Related Experiment Videos
Ziprasidone: first year experience in a hospital setting.
Franca Centorrino1, Elizabeth MacLean, Paola Salvatore
1Schizophrenia & Bipolar Disorder Clinic, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478-9106, USA.
Journal of Psychiatric Practice
|December 8, 2004
Summary
Ziprasidone, an antipsychotic, showed good tolerability in hospitalized patients with various psychiatric disorders. This medication may be beneficial for conditions beyond schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Ziprasidone is an FDA-approved antipsychotic introduced in 2001 for schizophrenia.
- It shows comparable efficacy to older antipsychotics with potentially better tolerability.
- Further clinical evaluation is warranted.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical use and outcomes of ziprasidone in hospitalized patients.
- To assess efficacy, tolerability, and adverse effects of ziprasidone in a real-world clinical setting.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records of 151 inpatients treated with ziprasidone.
- Data collected included diagnoses, symptoms, dosing, concomitant medications, clinical changes, adverse effects, and ECG findings.
- Patients were treated between March 2001 and February 2002.
Main Results:
- Ziprasidone was administered to patients with depression, psychosis, mania, and bipolar mixed-states.
- Average doses increased from 49.8 mg to 83.2 mg during hospitalization.
- Discontinuation occurred in 32.5% of cases due to lack of efficacy or adverse effects.
- No clinically significant QTc interval increases were observed, and no cardiac toxicity was reported.
Conclusions:
- Ziprasidone was well-tolerated in hospitalized patients across various psychiatric diagnoses.
- The drug demonstrated potential value in treating conditions beyond schizophrenia.
- Clinical improvements were observed irrespective of diagnosis or treatment duration.