Geodon
The below information on Geodon has been taken from official FDA sources, but we cannot guarantee it's accuracy. Please use this site for educational purposes only. This site does not replace a proper discussion with your doctor.
| Brand Name: | Geodon |
| Generic: | Ziprasidone Hydrochloride, Ziprasidone Mesylate |
| Availability: | Prescription |
| This drug was approved by the FDA in one form or another on: 2001-02-05 ,2006-03-29 , | |
| This drug is made in one form or another by the following companies: Pfizer Inc. | |
| This drug is available in the following forms: Capsules and Injectables Oral Suspensions | |
| View the actual FDA approved label for this drug at the following links: http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2007/020825s024,020919s014lbl.pdf Not Available. |
About Geodon
Geodon can increase your chance of an abnormal heart rhythm (the way your heart beats) if you have certain heart conditions or take certain medicines. Therefore do not take Geodon if you have the following heart conditions:
- long QT syndrome (a specific heart rhythm problem)
- a recent heart attack
- severe heart failure
- certain irregularities of heart rhythm (discuss the specifics with your doctor)
Precautions for Geodon
- Geodon may have a higher risk of heart problems than some other medicines that are used to treat schizophrenia because it may change the way the electrical current in the heart works. We do not know whether this will be harmful, but some other medicines that cause this kind of change have sometimes caused rare dangerous heart rhythm problems. Because of this possible risk, Geodon should be used only after your doctor has considered this risk for Geodon against the risks and benefits of other medicines available for treating schizophrenia.
- Dizziness, and sometimes fainting, caused by a drop in blood pressure may happen with Geodon, especially when you first start taking this medicine or when the dose is increased.
- Geodon may impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. You should be careful in operating machinery, including automobiles, until you know how Geodon affects you.
- It is important to avoid overheating and dehydration while taking Geodon. Geodon may make it harder to lower your body temperature.
Side Effects of Geodon
The following are the risks and potential side effects of Geodon therapy. However, this list is not complete.
- Geodon may cause dangerous problems with your heart rhythm (the way your heart beats). Call your healthcare professional right away if you:
- Faint or lose consciousness
- Feel a change in the way your heart normally beats (palpitations)
- Increased chance of death in elderly persons. Elderly patients treated with atypical antipsychotics, such as Geodon, for dementia had a higher chance for death than patients who did not take the medicine. Geodon is not approved for dementia.
- A life-threatening nervous system problem called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). NMS can cause a high fever, stiff muscles, sweating, a fast or irregular heart beat, change in blood pressure, and confusion. NMS can affect your kidneys. NMS is a medical emergency. Call your healthcare professional right away if you experience these symptoms.
- A movement problem called tardive dyskinesia (TD). Call your healthcare professional right away if you get muscle movements that cannot be stopped.
- High blood sugar and diabetes. Patients with diabetes or who have a higher chance for diabetes should have their blood sugar checked often.
- Other serious side effects with Geodon may include low blood pressure seen as dizziness, increased heart beat and possibly fainting, seizures, persistent erection), increase or decrease in body temperature, and difficulty swallowing.
- The most common side effects include feeling unusually tired or sleepy, nausea or upset stomach, constipation, dizziness, restlessness, diarrhea, rash, increased cough / runny nose.
Interactions with Geodon
Because certain other medications can interact with Geodon review all medications that you are taking with your healthcare professional, including those that you take without a prescription.
Your healthcare professional may have to adjust your dose or watch you more closely if you take the following:
- dofetilide
- sotalol
- quinidine
- certain medicines to control the way your heart beats
- mesoridazine
- thioridazine
- chlorpromazine
- droperidol
- pimozide
- sparfloxacin
- gatifloxacin
- moxifloxacin
- halofantrine
- mefloquine
- pentamadine
- levomethadyl acetate
- dolasetron mesylate
- probucol
- certain medicines to treat high blood pressure
- tacrolimus
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Geodon.
