Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 1/22/2011

Question
I have had audio hallucinations for about 3 years I've been on
Geodon 80mg and the voices have not quieted. I'm 28 and getting
my masters is there a better med or maybe a combinatin of meds
that are more effective.

Answer
Hi Helen . . .

The response to a medication depends on a number of factors. The right drug must be prescribed at the right dose for the proper length of time. While it is possible that Geodon is the correct dose, and if you have been on it for three years, that is more than long enough to give that dose a change to be effective, a total daily dose of 80 mg is not necessarily high enough to control hallucinations. If I were to see a patient in your situation the first thing I would do would be to gradually increase the dose of Geodon to 80 mg twice a day and only consider changing to another medication if that did not help in 60 days.

There are many otter neuroleptic medications that can be substituted for the Geodon. Among some of the ones I would consider using are:

perphenazine

haloperidol

thiothixene, and

clozapine

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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