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What Are The Side Effects Of Ziprasidone In Replace With Latuda ?
Question: Dr. prescribed ziprasidone to replace latuda (way to expensive) without revealing many of the warnings it has. Now I am experiencing many of them, so I am deleting the evening pill to get his "approval" & aid my sleeplessness. Oh, I'm 75 & the warnings are increased for those over 65. I also take a Lithium Carb Tab 450mg ER to satisfy his perceived diagnosis of my mental illness.
Brief Answer:
Titraing the dose of geodon up can help
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
As you mentioned Ziprasidone can cause more pronounced side effects like dizziness, headache, urinary retention, blurry vision and cardiac failure in elderly.
So. The best option is to start at the lowest dose. You can take 20 mg Ziprasidone once daily for the first week. If 20 mg ziprasidone is working well for you and controlling symptoms, the dose can be continued. If not, the dose can be increased to 20 mg.
Slowly tiyrating the dose up will help your body to get used to the medication and reduce occurrence of side effects.
Please discuss about the dosage adjustment with your treating physician.
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Titraing the dose of geodon up can help
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
As you mentioned Ziprasidone can cause more pronounced side effects like dizziness, headache, urinary retention, blurry vision and cardiac failure in elderly.
So. The best option is to start at the lowest dose. You can take 20 mg Ziprasidone once daily for the first week. If 20 mg ziprasidone is working well for you and controlling symptoms, the dose can be continued. If not, the dose can be increased to 20 mg.
Slowly tiyrating the dose up will help your body to get used to the medication and reduce occurrence of side effects.
Please discuss about the dosage adjustment with your treating physician.
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
The doctor, who did this after I refused to take laduda any longer due to $489.00/mo charges (16.3% of my monthly income) put me on 2 20mg caps am & pm with food. I also take a 450mg ER Lithium Carb Tab & a 150mg ER Bupropion Tab. After 2 weeks on this regimen, I started feeling more pain & less mobility in most of my joints & muscles to the point it is extremely hard to get into & out of a car! Tonight (Sunday the 22nd) marks the 3rd pm dosage I've skipped because laying down sets off painful reactions & even makes breathing difficult causing me to get out of bed! Just typing this response is CAUSING ME PAIN IN MY ARMS. There are even implications these might be irreversable! Thank the Good Lord I BELIEVE ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! So far "Modern medicine" has sure let me down!
Brief Answer:
Reduce the dose of ziprasidone
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
The pain and restricted mobility is due to the side effect of ziprasidone. However, these side effects are completely reversible. Try skipping the PM dosage of ziprasidone for 5 more days. If you notice no improvement in pain or stiffness, then benztropine 1 mg per day can be added to the treatment regime. Benztropine taken for few days will prevent such side effects of ziprasidone.
I am really sorry that you have been having such difficult time with the medications prescribed. Antipsychotics are a group of medication that cause side effects in the beginning. But once your body starts getting used to the medication you will feel much better.
Wishing you good health
Dr.Lekshmi
Reduce the dose of ziprasidone
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
The pain and restricted mobility is due to the side effect of ziprasidone. However, these side effects are completely reversible. Try skipping the PM dosage of ziprasidone for 5 more days. If you notice no improvement in pain or stiffness, then benztropine 1 mg per day can be added to the treatment regime. Benztropine taken for few days will prevent such side effects of ziprasidone.
I am really sorry that you have been having such difficult time with the medications prescribed. Antipsychotics are a group of medication that cause side effects in the beginning. But once your body starts getting used to the medication you will feel much better.
Wishing you good health
Dr.Lekshmi
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
These are among the "Possible Side Effects" I ALREADY HAVE. Some for a very long time, especially in the case of lithium carbonite. Why is this drug whose "benefits" were 1st noticed in caged rats in a laboratory so worshiped by mental health professionals? You see, I was a caged rat forced to take the drug for 30 days back in the late 1980's. I had tried to make a Court Allowed Phone call to my daughter, but was 2 minutes late. Made no difference that I had made numerous calls with no answer during the "correct time" I just might experience a resentment of that drug that precludes any "good" the drug might do for me! Holistic Medicine would recognize this, but where are these doctors?
Back to my list: Shortness of breath to the degree coupled with extreme pain in my muscles & joints prevents me from lying in bed long enough to sleep; Extreme urinary problems; Dizziness; Muscle Control; Itching; Muscle weakness & control; Tiredness; Sweating; Weakening eyesight; Swelling; Overweight; & Ringing in my ears. Going to see my medical doctor, but she just might be controlled by the psychiatrist who seems to have the last word in all of this so far!
