Ziprasidone

Ziprasidone

Ziprasidone is used for:

Treating acute agitation in patients with schizophrenia who require an injectable medicine. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Ziprasidone is an antipsychotic. It may work by altering the balance of certain chemicals that occur naturally in the brain, which are responsible for thinking and behavior.

Do NOT use Ziprasidone if:

• you are allergic to any of the ingredients contained in Ziprasidone
• you have recently had a heart attack, have severe heart failure, or have a history of certain types of irregular heartbeat (eg, long QT syndrome)
• you are taking astemizole, certain phenothiazines (eg, thioridazine), certain quinolone antibiotics (eg, moxifloxacin), cisapride, dofetilide, droperidol, halofantrine, levomethadyl, a macrolide immunosuppressive (eg, tacrolimus), mefloquine, methadone, pentamidine, pimozide, probucol, procainamide, quinidine, a serotonin receptor antagonist antiemetic (eg, dolesetron), sotalol, sparfloxacin, or terfenadine

Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if any of the above applies to you.

Consider before using Ziprasidone

Medical Conditions

There are medical conditions that can influence usage of Ziprasidone . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the medical conditions below applies to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any medicine (either prescription or nonprescription), herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you are allergic to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have considered or attempted suicide
• if you have heart disease, a slow heartbeat, low blood potassium or magnesium levels, low blood volume, a drug-induced movement disorder, diabetes, kidney or liver problems, a history of stroke, a history of low blood pressure, seizures, difficulty swallowing, Alzheimer disease, or breast cancer, or if you are overweight

Drugs Interaction

There are medicines that may interact with Ziprasidone . Inform your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, in particular any from the list below:

• Carbamazepine because it may decrease Ziprasidone 's effectiveness
• Arsenic, astemizole, cisapride , class III antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone, sotalol), dofetilide, droperidol), droperidol, halofantrine, IA and IC antiarrhythmics (eg, flecainide, procainamide, propafenone, quinidine), levomethadyl, macrolide immunosuppressives (eg, tacrolimus), macrolides and ketolides (eg, azithromycin, erythromycin), mefloquine, methadone, pentamidine, phenothiazines (eg, thioridazine), pimozide, probucol, quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin), serotonin receptor antagonist antiemetics (eg, dolesetron), sparfloxacin, streptogramins (eg, mitomycin, pristinamycin), or terfenadine because the risk of side effects such as abnormal heart rhythms may be increased

This is not a full list of all interactions that may occur. Clarify with your health care provider whether Ziprasidone may interact with other medicines you take. Also, consult your health care provider in advance if you are going to start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Ziprasidone Usage Guidelines

You should use Ziprasidone as recommended by your doctor. Read the medicine's label for precise dosing instructions.

• Ziprasidone is usually given as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. If you will be using Ziprasidone at home, a health care provider will teach you how to use it. Be sure you understand how to use Ziprasidone . Follow the procedures you are taught when you use a dose. Contact your health care provider if you have any questions.
• Do not use Ziprasidone if it contains particles, is cloudy or discolored, or if the vial is cracked or damaged.
• Keep this product, as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and pets. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials. Ask your health care provider how to dispose of these materials after use. Follow all local rules for disposal.
• If you miss a dose of Ziprasidone , use it as soon as you get it remembered. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, ignore the missed one and get back to your normal dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use this medicine.

Important safety information on ziprasidone

• Ziprasidone may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or lightheadedness. There effects may be worsened when this medicine is taken with aclohol or other medicines. Use Ziprasidone with caution. Refrain from driving or performing other possibly dangerous activities until you know how you react to it.
• Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Ziprasidone ; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
• Ziprasidone may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
• Do not become overheated in hot weather or while you are being active; heatstroke may occur.
• Ziprasidone is intended for short-term control of acute agitation symptoms. If you require continuous treatment for your condition, your doctor may switch you to an oral medicine.
• Ziprasidone may increase your risk for developing diabetes or increase blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can cause serious problems if left untreated.
• Diabetes patients - Ziprasidone may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Serotonin syndrome is a possibly fatal syndrome that can be caused by Ziprasidone . Your risk may be greater if you take Ziprasidone with certain other medicines (eg, "triptans," monoamine oxidase inhibitors [MAOIs]). Symptoms may include agitation; confusion; hallucinations; coma; fever; fast or irregular heartbeat; tremor; excessive sweating; and nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms.
• Lab tests, including electrolyte levels or fasting blood sugar levels, may be performed while you use Ziprasidone . These tests can be used to monitor your medical condition or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Ziprasidone with caution in OLDER PATIENTS, because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially dizziness and lightheadedness upon sitting or standing up.
• Ziprasidone should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Ziprasidone while you are pregnant. It is not known if Ziprasidone is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Ziprasidone ..

Side effects may be caused by Ziprasidone

Any medicine may cause side effects, but the majority of people have either slight side effects, or dont have it at all. Consult your doctor if any of the most COMMON side effects from the list below persist or start bothering you:

Constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; feeling unusually tired or sleepy; headache; increased cough or runny nose; loss of appetite; nausea; pain at the injection site; upset stomach.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); altered mental abilities, including lack of response to your surroundings; change in amount of urine; change in vision; difficulty swallowing; fainting or loss of consciousness; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; high blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination, confusion, flushing, rapid breathing, or fruity breath odor); inability to move; increased body heat; muscle rigidity; muscle spasms or twitching; pounding in the chest; prolonged or painful erection; seizures; sweating; uncontrolled movements (especially of face or tongue); unusual mood or mental changes.

It sholud be noted, that this is not a full list of possible side effects. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include fainting; irregular heartbeat; seizure; slurring of speech; uncontrolled movement of the head and neck.

Ziprasidone storage instructions:

Ziprasidone is usually handled and stored by a health care provider. If you are using Ziprasidone at home, store Ziprasidone as directed by your pharmacist or health care provider. Keep Ziprasidone , as well as needles and syringes, out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions on Ziprasidone , please consult your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
• Ziprasidone is supposed to be used only by the patient it is prescribed to. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or even become worse, inform your doctor.

This article is a summary only, and it does not provide all the information about Ziprasidone . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.