Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Geodon

Descriptions


Ziprasidone injection is used to treat agitation that occurs with schizophrenia. It should not be used to treat behavioral problems in elderly patients who have dementia. Ziprasidone works by changing some of the chemicals in the brain that cause schizophrenia.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Powder for Solution

Before Using

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 this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine 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, this medicine should not be used for behavioral problems in older adults with dementia.

Breastfeeding

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.

Drug Interactions

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 this medicine, 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 this medicine 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.

  • Alfuzosin
  • Amiodarone
  • Amisulpride
  • Amitriptyline
  • Anagrelide
  • Apomorphine
  • Aripiprazole
  • Aripiprazole Lauroxil
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Artemether
  • Asenapine
  • Astemizole
  • Atazanavir
  • Azithromycin
  • Bedaquiline
  • Bepridil
  • Bromopride
  • Buserelin
  • Ceritinib
  • Chloroquine
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Cisapride
  • Citalopram
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clofazimine
  • Clomipramine
  • Clothiapine
  • Clozapine
  • Crizotinib
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Dabrafenib
  • Dasatinib
  • Degarelix
  • Delamanid
  • Desipramine
  • Deslorelin
  • Deutetrabenazine
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Disopyramide
  • Dofetilide
  • Dolasetron
  • Domperidone
  • Donepezil
  • Doxepin
  • Dronedarone
  • Droperidol
  • Ebastine
  • Efavirenz
  • Encorafenib
  • Entrectinib
  • Eribulin
  • Erythromycin
  • Escitalopram
  • Etrasimod
  • Famotidine
  • Felbamate
  • Fexinidazole
  • Fingolimod
  • Flecainide
  • Fluconazole
  • Fluoxetine
  • Formoterol
  • Foscarnet
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Fostemsavir
  • Galantamine
  • Gatifloxacin
  • Gemifloxacin
  • Gepirone
  • Glasdegib
  • Gonadorelin
  • Goserelin
  • Granisetron
  • Halofantrine
  • Haloperidol
  • Histrelin
  • Hydroquinidine
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Ibutilide
  • Iloperidone
  • Imipramine
  • Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
  • Itraconazole
  • Ivabradine
  • Ivosidenib
  • Ketoconazole
  • Lapatinib
  • Lenvatinib
  • Leuprolide
  • Levofloxacin
  • Levoketoconazole
  • Lofexidine
  • Lumefantrine
  • Macimorelin
  • Mefloquine
  • Mesoridazine
  • Methadone
  • Metoclopramide
  • Metronidazole
  • Mirtazapine
  • Mizolastine
  • Mobocertinib
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Nafarelin
  • Nelfinavir
  • Nilotinib
  • Norfloxacin
  • Octreotide
  • Ofloxacin
  • Olanzapine
  • Ondansetron
  • Osilodrostat
  • Osimertinib
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Pacritinib
  • Paliperidone
  • Panobinostat
  • Paroxetine
  • Pasireotide
  • Pazopanib
  • Pentamidine
  • Perphenazine
  • Pimavanserin
  • Pimozide
  • Pipamperone
  • Piperaquine
  • Pitolisant
  • Ponesimod
  • Posaconazole
  • Probucol
  • Procainamide
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Promethazine
  • Propafenone
  • Protriptyline
  • Quetiapine
  • Quinidine
  • Quinine
  • Ranolazine
  • Relugolix
  • Ribociclib
  • Risperidone
  • Ritonavir
  • Saquinavir
  • Selpercatinib
  • Sertindole
  • Sertraline
  • Sevoflurane
  • Sodium Phosphate
  • Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
  • Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
  • Solifenacin
  • Sorafenib
  • Sotalol
  • Sparfloxacin
  • Sulpiride
  • Sultopride
  • Sunitinib
  • Tacrolimus
  • Tamoxifen
  • Telaprevir
  • Telavancin
  • Telithromycin
  • Terfenadine
  • Tetrabenazine
  • Thioridazine
  • Tolterodine
  • Toremifene
  • Trazodone
  • Trimipramine
  • Triptorelin
  • Vandetanib
  • Vardenafil
  • Vemurafenib
  • Venlafaxine
  • Vilanterol
  • Vinflunine
  • Voclosporin
  • Voriconazole
  • Vorinostat
  • Zotepine

Using this medicine 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.

  • Abametapir
  • Adagrasib
  • Alfentanil
  • Almotriptan
  • Amineptine
  • Amitriptylinoxide
  • Amoxapine
  • Amphetamine
  • Benzhydrocodone
  • Benzphetamine
  • Brompheniramine
  • Buprenorphine
  • Buspirone
  • Butorphanol
  • Carbamazepine
  • Chlorpheniramine
  • Cobicistat
  • Cocaine
  • Codeine
  • Conivaptan
  • Darunavir
  • Desvenlafaxine
  • Dextroamphetamine
  • Dextromethorphan
  • Dibenzepin
  • Dihydrocodeine
  • Duloxetine
  • Eletriptan
  • Fedratinib
  • Fenfluramine
  • Fentanyl
  • Fluvoxamine
  • Fosnetupitant
  • Frovatriptan
  • Furazolidone
  • Hydrocodone
  • Hydromorphone
  • Hydroxyamphetamine
  • Hydroxytryptophan
  • Iproniazid
  • Isocarboxazid
  • Lasmiditan
  • Lefamulin
  • Levomilnacipran
  • Levorphanol
  • Linezolid
  • Lisdexamfetamine
  • Lithium
  • Lofepramine
  • Lorcaserin
  • Mavacamten
  • Melitracen
  • Meperidine
  • Metaxalone
  • Methamphetamine
  • Methylene Blue
  • Mifepristone
  • Milnacipran
  • Moclobemide
  • Morphine
  • Morphine Sulfate Liposome
  • Nalbuphine
  • Naratriptan
  • Nefazodone
  • Netupitant
  • Nialamide
  • Nortriptyline
  • Oliceridine
  • Omaveloxolone
  • Opipramol
  • Oxycodone
  • Oxymorphone
  • Ozanimod
  • Pentazocine
  • Phenelzine
  • Phenobarbital
  • Primidone
  • Procarbazine
  • Quizartinib
  • Rasagiline
  • Rizatriptan
  • Selegiline
  • Sibutramine
  • Siponimod
  • St John's Wort
  • Sufentanil
  • Sumatriptan
  • Tapentadol
  • Tianeptine
  • Tramadol
  • Tranylcypromine
  • Tryptophan
  • Vilazodone
  • Vortioxetine
  • Zolmitriptan

