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Signs and Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Symptoms of schizophrenia vary from person to person, and may include the following:

  • Hallucination is experiencing things that are not there. Hearing voices that other people do not hear is the most common type. Hallucinations can also include feeling, tasting, or smelling things that are not present
  • Delusions are unusual, false beliefs that are held to be true, even when someone else explains the truth
  • Disordered thinking happens when a person has difficulty “thinking straight.” Thoughts may come and go quickly. Or it may be hard to focus on one thought for very long
  • Flat emotions occur when a person shows little emotion or speaks in a voice that sounds flat with little or no expression. A person may lose interest in life and withdraw from family, friends, and social events

Understanding when symptoms return
Even with treatment, a person with schizophrenia might still have setbacks. Because no one can tell how medicine will work, you and your loved ones should learn to recognize your symptoms in case they return.

In many cases, symptoms come back because the person has stopped taking the medicine as prescribed.

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Important Safety Information

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis (having lost touch with reality due to confusion and memory loss) treated with this type of medicine are at an increased risk of death, compared to placebo (sugar pill). GEODON is not approved for treating these patients.

You should not take GEODON if you have certain kinds of heart conditions or take certain medicines. GEODON may increase the risk of changes to your heart rhythm. It is important to talk to your doctor about this possible side effect. And be sure to call your doctor right away if you faint, pass out, or feel a change in your heartbeat.

Serious side effects can occur with any antipsychotic medicine, including GEODON. Tell your doctor right away if you experience a high fever, stiff muscles, shaking, confusion, sweating, or increased heart rate or blood pressure. These can be signs of a rare condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).

Also tell your doctor if you experience abnormal or uncontrollable facial or body movements. These could be a sign of tardive dyskinesia (TD), which may become permanent.

Medicines like GEODON may raise blood sugar levels. There have been few reports of high blood sugar or diabetes in patients who take GEODON. It is not known if GEODON was the cause.

If you experience a rash, lightheadedness, or seizures while taking GEODON, tell your doctor.

The most common side effects for patients taking GEODON for bipolar mania include sleepiness, abnormal muscle movements (such as tremors, shuffling, and uncontrolled movement), dizziness, and restlessness.

The most common side effects for patients taking GEODON for schizophrenia include sleepiness, increased cough, and runny nose.

In short-term schizophrenia clinical trials, 10% of GEODON-treated patients experienced a weight gain of ≥7% of body weight vs. 4% for placebo.

Please see patient summary of information and full prescribing information.

Pfizer GZU00223A

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