From the FDA Drug Label
2.1 Administration Information for Ziprasidone Capsules Administer Ziprasidone capsules orally with food. Swallow capsules whole, do not open, crush, or chew the capsules.
- 2 Schizophrenia Dose Selection Ziprasidone capsules should be administered at an initial daily dose of 20 mg twice daily with food.
The recommended timing for twice daily (bid) dosing of ziprasidone is not explicitly stated in terms of specific times, but it should be administered with food, and the dosage is given as 20 mg twice daily for schizophrenia.
- Twice daily implies two doses per day, but the exact timing is not specified.
- It is implied that the doses should be approximately 12 hours apart, given the standard interpretation of twice daily, but this is not directly stated in the label. 1
From the Research
Ziprasidone (Geodon) should be administered twice daily with food, ideally with the doses spaced approximately 12 hours apart, with one dose taken with breakfast and the second dose with dinner. This dosing schedule is crucial to ensure optimal absorption of the medication, as food significantly increases the absorption of ziprasidone by approximately 100% 2. The recommended timing of taking ziprasidone with a meal containing at least 500 calories is essential because without food, the bioavailability of ziprasidone is reduced by about half, which can lead to suboptimal therapeutic effects.
Some key points to consider when administering ziprasidone twice daily include:
- Taking ziprasidone with meals helps maintain therapeutic blood levels throughout the day, which can maximize efficacy while potentially minimizing side effects 2.
- Patients should establish a regular routine for taking ziprasidone at the same times each day to ensure adherence and optimal treatment outcomes.
- The importance of taking ziprasidone with meals cannot be overstated, as consistent administration with food is vital for maintaining therapeutic blood levels throughout the day.
It's also worth noting that while there are various studies on ziprasidone, including its efficacy and safety profile 3, 4, 5, 6, the key consideration for twice daily dosing remains the importance of taking the medication with food to ensure optimal absorption and therapeutic effect.