Geodon (Ziprasidone) is a medication that treats bipolar disorder in a category of drugs called antipsychotics. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that involves huge mood changes from euphoria (mania) to depression. Geodon inhibits or lessens the impact of certain chemicals in the brain. This medication must be prescribed by a doctor and taken exactly as prescribed. Mayo Clinic notes that this medication works best if taken at the same time every day with food, and blood tests may be necessary to check that there is a steady level of medication in your blood.
Common Side Effects
EMedTV.com notes that the most common side effects of Geodon are drowsiness, headaches, weight gain, digestive issues such as heartburn, constipation and nausea. Geodon can also commonly cause respiratory tract infections, fever, sneezing, sore throat, or cough because it lowers the body's ability to fight infection.
Serious Side Effects
Geodon can cause sexual side effects, including impotence, ejaculation problems (delayed ejaculation, changes in ejaculation volume or lack of ejaculation), and inability to achieve orgasm. The most common serious side effects of Geodon in patients with bipolar disorder are dizziness, restlessness, tremor, slurred speech, prolonged abnormal contractions of muscle groups (dystonia), anxiety, walking with a shuffling gait, increased need for sleep or tiredness and vision abnormalities.
Contraindications/Warnings
Geodon should not be taken by women who are pregnant. EMedTV notes that in clinical studies, mice, rats and rabbits that were pregnant seemed to have higher incidence of birth defects and miscarriage when exposed to Geodon.
Geodon.com notes that, like all drugs that are antipsychotics, Geodon can cause Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), which is a rare but serious syndrome that causes heart and blood pressure issues and altered mental status.
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