haloperidol vs pimozide
Side-by-side comparison of haloperidol and pimozide Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Haldol
Orap
Haloperidol is a medicine used to treat mental disorders. It can help reduce symptoms like hallucinations and confused thinking.
Pimozide (Orap) is a medicine that helps control tics in people with Tourette's Disorder. It works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain.
Haloperidol is used to manage symptoms of psychotic disorders. It can also control tics and vocal sounds in people with Tourette's Disorder. In children, it can treat severe behavior problems like being combative or overly excitable when other treatments haven't worked. It can also be used short-term for hyperactive children with impulsivity and difficulty paying attention.
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.
Haloperidol works by changing the effect of certain natural chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, affect mood and behavior. By blocking dopamine, haloperidol helps to reduce psychotic symptoms.
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.
- • Muscle stiffness
- • Shaking
- • Slow movement
- • Restlessness
- • Changes in heart rhythm
- • Parkinson-like symptoms (tremors, stiffness)
- • Restlessness
- • Muscle stiffness
- • Drowsiness
- The medicine is not working 2,085
- The medicine is interacting with another medicine 1,663
- A rare, life-threatening reaction to the drug 1,577
- Using the medicine for a purpose it was not approved for 1,346
- Weight gain 1,216
- Interaction with another medicine 76
- Medicine not working 46
- Parkinson-like symptoms 42
- Weight gain 37
- Sleepiness 33
Haloperidol may increase the risk of death in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis. Haloperidol is not approved to treat dementia-related psychosis.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Haloperidol may cause side effects in newborns if taken during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking haloperidol while breastfeeding.
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.
How to Read This haloperidol vs pimozide Comparison
haloperidol is classified in the Typical Antipsychotic drug class, while pimozide sits within the Typical Antipsychotic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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, haloperidol has 7,887 submissions while pimozide has 234. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. 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 haloperidol 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.