Ziprasidone (By mouth)

Introduction:

Ziprasidone (zi-PRAS-i-done)

Treats schizophrenia and certain problems caused by bipolar disorder.

Brand Name(s):

Geodon

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Capsule

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Your dose may need to be changed several times in order to find out what works best for you. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• It is best to take this medicine with food or milk at the same time every day. Swallow the capsule whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it.
• Keep using this medicine for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine after you have finished your treatment. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are using medicines to lower blood pressure, such as atenolol, lisinopril, metoprolol, quinapril, Accupril®, Cozaar®, Diovan®, Lotrel®, Norvasc®, Toprol®, or Zestril®. Tell your doctor if you are using diuretics or water pills (such as furosemide, Aldactazide®, Aldactone®, Dyazide®, Lasix®, Moduretic®, or Maxzide®), levodopa, carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Tegretol®), or ketoconazole (Nizoral®).
• Tell your doctor if you are also using levodopa (such as Dopart® or Larodopa®) or medicines such as bromocriptine (Parlodel®), Pramipexole (Mirapex®), ropinirole (Requip®), cabergoline (Dostinex®), or apomorphine (Apokyn®).
• Tell your doctor if you are using any medicines that make you sleepy. These include sleeping pills, cold and allergy medicine, narcotic pain relievers, and sedatives.
• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have heart problems, liver disease, Alzheimer's disease, trouble with swallowing, or dizziness or fainting problems. Tell your doctor if you have a history of stroke, seizures, breast cancer, or low potassium or magnesium levels in your blood. Make sure your doctor knows if you have thoughts of hurting yourself. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has a history of diabetes.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you have a family history of a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome. Tell your doctor if you have ever had Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) caused by other antipsychotic medicines.
• Tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder) may occur and may not go away after you stop using the medicine. Call your doctor if you are having signs of tardive dyskinesia such as rapid, worm-like movements of the tongue, or other uncontrolled movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, or arms and legs.
• This medicine may cause an increase in your blood sugar. If you have diabetes, you may need to check your blood sugar more often. If you are using medicine for diabetes, your doctor may need to change your dose.
• This medicine is not approved to treat behavior disorders in older people who have dementia. Using this medicine to treat this problem could increase the risk of death. This risk has not been shown for the approved uses of this medicine.
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert. This medicine may also make you feel lightheaded when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position, so get up slowly.
• This medicine might reduce how much you sweat. Your body could get too hot if you do not sweat enough. If your body gets too hot, you might feel dizzy, weak, tired, or confused. You might vomit or have an upset stomach. Do not get too hot while you are exercising. Avoid places that are very hot. Call your doctor if you are too hot and cannot cool down.
• Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.
• Some side effects are more likely to happen in elderly people who have memory problems or other reduced mental skills. Make sure the doctor knows if the person who will be using this medicine has Alzheimer's disease or similar problems (often called "dementia").

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
• Chest pain.
• Fast, slow, irregular (uneven), or pounding heartbeat.
• Fever, sweating, confusion, muscle stiffness.
• In males: Painful, prolonged erection of your penis.
• Increase in thirst, hunger, or urination.
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.
• Problems with balance or walking.
• Seizures.
• Severe diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain.
• Skin rash.
• Trouble swallowing or talking, sticking out of the tongue, or spasm of neck muscles.
• Twitching or muscle movements you cannot control (often in your face, tongue, or jaw).

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Anxiety or restlessness.
• Changes in vision.
• Constipation or upset stomach.
• Dry mouth.
• Headache.
• Sleepiness or unusual drowsiness.
• Sneezing, cough, or runny or stuffy nose.
• Tiredness.
• Weight gain.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor: