Precautions and warnings

Patients who are at risk for major electrolyte imbalances—especially low potassium (hypokalaemia)—should have their potassium and magnesium levels checked and corrected before starting treatment. Caution should be used in people with:

- Central nervous system (CNS) depression
- Stroke or serious heart conditions
- A history of seizures or conditions that make seizures more likely
- Low blood pressure
- Risk of choking or aspiration pneumonia
- Parkinson's disease
- Kidney or liver problems
- Pregnancy

If the QTc interval on an ECG remains over 500 msec, stop the medication. The drug may affect your ability to drive or use machinery.

Monitor the ECG if the patient has symptoms like fainting, dizziness, or palpitations, which could indicate a heart rhythm problem called torsades de pointes. Check blood electrolytes if the patient is also taking diuretics. Monitor blood sugar in patients with diabetes or those who may develop it.

Drug Interactions

This medicine can work against levodopa and dopamine blockers. It can lower blood pressure even more when taken with blood pressure medicines. Taking it with other drugs that affect the brain, or with alcohol, can make you feel extra sleepy.

**Warning:** Combining this drug with medicines that prolong the QT interval (like dofetilide, quinidine, sotalol, some antibiotics, or certain antidepressants/antipsychotics) can raise the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm called torsades de pointes.

Contraindications

Do not use oral and IM ziprasidone at the same time. Avoid if you have recently had a heart attack, severe heart failure, irregular heartbeats, or conditions that increase your QT interval (such as a history of QT prolongation). Do not use if you have tumors that depend on prolactin. Do not use while breastfeeding. This medication should not be used to treat behavior problems in elderly people with dementia.

Mode of actions

Ziprasidone is a type of medicine called an atypical antipsychotic. It helps treat symptoms of schizophrenia by blocking certain receptors in the brain, specifically dopamine D2 and serotonin 5HT2 receptors.

Dosage & Administration

Adult: PO Schizophrenia As HCl: >18 yr: Initial: 20 mg twice daily, may increase slowly to 80 mg twice daily, if needed. Maintenance: 20 mg twice daily.

Mania As HCl: Initial: 40 mg twice daily, increase to 60-80 mg twice daily on the 2nd day. Subsequent doses based on patient's response.

Pregnancy & Lactation

Although animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women, but during pregnancy, this medicine can be used just when definitely required despite potential risks.

Mothers with a newborn baby who have used this drug during the last 3 months of pregnancy may seldom create symptoms including drowsiness, muscle stiffness or shakiness, feeding or breathing troubles, constant crying. If you notice any of these symptoms of your baby's particularly during their first month, tell the doctor immediately.

This medicine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.

Pack Size & Price