pimozide vs thioridazine

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Side-by-side comparison of pimozide and thioridazine. 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

Accordingly, pimozide should not be given with dofetilide, sotalol, quinidine, other Class Ia and III anti-arrhythmics, mesoridazine, thioridazine, chlorpromazine, droperidol, sparfloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, halofantrine, mefloquine, pentamidine, arsenic trioxide, levomethadyl acetate, dolasetron mesylate, probucol, tacrolimus, ziprasidone, or other drugs that have demonstrated QT prolongation as one of their pharmacodynamic effects.

Drug Class
pimozide Typical Antipsychotic
thioridazine Typical Antipsychotic (Phenothiazine)
Type
pimozide Prescription
thioridazine Prescription
Summary
pimozide

Pimozide (Orap) is a medicine that helps control tics in people with Tourette's Disorder. It works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain.

thioridazine

Thioridazine is a medicine used to treat schizophrenia. It is only used when other antipsychotic medicines have not worked well enough.

What It Treats
pimozide

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.

thioridazine

Thioridazine is used to manage schizophrenia in adults and children. You should only use this medicine if other antipsychotic medicines have not worked for you. This is because thioridazine can cause serious heart problems.

How It Works
pimozide

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.

thioridazine

Thioridazine affects the balance of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, like dopamine, can affect mood and behavior. By changing the balance, thioridazine helps to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia.

Common Side Effects
pimozide
  • Parkinson-like symptoms (tremors, stiffness)
  • Restlessness
  • Muscle stiffness
  • Drowsiness
thioridazine
  • Drowsiness
  • Dry mouth
  • Blurred vision
  • Constipation
  • Nausea
FAERS Reports
pimozide
  • Drug Interaction 76
  • Parkinsonism 42
  • Weight Increased 37
  • Somnolence 33
  • Hypotension 29
thioridazine
  • Weight Increased 8
  • Dyspnoea 7
  • Dystonia 6
  • Hyperglycaemia 6
  • Hypoxia 6
Serious Warnings
pimozide

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.

thioridazine

Thioridazine can cause a life-threatening heart rhythm problem called Torsades de pointes, which can lead to sudden death. Because of this risk, only use thioridazine if other antipsychotic medicines have not worked. Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis who are treated with antipsychotic drugs have an increased risk of death.

Pregnancy
pimozide

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.

thioridazine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if thioridazine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking thioridazine during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This pimozide vs thioridazine Comparison

pimozide is classified in the Typical Antipsychotic drug class, while thioridazine sits within the Typical Antipsychotic (Phenothiazine) 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 thioridazine has 33. 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 these medications both slow down the electrical signals in your heart. this shared effect can cause the heart to beat in an unsafe way.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for pimozide or thioridazine.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.