Recent Forum Posts on Geodon
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Geodon and Akathesia
I have heard no mention here about Geodon causing Akathesia. The closest comment was about Tardive Dyskinesia which is characterized by repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements such as grimacing, tongue protrusion, lip smacking, puckering and pursing of the lips, and rapid eye blinking. Rapid, involuntary movements of the limbs, torso, and fingers may also occur. In some cases, an individual's legs can be so affected that walking becomes difficult or impossible. After about one week of taking Geodon, I suffered a terrible episode of Akathisia which is characterized by unpleasant sensations of innerrestlessness that manifests itself with an inability to sit still or remain motionless. This happened on a Friday afternoon on my way home from work. There was a wreck on the highway so traffic was stalled. It was so uncomfortable that I was unable to sit in my car and I got out pacing on the side of the highway until traffic cleared. When I got home my husband called a friend who was a nurse practitioner at the state mental hospital and she told him to give me 50 mg of Benadryl every half hour until the symptoms subsided. After 100 mg I was better. Geodon is now on my list of allergies.
Posted By melztreazures at Sat 7 Jul 2012, 4:28 PM in Geodon || 0 Replies
Geodon - irritable & mean
I was put on Geodon about 2 months ago at 40 mgs a day. I satrted noticing that I was getting a lot more irritable. My Dr insisted on keeping me on it to see if my body will get used to it. I was still irritable. My Dr insisted that this was still the right drug for me and said I was not at therapuetic level so she increased it to 60 mgs. I got irritable and extremely mean! I jump at everything and everybody! I would say mean things and not mena them.. I felt like I was in a bad mood ALL the time and I couldn't shake it. Like I was in another frame of mind. I reported this to my Dr and she refused to take me off. So I weaned back down to 40 mgs for a week then cold turkey form there. It has been 3 days. I feel a little better.. still a little bit of a bad feeling. But I can feel it getting better. Has anyone ever experienced this kind of response formthis drug? I seem to get irratiable on a lot of psych meds. Does anyone else? I am not sure what else to take. My Dr said she has tried everything on me and the Geodon was a last resort.
Posted By my2sense at Tue 8 May 2012, 1:04 PM in Geodon || 0 Replies
Geodon.Quitting cold turkey
17 months ago I was diagnosed as bi polar.At 45 I was experiencing my first state of mania.It lasted 6 months.I checked myself into a hospital and was kept for 21 days.During this time I was heavily medicated on depakote,seroquil and lexipro.I was barely able to function.Upon admission into the hospital I was 104 pounds.Six months after leaving the hospital I was 140 pounds.I became depressed.A feeling that I had never suffered from prior to my hospital stay. I was and still am a happy person by nature.My therapist thinks that I may not be bipolar.After reading up on bipolar disorder I have found the only connection is my 6 month mania.Something that could have been triggered by 2 hours of sleep per night over a years time.I had also went from a vegetarian diet to a completely raw food diet. Anyway...after my concerns over weight gain and depression I requested a med change.I was put on 160 mlgs of geodon.I was a zombie.She cut me down to 120mlgs at bed time.I was still sluggish during the day so I tapered my meds myself.I began taking 60 mlgs at night and felt better but the side affects were still present.I grind my teeth and have breathing issues caused by the geodon.My doctor lowered my dose to 60.I was already taking 60 so I decided to quit cold turkey.I suffered from nausea for 2 days and light headedness.I had no panic attacks and no mood swings.Although geodon does make me more irritable than non medicated self. After two weeks of being off of geodon I began to question myself and wondered if I would go into mania again.For the sake of not wanting to find out I began taking 20 mlgs of geodon again.I am still grinding my teeth but my breathing problems have gone away.It does not cause daily fatigue and there is no weight gain.I am now 117 and consider this a healthy weight.I am 5'4.My moods are stable and I have more energy whilst on a lower dose of geodon.My doctor would be certain that I will go into mania again but my therapist says that I do not exhibit bi polar tendencies.I do not partake in any form of substance issues and manage my life quite well.I wanted to post this as many people are afraid of geodon.I dont like the teeth grinding but it is the only medication that I have tried that does not cause weight gain or suicidal thoughts.Something I never had before being medicated.So many of the medications caused severe depression in me.Geodon causes none.It is the lesser of all evils for me.At 20 mlgs I am as close to my pre mania self as I can possibly be on an anti psychotic drug.I did not experience hallucinations nor did I experience mood swings when I quit cold turkey.I did experience mild nausea.I did make certain to eat salmon twice a week and to eat a low cholesterol diet as to keep a healthy brain.I would not suggest smoking or drinking while trying to taper off of geodon.It is too much for your heart to nurture.Good luck getting off of geodon.
