pimozide at a glance
Medicine class
First-generation antipsychotic; diphenylbutylpiperidine derivative.
Main licensed uses
Chronic schizophrenia and certain other psychoses, particularly paranoid or single-theme delusional states.
Heart monitoring
An ECG is required before treatment and periodically afterwards because pimozide can prolong the QT interval.
Food and drink
Tablets can be taken with or without food. Avoid grapefruit juice; alcohol may increase drowsiness and reduced alertness.
What is pimozide used for?
The selected product is licensed for:
Treating symptoms and preventing relapse in chronic schizophrenia.
Other psychoses, especially paranoid psychoses and monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychoses, such as delusional parasitosis.
Pimozide is sometimes used by specialists to reduce tics, but this is not a licensed indication of the selected product.
How does pimozide work?
Pimozide blocks dopamine receptors in the central nervous system. This can lessen hallucinations, delusions and paranoid thinking, but can also cause movement-related and prolactin-related adverse effects.
pimozide preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 4 mg
How to take pimozide
Follow the prescriber's instructions. Swallow the tablet with water, with or without food; the scored tablet can be divided into equal halves. Avoid grapefruit juice, and do not stop pimozide suddenly unless directed.
Alcohol can increase drowsiness and impair alertness.
Do not drive or use machinery until you know how pimozide affects you.
Seek urgent advice after taking more than prescribed.
pimozide side effects
Common or expected effects
- Dizziness or sleepiness
- Increased sweating or needing to urinate at night
- Restlessness, tremor, stiffness or other movement problems
- Headache, tiredness or difficulty sleeping
- Dry mouth, constipation or vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Reduced appetite or weight gain
- Sexual or prolactin-related effects
Get urgent medical advice
- Palpitations, fainting or a fast or irregular heartbeat
- Fever, severe muscle stiffness, sweating, confusion or reduced consciousness
- New persistent or distressing involuntary movements of the face, tongue, jaw or limbs
- A seizure
- Severe rash, hives, facial swelling or breathing difficulty
- A painful swollen leg, sudden chest pain or unexplained breathlessness
pimozide in pregnancy
Pimozide's safety in pregnancy is not established. It should be considered only after specialist assessment of the benefits of maintaining treatment and potential fetal risks. Exposure near delivery may cause newborn movement, withdrawal, breathing or feeding problems; maternity and neonatal teams should be informed and the baby monitored.
pimozide while breastfeeding
The selected product information advises discontinuing breastfeeding if pimozide is considered essential because it may enter breast milk. Pimozide-specific evidence is limited, so treatment and feeding options require specialist assessment; do not stop an effective antipsychotic abruptly without clinical advice.
pimozide interactions
Pimozide has numerous clinically important interactions. Check all prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal products before treatment or any medicine change.
QT-prolonging medicines
Antiarrhythmics, some antidepressants, antipsychotics, antihistamines and antimalarials can add to the risk of dangerous heart rhythms and are contraindicated where specified.
Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors
Azole antifungals, macrolide antibiotics, protease inhibitors and nefazodone can markedly raise pimozide exposure and are contraindicated.
CYP2D6 inhibitors
Medicines such as quinidine can raise pimozide concentrations and increase QT-prolongation risk; concomitant use is contraindicated.
Common questions about pimozide
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is pimozide used for?
The selected product is licensed for chronic schizophrenia and certain other psychoses, including paranoid and single-theme delusional states.
Is pimozide used for Tourette syndrome or tics?
Pimozide may be used by specialists for tics, but this is not a licensed indication of the selected product.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.