Common uses

Geodon is an antipsychotic medicine. Antipsychotic medicines are used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia that may include:
hearing voices, seeing things, or sensing things that are not there
mistaken beliefs
unusual suspiciousness
becoming withdrawn from family and friends

Before using

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.


Directions

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.

Cautions

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.

Possible side effects

Geodon may cause dangerous problems with your heart rhythm (the way your heart beats). Call your health care provider right away if you:
faint or lose consciousness
feel a change in the way your heart normally beats (palpitations)
Common side effects of Geodon include the following:
feeling unusually tired or sleepy
nausea or upset stomach
constipation
dizziness
restlessness
abnormal muscle movements, including tremor, shuffling, and uncontrolled involuntary movements
diarrhea
rash
increased cough / runny nose
For more detailed information about Geodon, ask your health care provider or pharmacist.

If you take too much

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.

Additional information

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.

Drug interactions

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.