Ziprasidone Intramuscular

zi-PRAS-i-done

Intramuscular route(Powder for Solution)

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death compared to placebo. Although the causes of death in clinical trials were varied, most of the deaths appeared to be either cardiovascular (eg, heart failure, sudden death) or infectious (eg, pneumonia) in nature. Observational studies suggest that antipsychotic drugs may increase mortality. It is unclear from these studies to what extent the mortality findings may be attributed to the antipsychotic drug as opposed to patient characteristics. Ziprasidone mesylate is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis .

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Geodon

Available Dosage Forms:

• Powder for Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antipsychotic

Chemical Class: Benzisothiazoyl

Uses For ziprasidone

Ziprasidone injection is used to treat agitation that occurs with schizophrenia, a mental disorder. ziprasidone should not be used to treat behavioral problems in elderly patients who have dementia.

ziprasidone is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using ziprasidone

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ziprasidone, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to ziprasidone or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of ziprasidone injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of ziprasidone injection in the elderly. However, ziprasidone should not be used for behavioral problems in older adults with dementia.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving ziprasidone, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using ziprasidone with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Acecainide


• Ajmaline


• Amiodarone


• Amisulpride


• Aprindine


• Arsenic Trioxide


• Astemizole


• Azimilide


• Bepridil


• Bretylium


• Chloral Hydrate


• Chloroquine


• Chlorpromazine


• Cisapride


• Citalopram


• Clarithromycin


• Crizotinib


• Disopyramide


• Dofetilide


• Dolasetron


• Dronedarone


• Droperidol


• Enflurane


• Erythromycin


• Flecainide


• Fluconazole


• Foscarnet


• Gatifloxacin


• Gemifloxacin


• Halofantrine


• Halothane


• Hydroquinidine


• Ibutilide


• Isoflurane


• Isradipine


• Levomethadyl


• Lidoflazine


• Lorcainide


• Mefloquine


• Mesoridazine


• Methadone


• Metoclopramide


• Moxifloxacin


• Nilotinib


• Octreotide


• Pentamidine


• Pimozide


• Pirmenol


• Posaconazole


• Prajmaline


• Probucol


• Procainamide


• Prochlorperazine


• Propafenone


• Quinidine


• Saquinavir


• Sematilide


• Sertindole


• Sorafenib


• Sotalol


• Sparfloxacin


• Spiramycin


• Sultopride


• Tacrolimus


• Tedisamil


• Telithromycin


• Terfenadine


• Thioridazine


• Toremifene


• Trifluoperazine


• Vandetanib


• Vasopressin


• Vemurafenib


• Zolmitriptan


• Zotepine

Using ziprasidone with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Ajmaline


• Alfuzosin


• Amiodarone


• Amitriptyline


• Amoxapine


• Apomorphine


• Arsenic Trioxide


• Asenapine


• Azithromycin


• Chlorpromazine


• Ciprofloxacin


• Clomipramine


• Clozapine


• Dasatinib


• Desipramine


• Disopyramide


• Doxepin


• Fluoxetine


• Granisetron


• Haloperidol


• Hydromorphone


• Hydroquinidine


• Iloperidone


• Imipramine


• Lapatinib


• Levofloxacin


• Lopinavir


• Lumefantrine


• Milnacipran


• Norfloxacin


• Nortriptyline


• Ofloxacin


• Ondansetron


• Paliperidone


• Pazopanib


• Perflutren Lipid Microsphere


• Pirmenol


• Prajmaline


• Procainamide


• Prochlorperazine


• Promethazine


• Protriptyline


• Quetiapine


• Quinine


• Ranolazine


• Salmeterol


• Sodium Phosphate


• Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic


• Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic


• Solifenacin


• Sunitinib


• Telavancin


• Tetrabenazine


• Trazodone


• Trifluoperazine


• Trimipramine


• Vardenafil


• Voriconazole

Using ziprasidone with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Carbamazepine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of ziprasidone. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alzheimer's disease or dementia or


• Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) or


• Dehydration or


• Heart attack, history of or


• Heart failure or


• Heart or blood vessel disease or


• Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood) or


• Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood) or


• Hypotension (low blood pressure) or


• Hypovolemia (low amount of blood) or


• Stroke, history of or


• Trouble with swallowing—May cause side effects to become worse.