Posted By tonyaharris at Tue 21 Dec 2010, 1:35 PM in Geodon || 0 Replies
Cold-turkey, weaning-off, anxiety, OCD, substance abuse, tranquilized, side effects
I was prescribed Geodon mainly for anxiety, but also OCD symptoms too. I have found it to be a potent tranquilizer, especially at doses up to 240 mg (can you say over-medicated?). Tranquiliztion (with poor motor skills), unclear thinking, and sun-sensitivity are my chief complaints, in addition to the fact that I don't think it was an answer to my anxiety issues. I am down to 20 mg twice a day, but weaning off is not fun. I would NOT recommend quitting cold-turkey. I got totally off of Geodon 6 months ago, but, a week or two after tapering off, I was having such a hard time with the withdrawal symptoms that I went back on it (at 1/4 the dose). I was happy to note another entry on this site where someone suggests liquid Geodon for tapering, which is available in 20, 10, and 5 mg increments. On a more general note about psychopharmacology, over the years I reached a point where, for years, I was taking 8-9 psychoactive drugs - mainly for the treatment of anxiety. In my humble opinion, and in my case, I believe that I am better off without any of those drugs, and would have been better off seeking other ways to cope with anxiety. I was a "legal" pharmaceutical addict/junkie. I would suggest doing everything you can NOT to take any drugs (legal or illegal) to treat anxiety. If you must take something, take as little as possible, and view the therapy as something VERY temporary, which will serve only as a means of enabling you to make better/faster progress with non-pharmaceutical interventions, which I believe you should view as your primary routes to recovery. Suggested non-pharmaceutical interventions: support groups (psychological, religious, otherwise), counseling/therapy (psychological, talking with friends/family, religious professional, etc.), meditation (with or without prayer, according to your preference), exercise, healthy diet, studying/reading about your disorder, volunteering/being of service. Sorry if I was kind of long-winded, but I hope you may find this helpful.
Posted By eddyjeg23 at Fri 23 Jul 2010, 2:37 PM in Geodon || 0 Replies
Just My Experience
I took Geodon for 2 years when I was a teenager. I was diagnosed with PTSD and severe depression. I believe I was taking 120 mg a day or something like that. Ii felt like a zombie. I would take the medication and thirty minutes later, if I wasn't in bed yet, I would pass out on the floor. Looking back, I think the doctor overloaded me a bit, but regardless....I ended up deciding to stop taking it. I felt dead all the time, I had muscle spasms, I would hallucinate if I missed a pill, it was terrible. So my first plan was to quit cold turkey....that was the worst idea ever. I didn't sleep for three days, I felt like I had just had like 20 redbulls, I hallucinated like crazy, I basically fell into some sort of psychotic state of mind. So I got a new doctor and we attempted to ween myself off of it. I got down to the lowest dose, 20mg I believe, and even when I stopped taking that, I had a terrible withdrawal. I ended up having to get Geodon in liquid form to go from 20mg to 10mg to 5mg.....it was ridiculous....ANYWAY, my suggestions? If you have to take it, then fine. But if you decide to stop, DO NOT try to do it cold turkey. The withdrawal symptoms can last several weeks, but I can't imagine dealing with those symptoms for more than several days.
