Geodon (ziprasidone hydrochloride) is a psychotherapeutic medication, or antipsychotic, used to treat schizophrenia and acute mania. Geodon blocks serotonin and dopamine receptors, inhibiting serotonin and norepinephrine uptake at these receptors. Geodon improves symptoms of schizoaffective disorders, psychotic depression, and schizophrenia. An unlabeled use for Geodon is to treat Tourette's syndrome.
General Side Effects
Adverse reactions that affect the body as a whole include weakness, muscle pain, flu-like syndrome, facial swelling, weight gain, chills and lowered body temperature.
Central Nervous System Side Effects
Geodon causes many central nervous system (CNS) side effects to include somnolence (sleepy), dizziness, and incoordination. Extrapyramidal effects can occur from Geodon, altering muscle tone and resulting in a range of symptoms from weakness, hypertonicity, tremors, spasms, difficulty walking and carrying out purposeful movements and numbness and tingling in the extremities. Other CNS side effects include vertigo, double vision, oculogyric crisis (loss of control over eye movements), agitation, confusion, amnesia and delirium.
Cardiovascular Side Effects
Geodon may cause tachycardia (heart rate over 100 beats per minute), postural hypotension (which is a significant drop in blood pressure), and interval hypertension. Patients taking Geodon need to be monitored for a prolonged QT interval on electrocardiogram readings. A prolonged QT interval can lead to fatal heart arrhythmias.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
Geodon may cause a dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, indigestion, anorexia (loss of appetite), abdominal pain, and constipation.
Other Side Effects
Hyperglycemia, or elevated blood sugar, is a potential side effect of Geodon. Diabetes mellitus may also be induced by Geodon use. People taking Geodon may experience rhinitis, cough and shortness of breath.
Dermatologic Side Effects
Geodon may cause rash and photosensitivity. Some people may experience a fungal dermatitis while taking Geodon; follow-up with a physician is necessary.
Warnings
Patients taking Geodon (ziprasidone hydrochloride) and other psychotherapeutic medications in its class should be closely followed by a physician, have regular lab work completed to monitor for electrolyte imbalances, and have a baseline and periodic electrocardiograph completed to monitor heart rate and rhythm and QT interval rate.
Seek medical care immediately if any of the following occur: palpitations, faintness or loss of consciousness, abnormal muscle movements, severe or prolonged vomiting and diarrhea, or rash (SeeReferences1).
Geodon has multiple drug interactions; following dosing guidelines and inform prescribing physician of any and all medications being taken while using Geodon (SeeReferences1).
References
- Pearson Nurse's Drug Guide 2010; Wilson, B. A., Shannon, T. M., & Shields, K. M.; 2010
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