Details

Pimozide is an antipsychotic medication. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in the brain. Pimozide is used to suppress the motor and phonic tics associated with Tourette's disorder. You should not use this medication if you are allergic to pimozide or other antipsychotic medicines, or if you have low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood or a history of Long QT syndrome. To make sure you can safely take pimozide, tell your doctor if you have liver disease kidney disease seizures or epilepsy heart disease, high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder, or a history of a heart attack enlarged prostate or urination problems or glaucoma.

Typical Uses

Pimozide is used to reduce uncontrolled movements (motor tics) or outbursts of words/sounds (vocal tics) caused by Tourette syndrome. Pimozide is a medication that works by decreasing the activity of a natural substance (dopamine) in the brain. Pimozide should not be used for mild symptoms. It should only be used if symptoms cause severe problems in everyday life and other medicines or treatments have not been effective.

Side Effects

Common side effects of pimozide include seizure (convulsions) twitching or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs or very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.

Drug Interactions

• Pimozide+amprenavir- Using pimozide together with amprenavir is not recommended. Combining these medications may significantly increase the blood levels of pimozide. High blood levels of pimozide can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.
• Pimozide+azithromycin- Using azithromycin and pimozide is not recommended. Taking these drugs together can affect the rhythm of your heart. Call your doctor if you have symptoms of irregular heartbeat, chest tightness, blurred vision or nausea.
• Pimozide+bosutinib- Using pimozide together with bosutinib is not recommended. Combining these medications can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.
• Pimozide+clozapine-Using pimozide together with clozapine is not recommended. Combining these medications can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.

Mechanism of action

Pimozide is an antipsychotic drug that acts by altering the effect of a chemical (dopamine), thereby, decreasing abnormal activity in the brain.

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