Geodon brain damage, visual cortex

[2ositos]

Hi, I don't know where to post this. I took the drug Geodon for two weeks because of depression and when I stopped, my vision started going by really fast. Like the movement was missing pieces. My hearing was also weird and I had a head tilt, and other kinds of bad symptoms. My vision is slowly recovering but it still scares me, because when I go outside everything looks like is going by really fast.
I want to know if the drug could have caused permanent brain damage or if the damage is in the eyes. If the problem was caused by Geodon, am I gonna be able to recover?

I had  a CAT scan and everything came out fine.

Please please help, I am an honors student at university and I start school next week, I can barely see or write.

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. I am not sure what you mean by “vision started going by really fast”. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

Vision disturbance is usually a result of either the eye itself or the brain. If the vision is changed in one eye, it is likely an ocular/eye problem. If it is in both eyes, it may be related to the brain. There is a condition called palinopsia which is the persistence of repetitive images, much like the viewing an old movie strip. People with this will complain of images “trailing”. Another condition called oscillopsia is the illusion of the environment moving. It can be caused by a problem with the vestibular system. Given you mention a head tilt and hearing abnormalities, you may have a vestibular problem.

I recommend that you are seen by a neurologist. You will need a detail neurological examination evaluating the movement of your eyes and also your vestibular (i.e., balance) system. You may benefit from an MRI of the brain depending on what he/she finds. This imaging modality would provide more details on the anatomy of the brain when compared to a CT scan. You may also benefit from an EEG (i.e, looking at the electrical activity of the brain). Geodon is known to cause visual disturbances which will usually improve with discontinuation of the medication or switching to another medication, but I cannot say that this is the cause or not of your visual changes since I do not have the ability to examine you. Again, I recommend that you follow up with a neurologist.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.

[idspud76]

A related discussion, Would this be a legal law suit case was started.

[jenck15]

Hi, I am on Geodon to help with my dpression and my anger. I wanted to know if Geodon causes an increase in dopamine or a decrease amount. I recently was on Amantadine for the tremors that I was getting. I had an allergic reaction to Amantadine, that cause me to go off the Amantadine. I am suffering from dopamine withdrawals and I was woundering if Geodon will help with the withdrawals. I just want my lfe back again. Do you have any suggestions on how I can deal with the dopamine withdrawals? My doctor dose not know. Usually no one gose off the drugs for temors.
Thank You
JK

[2ositos]

Thank you for the detailed answer, my doctor ordered an MRI (which came out perfect), and said my symptoms were related to the Geodon withdrawal, and that I would have to wait and see if they subside.

I don't know what to do as it seems I'm improving really slowly, and I seem to have developed a case of mild dystonia in my neck, which keeps turning to the right. I took benadryl for it but it doesn't seem to help, I would like to know if there is a chance that it could be permanent and if there is anything else I can take for it now to relieve my pain.

Thank you again for taking the time to respond.