made an emergency appointment with the doctor

three

> > > days

> > > > > later

> > > > > > and he increased her Zoloft to 100mg and also increased

> her

> > > > > Seroquel

> > > > > > to 600mg and gave her Ambien to sleep.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > This was on the 18th of July. It is now 45 days later and

> at

> > > our

> > > > > last

> > > > > > appointment on Friday he increased her Zoloft to 150mg

and

> > > > > increased

> > > > > > her Seroquel to 1000mg. She is still not any better.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > He does not know if what she is still feeling is

> withdrawal

> > > from

> > > > > the

> > > > > > Geodon/Gabitril so he doesn't want to try any other anti-

> > > anxiety

> > > > > > medication except the Seroquel which she swears does

> nothing

> > > for

> > > > > her.

> > > > > > She is still waking up in the middle of the night and has

> to

> > > > take

> > > > > > another Ambien to go back to sleep.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > So to sum it up, since the middle of April she has had

> > > increased

> > > > > > anxiety and panic attacks for 2 1/2 months because of the

> > > switch

> > > > > to

> > > > > > Geodon/Gabitril and maybe withdrawal from the

> > > Lexapro/Welbutrin?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Since the middle of July-another 45 days-she has had her

> > > already

> > > > > > horrible anxiety increase to " panic attacks all day long "

> > from

> > > > the

> > > > > > withdrawal-MAYBE-of Geodon/Gabitril and/or the switch to

> > > Zoloft.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > This has now been going on for more than 4 months and I

> don't

> > > > know

> > > > > > what to do. She is so miserable and had to drop her fall

> > > college

> > > > > > classes.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Does anyone have ANY information on these two drugs,

> > > > > Geodon/Gabitril

> > > > > > and whether the withdrawal symptoms would last this long-

> 45

> > > days

> > > > > from

> > > > > > July 15th? I know I said I researched other boards but I

> > would

> > > > > like

> > > > > > just one person to tell me that yes, this is withdrawal

> and

> > it

> > > > > will

> > > > > > get better. So if you have any real-life experience with

> > > > > either/both

> > > > > > of these drugs could you let me know?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > We went to ANOTHER P-doc for a second opinion but he was

> even

> > > > > worse

> > > > > > than the Medi-cal doctor because he told us that he could

> > give

> > > > no

> > > > > > opinion since HE hadn't been treating her!

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Any help/encouragement/alternative treatments/apricot pit

> > > > > > treatments/witch doctor or Shaman advice would be really

> > > helpful

> > > > > > about now!

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Becky

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Sometimes people are on medications in big, whopping doses that are

just exactly what they need. I take so much Effexor, for example,

that my insurance company refused to pay for it until my doctor wrote

them a nasty letter. I also take quite a high dose of Topamax. My

psych. for the year that I'm here in Boston exclaimed, " I've never

heard of a dose that high (of Topamax)! "

What I'm trying to say is that Becky's daughter clearly was on some

toxic meds. Sounds to me like she needs a drug holiday, then to be

ramped up on something new. By somebody who knows a freaking psych

med from a sugar lump.

Liz

On Sep 3, 2006, at 4:14 PM, rabeau1234 wrote:

>

> >

> first and

> > foremost, these drugs Geodon, Gabitril, and Seroquel, are all at

> way too

> > high of dosages, at those high level of dosages, they will fry

> your Daughter's

> > liver in no time

>

> ]\

[Guest guest]

> > >

> > first and

> > > foremost, these drugs Geodon, Gabitril, and Seroquel, are all at

> > way too

> > > high of dosages, at those high level of dosages, they will fry

> > your Daughter's

> > > liver in no time

> >

> > ]\

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/28/2006 10:19:43 PM Eastern Standard Time,

rabeau1@... writes:

The problem was that all of those drugs

were not helping her anxiety one bit and that is what she was on them

for!

Hi,

My son would get worse on any kind of antidepressant. the buspar seems to

help though. I still wish they had a safe form of valium he could take

Meg

[Guest guest]

Oh that doc sounds really awful!! We cause our own problems?

I especially like the part where he decides you are too close to the problem.

This is such a switch around from what really happens. I remember my own

problems when my oldest ds was first having problems. People would blame me

because he didn't talk because I " talked for him. " I realize now that we spoke

up for him because he couldn't do it himself. Not the other way around.

Sometimes they confuse the actual cause/effect and get it backwards. Of course,

you are there and so involved, like any good mother would be, because your child

needs help. that is so DUH. What a terrible doc!

Roxanna

Re: ( ) Experience with Geodon or Gabitril? Desperate!

> > >

> > first and

> > > foremost, these drugs Geodon, Gabitril, and Seroquel, are all at

> > way too

> > > high of dosages, at those high level of dosages, they will fry

> > your Daughter's

> > > liver in no time

> >

> > ]\

>

>

>