Geodon/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.

Geodon/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 Geodon/Ziprasidone IF:

• you are taking cisapride, dofetilide, H antagonists (eg, diphenhydramine), halofantrine, macrolide immunosuppressives (eg, Prograf/tacrolimus), Lariam/mefloquine, methadone, pentamidine, pimozide, probucol, procainamide, quinidine, serotonin receptor antagonist antiemetics (eg, Zofran/ondansetron), Betapace/sotalol, or Zagam/sparfloxacin ₁
• you have certain heart diseases, including long QT syndrome, a recent heart attack, severe heart failure, or certain irregularities of heart rhythm
• you are allergic to any ingredient in Geodon/Ziprasidone

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF Geodon/Ziprasidone :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

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.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); 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; fever; high blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination, confusion, flushing, rapid breathing, or fruity breath odor); inability to move; increased body heat; increased heart rate; irregular heart rhythm; muscle rigidity; muscle spasms or twitching; pounding in the chest; prolonged or painful erection; seizures; sweating; uncontrolled movements (especially of face or tongue).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Geodon/Ziprasidone during pregnancy. It is unknown if Geodon/Ziprasidone is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Geodon/Ziprasidone..
• Geodon/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.
• Do not become overheated in hot weather or during exercise or other activities; heatstroke may occur.
• LAB TESTS, such as electrolyte levels or fasting blood sugar levels, may be performed to monitor your progress. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Avoid drinking alcohol or taking other medications that cause drowsiness (eg, sedatives, tranquilizers) while taking Geodon/Ziprasidone. Geodon/Ziprasidone will add to the effects of alcohol and other depressants. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines are depressants.
• Diabetes patients - Geodon/Ziprasidone may alter your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Geodon/Ziprasidone may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Geodon/Ziprasidone. Using Geodon/Ziprasidone alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Geodon/Ziprasidone is not recommended for use in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• Geodon/Ziprasidone may increase your risk for developing diabetes or increase blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can cause serious problems if left untreated.
• Use Geodon/Ziprasidone with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially dizziness and lightheadedness upon sitting or standing up.
• Geodon/Ziprasidone may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Alcohol, hot weather, exercise, and fever can increase these effects. To prevent them, sit or stand up slowly, especially in the morning. Also, sit or lie down at the first sign of dizziness, lightheadedness, or weakness.

BEFORE USING Geodon/Ziprasidone :

Some medical conditions may interact with Geodon/Ziprasidone. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you have considered or attempted suicide
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines or other substances
• 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
• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Geodon/Ziprasidone. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Arsenic, cisapride, class III antiarrhythmics (eg, Cordarone/amiodarone, Betapace/sotalol), dofetilide , droperidol, H antagonists (eg, diphenhydramine), halofantrine, IA and IC antiarrhythmics (eg, procainamide, quinidine, flecainide, propafenone), macrolide immunosuppressives (eg, Prograf/tacrolimus), macrolides and ketolides (eg, Eryc/erythromycin, Zithromax/azithromycin), Lariam/mefloquine, methadone, pentamidine, phenothiazines (eg, Mellaril/thioridazine), pimozide, probucol, quinolones (eg, Cipro/ciprofloxacin), serotonin receptor antagonist antiemetics (eg, Zofran/ondansetron), Zagam/sparfloxacin , or streptogramins (eg, mitomycin, pristinamycin) because the risk of side effects of these medicines, such as abnormal heart rhythms, may be increased ₁
• Epitol/Carbamazepine because the effectiveness of Geodon/Ziprasidone may be decreased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Geodon/Ziprasidone may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

HOW TO USE Geodon/Ziprasidone :

Use Geodon/Ziprasidone as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• If you miss a dose of Geodon/Ziprasidone , use it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.
• If you are using Geodon/Ziprasidone at home, carefully follow the injection procedures taught to you by your health care provider. If the medicine contains particles, is discolored, or if the vial/container is cracked or damaged in any way, do not use it.
• Geodon/Ziprasidone is usually administered as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic.
• Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials. Dispose of properly after use. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain local regulations for proper disposal.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Geodon/Ziprasidone.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.