Geodon
Geodon Illegal Promotion & Death Risk Warning
Special Alert: October 2009
Geodon, an antipsychotic medication, is part of a group of four drugs at the center of a lawsuit filed against the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. Geodon is FDA-approved for treating patients between the ages of 18 and 65 diagnosed with schizophrenia, acute manic disorder, or bipolar disorder.
However, Pfizer subsidiary Pharmacia & Upjohn pled guilty to illegally promoting the sale and use of Geodon for a variety of off-label conditions. As a result, Pfizer was fined $2.3 billion in civil damages and criminal fines.
This is not the first time that Geodon has faced problems. In April 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning for the medication, alerting consumers to the risks of using the drug in elderly patients with dementia. In addition, Geodon is associated with the following conditions:
- Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
- Tardive Dyskinesia (TD)
- QT prolongation
What is Geodon?
Geodon, generic name Ziprasidone, is an anti-psychotic medication that works by changing the effects of chemicals in the brain. It is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in adults and children ages 10 and older. The drug is administered in two forms, as a capsule and as an injection.
Geodon Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you develop any of these signs of an allergic reaction:
- Hives
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
Stop using Geodon and call your doctor immediately if you have any of these serious side effects:
- Dizziness
- Feeling light-headed
- Fainting
- Fast or pounding heartbeat
- Fever
- Stiff muscles
- Confusion
- Sweating
- Fast or uneven heartbeats
- Tremors (uncontrolled shaking)
- Restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck
- Agitation, hostility, or confusion
- Increased thirst or urination
- Weakness
- Extreme hunger
- Penile erection that is painful or lasts for more than four hours
Geodon and Tardive Dyskinesia
Along with the increased risk of death in elderly patients, Geodon has also been linked to the development of Tardive Dyskinesia (TD). A serious and potentially permanent neurological disorder, this condition is associated with unusual, uncontrollable body or facial movements, including:
- Facial tics
- Eye blinking
- Tongue thrusting
- Lip smacking
- Grimacing
- Hip rocking
- Shoulder shrugging
- Stamping movements of legs
- Irregular finger movements
Overview of Geodon
In September 2009, Pfizer pled guilty to illegally marketing Geodon as an effective treatment for a variety of conditions, including, but not limited to: depression, bipolar maintenance, mood disorder, anxiety, dementia, and obsessive compulsive disorder. It was alleged that Pfizer’s marketing campaign deemed Geodon safer than other drugs and urged doctors to prescribe its use. As part of its settlement, Pfizer agreed to pay $2.3 billion in fines.
In April 2005, the FDA issued a black box warning about the increased risk of death in elderly dementia patients taking Geodon. A study found that the risk increased 1.6 to 1.7 times, and the cause of death seemed to stem from heart problems or infections (mostly pneumonia).
Our Lawyers Understand Dangerous Drug Cases
If you or someone you love has suffered as a result of using Geodon, it is important that you act right away. There are time limits to file a claim. When our law firm gets involved with your case, we immediately get to work investigating the cause of your drug reaction and fighting for your legal rights to fair compensation.
Contact our law firm today by taking advantage of our free legal evaluation.
