Medicines
Discover all available medicines and treatments
Discover all available medicines and treatments
Brand: Orap
Pimozide is an antipsychotic medication primarily used to treat Tourette's syndrome in individuals who haven't responded to other treatments. It belongs to the diphenylbutylpiperidine class of antipsychotics and works by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. It's important to note that pimozide has a significant risk of serious side effects, particularly heart rhythm problems, and is therefore reserved for cases where other treatments have failed.
For the treatment of severe Tourette's syndrome resistant to other therapies.
Pimozide carries a Black Box Warning for QT interval prolongation, which can lead to torsades de pointes, a potentially fatal heart rhythm disturbance. It also warns against concomitant use with drugs that prolong the QT interval.
Outcome:
Increased risk of torsades de pointes
Mechanism:
Additive QT prolongation
Outcome:
Potential for increased extrapyramidal symptoms
Mechanism:
Serotonin-dopamine interaction
Outcome:
Reduced pimozide absorption
Mechanism:
Chelation
Most likely new formulation: Extended-release formulation to improve adherence (Year: 2027, 30% confidence)
Based on current usage trends and safety concerns, there is a low (5%) likelihood of significant expansion of pimozide's approved indications in the near future.
Antipsychotic, Dopamine Receptor Antagonist
Diphenylbutylpiperidine