Ziprasidone and Hallucinations: What Users Say

• Czr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2019

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Schizoaffective Disorder "Geodon, in the beginning, sounded like a good idea, but it turns out that I was very wrong. After the first day of taking it, I developed insomnia, heart palpitations, and could not feel any emotions whatsoever. These symptoms persisted for the whole time I took Geodon, and on top of that, Geodon did nothing to help my psychosis. I then asked my doctor to get me off of Geodon, and that is when the real kicker shows. Geodon has horrible withdrawal symptoms that hit despite how slowly I decreased my dose. These withdrawal symptoms for me included really bad insomnia, which made it impossible to go to bed at all and caused hallucinations, flu-like symptoms, and more heart palpitations. I am currently in week 1 out of 12 of getting off my 120 mg dose. So basically, if you take this drug, you WILL be hooked on it. Good luck."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2012

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "I was only taking Geodon for 3 weeks (tapered up to 60 mg), and one evening I was sitting in front of my computer and experienced the worst panic attack of my life (also my first panic attack). I was admitted to the ER that day. I felt like I was about to have a drug-induced psychosis. My pdoc instructed me to stop taking it immediately. The withdrawal was an absolute nightmare. I experienced over 30 different symptoms (anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, paranoia, nausea, crawling skin, heart palpitations, chills, and tingling just to name a few). It has been almost 2 months, and I am still struggling with anxiety."

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2021

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "This is by far the worst medication I have ever taken for my bipolar. I would give this a zero if I could. I didn’t feel terrible at first, but I noticed some mild paranoia and anxiety. I ignored it, though, because I was actually more motivated and able to get more things done, and I was finally losing weight. I desperately wanted this med to work. The doctor increased my dose, and things got bad very quickly. I was having intense delusions, the worst I’ve ever had. They were so bad that I would just start crying because I was so scared. The brain fog, memory problems, and dissociation on this medication are awful as well. I feel so out of it all the time, and I even went to the ER because it felt like I had been drugged. My head constantly feels funny. I’m dizzy and lightheaded. My vision is blurry. Currently switching to a different med and dealing with awful withdrawal. Hopefully, the side effects go away soon. Please take caution with this medication."

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2021

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "This is by far the worst medication I have ever taken for my bipolar. I would give this a zero if I could. I didn’t feel terrible at first, but I noticed some mild paranoia and anxiety. I ignored it, though, because I was actually more motivated and able to get more things done, and I was finally losing weight. I desperately wanted this med to work. The doctor increased my dose, and things got bad very quickly. I was having intense delusions, the worst I’ve ever had. They were so bad that I would just start crying because I was so scared. The brain fog, memory problems, and dissociation on this medication are awful as well. I feel so out of it all the time, and I even went to the ER because it felt like I had been drugged. My head constantly feels funny. I’m dizzy and lightheaded. My vision is blurry. Currently switching to a different med and dealing with awful withdrawal. Hopefully, the side effects go away soon. Please take caution with this medication."

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2012

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "I'm on 60 mg twice a day. I have been on Geodon for about 2 weeks. I am 42 and just diagnosed with mixed mood bipolar. This medicine has done nothing to my mood but make it worse. I'm about ready to bite people's heads off. I am extremely agitated, with thoughts of rage running through my head more than not. I also sweat more and am paranoid a lot. I want to give it some time but don't know how long I can take these feelings."

• esp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2016

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "I was on this for several months and had great experiences with it. It made all the weird little hallucinations go away, caused me to effortlessly drop all of the Risperdal weight (60 lbs!), and just generally really helped stabilize my mood, combined with the Xanax and Depakote. Unfortunately, it's about $300 a bottle on my insurance (generic)."

• Mom...
• November 6, 2016

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Schizophrenia "I have been on Geodon for 6 years. It works great for me. Risperdal made me sleepy, and I couldn't think as clearly. I have gained weight, but due to other medication I was taking with it. My symptoms are almost all gone. I still have some paranoia, but nothing like before. I take a lot though, 160 at night. My condition is very manageable. I just wish I didn't have this problem and didn't have to take medicine just to function normally. Good luck to all you guys searching for help."

• egg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2016

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "For bipolar. This medicine was very dangerous to me. Within the first 2 weeks of being on 30 mg twice a day, I had 2 seizures. Never have had a seizure in my 45 years of living. Had very bad hallucinations, rapid eye movement during the day, and was worse after any caffeine or cigarettes. Had an episode while driving and could not control my actions, went off the road, through a ditch and into a tree. 2 fractured vertebrae, many bruises, concussion. Stopped taking this drug. Thankfully, I didn't kill anyone or myself. Finally, 2 weeks after I stopped taking it, I am finally getting a clear head. But still in pain from the accident! Would NOT recommend this junk for anyone!!"

