Geodon (Ziprasidone) for Alzheimer's

Overview
Geodon is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Geodon is also known by its drug name, Ziprasidone. Geodon is sometimes prescribed to treat hallucinations, agitation, aggression, lack of cooperativeness, delusions, and hostility in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Geodon may be considered in cases where non-drug approaches have failed to address these symptoms. Since the FDA has not approved Geodon specifically for this usage, it is considered “off-label.”

Geodon is an antipsychotic, a drug that is used to manage psychiatric problems such as delusions and disordered thoughts. Geodon is believed to work by blocking dopamine in certain pathways of the brain.

How do I take it?
Geodon is generally taken twice daily.

Geodon is available as a capsule.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Geodon lists common side effects including drowsiness, muscle tremors, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, headache, restlessness, anxiety, depression, and rash.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Geodon can include fainting, heart palpitations, loss of consciousness, and increased risk of death in older adults with dementia.