The reason why ziprasidone is a hazardous drug is because ziprasidone can cause some severe and even sometimes fatal side effects, which include QT interval prolongation which can lead to dangerous arrhythmias as well as serious skin reactions like DRESS syndrome and neuroleptic malignant syndrome and an increased risk of mortality in elderly people who have dementia related psychosis.
The negative symptoms of ziprasidone are sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, restlessness, constipation, agitation, acid or sour stomach, belching, diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion, rash and lack of or loss of strength.
Ziprasidone can cause negative issues with your central nervous system like extreme fatigue, headache, sedation and dizziness, especially when standing up quickly.
Movement disorders and Extrapyramidal symptoms like restlessness, stiffness, tremors and even shuffling when walking.
And although ziprasidone generally has a lower metabolic risk, it can still cause weight gain, increased cholesterol, or even high blood sugar and it might also cause anxiety and in rare instances, trigger mania in people with bipolar disorder.
Rare but serious side effects that can be caused by ziprasidone include DRESS syndrome, Cardiac issues and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome results in high fever, severe muscle stiffness and altered mental status.
Cardiac issues like QT-prolongation which can cause dangerous and irregular heartbeats.
And DRESS syndrome is a severe and potentially fatal drug reaction that causes rash, fever and swollen lymph nodes.
The positive effects of ziprasidone are a significant reduction in psychotic symptoms like delusions, hallucinations and mania as well as improved cognitive function, like improved memory and attention and also a favorable metabolic profile like minimal weight gain.
Ziprasidone is FDA approved for treatment of schizophrenia, mania associated with bipolar disorder and acute agitation in people with schizophrenia.
Ziprasidone also known Geodon which is it's brand name is an atypical antipsychotic that is approved by the FDA to treat schizophrenia as well as bipolar disorder in adults.
Ziprasidone works by rebalancing neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine to manage symptoms and is also available in an injectable form for acute agitation in schizophrenia.
Ziprasidone is taken orally, often twice a day with food to ensure it absorbs properly.
The drug Ziprasidone helps to manage the symptoms of schizophrenia, but it's not a cure and it's effective for reducing negative symptoms and improving mood and preventing relapse.
Ziprasidone is also known for having a lower risk of weight gain as well as metabolic side effects when compared to some other antipsychotics.
Common side effects of Ziprasidone include nausea, dizziness, sleepiness and constipation and a serious risk of Ziprasidone also includes the potential to cause QT prolongation which is a heart rhythm issue.
Although Ziprasidone should not be used to treat behavioral problems in people with dementia or the elderly.