PIMOZIDE

Pimozide 2mg, Oral tablet

Alcohol

· Severity: Major

· Notes for Consumers: Do not drink alcohol while taking this medication. Drinking alcohol while taking this medication can cause serious side effects, such as central nervous system (CNS) depression, and can increase the risk of falling. Call emergency services right away if you experience symptoms of CNS depression: slow or shallow breathing, shortness of breath, feeling faint, dizziness, confusion, trouble staying awake.

· Notes for Professionals: Advise patients to avoid alcohol consumption while taking CNS depressants. Alcohol consumption may result in additive CNS depression.

Pimozide 2mg, Oral tablet

Areca nut (Betel nut)

· Severity: Moderate

· Notes for Consumers: It is recommended that you avoid use of Betel Nut (Areca Nut) during use of this medicine. Using Pimozide and Betel nut together can increase the risk of side effects like uncontrollable muscle movements, tremor, restlessness, or other problems with movement or speech. Contact your health care prescriber immediately if any of these reactions occur. Check with your pharmacist or healthcare provider before taking any herbal or dietary supplements while you are being treated with Pimozide.

· Notes for Professionals: The use of Areca Nut (Betel Nut) with pimozide is not recommended. Concurrent use of pimozide and betel nut, may result in an increased risk of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). Monitor closely for EPS if this combination is used. Case reports have documented an increase in EPS when betel nut was chewed by patients taking phenothiazine antipsychotics for schizophrenia. Use of an anticholinergic agent did not improve the extrapyramidal effects, but the symptoms resolved when the betel nut was discontinued. A similar interaction can be expected to occur when betel nut is used with other antipsychotics, including pimozide. Case reports suggest the onset of these effects occur within 2 weeks, and that resolution occurs within 4 to 7 days after discontinuation of betel nut. The cholinergic activity of betel nut has been attributed to the arecoline content of the herb.

Pimozide 2mg, Oral tablet

Grapefruit juice

· Severity: Severe

· Notes for Consumers: Avoid Grapefruit and Grapefruit juice while taking Pimozide. Grapefruit juice can increase the levels of pimozide. Serious side effects (a dangerous change in heartbeat or heart rhythm) may occur if Pimozide levels increase. Contact your prescriber immediately if you experience chest pain, dizziness, fainting or falling spells, palpitations, shortness of breath, or a change in your usual heart beat (such as a fast or irregular heart beat) while taking Pimozide.

· Notes for Professionals: Patients should be advised to avoid grapefruit juice products while taking pimozide due to the possibility of pimozide toxicity.[43463] Grapefruit juice inhibits the cytochrome P-450 3A4 isozyme in the gut wall. Grapefruit juice contains furanocoumarins that are metabolized by CYP3A4 to reactive intermediates. These intermediates form a covalent bond to the active site of the CYP3A4 enzyme, causing irreversible inactivation (mechanism-based inhibition). Consequently, CYP3A4 activity in the gut wall is inhibited until de novo synthesis returns the enzyme to its previous level. Therefore, grapefruit juice may inhibit the metabolism of pimozide by CYP3A4, resulting in possible QT prolongation and torsade de pointes (TdP).

<b>DISCLAIMER:</b><em> This drug information content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients should always consult their physician with any questions regarding a medical condition and to obtain medical advice and treatment. Drug information is sourced from GSDD (Gold Standard Drug Database ) provided by Elsevier.</em>