Geodon vs. Abilify

• Are Geodon and Abilify the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Geodon?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Abilify?
• What Is Geodon?
• What Is Abilify?
• What drugs interact with Geodon?
• What drugs interact with Abilify?
• How Should Geodon Be Taken?
• How Should Abilify Be Taken?

Geodon (ziprasidone HCl and ziprasidone mesylate) and Abilify (aripiprazole) are antipsychotic drugs used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder.

Geodon also can be used as maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder when added to lithium or valproate.

Abilify is also used to treat autistic disorder and some irritable behavior disorders.

Side effects of Geodon include:

• feeling unusually tired or sleepy;
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• upset stomach,
• loss of appetite;
• constipation;
• dizziness,
• drowsiness;
• restlessness;
• anxiety,
• headache,
• depression;
• abnormal muscle movements,
• such as tremor,
• shuffling, and
• uncontrolled involuntary movements,
• muscle pain or twitching;
• diarrhea;
• skin rash;
• weight gain, and
• increased cough or runny or stuffy nose.

Serious side effects of Geodon include

• fainting or
• loss of consciousness or
• heart palpitations.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur.

Common side effects of Abilify include:

• dizziness
• lightheadedness
• drowsiness
• weakness
• lightheadedness
• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach upset
• tiredness
• excess saliva or drooling
• choking or trouble swallowing
• blurred vision
• headache
• anxiety
• weight gain
• drowsiness
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• constipation

Geodon (ziprasidone HCl and ziprasidone mesylate) is an atypical antipsychotic used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder. Geodon also can be used as maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder when added to lithium or valproate.

Abilify is a prescription medicine used to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Abilify belongs to a class of medicines known as SNRIs (or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors).

Abilify is also used to treat or manage:

• Schizophrenia
• manic or mixed episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder
• major depressive disorder (MDD) when ABILIFY is used with antidepressant medicines
• irritability associated with autistic disorder
• Tourette's disorder

Abilify Injection is a prescription medicine used to treat:

• agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar mania

It is not known if Abilify is safe or effective in children:

• under 13 years of age with schizophrenia
• under 10 years of age with bipolar I disorder
• under 6 years of age with irritability associated with autistic disorder
• under 6 years of age with Tourette's disorder

Geodon may interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety), blood pressure medicines, and medications to treat Parkinson's disease.

Geodon may also interact with diuretics (water pills), heart rhythm medicines, blood pressure medicines, amazepine, cisapride, or haloperidol.

Do not take Abilify if you are allergic to aripiprazole or any of the ingredients in Abilify. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Abilify.

Geodon (ziprasidone HCl) is available as capsules and Geodon (ziprasidone mesylate) is available as an injection for intramuscular use.

Geodon Capsules should be administered at an initial daily dose of 20 mg twice daily with food. For intramuscular dosing, the recommended dose of Geodon is 10 mg to 20 mg administered as required up to a maximum dose of 40 mg per day.

Take Abilify exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Do not change the dose or stop taking Abilify yourself.

• Abilify can be taken with or without food.
• Abilify tablets should be swallowed whole.
• If you miss a dose of Abilify, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Abilify at the same time.
• If you have been prescribed Abilify Discmelt, take it as follows:
• Do not open the blister until ready to take the Discmelt tablet.
• To remove one Discmelt tablet, open the package and peel back the foil on the blister to expose the tablet.
• Do not push the tablet through the foil because this could damage the tablet.
• Immediately upon opening the blister, using dry hands, remove the tablet and place the entire bilify Discmelt Orally Disintegrating Tablet on the tongue.
• Tablet disintegration occurs rapidly in saliva. It is recommended that bilify Discmelt be taken without liquid. However, if needed, it can be taken with liquid.
• Do not attempt to split the Discmelt tablet.