• Blood or bone marrow problems (e.g., agranulocytosis, leukopenia, neutropenia) or


• Breast cancer, prolactin-dependent or


• Diabetes mellitus or


• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) or


• Hyperprolactinemia (high prolactin in the blood) or


• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), history of or


• Priapism (painful or prolonged erection of the penis) or


• Seizures, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Heart attack, recent or


• Heart failure, uncompensated or


• Heart rhythm problems (e.g., arrhythmia, QT prolongation), history of—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

• Kidney disease—Use with caution. Higher blood levels of ziprasidone injection may occur, increasing the chance of side effects.

Proper Use of ziprasidone

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you ziprasidone. ziprasidone is given as a shot into one of your muscles.

Your doctor will give you a few doses of ziprasidone until your condition improves, and then switch you to an oral medicine that works the same way. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor.

Precautions While Using ziprasidone

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that ziprasidone is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

ziprasidone can cause changes in the heart rhythm, such as a condition called QT prolongation. It may change the way your heart beats and cause fainting or serious side effects. Call your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of heart rhythm problems, such as fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeats.

Check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while using ziprasidone: convulsions (seizures), difficulty with breathing, a fast heartbeat, a high fever, high or low blood pressure, increased sweating, loss of bladder control, severe muscle stiffness, unusually pale skin, or tiredness. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).

ziprasidone may cause tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder). Check with your doctor right away if you have lip smacking or puckering, puffing of the cheeks, rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue, uncontrolled chewing movements, or uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs while you are using ziprasidone.

ziprasidone may increase the amount of sugar in your blood. Check with your doctor right away if you have increased thirst or increased urination. If you have diabetes, you may notice a change in the results of your urine or blood sugar tests. If you have any questions, check with your doctor.

Ziprasidone injection can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor right away if you think you are getting an infection, or if you have a fever or chills, a cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.

If you develop a skin rash, hives, or any allergic reaction to ziprasidone, stop using the medicine and check with your doctor as soon as possible.

ziprasidone may cause some people to become drowsy or dizzy, or to have trouble with thinking or controlling body movements. Make sure you know how you react to ziprasidone before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that requires you to be alert, well-coordinated, or able to think well.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help. If the problem continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Avoid activities involving high temperature or humidity. ziprasidone may reduce your body's ability to adjust to the heat.

Ziprasidone injection may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies. If you or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away.

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are using ziprasidone.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

ziprasidone Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Chills


• cold sweats


• confusion


• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

Less common

• Anxiety


• bleeding from rectum or bloody stools


• blurred vision


• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings


• change in personality


• chest pain or discomfort


• cough


• diarrhea


• difficulty with speaking


• drooling


• dry mouth


• excessive muscle tone


• feeling of warmth or heat


• feeling that others are watching you or controlling your behavior


• feeling that others can hear your thoughts


• feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there


• fever


• flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck


• general feeling of discomfort or illness


• headache


• hyperventilation


• incremental or ratchet-like movement of the muscles


• irregular heartbeats


• irritability


• joint pain


• loss of appetite


• loss of balance control


• multiple swollen and inflamed skin lesions


• muscle aches and pains


• muscle discomfort


• muscle tension or tightness


• muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness


• nausea


• nervousness


• painful or prolonged erection of the penis


• pounding in the ears


• restlessness


• rigid or stiff muscles


• runny nose


• severe mood or mental changes


• shaking


• shivering


• shortness of breath


• shuffling walk


• slow or fast heartbeat


• sore throat


• stiffness of the limbs


• sweating


• trouble sleeping


• twisting movements of the body


• uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back


• unusual behavior


• unusual tiredness or weakness


• vomiting

Rare

• Actions that are out of control


• convulsions


• difficulty with breathing


• fainting


• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse


• high fever


• high or low blood pressure


• hives


• itching


• lip smacking or puckering


• loss of bladder control


• overactive reflexes


• poor coordination


• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue


• rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue


• shivering


• talking or acting with excitement you cannot control


• trembling


• twitching


• unexpected or excess milk flow from the breasts


• unusually pale skin


• wheezing

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Pain at the site of injection


• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

Less common

• Acid or sour stomach


• back pain


• belching


• constipation


• cramps


• heartburn


• heavy bleeding


• inability to sit still


• indigestion


• need to keep moving


• pain


• runny nose


• sleeplessness


• sneezing


• stomach discomfort, upset, or pain


• stuffy nose


• tooth disorder


• unable to sleep


• weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: ziprasidone Intramuscular side effects (in more detail)

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More ziprasidone Intramuscular resources

• Ziprasidone Intramuscular Side Effects (in more detail)
• Ziprasidone Intramuscular Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Ziprasidone Intramuscular Drug Interactions
• Ziprasidone Intramuscular Support Group
• 86 Reviews for Ziprasidone Intramuscular - Add your own review/rating

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