Navigation

Geodon vs. Haldol

 

Are Geodon and Haldol the Same Thing?

Geodon (ziprasidone HCl and ziprasidone mesylate) and Haldol (haloperidol) are antipsychotic drugs used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia.

Geodon is also used to treat 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.

Haldol is also used to control motor (movement) and verbal tics (for example, Tourette's syndrome) and is used to treat severe behavior problems in children.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Geodon?

Side effects of Geodon include:

Serious side effects of Geodon include

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

What Are Possible Side Effects of Haldol?

Common side effects of Haldol include:

  • nausea,
  • vomiting,
  • diarrhea,
  • dry mouth,
  • nervousness,
  • headache,
  • dizziness,
  • spinning sensation,
  • drowsiness,
  • sleep problems (insomnia),
  • restlessness,
  • anxiety,
  • skin rash,
  • itching,
  • spontaneous eye movements,
  • mood changes,
  • breast enlargement,
  • irregular menstrual periods,
  • loss of interest in sex,
  • blurred vision,
  • difficulty urinating or urinating less than usual, and
  • occasional movement disorders

Severe side effects of Haldol include:

What is Geodon?

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.

What is Haldol?

Haldol (haloperidol) is an antipsychotic drug that decreases excitement in the brain. Haldol is used to treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, to control motor (movement) and verbal (for example, Tourette's syndrome) tics and is used to treat severe behavior problems in children.

Haldol 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

Haldol Injection is a prescription medicine used to treat:

  • agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar mania

It is not known if Haldol 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

What Drugs Interact With Geodon?

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.

What Drugs Interact With Haldol?

Haldol may interact with other drugs so the patient needs close observation or monitoring to determine if other side effects develop.

 

How Should Geodon Be Taken?

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.

How Should Haldol Be Taken?

Haldol is available in sterile vials containing 5 mg strength Haldol per 1 ml of fluid used for injection. Usual starting dose is 2.5-5 mg intramuscularly. Dose may vary according to patient response to the drug. Switch to an oral form of this drug is recommended as soon as possible.