Ziprasidone: comprehensive overview and clinical use of a novel antipsychotic

Ziprasidone (5-[2-(4-(1,2,-benzisothiazol-3-yl) piperazin-1-)yl] ethyl]-6 - chloro indolin-2-one hydrochloride hydrate) is a novel antipsychotic with a pattern of receptor occupancy and preclinical attributes predictive of bro ad therapeutic efficacy and a favourable tolerability profile in the treatm ent of psychotic illness. Clinical trials indicate that ziprasidone is effe ctive against positive, negative and affective symptoms in schizophrenia an d schizoaffective disorder with minimal motor, cognitive, weight gain, prol actin related, or anticholinergic side effects. In addition, an im. formula tion appears to be rapidly effective with significantly less motor side eff ect liability than haloperidol.