|
This medication is used to treat certain mental/mood disorders (schizophrenia or manic/mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder). It may be used after other medications have not been effective. Ziprasidone is a psychiatric medication (anti-psychotic type) that works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain.This medication can make you feel less nervous and improve your concentration. It helps you to think more clearly and take a more active part in everyday life.This drug has also been used to treat dementia-related behavior problems (e.g., agitation, aggression) when standard treatments (e.g., behavioral therapy, cholinesterase inhibitors) have not been successful.
|
|
| Overview |
Photos |
How To Use |
Side Effects |
Precautions |
Missed Dose |
Drug Interactions |
|
Ziprasidone HCl
Uses
This medication is used to treat certain mental/mood disorders (schizophrenia or manic/mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder). It may be used after other medications have not been effective. Ziprasidone is a psychiatric medication (anti-psychotic type) that works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain.This medication can make you feel less nervous and improve your concentration. It helps you to think more clearly and take a more active part in everyday life.This drug has also been used to treat dementia-related behavior problems (e.g., agitation, aggression) when standard treatments (e.g., behavioral therapy, cholinesterase inhibitors) have not been successful.
Notes
- Do not share this medication with others.
- Keep all medical appointments so your doctor can monitor your progress closely and adjust or change your medication if needed.Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., blood mineral levels, blood sugar, electrocardiograms) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects.
- Consult your doctor for more details.
Storage
- Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
- Do not store in the bathroom.
- Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Overdose
- Symptoms of overdose may include: slurred speech, fast/pounding heartbeat with headache, uncontrolled movements (tremor).
How To Use
- Read the Patient Information Leaflet available from your pharmacist.
- Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.Take this medication by mouth, usually twice daily or as directed by your doctor.
- Swallow the capsules whole with food.
- Your doctor may start you at a low dose and gradually increase your dose in order to lessen side effects such as drowsiness.
- Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
- Your dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy.Do not stop taking ziprasidone without consulting your doctor even if you start to feel better.
- Some conditions may worsen if the medication is suddenly stopped.Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it.
- To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day.
- It may take several weeks before you get the full benefit of this medication.Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.
Side Effects
- Dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, runny nose, and cough may occur.
- If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
- Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: severe/persistent dizziness, fainting, mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts), feelings of restlessness, mask-like facial expression (pseudoparkinsonism), shakiness (tremors), muscle spasm/stiffness, numbness/tingling, trouble swallowing, vision problems, difficulty walking.Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: chest pain, jaw/left arm pain, slow/fast/irregular heartbeat, seizures.This drug may rarely cause a condition known as tardive dyskinesia.
- In some cases, this condition may be permanent.
- Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any unusual uncontrolled movements (especially of the face, mouth, tongue, arms or legs).Medications used for a similar purpose to ziprasidone may infrequently cause a serious (rarely fatal) nervous system disorder called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).
- Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: confusion, fever, fast heartbeat, muscle stiffness, increased sweating.In rare instances, this medication may increase your level of a certain chemical made by the body (prolactin).
- For females, this increase in prolactin may result in unwanted breast milk, missing/stopped periods, or difficulty becoming pregnant.
- For males, it may result in decreased sexual ability, inability to produce sperm, or enlarged breasts.
- If you develop these symptoms, tell your doctor immediately.For males, in the very unlikely event you have a painful or prolonged erection lasting 4 or more hours, stop using this drug and seek immediate medical attention, or permanent problems could occur.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs.
- Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Precautions
- Before taking ziprasidone, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions.
- Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: certain heart problems (e.g., heart rhythm problems such as QTc prolongation, recent heart attack, untreated heart failure).Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: Alzheimer's disease, heart problems (e.g., coronary artery disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure), severe dizziness/fainting, diabetes (including family history), liver disease, nervous system problems (e.g., stroke, seizures, NMS), obesity, swallowing problems, aspiration pneumonia.Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea, vomiting or other illness that could cause you to lose fluids and salts (e.g., potassium, magnesium).This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery.
- Limit alcoholic beverages.To minimize dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position.Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.This drug may infrequently make your blood sugar level rise, causing or worsening diabetes.
- This high blood sugar can rarely cause serious conditions such as diabetic coma.
- Tell your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms of high blood sugar, such as increased thirst or urination.
- If you already have diabetes, be sure to check your blood sugar regularly.This drug may rarely cause weight gain and a rise in your blood cholesterol (or triglyceride) levels.
- These effects, (especially if you have diabetes), may increase your risk for developing heart disease.
- Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor.This medication can make you prone to heat stroke.
- Avoid activities that might cause you to overheat (e.g., doing strenuous work, exercising in hot weather, or using a hot tub).Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its side effects, especially involuntary movements and dizziness.This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy.
- Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk.
- Breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended.
- Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Missed Dose
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
- If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
- Do not double the dose to catch up.
Drug Interactions
- Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it.
- Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: sibutramine, drugs which may affect the heart rhythm (QTc prolonging drugs such as amiodarone, dofetilide, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol, sparfloxacin, and thioridazine, among others).If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting ziprasidone.QTc prolongation can infrequently result in serious, rarely fatal irregular heartbeat.
- Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details and a more complete list of medications.
- Ask for instructions about whether you need to stop any other QTc-prolonging drugs in order to minimize the risk of this effect.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: antimuscarinics (e.g., scopolamine), drugs for high blood pressure (e.g., beta blockers, calcium channel blockers), dopamine agonists (e.g., amantadine, bromocriptine), levodopa, "water pills" (e.g., furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove ziprasidone from your body (such as azole antifungals including ketoconazole, macrolide antibiotics including erythromycin, rifamycins including rifampin, St.
- John's wort, certain anti-seizure medications such as carbamazepine).Also report the use of drugs which might increase seizure risk (decrease seizure threshold) when combined with ziprasidone such as bupropion, isoniazid (INH), phenothiazines (e.g., chlorpromazine), theophylline, or tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amoxapine) among others.
- Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., phenytoin), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., risperidone, amitriptyline, trazodone).Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain drowsiness-causing ingredients.
- Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.
|
CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.
|
.gif)
Large Text