Geodon IM

Mandychelle79, ASN, RN · Jun 8, 2013

How many of you guys use Geodon as an emergency PRN. We do, and I LOVE it. Calms agitated PTs right down, better than Zyprexa IMO. Clears them up a little too. I however do NOT like how freakin LONG it takes to mix. You'd think that an emergency drug would be fairly quick to mix.

We have had patients come from the ER after a Geodon IM. We typically use the haldol/ativan combo, or sometime thorazine

marydc · Jun 8, 2013

We also use Geodon and make the same complaint every time!

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 8, 2013

Not out first choice for an emergency drug (not sure why that is) but we do use it.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jun 9, 2013

I love Geodon. It's not always the right choice, but I swear by it---weight-neutral, doesn't raise blood sugar, makes a person sleepy but not a zombie. Of course, in the setting you guys work in, you generally need to use faster-acting meds that are more sedating to bring a patient down from an acute manic and/or psychotic episode. But it's a good drug overall and I think it gets short shrift sometimes because it doesn't 'snow' people as much as some of the other APs.

vegnurse21 · Jun 11, 2013

We use it as our first line emergency IM. We usually mix with ativan as well. When mixed it does the job quick and well, but people are a bit too snowed, so unless someone is REALLY agitated I just give the geodon.

To help with the mixing issue, we will premix the geodon and store it in the fridge. You have to take it out of the pyxis under someone's name, but it doesn't get charged to them or anyone until it is scanned with our system when we use it. It can be mixed and stored for 7 days.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Jun 17, 2013

If you're dealing with an acute issue, the need to reconstitute is a definite drawback. That said, we have had good luck with IM Geodon without all the risks that go along with IM Haldol.

marshmallowstar, BSN, RN · Jun 27, 2013

We were on a Geodon/Ativan kick for a while, seem to be back to H/B/A now. A trick I learned with the Geodon is that is actually dissolves from being in contact with the water so I would add the water, allow it to sit while I pulled up the ativan and then go back to the geodon. By that time most of it had dissolved then a couple of swirls and it was good to go. A swirling motion seems to work better than a shaking one.