GEODON

	GEODON Description / Definitions Abuse Addiction / Dependence Side Effects Withdrawal Symptoms Treatment

DESCRIPTION / DEFINITIONS: Geodon® (ziprasidone hydrochloride) is a atypical antipsychotic.

ABUSE: Geodon is a drug prescribed for the acute and maintenance treatment of Schizophrenia.

ADDICTION / DEPENDENCE: Half life and metabolism, Black Box Warning.

SIDE EFFECTS: Stroke, transient ischemic attack, fatalities, worsening of their depression, suicidal ideation (see list below).

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS: Akathisia, anxiety, depression, dizziness (see list below).

TREATMENT: Medical detoxification.

DESCRIPTION / DEFINITIONS

Geodon (ziprasidone hydrochloride) is prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia.  According to its label, “In many cases this would lead to the conclusion that other drugs should be tried first. Whether ziprasidone will cause torsade de pointes or increase the rate of sudden death is not yet known.”

ABUSE

Geodon is a drug prescribed for the acute and maintenance treatment of Schizophrenia  in adults and in adolescents 13 to 17 years of age and for acute and maintenance treatment of manic and mixed episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder with or without psychotic features  in adults and in pediatric patients 10 to 17 years of age.

ADDICTION / DEPENDENCE

HALF LIFE AND METABOLISM

The biological half life of a substance is the time it takes for a drug to lose half of its pharmacologic activity.  This is significant because it affects how soon withdrawal symptoms may appear.

The half life of Geodon is between two to five hours. 

Geodon is mainly metabolized through the P450 pathway in the liver and the enzymes primarily handling the metabolism is CYP3A4.

The CYP enzymes are the major enzymes involved in drug metabolism, and since many drugs may increase or decrease the activity of various CYP isozymes, this is a major source of adverse drug interactions, since changes in CYP enzyme activity may affect the metabolism and clearance of various drugs. For example, if one drug inhibits the CYP-mediated metabolism of another drug, the second drug may accumulate within the body to toxic levels, possibly causing an overdose.

BLACK BOX WARNING

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided that some drugs pose very serious risks and have required these drugs have what is called a black box warning. Geodon has a black box warning. Here is the warning.

SIDE EFFECTS

The following information is taken from the Geodon label:

abdominal pain abnormal ejaculation abnormal gait abnormal vision accidental fall accidental injury akathisia akinesia albuminuria alkaline phosphatase increased allergic dermatitis alopecia amenorrhea amnesia anemia angina pectoris angioedema anorexia anorgasmia anxiety asthenia ataxia atrial fibrillation basophilia blepharitis bradycardia buccoglossal syndrome bun increased bundle branch block cardiomegaly cataract cerebral infarct cerebrovascular accident chest pain chills cholestatic jaundice choreoathetosis circumoral paresthesia cogwheel rigidity confusion conjunctivitis constipation contact dermatitis cough increased creatine phosphokinase increased creatinine increased deep thrombophlebitis dehydration delirium diabetes mellitus diarrhea diplopia dizziness dry eyes dry mouth dysarthria dyskinesia dyspepsia dysphagia dyspnea dystonia ecchymosis eczema enuresis eosinophilia epistaxishemoptysis exfoliative dermatitis extrapyramidal symptoms eye hemorrhage face edema

facial droop fatty liver deposit fecal impaction female lactation female sexual dysfunction fever first degree av block flank pain flu syndrome fungal dermatitis galactorrhea gamma glutamyl transpeptidase increased glucose tolerance decreased glycosuria gout gum hemorrhage gynecomastia headache hematemesis hematuria hepatitis hepatomegaly hostility hyperchloremia hypercholesteremia hyperglycemia hyperkalemia hyperkinesia hyperlipemia hyperprolactinemia hypertension hyperthyroidism hypertonia hyperuricemia hypesthesia hypocalcemia hypochloremia hypocholesteremia hypochromic anemia hypoglycemia hypoglycemic reaction hypokalemia hypokinesia hypomagnesemia hypomania hyponatremia hypoproteinemia hypothermia hypothyroidism hypotonia impotence incoordination increased salivation insomnia jaundice keratitis keratoconjunctivitis ketosis lactic dehydrogenase increased laryngismus leukocytosis leukopenia leukoplakia of mouth lymphadenopathy lymphedema lymphocytosis maculopapular rash male sexual dysfunction mania melena

menorrhagia metrorrhagia monocytosis motor vehicle accident myalgia myocarditis myoclonus myopathy nausea neuroleptic malignant syndrome neuroleptic malignant syndrome (nms) neuropathy nocturia nystagmus oculogyric crisis oliguria opisthotonos orofacial edema orthostatic hypotension paralysis paresthesia peripheral edema pharyngitis phlebitis photophobia photosensitivity reaction pneumonia polycythemia polyuria postural hypotension priapism pulmonary embolus rash rectal hemorrhage reflexes increased respiratory alkalosis respiratory tract infection rhinitis seizures serotonin syndrome somnolence speech disorder swollen tongue tachycardia tardive dyskinesia tenosynovitis thirst thrombocythemia thrombocytopenia thrombophlebitis thyroiditis tinnitus tongue edema torsade de pointes torticollis transaminase increased tremor trismus twitching urinary incontinence urinary retention urticaria uterine hemorrhage vaginal hemorrhage vertigo vesiculobullous rash visual field defect vomiting weight gain withdrawal syndrome

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

Geodon can be a very difficult drug to stop taking.

akathisia anxiety depression

dizziness dystonia rash

respiratory tract infection somnolence vomiting

TREATMENT

Withdrawal from Geodon should only be done under the care of a health practitioner. The safest way is to withdraw at an inpatient medical detox facility. At an inpatient medical detox facility with a protocol that includes hydration, vitamins and supplements, most patients can safely stop taking Geodon in about seven days. Patients can withdraw from Geodon on an outpatient basis but it will normally take at least four weeks.