• Eli...
• December 13, 2016

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "I took this medication for about 5 days, and from the start, I knew something was wrong. I remember hallucinating in the dark, and the very next day, I went manic. I had acid reflux issues, and it felt so bad that I had a hard time breathing. I passed out and was taken to the ER. Withdrawal was terrible, in fact, I'm still going through it. I have had the worst anxiety of my life. My delusional beliefs were at an extreme high, and I was so scared that I would break out crying. Every one of my worst thoughts was greatly emphasized on this med. I would have anxiety attacks and feel like I had to puke. I would not recommend this medication to anyone."

• dea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 12, 2022

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "I've been on this medication for almost seven years and actually have Major Depressive Disorder. If you don't have Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia, STAY AWAY from this medication. It has severely ruined my quality of life. I've been on the highest dose possible and am almost off of it completely. The involuntary facial movements, weight gain, withdrawals from missing a dose by 30 minutes to an hour, paranoia, passing out at jobs from feeling so sedated and drugged out-all of it, and more, are NOT worth it. I don't think I'll ever recover from this medication. STAY AWAY! Don't let your pill-pusher psychiatrist suggest it to you if you have Depression, Anxiety, BPD, basically anything but Bipolar and Schizophrenia. If you're in recovery from an Eating Disorder, STAY AWAY! I haven't been myself for the past 6 1/2 years. I don't even know who I am anymore. The withdrawals are so deadly. Please don't put yourself through this. This medication has been pulled off the market by the FDA multiple times. Stay safe x"

• bww...
• March 4, 2012

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Schizophrenia "My wife tried this while schizoactive, and it got rid of the auditory hallucinations until close to time to take the medication again. About 1 hour before medication time, the hallucinations came back very strong and hung around for at least 1 hour after the drug was taken. The doctor increased the dosage and split it twice a day, and my wife got really bad twitches."

• CM3...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2017

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "When I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, my doctor prescribed Geodon at 40 mg once daily to help with my mixed episodes. I immediately felt the effect of the drug. I had insomnia. I was hallucinating, I would hear voices at night. I was agitated and yelling at my husband and children for no real reason. My mixed episodes got much worse. I quit taking it after 4 days of absolute hell. I know everyone reacts differently to these drugs, but my experience was awful."

• Obo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2017

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "Bipolar II with mixed episode, tried Geodon. Severe somnolence, with insomnia (read: trapped in half-asleep purgatory) upon starting. Triggered full-blown manic episode with hallucinations, jabbering, rambling, and fast talking, distractibility and inattentiveness, poor judgment, and dissociation with the passage of time, over the following couple of weeks. Shaking hands (could not perform ordinary fine motor tasks such as cutting my nails). Stopped and switched to quetiapine, with success."

• oht...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2013

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Schizoaffective Disorder "Geodon for a month now; ZERO weight loss from 6 years of Risperdal. Discouraged but won't give up. I'm crying more lately... which is just plain weird. I never cry. Still, no hallucinations; my mood is decent."

• Its...
• September 4, 2009

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "What I liked best about this medicine was that it made me sleep perfectly. No trouble falling asleep and no waking up during the night. I slept a full 8 hours and felt completely refreshed and ready to go when I woke in the morning. Then, at a dosage of 80 mg, instead of putting me gently to sleep, it gave me waves of paralysis in my whole body and had me hysterically crying for my daddy and hallucinating. I was immediately instructed to stop taking it. I don't take it for my mood anymore because of that. I just take the smallest dosage to help me sleep."

• ros...
• January 18, 2016

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Schizophrenia "My doctor changed my drug regimen from Abilify to Geodon (120 mg). Then I started experiencing trouble swallowing and headaches. These effects were transient, so the doctor asked me to stay on the drug. The condition became worse, and I went to an ear, throat, and nose doctor. They indicated that I was suffering from GERD and inflammation of the larynx. After a few more weeks, I was becoming paranoid and experiencing OCD symptoms. My husband called the doctor and demanded she shift back to Abilify. A couple of days later, all the aforementioned symptoms disappeared. I am sure the drug works for many people, but please pay close attention to the side effects I described."

• Amy...
• November 17, 2018

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Schizophrenia "I have been on Geodon for the last 5 years. As soon as I started taking Geodon at 20 mg, my sleep started to get disturbed. I was bumped up to 60 mg, and the hallucinations have tapered off. I still get delusions and feelings that people are talking out of my mouth as my mouth moves with words. I had initial symptoms of restlessness and anxiety, but over time these symptoms have decreased and managed. I take Geodon with food at 5:30 PM, and it wires me so I can't sleep at night. I tried taking Geodon in the morning with food, but sometimes if I don't eat enough food, it causes forced drowsiness and I am unable to do anything but sleep for a couple of hours. I switched to evening in case the forced drowsiness appeared again. I found that moderate exercise 5 days a week helps with sleep because Geodon increases DHEA levels, and when DHEA is elevated, you have sleep issues. In the fifth year of Geodon, I started to get drug-induced Parkinsonism."

