ziprasidone
Brand names: Geodon
Ziprasidone is a medicine used to treat mental disorders. It helps to balance chemicals in the brain to improve mood and behavior.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$23.92/unit
Generic Price
$0.23/unit
Generic Savings
99%
Generic Available
Yes (8 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Ziprasidone treats schizophrenia in adults.
Common side effects
Feeling sleepy, Respiratory tract infection, Extrapyramidal symptoms (movement problems)
Key warnings
This medicine may increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have psychosis related to dementia.
How It Works
Ziprasidone is an atypical antipsychotic. It works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain, like dopamine and serotonin. By balancing these chemicals, it helps to reduce symptoms of mental illness.
How to Take It
Take ziprasidone capsules by mouth with food. Swallow the capsules whole; do not crush, open, or chew them. For schizophrenia, you may start with 20 mg twice a day. Your doctor may adjust the dose up to 80 mg twice a day, but no sooner than every 2 days.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Babies born to mothers who use this medicine in the last 3 months of pregnancy may have withdrawal symptoms after birth. There is a pregnancy registry, call 1-866-961-2388.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store ziprasidone capsules at room temperature, between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 9,010 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 17,328 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
17,328
Death-Related Reports
1,171
Hospitalization Reports
4,189
Top Indication
Bipolar Disorder
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 1,350 |
| 2 | WEIGHT INCREASED | 1,176 |
| 3 | DIABETES MELLITUS | 1,003 |
| 4 | ANXIETY | 875 |
| 5 | TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS | 859 |
| 6 | INSOMNIA | 801 |
| 7 | DEPRESSION | 782 |
| 8 | SOMNOLENCE | 744 |
| 9 | FATIGUE | 719 |
| 10 | TARDIVE DYSKINESIA | 700 |
| 11 | TREMOR | 686 |
| 12 | NAUSEA | 673 |
| 13 | DIZZINESS | 587 |
| 14 | FEELING ABNORMAL | 587 |
| 15 | SUICIDAL IDEATION | 568 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
This medicine may increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have psychosis related to dementia. Ziprasidone is not approved to treat dementia-related psychosis. Talk to your doctor about the risks if you are an elderly patient with dementia.
Known Drug Interactions
Risk of serotonin syndrome with concomitant therapy with other serotonergic drugs such as SNRIs, SSRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St.
Mechanism: Both of these drugs increase a chemical in the brain called serotonin. Having too much serotonin can lead to a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome.
What to do: Tell your doctor if you feel very restless, confused, or have a fast heartbeat. Your doctor will decide if it is safe for you to take both medicines.
Risk of serotonin syndrome with concomitant therapy with other serotonergic drugs such as SNRIs, SSRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. 7.5 Lithium Ziprasidone at a dose of 40 mg twice daily administered concomitantly with lithium at a dose of 450 mg twice daily for 7 days did not affect the steady-state level or renal clearance of lithium. Ziprasidone dosed adjunctively to lithium in a maintenance trial of bipolar patients did not affect mean therapeutic lithium levels.
Mechanism: These drugs can both raise serotonin levels in the body. When used together, they may cause a serious reaction called serotonin syndrome.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you for symptoms like muscle stiffness or fever. Do not stop taking your medicine without talking to your provider first.
7.5 Drugs That Cause QTc Prolongation Tetrabenazine causes a small prolongation of QTc (about 8 msec), concomitant use with other drugs that are known to cause QTc prolongation should be avoided, these including antipsychotic medications (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol, thioridazine, ziprasidone), antibiotics (e.g., moxifloxacin), Class 1A (e.g., quinidine, procainamide) and Class III (e.g., amiodarone, sotalol) antiarrhythmic medications or any other medications known to prolong the QTc interval. 7.6 Neuroleptic Drugs The risk for Parkinsonism, NMS, and akathisia may be increased by con...
Mechanism: Both drugs can cause a dangerous change in the heart's rhythm and increase the risk of serious movement problems.
What to do: You should avoid taking these drugs together to prevent heart rhythm issues and severe muscle side effects.
Ziprasidone at a dose of 20 mg twice daily did not affect the pharmacokinetics of concomitantly administered oral contraceptives, ethinyl estradiol (0.03 mg) and levonorgestrel (0.15 mg).
Mechanism: Ziprasidone does not change the way the body breaks down or removes estradiol from the system. This means the levels of the hormone in your blood stay the same.
What to do: You can safely take these medications together without needing to adjust your dose. Your birth control or hormone therapy should work as expected.
7.9 Other Concomitant Drug Therapy Population pharmacokinetic analysis of schizophrenic patients enrolled in controlled clinical trials has not revealed evidence of any clinically significant pharmacokinetic interactions with benztropine, propranolol, or lorazepam.
Mechanism: Studies of patients show that these two drugs do not have a significant effect on how the body handles either medication. They do not change each other's levels in the body.
What to do: No special precautions or dose changes are typically required when using these drugs at the same time.
Common Questions
Can I take ziprasidone without food?
What should I do if I feel worse after starting ziprasidone?
Can I drive while taking ziprasidone?
How long does it take for ziprasidone to start working?
Can I stop taking ziprasidone suddenly?
Does ziprasidone interact with other medications?
What if I experience side effects?
Can ziprasidone cause weight gain?
Is ziprasidone addictive?
What should I avoid while taking ziprasidone?
What are the common side effects of ziprasidone?
Does ziprasidone interact with other medications?
What drug class is ziprasidone?
Is there a generic version of ziprasidone?
Is ziprasidone safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Atypical Antipsychotic
Other drugs grouped near ziprasidone — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
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alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
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amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
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amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
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aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for ziprasidone
The FDA label for ziprasidone (sold under brand names such as Geodon) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Atypical Antipsychotic class. Ziprasidone treats schizophrenia in adults. Official labeling lists 8 commonly reported side effects, including Feeling sleepy, Respiratory tract infection, Extrapyramidal symptoms (movement problems).
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 9,010 voluntary reports. The database also lists 18 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.23 versus $23.92 for the brand — a 99% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: April 5, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages