Has anyone had these symptoms stopping Geodon? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

dragonfly73 · 11-24-2008, 08:16 PM

Hi, I have always had anxiety. After going to a psydoc he said I may be bipolar. He prescribed me Geodon and Depakote. After taking this a week I began having heart palpitations, swollen ankles, hallucinations right after taking them and felt sick and restless. I couldn't wake up and catch a snap until around 3pm even after drinking several cups of coffee and I felt numb like a zombie. He took me off cold turkey.

I started having extreme tightness in my chest on the left side of my body along with ear pressure. I also have head ringing that comes and goes depending on what I eat. He gave me xanax which helps a lot, 1mg a day. Sometimes I try to take less and deal with the tightness that only occurs on the left side of my chest and back and it extends to my throat and ear. He tried prozac for a while and all it seemed to do was make my head feel bloated and never relieved any tightness. This has been going on for 6 months after stopping the Geodon and Depakote.

When I wake up the pressure isn't so bad . If I eat toast and Jelly the tightness comes full strength. If I eat a salad or a sandwich it's not so bad. I had blood work done and everything came back normal. I hate having to depend on xanax to relieve the pressure. Does anyone know what is going on with my body and what Geodon and Depakote has done to my body? Has anyone one else experienced this or know someone that has? My doc seems to just think this is going to go away but after 6 months it hasn't got much better. I never had anything like this until taking those meds and as far as the anxiety I never had tightness or back pain. Thanks for reading and if you have any info I would love your help. Thanks!

Betsy122 · 01-01-2009, 07:33 PM

I've been on antipsychotics for six months...first geodon, then seroquel, then abilify...I too have suffered from ever-increasing chest tightness with a pressure that affects my throat and head as well. I also have some ringing in my ears. I've tried all the side effect meds for the antipsychotics as well as the anti-anxiety drugs. Nothing will make the chest tightness go away. I see you posted in November. Have you made any headway, or has it finally just settled down? I can't believe this things just keeps getting worse, but it does.

dragonfly73 · 01-12-2009, 07:10 PM

Not much! It has gotten a little better. I still take xanax almost everyday! My doc thinks it will get better with time. I hope it will get better! Have you tried xanax yet? It's the only thing that seems to help me right now. I just want to be off this crap!