bromocriptine vs pimozide
Side-by-side comparison of bromocriptine and pimozide. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Compounds in these categories result in a decreased efficacy of bromocriptine mesylate: phenothiazines, haloperidol, metoclopramide, and pimozide.
Recommendation: Your doctor may need to adjust your treatment because this combination can stop your medicine from working as well as it should.
Cycloset
Orap
Bromocriptine (Cycloset) is a medicine that acts like dopamine in your body. It is used to treat conditions caused by hormone imbalances, acromegaly, and Parkinson's disease.
Pimozide (Orap) is a medicine that helps control tics in people with Tourette's Disorder. It works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain.
This medicine can treat problems caused by too much prolactin, a hormone. These problems include irregular periods, lack of periods, infertility, and low sex hormone levels. It can also treat tumors that produce prolactin. Bromocriptine can also treat acromegaly (a condition where the body produces too much growth hormone) and Parkinson's disease.
Pimozide is used to treat motor and phonic tics in people with Tourette's Disorder. It is for people who have not had success with other treatments. This medicine is not for tics that are mild or just annoying. It is meant for people whose tics greatly affect their daily life.
Bromocriptine works by acting like dopamine, a natural substance in the brain. It helps to lower the amount of prolactin and growth hormone in your body. In Parkinson's disease, it helps improve motor control.
Pimozide belongs to a class of drugs called antipsychotics. It works by blocking dopamine, a chemical in the brain. By blocking dopamine, pimozide helps to reduce tics.
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Fatigue
- • Lightheadedness
- • Parkinson-like symptoms (tremors, stiffness)
- • Restlessness
- • Muscle stiffness
- • Drowsiness
- Feeling sick to your stomach 46
- Pain in your head 35
- Throwing up 33
- Feeling unsteady or lightheaded 31
- Fever 29
- Interaction with another medicine 76
- Parkinson-like symptoms 42
- Weight gain 37
- Sleepiness 33
- Low blood pressure 29
This medicine may cause low blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, are sensitive to ergot alkaloids, or are allergic to bromocriptine or any of the ingredients in the tablets. If you are taking this medicine for high prolactin and become pregnant, talk to your doctor about whether to continue taking it.
Pimozide can cause changes in your heart rhythm (QT prolongation). This can lead to serious heart problems. You should have an ECG (heart test) before starting pimozide and regularly during treatment. Do not take pimozide with other medicines that can also affect your heart rhythm.
If you are taking bromocriptine for high prolactin and become pregnant, talk to your doctor. They will help you decide whether to continue taking it. If you are taking this medicine for acromegaly, prolactinoma, or Parkinson’s disease and become pregnant, discuss with your doctor whether the therapy is still medically necessary.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if pimozide will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking pimozide during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
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How to Read This bromocriptine vs pimozide Comparison
bromocriptine is classified in the Dopamine Agonist (Diabetes) drug class, while pimozide sits within the Typical Antipsychotic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, bromocriptine has 174 submissions while pimozide has 217. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to pimozide works against bromocriptine in the body. this makes the bromocriptine less effective at treating your condition.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between bromocriptine and pimozide - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.