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Benefits and Side Effects of GEODON

Potential benefits
In clinical studies, GEODON significantly improved both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Improved positive symptoms included:

  • Hearing voices, seeing things, or sensing things that are not there (hallucinations)
  • Beliefs that are not true (delusions)
  • Unusual suspiciousness (paranoia)
  • Becoming withdrawn from family and friends

Improved negative symptoms included:

  • Flat affect (reduction in emotional expressiveness)
  • Social withdrawal
  • Lack of motivation

Long-term benefits
Each person responds to schizophrenia medicine in his or her own way. It may take weeks for GEODON to work. It is important to take your medicine every day in order to experience the benefits of symptom relief over the long term. Remember, to continue to see the benefits, it is important to take the medicine even after you are feeling better. If you consider stopping at any point, talk with your doctor first.

In a year-long study, GEODON showed lasting control of symptoms among patients who stayed on their medicine.

  • People who stayed on GEODON had significantly fewer relapses of schizophrenia symptoms

Common side effects
In clinical trials in patients with schizophrenia, the most common side effects of GEODON were:*

  • Feeling unusually tired or sleepy
  • Increased cough/runny nose

* Although these are the most common side effects of GEODON, others may occur.

GEODON has a low rate of weight gain:

  • In 4- to 6-week clinical studies of patients with schizophrenia, 10% of patients on GEODON gained significant weight (7% or more of body weight), compared with 4% on placebo (sugar pill)
  • The American Psychiatric Association states that GEODON has a low risk of weight gain.

To learn more about side effects, talk to your doctor or read the Important Safety Information or Full U.S. Prescribing Information including Patient Summary of Information. If you have side effects that seem to last without improving, talk with your doctor.

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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.

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