Geodon and headaches

Within 5 days of beginning course of Geodon, 40mg daily, doc doubled my dosage to 80mg, began to have problems. Intensely manic, easily frightened, insomnia, terrifying dreams. I decided to get out of hospital ASAP and decide if to quit taking Geodon.
On day six already my face was twitching, was irritable and manic, pacing, increasingly manic throughout day, decided to skip evening dose, keep total dosage same as before, 40mg. Began tripping around midnight and it was all downhill from there. Sleepless all night, by morning I had convulsions, increased heart rate, fear and anxiety, psychosis, uncontrollable crying. Had another seizure 12 hours later. Slept a little with help of Valium. Next day developed Parkinson's like symptoms, had my father not been there to help me, Lord knows what would have happened to me. Still awake in day 3 of withdrawal. Hoping the worst is over.

Its been a week since I've been on 80mg of geodon, and the side effects really haven't subsided much. My doctor told me to take one pill in the AM and on in the PM so I did but I was so tired during the day I couldn't accomplish anything, so he said take them at night, well if I take them at night I can't sleep! It gives me so much anxiety and MANIA, racey thoughts all night being i'm bipolar its not good. I"m so restless at night it sucks! I told my doctor he said these side effects should subside in a few days and he came me some klonopin, that didn't even knock me out till i took 2! The nausea and headaches aren't even my main concern its the mania and staying up till 3 and waking up 20 times at time at night. Do these symptoms go away, and does this drug really work and help for bipolar?? Is it worth all this crap in the end?

hi...I have been on 40 mg Geodon for 2 weeks....the headaches and subsequent muscle tension in my head, neck and upper back are really bad!! Will this go away?

I have been on Geodon for BPD for about a month and a couple of weeks. I also have side effects -dry mouth, terrible indigestion, sometimes sleep too much, sometimes not at all. I get headaches only if I miss a dosage, though. I'm restless alot. And my muscles tremble even thought no one can see them. Also some paranoia.

I'm on 80 mgs. every night and plan to stick with it because I can feel my moods stabilizing. I feel very different from before I was taking this medicine. For me the BPD is much worse than the side effects caused by Geodon. I have taken other meds that put me in the hospital.

So far this has been a life saver for me.

My doc told me to stick to the 80 mgs. a night because of the awful side effects from the other meds he wants to raise dosage slowly.

Yes, I'm uncomfortable and wish I didn't have to take it. But since it is the only one that is truly working so far I will stick with it. I suffer much more when my BPD is not under control.

My 18 year old daughter (BPD with hallucinations) has been taking this drug since December. She is currently taking 320 mg. per day (split between morning and evening) - rare but it has been done - although I'd prefer not. First, I don't even think G gets to theraputic levels until 80 mgs. DD was on Risperdal (which worked wonderfully but her prolactin level went through the roof) and so they slowing titrated her off of that and on to G. Yes, the side effects were horrible at first. Again, it isn't until you reach theraputic levels that you start to see those side effects diminish and our experience plus other experiences I've heard of is that the higher the dosage the fewer side effects. I would highly recommend an EKG (just to be on the safe side although the side effect of heart problems appears to be over emphasized with the research I've found). I have to say that her hallucinations continue but are better - her BPD is very well stabalized with this drug (and we saw the advantage for her BPD early on). She is very level or able to regain stability when she senses a mood swing coming. Now her biggest side effects are tremors (which she's had with both Abilify and Risperdal) and a dry mouth (typical with Geodon). She occasionally gets headaches which, again, can be a side effect.

Honestly, our experience is that our DD has had side effects that were more intensified with every new medication and every dosage increase. Over time, that has always gotten better (except the prolactin level with Risperdal). I think people sometimes don't give it "enough time" but I know I'm not in their shoes. Lastly, for BPD, I'd definitely recommend giving it a try - the difference in our DD is like night and day.