For Family and Friends

If someone you care about has bipolar disorder, there are ways you can help, such as:

Simply ask what you can do to help
Offer to go along on doctor visits
Assist with daily activities

Your support may help lower your loved one’s chances of having a symptom relapse.

Remember, when caring for someone with bipolar disorder, it’s common to feel stressed, anxious, and tense. Try to reduce your stress and take care of your own needs so you can be a better caregiver.

Not sure if it’s bipolar disorder?
If you think that a loved one has bipolar disorder but are not sure, encourage him or her to see a doctor. A family doctor is a good place to start. This doctor may then refer you to a psychiatrist. Suggest that you go along to this doctor visit. Talk about any symptoms you’ve noticed, since your loved one may not recognize these symptoms or think to mention them. Your input can help the doctor make the right diagnosis—which is important for effective treatment.

Know what to do in emergencies
If you think your loved one is having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please call his or her doctor immediately. A doctor can help your loved one deal with these difficult feelings. If you cannot reach the doctor, call 911 or bring your loved one to the nearest emergency room.

NEXT: Helping With Treatment

Would you recognize a manic episode?

Here’s help on recognizing the symptoms

Important Safety Information

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis (having lost touch with reality due to confusion and memory loss) treated with this type of medicine are at an increased risk of death, compared to placebo (sugar pill). GEODON is not approved for treating these patients.

You should not take GEODON if you have certain kinds of heart conditions or take certain medicines. GEODON may increase the risk of changes to your heart rhythm. It is important to talk to your doctor about this possible side effect. And be sure to call your doctor right away if you faint, pass out, or feel a change in your heartbeat.

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.

If you experience a rash, lightheadedness, or seizures while taking GEODON, tell your doctor.

The most common side effects for patients taking GEODON for bipolar mania include sleepiness, abnormal muscle movements (such as tremors, shuffling, and uncontrolled movement), dizziness, and restlessness.

The most common side effects for patients taking GEODON for schizophrenia include sleepiness, increased cough, and runny nose.

In short-term schizophrenia clinical trials, 10% of GEODON-treated patients experienced a weight gain of ≥7% of body weight vs. 4% for placebo.

Please see patient summary of information and full prescribing information.

Pfizer GZU00223A

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