• Amy...
• November 17, 2018

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Schizophrenia "I have been on Geodon for the last 5 years. As soon as I started taking Geodon at 20 mg, my sleep started to get disturbed. I was bumped up to 60 mg, and the hallucinations have tapered off. I still get delusions and feelings that people are talking out of my mouth as my mouth moves with words. I had initial symptoms of restlessness and anxiety, but over time these symptoms have decreased and managed. I take Geodon with food at 5:30 PM, and it wires me so I can't sleep at night. I tried taking Geodon in the morning with food, but sometimes if I don't eat enough food, it causes forced drowsiness and I am unable to do anything but sleep for a couple of hours. I switched to evening in case the forced drowsiness appeared again. I found that moderate exercise 5 days a week helps with sleep because Geodon increases DHEA levels, and when DHEA is elevated, you have sleep issues. In the fifth year of Geodon, I started to get drug-induced Parkinsonism."

• jer...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2016

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Schizophrenia "Been on it for nearly 2 months now, and I always take it at a time when I have a meal for the best effect. No relapse. I do not gain psychosis when having Geodon. And I do not gain weight on it or feel too extremely hungry when having this. But I've got the same problem that actually occurs with those who have ADHD. Among the problems is lower memory and shutting down things that happen at the same time. Has someone else experienced problems that remind them of ADHD on Geodon? And my dreams at night are not always something to be proud of or try to impress with. I have very sick dreams on Geodon. But it feels like I can be myself on it and still be the person who I really am. Geodon got 7 of 10. Still good. This is my experience on Geodon."

• Des...
• March 31, 2016

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed Geodon two weeks ago for psychotic episodes that I have as a result of my bipolar 1 disorder. In short, I am absolutely horrified at what Geodon has done to my body in the small time that I have been taking it. It has made my hallucinations worse, my bipolar disorder worse (which was fine with the help of Lamictal), and it made my suicidal thoughts worse. I blacked out and self-harmed for the first time in over a year since I began taking this medication. I had to call a pharmacist to work out an emergency titration schedule, which did me little good since I started immediately withdrawing from the 40 mg capsules. It was the worst withdrawal symptoms I have ever experienced. Please be careful before taking Geodon."

• Ric...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2016

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "I do not recommend this at all. Within a week of taking this, I started hallucinating, and I got really bad akathisia. I was up for 3 days, seeing things, hearing things, and I was even having tactile hallucinations. Most horrible experience I've ever had."

• 600...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 20, 2022

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking antidepressants for approximately 20 years now. I normally find one that works well and am able to maintain progress for years until it just stops working. I take Geodon (20mg, CL62 Generic ONLY) at night, after eating at least 600 calories. The catch-22: I have little to no appetite, so it is often a chore to decide on something to eat in order to fulfill that caloric requirement. I say requirement because if I ever fall short of those 600 at night, the next day, I will have extreme anxiety (day-long panic attacks) and various other side effects. It took me almost 8 months of suffering to figure that part out on my own. I've also noticed that my caloric intake during the day needs to be at a similar level or the panic, paranoia, overheating, nausea will creep its way into my day. I just wanted to share my 'ah hah' with anyone else who may be suffering through anxiety and other effects while trying to stay with an otherwise miracle med."

• Anonymous
• September 17, 2013

For Paranoid Disorder "I'm on this for depression and paranoia. It's been good to me. I've lost weight from what I gained being on other medicines. I'm running more and feeling happier. When I first got on the pill, I was hallucinating for about 3 months, but it stopped. Sometimes I get sad, but that goes away. The downside to this medicine is when I don't eat, I start to shake, my leg cramps up sometimes in the mornings when I'm running. I get dizzy, and my hand tenses up. Other than that, I sleep very well. Always try to take the pill, or the next day will be very hard, my body starts to hurt."

• tra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 14, 2017

Geodon (ziprasidone) for Schizoaffective Disorder "I got put on this after my third stay at a mental care facility. It was an addition to Lamictal. I was prescribed both for my bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder. Geodon worked for a bit, but I noticed when I would deliberately take it when I was having auditory hallucinations that it wouldn't help. I'm on 40 mg, maybe that's too low, but it's not helping."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 30, 2020

For Schizophrenia "My mom has been on it a good 13 years. Over the years, I've watched my mom turn into a zombie-like person who can't do anything for herself. She barely eats but constantly needs to drink fluids. She hallucinates all day and night when she's not asleep, talking to people who aren't alive or thinking babies are in her bed. I'm studying up, hoping to make a change to her meds. In my opinion, Geodon slowly kills the body. Geodon, Haldol, Benztropine slowly kills."