Zeldox Capsules (Ziprasidone Hydrochloride Monohydrate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Zeldox Capsules Used For?
Zeldox contains ziprasidone and belongs to a group of medicines called atypical antipsychotics. It helps treat mental health conditions by correcting chemical imbalances in the brain.
Primary Uses
Zeldox is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. For schizophrenia, it helps manage symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, confused thoughts, social withdrawal, and lack of motivation. For bipolar disorder, it’s used as a short-term treatment for manic phases only, not for depressive phases.
How It Works
Zeldox works by helping to correct the imbalance of brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. This helps reduce symptoms of schizophrenia and control manic episodes in bipolar disorder. While it doesn’t cure these conditions, it can help manage symptoms and prevent further episodes.
Good to know: Taking Zeldox can allow you to try psychological therapies when recommended by your doctor, which may further help manage your condition.
How to Take Zeldox Capsules
Always take Zeldox exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The medication must be taken with food to help your body absorb it properly.
Dosage Instructions
For schizophrenia: The usual starting dose is one 40 mg capsule taken twice daily with food. Your doctor may increase this up to a maximum of one 80 mg capsule twice daily. Allow at least 48 hours between dose changes. For bipolar disorder: The usual starting dose is one 40 mg capsule twice daily with food, which may be adjusted up to 80 mg twice daily. Take capsules with breakfast in the morning and with your evening meal. Swallow capsules whole with a full glass of water.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss a dose and it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then return to your normal schedule. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Important: You must take Zeldox with food – if you don’t take it with food, the medicine may have less effect.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- headache
- nausea
- vomiting
- sleepiness
- difficulty sleeping
- dizziness on standing up
- dry mouth
- too much saliva
- indigestion
- constipation
- diarrhea
- restlessness
- muscle stiffness
- blurred vision
- palpitations
- weakness
- male sexual dysfunction
- anxiety
- blackouts or feeling faint
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- worm-like movements of the tongue
- uncontrolled movements of tongue, mouth, cheeks or jaw
- uncontrolled movements spreading to arms and legs
- sleepwalking
- convulsions, fits or seizures
- trembling and shaking of hands and fingers
- shuffling walk and stiffness of arms and legs
- sudden uncontrollable muscle spasms in eyes, head, neck and body
- sudden signs of allergy including skin rash, swelling, breathing difficulty
- pain and swelling in large veins of legs or hips
- sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood
Important Warnings
There are several important safety considerations before taking Zeldox. Make sure to discuss your complete medical history with your doctor.
Who Should Not Take Zeldox Capsules
Do not take Zeldox if you are allergic to ziprasidone or any ingredients in the capsules, have had a recent heart attack, have uncontrolled heart failure, have abnormal heart rhythm, or have any condition requiring drugs to control your heart rhythm. Do not take if the packaging is damaged or expired.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have irregular heart rate, heart or blood vessel problems, low potassium or magnesium levels, conditions causing low blood pressure, history of seizures, liver problems, diabetes or blood sugar problems, are 65 or older with dementia-related psychosis, have had deep vein thrombosis, have sleep apnea, or have had reactions like Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome or Tardive Dyskinesia to similar medicines.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Zeldox is not recommended during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age should use appropriate contraception. Babies exposed to antipsychotic drugs during the third trimester may experience withdrawal symptoms after birth. Zeldox is not recommended while breastfeeding as it may pass into breast milk.
Elderly Patients With Dementia: Zeldox is not recommended for elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis and should be used with caution in elderly patients with stroke risk factors.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Zeldox and affect how it works. Your doctor may need to adjust your doses or prescribe different medicines.
- St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
- Medicines for Parkinson’s disease
- Medicines for fast or irregular heart rhythms
- Sleep medications
- Anxiety medications
- Depression or mood swing medications
- Narcotic pain killers
- Carbamazepine for epilepsy or mood disorders
- Ketoconazole for fungal infections
- Rifampicin antibiotic for tuberculosis
Alcohol & Driving
Zeldox can affect your ability to drive and may interact with alcohol. Take precautions to ensure your safety and the safety of others.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Combining Zeldox and alcohol can make you more sleepy, dizzy, or light-headed. Your doctor may suggest you avoid alcohol while being treated with Zeldox.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use machines until you know how Zeldox affects you. Zeldox may cause drowsiness and sleepiness in some people. If you feel drowsy or sleepy, do not drive, operate machinery, or do things that could be dangerous. Zeldox may also cause falls resulting in fractures or other injuries.
Storage
Keep capsules in their original pack until it’s time to take them. Store in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Keep away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground.
Overdose Information
If you take too much Zeldox, you may feel drowsy and show signs of tremor and uncontrollable movements. You may also experience blood pressure changes, diarrhea, fast heart rate, and breathing problems. If you think you or anyone else has taken too much Zeldox, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if there are no signs of discomfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
The document doesn’t specify exact timing, but mentions that dose adjustments can be made after at least 48 hours, and maximum doses may be reached by the second or third day of treatment depending on your condition.
Yes, you must take Zeldox with food. Take it with breakfast in the morning and with your evening meal. Taking it with food helps your body absorb the medicine much better – without food, the medicine may have less effect.
The document doesn’t specifically mention addiction potential, but emphasizes that you should not stop taking Zeldox or change the dosage without checking with your doctor, even if you feel better.
You should not stop taking Zeldox without checking with your doctor first, even if you feel better. If you keep taking Zeldox as recommended, there is less chance of your symptoms returning.
You should tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Combining Zeldox and alcohol can make you more sleepy, dizzy, or light-headed. Your doctor may suggest you avoid alcohol while being treated with Zeldox.
In schizophrenia studies of 4-6 weeks duration, the incidence of weight gain in people taking Zeldox was low and comparable to those who took a placebo or inactive medicine.
Zeldox is not recommended for elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis and should be used with caution in elderly patients with risk factors for stroke. Always consult with your doctor about the risks and benefits.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.