Other Interactions

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. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Other Medical Problems

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

  • Blood or bone marrow problems (eg, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, neutropenia) or
  • Diabetes 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.
  • Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) or
  • Dehydration 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.
  • Heart attack, recent acute or
  • Heart failure, uncompensated or
  • Heart rhythm problems (eg, congenital long QT syndrome, QT prolongation)—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
  • Kidney disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

Proper Use

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a clinic or hospital setting. This medicine is given as a shot into one of your muscles.

Your doctor will give you a few doses of this medicine 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

Your doctor will check your progress after you receive this medicine to make sure that it is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Do not use this medicine together with amiodarone (Cordarone®), arsenic trioxide, chlorpromazine (Thorazine®), disopyramide (Norpace®), dofetilide (Tikosyn®), dolasetron mesylate (Anzemet®), droperidol (Inapsine®), gatifloxacin (Tequin®), halofantrine, levomethadyl acetate, mefloquine (Lariam®), mesoridazine (Serentil®), moxifloxacin (Avelox®), pentamidine (Nebupent®), pimozide (Orap®), probucol, procainamide (Pronestyl®), quinidine (Cardioquin®), sotalol (Betapase®), sparfloxacin (Zagam®), tacrolimus (Prograf®), or thioridazine (Mellaril®). Using these medicines together may cause serious unwanted effects.

This medicine 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. Tell 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: 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).

If you develop a skin rash, hives, or any allergic reaction to this medicine, check with your doctor as soon as possible.

Check with your doctor right away if you have a fever, chills, cough, sore throat, swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin, or yellow skin or eyes while using this medicine. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS).

Serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loose skin, red skin lesions, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills while you are using this medicine.

This medicine 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 this medicine.

This medicine 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 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 you have a fever or chills, a cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.

This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy or dizzy, or may cause trouble with thinking or controlling body movements, which may lead to falls, fractures, or other injuries. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine 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.

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.

You may get overheated more easily while you are using this medicine. Be careful if you exercise often or are exposed to high temperatures or humidity. Drink more water and stay out of the sun.

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are using this medicine.

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.

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

  1. Chills
  2. cold sweats
  3. confusion

Less common

  1. Anxiety
  2. bleeding or bloody stools
  3. blurred vision
  4. breathing too fast
  5. burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
  6. change in personality
  7. chest pain or discomfort
  8. cough
  9. diarrhea
  10. difficulty with speaking
  11. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  12. drooling
  13. dry mouth
  14. feeling of warmth or heat
  15. feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there
  16. fever
  17. flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
  18. general feeling of discomfort or illness
  19. irritability
  20. joint pain
  21. loss of appetite
  22. loss of balance control
  23. multiple swollen and inflamed skin lesions
  24. muscle aches and pains
  25. muscle discomfort
  26. muscle tension or tightness
  27. muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness
  28. nausea
  29. painful or prolonged erection of the penis
  30. pounding in the ears
  31. restlessness
  32. rigid or stiff muscles
  33. runny nose
  34. severe mood or mental changes
  35. shaking
  36. shivering
  37. shuffling walk
  38. slow or fast heartbeat
  39. sore throat
  40. stiffness of the limbs or muscles
  41. sweating
  42. trouble sleeping
  43. twisting movements of the body
  44. uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back
  45. unusual behavior
  46. unusual tiredness or weakness
  47. vomiting

Rare

  1. Actions that are out of control
  2. convulsions
  3. difficulty with breathing
  4. high fever
  5. high or low blood pressure
  6. hives or itching
  7. lip smacking or puckering
  8. loss of bladder control
  9. overactive reflexes
  10. poor coordination
  11. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  12. rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue
  13. talking or acting with excitement you cannot control
  14. trembling
  15. twitching
  16. unexpected or excess milk flow from the breasts
  17. unusually pale skin

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

  1. Pain at the site of injection
  2. sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

Less common

  1. Acid or sour stomach
  2. back pain
  3. belching
  4. constipation
  5. cramps
  6. heartburn
  7. heavy bleeding
  8. inability to sit still
  9. indigestion
  10. need to keep moving
  11. pain
  12. sneezing
  13. stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
  14. stuffy nose
  15. tooth disorder
  16. 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.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/drugs-supplements/ziprasidone-intramuscular-route/description/drg-20072024