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Originally Posted by miamary05  Hello all,
I haven't been on sr in awhile and I also never posted in this section but my doc just prescribed me some new meds and I guess this is the right place to be for my questions.. Let me first make my story short and sweet.
I am a ex heroin addict. I am just about 2 months clean, I was using for 5 yrs started off with pills then turned to heroin 2 yrs ago. I went to my local outpatient program and the prescribed me suboxones. They also prescribed my zyprexa. The zyprexa was to help with sleep because I have insomnia and also to be a mood stabilizer ( what my doc told me). I looked up zyprexa and it says its used for bipolar and schizophrenia. I took the pill a couple of times but woke up with headaches everytime. I just got back from my monthly doctors appt. and told him how the zyprexa gave me headaches.
I also told him that I have crazy mood swings. I don't think I ever noticed it before because I was always high and happy so nothing could bother me. But now the mood swings are out of control. Every little thing bothers me and when I get angry I can never let it go. If I don't like someones opinion I get so mad and I can't understand why. I could be so happy and any little thing could set me off. He never diagnosed me with bipolar or anything but he prescribed me geodon. I am told to take 20mg in the am and 60mg before bedtime. So I have a few questions with hopes someone can answer/help.
1.Has anyone been on geodon? and if so are there any major side affects?
2.Does anyone think my mood swings and anger problems could be bipolar?
3.And if it is not a sign of bipolar what is my problem.. and why would I keep getting prescribed bipolar and schizophrenia meds?
Any suggestions would help...
Thank you Mia 
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1. I'm currently on Geodon, along with Lithium, Effexor and ProVigil. Someone should warn you Geodon can cause sexual dysfunction, at least it has for me, but I'm a man. I've found it takes the umph out of orgasms. That's just a matter of timing when you have sex/masturbate. I usually wait 12 hours after I've taken it in the morning. You should ask your psychiatrist about side effects, but here are some common ones, and the percentages of people who experience them:
# Drowsiness -- in up to 31 percent of people
# Headaches -- up to 18 percent
# Dizziness -- up to 16 percent
# Nausea -- up to 10 percent
# Weight gain -- up to 10 percent (see Geodon and Weight Gain)
# Constipation -- up to 9 percent
# Indigestion or heartburn -- up to 8 percent
# Respiratory tract infections -- up to 8 percent.
These side effects occur in 2-6 percent of people:
# Vision problems
# Weakness
# Vomiting
# Diarrhea
# Accidental injury
# Dry mouth (see Geodon and Dry Mouth)
# An irritated or runny nose
# Increased salivation
# Chest pain
# Cough
# A sore throat
# A rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
# Loss of appetite
# Fungal infections
# Difficulty swallowing
# Muscle pain
# Speech problems.
I have actually experienced increased appetite since taking Geodon, as well as dry mouth, though that's more likely from the Lithium.
Geodon does make you drowsy, and if your morning meds make you too drowsy, I'd recommend asking your shrink for Adderall, Ritalin or ProVigil, which is a wonderful, but expensive, drug that keeps you awake without the feeling of being on speed or overcaffeinated as on Adderall and Ritalin. It also works a little as an anti-depressant. I've also experienced heartburn since going on Geodon, but I'm also overweight, which is partly thanks to all the drugs I've taken/am taking.
However, having said all that, I find Geodon is much better than drugs like Rispirdal or Seroquel (makes you devestatingly drowsy) so stick with it if you find it balances your moods and keeps you from feeling psychotic.
2. It definitely sounds like you're bi-polar, or at the very least you have a mood disorder. That's why you're being diagnosed with bi-polar medicine. I wouldn't worry as much about a diagnosis, it's the treatment and if the meds are working. If the drugs still aren't doing their job, I'd recommend going on another mood stabilizer like Lithium or Lemictal as those are especially effective for people with bipolar disorder.
And I concur with Cleansing: medications are only there to stabilize you. You need to be working with a cognitive-behavioral therapist and possibly even joining a NAMI Connection (google it) group if you want to recover from your illness.
Take care and good luck,
Clay