Ziprasidone

From Conservapedia

Ziprasidone, sold in the US under the brand name Geodon, and also available as a fast-acting intramuscular injection for acute settings, is an atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia and mania in bipolar disorder. Unlike most antipsychotics, when taken orally, ziprasidone must be administered with food or the drug will not be absorbed sufficiently by the small intestine, leading to decreased effect.

Indications

• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar mania
• Mixed states in bipolar disorder

Side effects

Ziprasidone can have many side effects, some common, some rare and life-threatening. Side effects are:

Common

• Drowsiness
• Sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing
• Dizziness
• Induction of mania in some bipolar patients
• Chest pains

Rare

• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• Tardive dyskinesia
• Torsades de pointes, a rare heart defect
• Increased risk of death in elderly patients with dementia, for which ziprasidone received a Black Box Warning from the FDA.

Other uses

Some evidence has suggested that ziprasidone may be useful in the treatment of nervous tics in people with such disorders.