Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Ziprasidone as follows:
Cardiovascular side-effects
- Ziprasidone carries the risk of elevating cholesterol levels and individuals can be at increased risk for cardiac disease, plaque formation secondary to elevated lipid levels, and present with compromised exercise tolerance, increasing shortness of breath, and episodes of chest pain.
- Ziprasidone carries the risk of lowering the blood pressure, leading to episodes of hypotension that can contribute to the dizziness caused by the medication.
- Ziprasidone also carries the risk of causing and/or aggravating some underlying cardiac arrhythmias leading to severe debility and death. Individuals can present with episodes of chest pain, rapid heart rate, palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
General allergic reactions
- Ziprasidone use can result in general allergic reactions, such as, skin rashes, hives, and itching.
- Some patients can present with symptoms of severe allergic and anaphylactic response with ziprasidone, such as, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, throat, and tongue, with consequent difficulty breathing. Seek emergency medical help for such findings, especially with difficulty breathing, for any appropriate measures to be considered.
