Geodon

Generic Name: ziprasidone (zi PRAY si done)
Brand Names: Geodon

What is Geodon?

Feedback for Geodon

User Comments	Avg User Rating
10 Comments		5.8	Rate it!

Geodon is an antipsychotic medication. It works by changing the effects of chemicals in the brain.

Geodon is used to treat schizophrenia and the manic symptoms of bipolar disorder (manic depression).

Geodon may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Geodon

Do not use this medication if you have a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome," if you have recently had a heart attack, or if you have uncontrolled heart failure.

Stop taking Geodon and call your doctor right away if you feel dizzy or light-headed, have a fast or pounding heartbeat, or if you faint. This could be signs of a serious heart rhythm problem.

There are many other medicines that can cause serious or life-threatening medical problems if you take them together with Geodon. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you. Geodon is not for use in psychotic conditions that are related to dementia. Geodon has caused fatal heart attack and pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.

Before taking Geodon

Geodon is not for use in psychotic conditions that are related to dementia. Geodon has caused fatal heart attack and pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions. Do not use this medication if you are allergic to ziprasidone, or if you have:

a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome";
history of recent heart attack; or
uncontrolled or untreated heart failure.

Geodon should never be taken together with any of the following drugs, or a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder could occur:

arsenic trioxide (Trisenox);
dolasetron (Anzemet);
droperidol (Inapsine);
halofantrine (Halfan);
mefloquine (Lariam);
levomethadyl acetate (no longer available in the U.S.);
tacrolimus (Prograf);
antibiotics such as gatifloxacin (Tequin), pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam), moxifloxacin (Avelox), sparfloxacin (Zagam), telithromycin (Ketek);
heart rhythm medicine such as dofetilide (Tikosyn), disopyramide (Norpace), quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute), or sotalol (Betapace); or
medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), mesoridazine (Serentil), pimozide (Orap), or thioridazine (Mellaril).

Before taking Geodon, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

a heart rhythm disorder;
a history of heart attack or stroke;
low blood levels of potassium or magnesium;
diabetes (Geodon may raise your blood sugar);
seizures or epilepsy;
a history of suicidal thoughts;
Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's;
trouble swallowing;
liver disease; or
kidney disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Geodon.

Geodon may cause you to have high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Talk to your doctor if you have any signs of hyperglycemia such as increased thirst or urination, excessive hunger, or weakness. If you are diabetic, check your blood sugar levels on a regular basis while you are taking Geodon.

The Geodon orally disintegrating tablet may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of Geodon if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Geodon passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medicine.

How should I take Geodon?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Take this medicine with food.

It is important to take Geodon regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

It may take several weeks of using this medicine before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve. Store Geodon at room temperature away from moisture, light, and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical treatment if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, problems with speech, dizziness, feeling light-headed, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeat, or restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck.

What should I avoid while taking Geodon?

While you are taking Geodon, you may be more sensitive to temperature extremes such as very hot or cold conditions. Avoid getting too cold, or becoming overheated or dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot weather and during exercise. It is easier to become dangerously overheated and dehydrated while you are taking Geodon. Geodon can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by Geodon. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of Geodon.

Geodon side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Geodon and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

dizziness, feeling light-headed, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeat;
fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats;
tremor (uncontrolled shaking), restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck;
agitation, hostility, confusion;
increased thirst or urination, weakness, extreme hunger; or
penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer.

Less serious side effects may include:

mild skin rash;
anxiety, headache, depressed mood;
dizziness, drowsiness;
muscle pain or twitching;
nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;
runny or stuffy nose, cough, sore throat; or
weight gain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect Geodon?

Before taking Geodon, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

a diuretic (water pill), blood pressure medicine, or heart rhythm medicine;
carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol);
cisapride (Propulsid);
haloperidol (Haldol);
narcotic pain medication;
medicines used to treat Parkinson's Disease such as levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa, Sinemet, Atamet, others); or
antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), dirithromycin (Dynabac), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Erythrocin, Ery-Tab), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or telithromycin (Ketek).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Geodon. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Geodon.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.