Posted By averyf_445 at Mon 4 Jan 2010, 1:42 AM in Geodon || 0 Replies
new to this site some one help me please
Hello I am new to this site I have ocd borderline personality and bipolar sctzoeffective disorder unless thats what it is instead of the bipolar I dont know any more with these doctors. Any way I started on geodon 6 days ago this will be my 7 night I just took it with my dinner. I am really scared because of the side effects of the heart thing. I have copd and and some other health issues I am 48 and I dont want some heart attack happening. I also have to quit smoking any ways I wanted to try this because I was put on depakote for years I have been on it and I have doubled my weight is that ridululous or what sorry spelling. I had alot of anxiety the first few days with the geodon is was only on 20mlg and last night I went up to 40mlg and I slept like a baby but today my left hand is twitching not a lot just a little and once in awhile my heart feels weird not palpatating just like a heavy pounding feeling and then it goes away so I think I am defenitly quitting the smoking because my main goal is to get this weight off and then I want to get off the depakote and get on lamictal I have been doing my research so I dont know and also I feel like I have a rash all over my body and my face is red so can any one tell me whats going on or have they had these symptoms I live alone so I get scared and dont want to get rushed to the e.r. I was not sleepy at all with the 20 it was the opposite but I noticed my angry out burts are not as bad unless maybe just no one has made me angry so I havent noticed I have a terrible temper sorry so long Thanks for hearing me out.:confused:
Posted By panther27 at Thu 12 Nov 2009, 6:05 PM in Geodon || 0 Replies
Hi I am Missypooh and have recenly started on Geodon
I am new to this site and want to say hello to everyone as well as thank you for allowing me to join. I am new to Geodon, I have Bipolar, OCD, Adhd, and who knows what else. :confused: I am so tired of changing medications but I am very sensitive to everything I have been on and that is majority of medications out there. I always fight with the side effects, and not just the mild ones; the severe ones... I am concerned about the Geodon, I have been taking it for 2wks now at 160mg daily, 80mg twice daily.. I feel like a zombie and my blood sugar is all over the place.. I am also a diabetic. Can you tell me your experiences with Geodon? Thanks, Missypooh
Posted By missypooh at Tue 16 Jun 2009, 10:28 PM in Geodon || 2 Replies
geodon, caffiene vs sleepiness! help!
im currently on 20 mgs a day of geodon. im tired ALL the time unless i hav caffeine. im not a caffeine freak. i dont usually even drink soda pop... my coworkers even know something's up when i dont drink coffee or something. today one of them asked if i was switching meds. im on my 6th week of geodon. i was wondering if there's something else i could take in substatution for caffiene or even Geodon itself???? i hav paranoia, OCD, high anxiety, high deppression, & i possably hav a Borderline personality disorder. this medicine helps with my paranoia, but not my deppression or my anxiety all that much. caffiene makes me jitter really bad. help!? thank you!
Posted By is2cute at Tue 14 Apr 2009, 8:46 PM in Geodon || 0 Replies
Getting Off Geodon Coldturkey
My son is 16 years old, about 6 months ago, my son had a psychotic episode, where he suddenly seemed to have snapped and became paranoid, thinking people were after him, and that they were talking about him, and that people were coming into the house and moving things or leaving signs and clues that showed they were out to get him, he was full of anxiety and fear. We took him to the Dr. and he was given Celexa and Geodon, he has been taking it now for the last 6 months first 20 mg, and then the dr. upped it to 40 mg, after reading about all the side effects, and possible lifelong addiction to this drug and other antipsychotic drugs, I have decided to take him off completely from all the drugs he's been taking. I'm going to change his diet and eliminate all sugars, plus try some of the more natural herbs such as Rhodiola. I would like to ask anyone who has gone through this, if it's possible to get off this drug coldturkey, and what kinds of things I can expect. Thank You MRojas
Posted By MarioARojas at Mon 29 Dec 2008, 8:06 AM in Geodon || 1 Reply
Geodon
I have trouble with severe anxiety, depression, and OCD. A lot of the drugs I try work for a while and then stop. I'm taking Wellbutrin 450mg, Remeron 30mg, and Geodon 40mg at night. Also klonapin for anxiety. I'm not sure the Geodon is helping. I know I'm not up to the therapeutic dose of 120 - 160mg. The problem is it makes me sleepy. I sleep for 10 hours when I take it. That's better than seroquel, it made me sleep 18 hours. But they say Geodon has a short duration so you need to take it twice a day. I've been told the sleepiness goes away in 4 weeks. I've been on it two weeks now.
I just have this terrible lack of ability to feel pleasure anymore. I've lost all of my interests I used to have. I get by at work and some would say I excel at my work, but it is an extreme effort to continue.
How can anyone take this twice a day it seems to make you so sleepy?
