Geodon vs. Zyprexa

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

Geodon (ziprasidone HCl and ziprasidone mesylate) and or Zyprexa (olanzapine) are atypical antipsychotics used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and manic episodes of bipolar disorder.

Geodon is also used to treat mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder. Geodon also can be used as maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder when added to lithium or valproate.

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 Zyprexa include:

• akathisia (an inability to sit still),
• constipation,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• drowsiness,
• tiredness,
• restlessness,
• weight gain (more likely in teenagers),
• increased appetite,
• memory problems,
• stomach pain or upset,
• loss of bladder control,
• back pain,
• pain in your arms or legs,
• numbness or tingly feeling,
• breast swelling or discharge (in women or men),
• dry mouth, or
• missed menstrual periods.

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.

Zyprexa (olanzapine) is an atypical antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and manic episodes of bipolar 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.

Zyprexa 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), heart or blood pressure medications, medications to treat Parkinson's disease, seizure medications.

Zyprexa may also interact with omeprazole or rifampin.

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.

Oral Zyprexa should be administered on a once-a-day schedule without regard to meals, generally beginning with a 5 to 10 mg initial dose, with a target dose of 10 mg/day within several days.