My psych just put me on Geodon for my bipolar disorder. He said I had to eat with it and I questioned him a lot about that. He knows I'm a LapBand patient. He said it would be fine.

My pharmacist said it is NOT fine. He said for maximum absorption Geodon must be taken with a minimum of 500 calories of food. I researched it online and everything I read agrees with my pharmacist. My p doc is super crappy. I called and left a message about it. That was a week ago. I still have not heard from him and I'm going through a terrible mixed state at the moment.

Have any of you taken Geodon with your band? What was your result?

I used to take it a couple of yrs ago (before banded) and I never ate before taking it. I took it at bedtime, well, around 9:30ish at night. My psych put me on it for sleep but took me off of it cause it caused tremors in my legs especially when I took the 80mg. Like I said I never ate before taking it. My psych is very informed on bariatric surgeries. I'm crazy about him. I take most of my meds for sleep due to severe insomnia. Another med for bipolar is Saphris, I take it for sleep. It's expensive but I have ins and all I pay is the copay.

I know you posted this awhile back. But I'm on it and my surgeon said it was fine to take it. My med dr also knows about the surgery and she saud it also fine with it. Before banding we ate dinner around 5:30-6:00 and I took my meds around 7:30 at night and was totally fine. I hope this helps.

Geodon made me gain 80 pounds while I was on it.

It's meant to be taken twice a day - it has a short half life - and it is meant to be taken with food. Food affects the absorption of the drug. I was told 400 calories when I was on it two years ago, I guess the guideline is 500 now.

I am not banded, I'm still doing my research, but wanted to tell you my experience with Geodon.