Frequently Asked Questions

How can GEODON help?
GEODON is a treatment for acute manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder. Symptoms of acute manic or mixed episodes may include:

• Extremely high or irritable mood
• Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
• Racing thoughts or talking very fast
• Being easily distracted
• Feeling little need for sleep

In clinical trials, GEODON improved symptoms of acute manic and mixed episodes. No medicine works for everyone, and only you and your doctor can decide if GEODON may be right for you.

When will GEODON start to work?
GEODON may take a few weeks to work. It is important to be patient. Every person is different and will respond to medicine in his or her own way.

What are the benefits and side effects of GEODON?
Benefits: Studies show that for individuals with bipolar manic and mixed episodes, GEODON can improve manic symptoms, including:

• Extremely high or irritable mood
• Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
• Racing thoughts or talking very fast
• Being easily distracted
• Feeling little need for sleep

Side effects: Studies in patients with bipolar disorder show that the most common side effects of GEODON are:

• Sleepiness
• Abnormal muscle movements (e.g., tremors, shuffling, and uncontrolled muscle movements)
• Dizziness
• Restlessness

Although these are the most common side effects of GEODON, others may occur. To learn more about side effects, talk to your doctor.

Who should NOT take GEODON?

Elderly patients with a diagnosis of psychosis related to dementia. GEODON is not approved for the treatment of these patients.

Anything that can increase the chance of a heart rhythm abnormality should be avoided. Therefore, do not take GEODON if:

• You have certain heart diseases, for example, long QT syndrome, a recent heart attack, severe heart failure, or certain irregularities of heart rhythm (discuss the specifics with your doctor)
• You are currently taking medications that should not be taken in combination with ziprasidone, for example, dofetilide, sotalol, quinidine, other Class Ia and III anti-arrhythmics, mesoridazine, thioridazine, chlorpromazine, droperidol, pimozide, sparfloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, halofantrine, mefloquine, pentamidine, arsenic trioxide, levomethadyl acetate, dolasetron mesylate, probucol or tacrolimus.

GEODON may not be right for all patients. Only you and your doctor can tell if it is right for you. Please be sure to talk to your doctor about your GEODON treatment.

Is there any other Important Safety Information I should know?

Serious side effects can occur with any antipsychotic medicine, including GEODON. Tell your doctor right away if you experience a high fever, stiff muscles, shaking, confusion, sweating, or increased heart rate or blood pressure. These can be signs of a rare condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).

Also tell your doctor if you experience abnormal or uncontrollable facial or body movements. These could be a sign of tardive dyskinesia (TD), which may become permanent.

Medicines like GEODON may raise blood sugar levels. There have been few reports of high blood sugar or diabetes in patients who take GEODON. It is not known if GEODON was the cause.

Medicines like GEODON may raise blood sugar levels. There have been few reports of high blood sugar or diabetes in patients who take GEODON. It is not known if GEODON was the cause.

Please see patient summary of information and full prescribing information.

How do I take GEODON?
Be sure to take GEODON exactly as your doctor says.

• Follow your doctor's instructions for taking GEODON
• Always take GEODON with food. This helps GEODON work better
• Swallow the capsules whole
• Take GEODON with meals or at the same time every day. This can help you remember to take GEODON. Medicine calendars or pill boxes can also help you remember to take your medicine

How long should I take GEODON?

• Take your medicine until your doctor tells you to stop
• Take GEODON even when you start to feel better

Do not stop taking the capsules even when you feel better without first talking with your doctor.

What if I run out of GEODON?
It is very important not to interrupt your treatment with GEODON, so do everything you can to keep up your supply before it gets too low. Here are some tips:

• Check the medicine label to review the number of capsules in your prescription
• Keep track of how many capsules you have left
• If your supply is running low, get your next refill from the pharmacy
• Call your doctor right away if you do not have any refills left on your prescription (Check the label)

How can I make the most of my treatment with GEODON?
Talk to your doctor. Ask questions and learn as much as you can about GEODON. Working closely with your doctor is the key to managing your manic or mixed episodes.

• Take GEODON only as directed by your doctor
• Always take GEODON with food
• Tell your doctor about how you have been feeling recently
• Tell your doctor about any other medicines that you take
• Tell your doctor about any changes you notice in your energy levels or moods or overall health
• Tell your doctor about any side effects you experience
• Tell your doctor about any medical problems in your family
• Tell your doctor about any symptoms of manic or mixed episodes you might be experiencing

Be sure to partner with your doctor. This is the best way to get the most from your treatment.

Other things you should know about GEODON

• GEODON is a prescription medicine. You should always take it the way your doctor says
• Keep GEODON and all other medicines away from children
• It is best to avoid consuming alcoholic beverages while taking GEODON
• Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you are sure that you can do so safely while taking GEODON
• Let your doctor know if you become pregnant while you are taking GEODON. You should also tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or if you want to breast-feed your baby

NEXT: About Bipolar Disorder