Posted By Bill at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Geodon || 0 Replies
update
I have been on geodon for over a year. It has help me 80mg a day. My doctor put me on zyprexa plus geodon. I am working for eight months now. But i have gain 20#. zyprexa Has given my life back but i cant take the weight gain. I just feel like stop using zyprexa. I am afraid if i do i might go back to my paranoid ways.. I want to stop using it with out doctors order. why cant they make a drug that doesnt make you gain weight. wish me luck i have to lose weight.
Posted By kathy at Mon 6 Jun 2005, 12:00 AM in Geodon || 0 Replies
My experience
I am bi-polar, and take and am doing well on celexa as and anti-depressant, depakote as a mood stablizer, and geodon, as my antipsycotic. I am so very grateful to be stable because there has been many times where I wasn't. It was always hard for me to trust my doctor, and I was always changing the medicing on myself. I have learned to just follow his orders, because when I try to do it myself I always fall back into the hell that is my illness. I'm type 1 manic. My highs come with paranoia and hallucinations and delusions. I am so very grateful for this site. I have learned more, and don't feel as alone. Like we all can feel at times. Thanks for reading my comment and I wish all of you the best of luck. Praise God.
Posted By Kim at Sat 27 Sep 2003, 12:00 AM in Geodon || 2 Replies
GEODON
MY SON HAS BEEN TAKEN THIS DRUG FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS NOW AND HIS CONCENTRATION HAS GOTTEN WORST, JERKING OR INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENT HAS STARTED, HE DIDN'T HAVE THIS BEFORE TAKING IT. HE CAN'T HOLD A CONVERSATION WITH YOU NO MORE THAN THAN 3 MINUTES AT A TIME, HE STARTS TO TALK TO HIMSELF AND LOOK OFF IN SPACE.
Posted By Unregistered at Mon 4 Aug 2003, 12:00 AM in Geodon || 8 Replies
Zyprexa
I have just started to take Zyprexa, the first couple of days I felt so good. Then of course it went away. I am also taking Wellbutrin 300 mg a day. Is this a good mix for anyone? Or should I be taking the Zyprexa with say remeron. I can not take the ssri drugs because of the horiable Sexual side effects. I am slightly bi polar. And how long should I give the Zprexa to work? Thank you.
Posted By Glenn at Wed 8 Oct 2003, 12:00 AM in Geodon || 0 Replies
Sleepiness
Geodon has been a wonderful medication for me. Seems my head is clear and the mood swings have all but disappeared. It was such a change of pace for me that I even was afraid the "feeling good" would vanish. It hasn't and I have more energy now, I'm no longer paranoid and my life with my daughter has been renewed.
I have a question . . . I have noticed that if I take tylenol along with the Geodon (for anything) that I become so drowsy that I cannot function. Has anyone else had this peculiar side effect with tylenol?
Again, I can't say enough about Geodon. It's given me my life back.
Posted By Gina at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Geodon || 4 Replies
Geodon side effects
My 16 year old daughter was placed on Geodon about one month ago, she was lacking concentration and the ability to think clearly. She couldn't concentrate on her homework or orgnize her time. Since being on Geodon, she has done remarkably well, she is able to plan her time on homework, complete assignments on time and she says she feels "calmer inside".
However, she just mentioned to me yesterday that she has been having what seems like breast milk secreting from her breasts sporadically. I have read that Geodon has a rare side effect of increasing levels of prolactin (a hormone that increases blood levels and effects production of unwanted breast milk)
I will call her physician tomorrow, but am so hesitant to remove her from this medication, since she otherwise is doing so well on it.
Please let me know if anyone has experienced this side effect, and if so did you have to go off of Geodon?
Many thanks,
Posted By Annonymous at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Geodon || 0 Replies
Geodon
I was hospitalized and given 160 mg Geodon right away with 50 mg Zoloft and 1000 mg Lithium. I was rushed to emergency room in ambulance 4 days later. Severe dizzyness, I was shaking uncontrolably, major chest pains, teeth chattering, crying so hard. I am still sick, I stayed up all night twitching like crazy. What has happened to me?
