FDA APPROVES GEODON (ZIPRASIDONE) FOR THE TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

On February 5, 2001, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ziprasidone, a new antipsychotic medication for the treatment of schizophrenia. Ziprasidone will be available in pharmacies in March under the brand name Geodon.

Developed by Pfizer Inc., ziprasidone has shown to be effective in treating the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, including visual and auditory hallucinations, delusions, motivation difficulties and social withdrawal. Large clinical trials have shown that ziprasidone is associated with little or no weight gain, thus distinguishing it from most other antipsychotic drugs. It also is often associated with less tiredness or sedation compared to many other antipsychotic drugs.  The most common side effects reported for ziprasidone are headache, somnolence, and abnormal movements. 

You may also recognize Geodon (ziprasidone) by its former proposed brand name, Zeldox.

In the process of considering  ziprasidone (Geodon) for the treatment of schizophrenia, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration required a study of the effects of Geodon on heart rhythm (EKG).   Specifically, they studied the propensity of the drug to prolong QT interval relative to other antipsychotics. The study found that Geodon causes a 9 msec to 14 msec greater mean prolongation in QT than four of the comparator drugs (risperidone [Risperdal], olanzapine [Zyprexa], quetiapine [Seroquel] or haloperidol [Haldol]); but approximately 14 msec less than the other comparator drug (thioridazine [Mellaril]). 

Geodon has also been included in an article (Keck et al., 2000)  showing reduction of suicide risk in schizophrenia patients. The authors reviewed the available literature regarding the efficacy of clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine and ziprasidone (Geodon) in the treatment of depression, hostility and suicidality in patients with schizophrenia. Co-occurring depression, in particular, has been associated with suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and suicide. These studies "suggest that treatment with clozapine or olanzapine may significantly reduce suicidality in patients with schizophrenia," the authors said in their conclusion.  

Many have  reported that Geodon has had positive results for patients that had not had good success with Zyprexa.   

More recently, a three-week double-blind study of 210 bipolar I patients (manic or mixed) found the new atypical antipsychotic drug Geodon to be similar to other atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of acute mania.

In new prescriptions during June, 2001, Zyprexa slipped slightly to a 30.3% share from 30.4%, while Geodon grew to 2.7% of the antipsychotic new-prescription market from 2.5% in May. World-wide, Zyprexa sales grew 34% to $736.6 million in the quarter, up 34% from $550.7 million a year ago.

Additional Information on Geodon      (click on links)

There is a high stakes marketing war brewing among makers of new atypical antipsychotics: Zyprexa, Geodon, aripiprazole (Abilitat) and iloperidone (Zomaril).

Focus on Ziprasidone by Dr. Ben Green, Sr. Lecturer in Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital.  (Good overview study of Geodon)

Study of Geodon in treatment of Bipolar.

NAMI story on FDA approval of Geodon.

Geodon for injection has been approved by the FDA to rapidly control agitated behavior and psychotic symptoms.

Public Citizen provides a detailed report on the risks associated with Geodon (Ziprasidone).

Geodon (Ziprasidone) Bipolar Medication Profile

Geodon (Ziprasidone HCl) Better Tolerated Than Zyprexa (Olanzapine) In Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorders.

Schizophrenia fact sheet from NAMI. 

AB1800 is the Wrong Solution by John Burton

I am aware of the pain mental illness can cause for those who need treatment and for their families.  Yet, there are serious problems relating to expanding a program of forced treatment.  There are not enough resources to provide services for existing mental health clients who want treatment, let alone those who do not. The judicial system lacks the resources to handle more involuntary confinement cases than it already has.  Insufficient, fragmented support services in the community can only lead to a revolving door for clients who may function when strapped down and force fed medication, but can’t get the help they need to function in the outside world. When we are stuck with a safety net that is already tangled and too small, it does not make sense to talk about casting the net over a wider area.

This spring, Assemblywoman Helen Thomson introduced a number of bills to modify California Mental Health Services.  AB 1421 proved to be as controversial as AB 1800 was the year before.  Click here for more information on these bills.

CIT What is it?  Why do we need it here in Santa Cruz?

