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Can Ziprasidone Cause Increased Heart Rate?

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Posted on Fri, 8 Sep 2017
Question: My daughter suffers from major depressive disorder, panic disorder and migraines. She has been on buspirone 30mgs, verapamil 120mg , gabapentin 900mgs, serzone 200mgs, paxil 60mg, topiramate 200mgs,
Geodon 120mgs, xanax2mg, levothyroxine 100mcg, ropinirole 2mg, trazodone 400mg, Imitrex as needed.
She has been on the above meds for about 5 years. July 3rd she was hospitalized with a heart rate of 36.
They immediately stopped all her meds for 3 days saying it was the meds that were causing the low heart rate. After 3 days they started slowly adding them back. After a week in the hosp, they sent here home with a decrease in all her meds. and stopped the verapamil completely. Here heart rate was then 54. She was in such a state of depression and withdrawal that her Psychiatrist had her go back to the above amounts on paxil, serzone, busbar, and topirimate. When she came home from the hosp. Her gabapentine had been lowered to 400 mg and her Geodon to 80mgs. Here heart rate has continued to run between 40 to 55 for approx. a month. We ran out of 80mgs of Geodon so lowered her to 60 mgs.
after about 4 days here heart rate is is running in the high 50's into the 60's and a couple of times in the 70's. Does that mean that Geodon is the cause, or is this a coincidence? The drop from 80 to 60 is kicking her butt, not sleeping, anxity, dizziness so bad that she falls. Was it too much of a drop to go from 80 to 60? Her Psychiatrist put her on vraylar 3 mg per capsule. I've been afraid to give it to her
because I think it is in the same family as Geodon. Will this affect her heart rate? There is not much on the web about vraylar and her psychiatrist as well as family dr are on vacation.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Geodon is safe to use.

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related doubts

I can understand your concern. Geodon is Ziprasidone and is a second generation antipsychotic drug. The drug has no significant effects on heart rate and I don't think reducing the dose to 60 mg from 80 mg has anything to with her increase in heart rate. Geodon is safe to use.

Yes reducing the dose could have resulted in increased anxiety and this might be the reason for her increased heart rate. You can give her Vrylar 3 mg as advised this will not cause much effects.

Her heart rate will settle in a couple of days.

Thanks and Take care

Please let me know if you need more assistance.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (10 hours later)
Now I am really confused. I have read several articles saying that Geodon can cause bradycardia.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (59 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
This could be due to anxiety.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

Her dose has been reduced to 60 from 80 and this dose reduction will not affect her heart rate directly. Yes as I mentioned earlier too mild withdrawal or relapse of anxiety might be the reason for her increased heart rate.

You can ask again for more clarification.

Thanks and Take care
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5193 Questions

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Can Ziprasidone Cause Increased Heart Rate?

Brief Answer: Geodon is safe to use. Detailed Answer: Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related doubts I can understand your concern. Geodon is Ziprasidone and is a second generation antipsychotic drug. The drug has no significant effects on heart rate and I don't think reducing the dose to 60 mg from 80 mg has anything to with her increase in heart rate. Geodon is safe to use. Yes reducing the dose could have resulted in increased anxiety and this might be the reason for her increased heart rate. You can give her Vrylar 3 mg as advised this will not cause much effects. Her heart rate will settle in a couple of days. Thanks and Take care Please let me know if you need more assistance.