Posted By Tanya at Tue 5 Jul 2005, 12:00 AM in Geodon || 0 Replies
use of Geodon
im 42 yrs.old and depressed all of the time i have been on effexor for over
a yr. now and my depression seems to be getting worse so i go to a profesional
for advice. i dont sleep well either so i tell him whats going on with me for about 40 min. he perscribes me geodon to sleep on and doubles me up on effexor
I had no ideal that this was a scho.med i to am having little trimmers and shakes i have had fever also im so tired of being depressed and nervous
all of the time i have been taking geodon for two weeks now and it helps
with the sleep but the side effects are bad does any one have any ideal on what i need thanks for any replys
signed tired restless an depressed
Posted By Unregistered at Wed 25 May 2005, 12:00 AM in Geodon || 0 Replies
Geodon/side effects
My doc started me on Geodon 120mg nightly about 1 month ago. I felt drunk when I woke up every morning, and had to go back to bed. I didn't end up "awake" until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. I hated that. Then about 2 weeks into taking it, I had a horrible episode of dizziness and incredible heart palpitations, and extreme headach. It was so bad my daughter called and ambulance. I spent 3 days in the hospital.. They didn't give me the Geodon, and all was well. I saw my Psch. last week, and he started me on the Geodon again..80mg nightly.. again I feel drunk every morning.. So I didn't take it tonight, I told my husband I'm going to take it in the morning since it causes me to feel awake after taking it, and hopefully by the evening the effect of sleeping will be beneficial, and then when I wake up, I won't feel drunk and want to sleep till the afternoon. The other side effects, heart palp, dizziness haven't hit me.. so hopefully it has to do with the dosage. My Doc, says he has some paitients that can only tolerate 20mg.. He would raather have me decrease my dosages then increase..
I also don't feel hungry all the time.. ABout 4 yrs ago I had a bad manic episode and was put on Depakote along with other meds, and I gained 20 lbs in 2 months, i haven't been able to loose that, but since I've been on the Geodon, my close it feeling looser. so maybe it will help me with weigth loss.. I'll let you all know..
Good luck..
Sonia
Posted By Sonia at Thu 13 Sep 2007, 11:17 AM in Geodon || 0 Replies
Geodon
I was first prescribed 60 mg twice a day. I could not take that cause I was sleeping all the time. I went AMA and started taking 60 mgs once a day and have been fine for the last six months I have been on it. Recently though I have noticed that I am very jittery about an hour before I am due to take it. Considering upping another 20 mg if I can get my pdoc to go for it in a week at our next visit - he is to be informed of my change in dosing on our next visit. I am praying that we don't have to keep on upping it to keep my bp1 symptoms w/psychotic features under control. Geodon with Atavan (prn which is rare) are the only meds I have been on for the last six months. I have also found in the last few months I have been unable to miss a dose. About six weeks into this I decided to get drunk and not take my meds. That was a BIG mistake. 1. I did not get drunk as expected and 2. all I did was lie awake all night long listening to my husband breathe in bed. A couple of weeks later I decided not to take it again to see what would happen and it was a mess. I was right back to being jittery and I could not get to sleep till I got up and took it. I am really getting the feeling this stuff is addictive. I've tried to ask my pdoc about it but so far I have not had an answer. I just recently found info that this stuff causes heartburn. I wish I knew this before I started taking it. I've got a confirmed ulcer the size of Texas and nothing seems to be helping it outside prescription medications. I have a constant lump in my throat that does not seem to go away but on rare occasions. It has done great for my psychosis but I am not sure I want to be on this med to much longer. I have taken many of the other anti psychotics with little success. Risperdal was a nightmare & almost go me a divorce. Abilify I could not sit still. Zyprexa I gained a ton of weight. Not sure what is left but not sure either how the heck I can get off this med if need be. I am just praying that Ambien can break the hold this stuff has on me if and when the time comes. Otherwise I think I am stuck on this stuff for the rest of my life. Good Luck if you try this stuff I pray you don't have my reaction. I just wish I would have found this board sooner and another board I found a few days back. I might have changed my mind on trying this stuff. I try to leave my medical care up to the doctors but this time I had to take matters into my own hands.
Posted By Pat at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Geodon || 0 Replies