Ziprasidone (Injection)

Introduction:

Ziprasidone (zi-PRAS-i-done)

Treats agitation (excessive movement, tension, or anxiety) in a person who has schizophrenia.

Brand Name(s):

Geodon

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot into one of your muscles.
• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine.

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 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. 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 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 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 taking medicine for diabetes, your doctor may need to change your dose.
• This medicine may cause you to become overheated more easily than usual. Be careful when exercising, or when you are outdoors in hot or humid weather.
• Your doctor will need to check your blood at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.

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.
• Anxiety, agitation, trouble sleeping, or changes in mood or behavior.
• Fast, slow, 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.
• Numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet.
• Problems with balance or walking.
• Red or black stools.
• 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:

• Headache.
• Pain where the shot was given.
• Sleepiness or unusual drowsiness.
• Sneezing, cough, or stuffy nose.
• Tiredness.

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