Drug Warning: Geodon

Generic name: ziprasidone HCI (known as atypical antipsychotics)

Manufactured and marketed by: Pfizer

Purpose: Designed to work by assisting in restoring the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Side Effects Reported

• The common side effects of Geodon may include drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, weakness, restlessness, and cough.
• Antipsychotic medications, including Geodon, may be linked to various harmful side effects including neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), tardive dyskinesia (TD), stroke, diabetes, and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia).
• The FDA has requested that manufacturers of atypical antipsychotics, including Pfizer the manufacturer of Geodon, include a warning about the possible link to diabetes on its labeling.
• As a class, atypical antipsychotics have been linked to increasing the risk of diabetes in patients, as well as other problems including obesity and high cholesterol.

Industry Report

Geodon may be linked to causing small changes in patient's heart rhythm. According to some reports, Geodon may prolong the time between heartbeats causing a condition known as torsade de pointes. Torsade de pointes is a heart arrhythmia that may cause sudden death. According to some reports, Geodon was initially denied FDA approval because of this potential side effect. Patients who have certain heart conditions are warned not to take Geodon.

Seeger Weiss is not currently pursuing lawsuits on this drug, but its drug warnings will remain on our radar.

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