Ziprasidone (Generic Geodon)

What is Ziprasidone?

Ziprasidone is an anti-psychotic used to treat bipolar disorder. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.

How does Ziprasidone Work?

Ziprasidone helps balance natural chemicals in your brain. As a result, it helps treat your symptoms of acute mania or a mixed episode. And that can help you feel better.

No medicine works the same for everyone, and no medicine can treat all symptoms all the time. But Ziprasidone should help treat manic symptoms like: high, edgy moods; fast thinking and talking; feeling hyper; insomnia (can’t sleep); feeling hopeless; very happy or very sad moods; feeling restless.

You may see some symptom improvement within a few days, but each person responds to bipolar mania medicine in his or her own way. It may take longer to see benefits. It is important to take your medicine every day in order to experience the benefits of symptom relief.

Benefits of Geodon

In general, patients taking Ziprasidone:

• Experience improvement in symptoms of bipolar mania and mixed episodes
• Have very few sexual problems related to the medicine
• See little effect overall on lipids related to the medicine

Side Effects of Ziprasidone

All medicines can cause side effects. The most common side effects of GEODON are:

• Feeling very tired or sleepy
• Upset stomach
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Feeling dizzy
• Muscle movements that you are not able to control, such as tremor or shuffling
• Rash
• Restlessness
• Increased cough/runny nose

Although these are the most common side effects for Ziprasidone, others may occur. To learn more about side effects, talk to your doctor or read the Important Safety Information.

How to take Ziprasidone for bipolar mania or mixed episodes

Be sure to take Ziprasidone exactly as your doctor says.

• Be sure to take Ziprasidone with food, and swallow capsules whole.
• Take Ziprasidone at the same time every day. This can help you remember to take Ziprasidone.
• If you miss a dose, just take your next dose of Ziprasidone at the usual time of day. Do not take a double dose to make up for the one you missed.
• Medicine calendars or pill boxes can help you remember to take your medicine.

Sometimes people stop taking their bipolar medicine once they start feeling better. Don't stop taking Ziprasidone without talking to your doctor first. It is important to take your Ziprasidone exactly as your doctor says, even when you start to feel better. If you keep taking Ziprasidone , there is less chance you will get ill again.

Ziprasidone can be taken at different doses, depending on what your doctor thinks is best for you. Your Ziprasidone prescription may start at a lower dose and move to a higher dose depending on your response to the medicine. Keep in mind that Ziprasidone can help treat your symptoms, not cure the acute mania or mixed episodes.

Your doctor will decide what works best for you and will adjust your dose of Ziprasidone as needed.

Ziprasidone may not be right for all patients. Only you and your doctor can tell if it is right for you. Please be sure to talk to your doctor about your Ziprasidone treatment and read the Important Safety Information.