CIT is Crisis Intervention Training.  It is imperative that progressive law enforcement agencies assume the responsibility of evaluating situations, recognizing mental illness and the need for treatment and getting the mentally ill person to the proper treatment resources.  It is an intense 40 hour training session (4 days) for police & sheriffs to learn how to identify and handle a mentally ill person who is in a crisis mode. The benefits are: fewer mentally ill in jail, a decrease in the emergency commitment population, better trained and educated officers and dispatchers, less officer time spent in crisis events, a decrease in the use of force during crisis events, fewer injuries to the mentally ill and police, improved interaction between the police and mental health providers. We like to think that our community may even become better educated concerning brain diseases.  We are working with a seven year veteran Santa Cruz Police Officer, Eric Seiley, who created the newly established position  "Homeless Resource Officer" here in Santa Cruz. We hope to have this program initiated in 2001.  The draft for the CIT program is just getting started, thanks to Officer Seiley, who just finished taking a CIT class in San Jose. You may have read the articles in the Feb 25 and 26 Sentinel newspapers on Officer Seiley. 

We need all of you to help us make this a success. The Crisis Intervention Team will have training provided by specialists in the fields of schizophrenia, bipolar, depression, attention deficit disorder, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, post traumatic stress disorder (Veteran Affairs may know more), and non-violent interventions. If you know of any mental health speaker who specializes in these areas please contact Judy Williams (688-3385 or jujubees@cruzio.com). Instuctors will accompany officers and sit with dispatchers and call takers prior to teaching so that they get a  better understanding of police operations.  We need donations to cover the cost of lunches and materials for this 4 day program. If you would like to donate to this particular program your donation may be earmarked just for this.  Please help us to make this much needed program, Crisis Intervention Training a reality here in Santa Cruz.  Our community thanks you. 

Click here for more on the Homeless Resource officer program.

Compeer for Kids by Nancy Karges

The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County has awarded a grant of $3,000 for a new Compeer For Kids program that will start in 2001.

The Compeer for Kids program will match adults with school-age children who are struggling with emotional and mental health problems to create mentoring friendships

These children face many hardships due to the symptoms of their severe emotional problems. Behaviors such as inability to concentrate, hyperactivity, defiant behavior and tantrums cause problems in the classroom, at home and in recreational and community settings. Youth who are unable to control these behaviors begin to lose self-esteem and withdraw from the world. They develop a low self-image and lose motivation to succeed in school and in life.

The overall goal of the project is to reduce the isolation and loneliness of youth who suffer from emotional and mental health problems, while increasing their ability to participate at a higher level in school; and to interact more appropriately in social and recreational settings. A secondary aim is to relieve some of the stress felt in families by offering some respite.

If you are interested in volunteer information or referral information for this program, call Nancy Karges at 459-6817 or click to send e-mail to Nancy. 

Mental Health Grants Received

Community Connections and the Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center received a grant for $250,000 from the California Endowment, which, among other things will augment services at Mariposa in Watsonville. The County also has a grant of $360,000 to purchase property for 30 beds over the next three years. Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County has awarded a grant of $3,000 to Interfaith Compeer for a new Compeer For Kids program that will start in 2001. The Compeer for Kids program will match adults with school-age children who are struggling with emotional and mental health problems to create mentoring friendships.

2001 NAMI Annual Conference

Registration Information Announcement

Make your plans NOW for four full days at the NAMI National conference in Washington DC on July 11-15, 2001.  For more information, including a preliminary convention schedule, registration details, and one-stop shopping awards, please check your Winter 2001 Quarterly NAMI National newsletter or www.nami.org for details.

Book & Tape Reviews  by Judy Williams

Love is Letting Go of Fear by Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D.

This book shows us how to have peace from within and choose peace rather than multiple goals that lead to conflict and fear.  Learning a process of personal transformation in which we are only concerned about giving, and not about getting.  Let the light of love shine through us as we light the world.  Easy to read and understand.
 

Uncertain Journey - Families Coping with Serious Mental Illness

This tape by the Duke University Medical Center is about three families who experience a family member's serious mental illness.  It shows the mental health system needs to include families by training them on how to cope, to share the status with families the status of the mentally ill family member about his/her illness, the meds and how they work, treatments available, and other things all relating to the illness.  Professionals can lighten the burden of family members by informing them.  This tape is excellent!  Available to the Mental Health Resource Center, 300 Harvey West Blvd., Santa Cruz.  

Opinions expressed in this web site do not necessarily reflect the views of NAMI Santa Cruz County, NAMI California or any affiliated organizations.  We attempt to present a balanced perspective on issues by presenting multiple viewpoints.

Copyright 2005 National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Santa Cruz County, All Rights Reserved.

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