Drug safety evaluation of ziprasidone.

INTRODUCTION

Ziprasidone is a second-generation antipsychotic approved for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The purpose of this review is to assess the overall safety profile of ziprasidone, including its risk for prolonging the electrocardiogram (ECG) QT interval.

AREAS COVERED

This paper is a review of product labeling and English language reports located through PubMed and information available on regulatory agency websites, with a focus on the safety and tolerability of ziprasidone.

EXPERT OPINION

Although ziprasidone can prolong the ECG QT interval, this has not resulted in increases in sudden death or cardiac sudden death as noted in a large, simple trial and supported by almost a decade of real-world use in the US. Ziprasidone's principal advantage over some other second-generation antipsychotics has been its overall favorable weight and metabolic profile. Similar to most second-generation antipsychotics, ziprasidone has a lower propensity for extrapyramidal side effects and hyperprolactinemia compared to first-generation antipsychotics.