What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-Dementia
-Diabetes
-Heart disease
-Heart failure
-History of breast cancer
-History of irregular heartbeat or rhythm
-History of heart attack or stroke
-Kidney disease
-Liver disease
-Low blood pressure
-Low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood
-Parkinson disease
-Seizures
-Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempt by you or a family member
-Trouble swallowing
-An unusual or allergic reaction to ziprasidone, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-Breastfeeding
What may interact with this medication?
Do not take this medication with any of the following:
-Bedaquiline
-Cisapride
-Levoketoconazole
-MAOIs, such as Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
-Mefloquine
-Methadone
-Methylene blue
-Pentamidine
-Pimozide
-Some antibiotics, such as linezolid or moxifloxacin
-Some medications for cancer, such as arsenic trioxide, nilotinib, panobinostat, toremifene, vandetanib
-Some medications for fungal infections, such as fluconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole
-Some medications for irregular heartbeat, such as amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, dronedarone, ibutilide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol
-Some medications for nausea and vomiting, such as chlorpromazine, dolasetron, droperidol, metoclopramide
-Tacrolimus
-Thioridazine
This medication may also interact with the following:
-Alcohol
-Certain antihistamines
-Certain medications for depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions
-Certain medications for migraines, such as sumatriptan
-Certain medications for seizures, such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, primidone
-Medications for blood pressure
-Medications that cause drowsiness before a procedure, such as propofol
-Medications that help you fall asleep
-Medications that relax muscles
-Opioids
-Other medications that cause heart rhythm changes
-Phenothiazines, such as perphenazine or prochlorperazine
-Some medications for Parkinson disease, such as levodopa
-Stimulant medications for ADHD, weight loss, or staying awake
-Supplements, such as St. John's wort or tryptophan
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.
This medication may cause serious skin reactions. They can happen weeks to months after starting the medication. Talk to your care team right away if you have fevers or flu-like symptoms with a rash. The rash may be red or purple and then turn into blisters or peeling of the skin. Or you might notice a red rash with swelling of the face, lips, or lymph nodes in your neck or under your arms.
Serotonin syndrome is when your body has too much serotonin in it. This happens when this medication is used with other ones that increase serotonin levels. Common medications that increase serotonin levels are antidepressants, some medications for migraines, and some antibiotics. The symptoms of serotonin syndrome include irritability, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, muscle stiffness, twitching muscles, sweating, high fever, seizure, chills, vomiting, and diarrhea. Contact your care team right away if you think you have serotonin syndrome.
This medication may increase blood sugar. The risk may be higher in patients who already have diabetes. Ask your care team what you can do to lower your risk of diabetes while taking this medication.
This medication may make it hard for your body to regulate its temperature so that you feel cold or warm. If possible, stay indoors during cold weather. If you must go outdoors, wear warm clothes. Do not exercise too much. Stay indoors during hot weather. Do not wear too much or heavy clothing. Stay out of the sun. Do not wear too much or heavy clothing. Make sure you stay hydrated. Drink water often. Eat fruits and veggies that have a high water content. Drink more water when it is hot or you are active.
What are the most serious risks of this medication?
This medication should not be used to treat mood and behavior changes caused by dementia. It may increase the risk of death in older adults with dementia.