User Reviews for ziprasidone oral

I suffer schizoaffective disorder. I switched from Abilify to Geodon mostly because I could only tolerate a low dose of Abilify, which wasn't providing enough therapeutic value. I now take 60mg of Geodon in the morning with breakfast and 80mg of Geodon in the evening with dinner for a total of 140mg daily. I have been taking over 100mg of Geodon daily for about two years now. Geodon helps prevent my psychosis and balances out my mood. I suffer bad akathisia in the evening a few times a week for a few hours with this drug. Most of the time I just try to sleep when akathisia strikes and I awake feeling better. I sleep a lot on this drug: I usually sleep 5 to 7 hours a night and then another 2 to 4 hours in a nap. I find it crucial to take my doses with a meal, as the oral bioavailability is allegedly reduced in half when consuming the drug without food. I sometimes feel as though I withdraw from the drug if I take my dose off schedule or if I have been unable to consistently take the drug with a meal. The withdrawal begins to manifest in symptoms of anxiety and nausea. I have never been overweight but my weight has fluctuated quite a bit in a range of 40lbs since I started taking antipsychotic drugs. I find Geodon doesn't make me gain so much weight for an antipsychotic but I currently have a BMI of 22. Geodon is probably my favorite neuroleptic of the five that I have tried so far.Read More Read Less

Been good

I have had withdrawl symptoms using this med. So, I slowly wiened myself off of this drug, and hopefully will be prescribed another less potent, but useful med to take it's place.

Having a serious bout of Akathisia with this. Very restless, agitated, super hypoanxious/hypomanic. Psych is working on dosage adjustment. Started soon after psych raised dosage from Geo 60mg night only to 40mg A.M. and 60mg P.M. Currently on 60mg A.M. & 60mg P.M. She is taking me down to the 40 A.M., but I think I am going to suggest a goal of 20mg A.M. I HATE the akathisia feeling. It makes me INSANE!! Also on 25mg Zoloft P.M. & 1 mg Xanax 4x daily. Other than that, it has decreased my appetite :):):) and helped curb my mania. Still impulsive hypospending, though. Hopefully, once dosage is adjusted and settles in, this will fade. Have to use Unisom to sleep with extra dose in me, but sleep is awesome and VERY VIVID, LUCID DREAMZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ:)Read More Read Less

gas and bloating,anxiety when try to sleep too anxious to sleep, seem to be clinching teeth,restlessness I've been on med for ten days, haven't slept well for at least 4 days. Stomachache

bipolar

I was doing great on the original GEODON but when I had to switch to the generic GEODON (insurance coverage)I began developing the same side effects as when I took ZOLOFT. These effects are lower back pain, swollen breasts, and dehydration. I got off the Zoloft and all side effects disapeared. Now with generic GEODEN all the above came back. Why?

I keep forgetting everything!

I started w/ seroquel xr taking it at night. I did really good w/ it . However , over the past 3 years I"ve gained 50#. I HAD to have sweets. I also have asthma , so this made the weight gain even worse for me. I tried Ziprasidone & after about 2 weeks everything just went into place. I've been losing weight, I've got my energy back, and feel better all over. I do take meds for depression too , but this review is only for the ziprasidone. Give it a decent try...at least 2 weeks. If I had given up , I would still be fat & even more depressed. Read More Read Less

one problem I have is have trouble sleep for 1-2 nights a week.

I started this drug after a brief stay in the hospital, it seems to help my schizophrnia, my symptoms have subsided tremndoulsy. i do have restless legs when i take it but overall doing good.

Horrendous back and knne pain...only took 4 or 5 pills in 4 day period. 20 year old patient and can barely walk and pain caused 2 sleeples nights so far. Over the counter pain relievers hardly touch the pain....terrible experience!!!!!

I've been on Geodon now for almost 9 years. I'm schizoaffective. This medication really helps with the psychotic symptoms of my disorder like the delusions and the hallucinations. It also helps me sleep at night since I take it in the evening. I get blood draws every 6 months to keep an eye on my blood sugar levels. Am taking Geodon with Depakote ER, and Zoloft. Works great together. Actually feel productive and "normal" most days.

I used to take Seroquel. Although the results from the drug were working, I didn't like the weight gain. My Dr. switched me to Geodon and it's worked well for me. I've lost weight and my bi-polarism has been under control. Although I still cycle, the cycles are shorter and not as severe. The cost is expensive and taking with food are the only down side of this drug.

I had years of ineffective meds. When prescribed geodon at a hospital it solved all of my diagnosis problems. I was raised to a place where negative thoughts didn't exist, I looked for fear and the resulting loss of control of thoughts and feelings and was glad to realize fear didn't come even when I was looking for it. Finally I felt pleasure which is hard to come by. It was my miracle drug until the Grand Mal seizure as a result of an allergy to the drug. I have suffered several years since and now take 6 meds. I wish there was a drug to take with the geodon to avoid the allergic reactions. Alternately I want to try Invegra.Read More Read Less

It did not help my symptoms. It caused osteonecrosis in my hip(left one)and I had to have a hip replacement-which was botched!!! It also cause mydusplactic syndrome(I had to have 9 blood transfusions and almost died!!!). My hemotolgist confirmed it was caused from Geodon. Name of Dr. on request. Thank god I don't have mydusplactic syndrome!!! Geodon caused me to become severelt anemic and caused osteonecrosis...my hip my dying!

Schizoaffective disorder. Hospitalised against will 6 times due to psychosis and mania. Medications used since 1997: mood stabilizers- lithium, valproate, lamotrigine; antipsychotics- risperidone, olanzapine, amisulpride, quetiapine, aripiprazole; antidepressants- venlafaxine, fluoxetine, reboxetine, paroxetine, mianserin all under close supervision of treating psychiatrist. Results of ziprasidone monotherapy: only drug that works particularly for refractory bipolar depression and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Concerns over lack of efficacy due to underdosing in clinical practice. Small side-effect footprint so can be used for maintenance therapy. Without this drug I would be facing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Currently taking 40mg morning and 120mg night (to better regulate sleep rhythms). Ziprasidone has unique pharmacodynamic action in that it is like an antidepressant/mood stabilizer/antipsychotic rolled into one (dopamine/serotonin modulator plus serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor). Can adjust dose to achieve required mood stabilization but can over-activate at lower doses (cause mania/hypomania). Action on alpha 1 adrenoreceptors probably causes the cardiovascular side effects (vasodilation= reduced cardiac output=hypotension=dizziness) but this is minor compared with results. QT interval overhyped. Vastly improved energy, activation, mood and thinking. Previously I had to abort medical studies due to illness. After 7 years out of work, I have been able to return to study a Masters degree. Remember people to SLOWLY do anything to do with dosing! (titrate over weeks/months). Take REGULARLY (same time each day with food, don't miss). Has no weight gain, good for blood lipids/sugars. My turnaround in first month was remarkable; like an awakening. Averaged 5 hours sleep but not manic. Best I've been for 20 years. If can't tolerate ziprasidone, next best is aripiprazole. Try everything else, then try the best: ZIPRASIDONE!Read More Read Less

my brother us taking gedon and its not helpig him what do you recommend us to do or what other pill is there available for him.