Ask about this medicine
Answers come only from this medicine's registration record, BNF monograph and interaction data - not medical advice.
Medicine sourcing is available in Kenya only. We don't sell or dispense medicines - licensed pharmacies do.
Sourcing - Kenya onlyRegistration & product details
Source: Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority · fetched 2026-09-18 04:32:31
Molecular reference: ziprasidone
PubChem CID 60854Molecular formula: C21H21ClN4OS
Mechanism of action
The effects of ziprasidone are differentiated from other antispychotics based on its preference and affinity for certain receptors. Ziprasidone binds to serotonin-2A (5-HT2A) and dopamine D2 receptors in a similar fashion to other atypical antipsychotics; however, one key difference is that ziprasidone has a higher 5-HT2A/D2 receptor affinity ratio when compared to other antipsychotics such as olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, and aripiprazole. Ziprasidone offers enhanced modulation of mood, notable negative symptom relief, overall cognitive improvement and reduced motor dysfunction which is linked to it's potent interaction with 5-HT2C, 5-HT1D, and 5-HT1A receptors in brain tissue. Ziprasidone can bind moderately to norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake sites which may contribute to its antidepressant and anxiolytic activity. Patient's taking ziprasidone will likely experience a lower incidence of orthostatic hypotension, cognitive disturbance, sedation, weight gain, and disruption in prolactin levels since ziprasidone has a lower affinity for histamine H1, muscarinic M1, and alpha1-adrenoceptors. Ziprasidone is a benzisothiazolyl piperazine-derivative antipsychotic agent that is chemically unrelated to other currently available antipsychotic agents (eg, butyrophenones, phenothiazines) and has been referred to as an atypical or second-generation antipsychotic agent. The exact mechanism of antipsychotic action of ziprasidone has not been fully elucidated but, like that of other atypical antipsychotic agents (eg, olanzapine, risperidone), may involve antagonism of central type 2 serotonergic (5-HT2) receptors and central dopamine D2 receptors. As with other drugs that are effective in bipolar disorder, the precise mechanism of antimanic action of ziprasidone has not been fully elucidated. Antagonism of various other receptors (eg, histamine H1 receptors, alpha1-adrenergic receptors) may contribute to other therapeutic and adverse effects (eg, orthostatic hypotension, somnolence) observed with ziprasidone. Ziprasidone exhibited high in vitro binding affinity for the dopamine D2 and D3, the serotonin 5HT2A, 5HT2C, 5HT1A, 5HT1D, and alpha1-adrenergic receptors (Ki s of 4.8, 7.2, 0.4, 1.3, 3.4, 2, and 10 nM, respectively), and moderate affinity for the histamine H1 receptor (Ki=47 nM). Ziprasidone functioned as an antagonist at the D2, 5HT2A, and 5HT1D receptors, and as an agonist at the 5HT1A receptor. Ziprasidone inhibited synaptic reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. No appreciable affinity was exhibited for other receptor/binding sites tested, including the cholinergic muscarinic receptor (IC50 >1 uM). Antagonism at receptors other than dopamine and 5HT2 with similar receptor affinities may explain some of the other therapeutic and side effects of ziprasidone. Ziprasidone's antagonism of histamine H1 receptors may explain the somnolence observed with this drug. Ziprasidone's antagonism of alpha1-adrenergic receptors may explain the orthostatic hypotension observed with this drug. c-Fos immunohistochemistry was performed on paraformaldehyde-fixed cryosections of rat brains obtained, initially, from animals 2, 4, or 6 hr after oral administration of 10 mg/kg ziprasidone or vehicle and, subsequently, from animals 2 hr after oral administration of 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg ziprasidone or vehicle. The density of immunoreactive nuclei was assessed in pre-determined forebrain regions. Ziprasidone induced a time-dependent increase in the density of c-Fos-positive nuclei that was maximal at 2 hr. At the 2 hr time-point, c-Fos expression was significantly (p<0.05) elevated in the shell and core of the nucleus accumbens, lateral and medial caudate putamen, and lateral septum. At 4 hr post-dose, c-Fos expression was also significantly increased in the cingulate gyrus. Ziprasidone-induced c-Fos expression was dose-dependent with significant (p<0.05) c-Fos expression observed in the nucleus accumbens (shell and core) and caudate putamen (la
Pharmacodynamics
Ziprasidone is classified as a "second generation" or "atypical" antipsychotic and is a dopamine and 5HT2A receptor antagonist with a unique receptor binding profile. As previously mentioned, ziprasidone has a very high 5-HT2A/D2 affinity ratio, binds to multiple serotonin receptors in addition to 5-HT2A, and blocks monoamine transporters which prevents 5HT and NE reuptake. On the other hand, ziprasidone has a low affinity for muscarinic cholinergic M1, histamine H1, and alpha1-adrenergic receptors.
Source: PubChem (NCBI) · pathways from PathBank, Reactome, WikiPathways & PharmGKB.
This drug in other countries
The same active ingredient registered across other registries we cover - including different brands.