Back to my list: Shortness of breath to the degree coupled with extreme pain in my muscles & joints prevents me from lying in bed long enough to sleep; Extreme urinary problems; Dizziness; Muscle Control; Itching; Muscle weakness & control; Tiredness; Sweating; Weakening eyesight; Swelling; Overweight; & Ringing in my ears. Going to see my medical doctor, but she just might be controlled by the psychiatrist who seems to have the last word in all of this so far!
Brief Answer:
Please follow up with the nearest ER
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
I understand that the situation you are going through is very frustrating. It is very important to outweigh the risk of these medications to the benefits of controlling your symptoms. You need to discuss this with your treating physician and come to a decision on whether or not to continue the medication or decrease the dose. As you mentioned a holistic approach is very much needed and the final goal should be to improve the quality of your life.
Regarding Ziprasidone, the side effects you are experiencing seem to be worsening and is quite concerning for a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Please be advised to discontinue Ziprasidone and follow up with the emergency room as soon as possible.
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Please follow up with the nearest ER
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
I understand that the situation you are going through is very frustrating. It is very important to outweigh the risk of these medications to the benefits of controlling your symptoms. You need to discuss this with your treating physician and come to a decision on whether or not to continue the medication or decrease the dose. As you mentioned a holistic approach is very much needed and the final goal should be to improve the quality of your life.
Regarding Ziprasidone, the side effects you are experiencing seem to be worsening and is quite concerning for a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Please be advised to discontinue Ziprasidone and follow up with the emergency room as soon as possible.
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Dear Dr. L.,
Appreciated your analysis & it is right on! Fortunately, I have a Great Nurse Practitioner & Psychologist, who are now aware of the total picture; that is, Holistic Medicine. Working with them, I now feel the goal of improving the quality of not only my life; but more important to me, those around me has started & is now well within reach!
I wish you would reassess your tacit approval of lithium. As Yogi Berra & most others would say, "Unless you're sure of where you want to go, you'll never get there"
That's in his book: When you come to a fork in the road, TAKE IT!
Appreciated your analysis & it is right on! Fortunately, I have a Great Nurse Practitioner & Psychologist, who are now aware of the total picture; that is, Holistic Medicine. Working with them, I now feel the goal of improving the quality of not only my life; but more important to me, those around me has started & is now well within reach!
I wish you would reassess your tacit approval of lithium. As Yogi Berra & most others would say, "Unless you're sure of where you want to go, you'll never get there"
That's in his book: When you come to a fork in the road, TAKE IT!
Brief Answer:
Follow up answer
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
Glad to hear that you were able to identify providers that understand your concerns and work with you.
Regarding the use of lithium, I cannot give you a definite opinion without knowing your previous history well. I believe talking to your psychologist and nurses practitioner would be the best option here. Because inadvertent stopping of lithium can slip you into depression and have serious consequences. As I mentioned earlier always compare the risk and side effects to the benefits before coming to a final decision.
Please be advised to talk to your providers regarding the need for lithium. If you haven't had any concerning episodes of mood issues for last year, then slowly tapering down and discontinuing lithium is an option.
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Follow up answer
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
Glad to hear that you were able to identify providers that understand your concerns and work with you.
Regarding the use of lithium, I cannot give you a definite opinion without knowing your previous history well. I believe talking to your psychologist and nurses practitioner would be the best option here. Because inadvertent stopping of lithium can slip you into depression and have serious consequences. As I mentioned earlier always compare the risk and side effects to the benefits before coming to a final decision.
Please be advised to talk to your providers regarding the need for lithium. If you haven't had any concerning episodes of mood issues for last year, then slowly tapering down and discontinuing lithium is an option.
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
It's already been done & my N.P. & Psychologist are seeing the truth, whole truth, & nothing but the TRUTH! Would like to see you join their discussion. Bottom line is: You helped me through this until I could get through to them. That is all I could have asked for. Will close our discussion with a BIG THANK YOU! Think you understand Yogi Berra fullly.
No question. Just let me say you can be my Doctor any day & God Bless. You are a Model for your Profession.
Brief Answer:
You are welcome
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for sharing your feedback and Yogi Berra's quote. I am guessing you are a baseball fan!
Glad to hear that I was of help to you
Please let me know if you have any more questions or concerns
Wishing you good luck
Dr.Lekshmi
You are welcome
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for sharing your feedback and Yogi Berra's quote. I am guessing you are a baseball fan!
Glad to hear that I was of help to you
Please let me know if you have any more questions or concerns
Wishing you good luck
Dr.Lekshmi
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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