pimozide vs rolapitant
Side-by-side comparison of pimozide and rolapitant. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
major Known Drug Interaction
Table 4: Clinically Relevant Interactions Affecting Drugs Co-Administered with VARUBI CYP2D6 Substrates Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs (Thioridazine and Pimozide) Clinical Impact: Increased plasma concentrations of thioridazine and pimozide are associated with serious and/or life-threatening events of QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes. Intervention: VARUBI is contraindicated in patients taking CYP2D6 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index such as thioridazine and pimozide. If patients require these drugs, use an alternative antiemetic to VARUBI or an alternative to thioridazine...
Recommendation: Do not take these two medications together. Your doctor should use a different medicine for your nausea or your heart condition.
Orap
Varubi
Pimozide (Orap) is a medicine that helps control tics in people with Tourette's Disorder. It works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain.
Varubi is a medicine that helps prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It is used with other anti-nausea medicines.
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.
Varubi is used to prevent delayed nausea and vomiting in adults. This nausea and vomiting is caused by cancer chemotherapy. It is used for both the first and repeat treatments of chemotherapy.
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.
Varubi blocks a substance in your body called substance P/neurokinin 1 (NK1). This substance can cause nausea and vomiting. By blocking it, Varubi helps prevent these side effects from chemotherapy.
- • Parkinson-like symptoms (tremors, stiffness)
- • Restlessness
- • Muscle stiffness
- • Drowsiness
- • Neutropenia (low white blood cell count)
- • Hiccups
- • Abdominal pain
- • Decreased appetite
- • Dizziness
- Interaction with another medicine 76
- Parkinson-like symptoms 42
- Weight gain 37
- Sleepiness 33
- Low blood pressure 29
- Death 141
- Feeling sick to your stomach 79
- Feeling tired 50
- Reaction to the IV medicine 40
- Difficulty breathing 34
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.
You should not take Varubi if you are taking thioridazine or pimozide. These drugs can cause serious heart problems if taken with Varubi. Varubi can increase the levels of these drugs in your blood, leading to QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes, which are dangerous heart rhythm problems.
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.
There is not enough information about Varubi use in pregnant women to know if it is safe. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Varubi passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This pimozide vs rolapitant Comparison
pimozide is classified in the Typical Antipsychotic drug class, while rolapitant sits within the NK1 Receptor Antagonist (Antiemetic) 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, pimozide has 217 submissions while rolapitant has 344. 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 major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to rolapitant blocks the body from breaking down pimozide, which can lead to dangerously high levels of the drug in the blood. this buildup can cause serious or life-threatening heart rhythm problems.. 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 pimozide and rolapitant - 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.