Course Summary

Pimozide is a first generation antipsychotic drug that selectively blocks dopamine receptor D2 and is used to treat psychiatric mood disorders, schizophrenia, and other psychotic disorders. It works by reducing dopamine activity, hence decreasing excessive energy and excitation. Pimozide is FDA-approved for the treatment of Tourette syndrome, and may be used to augment selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor response in treatment-resistant refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder and obsessive-compulsive-related disorders. The drug has been reported to be effective in the treatment of behavioral symptoms in patients diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. On the other hand, the benefit of pimozide as an adjunctive agent with certain antipsychotic drugs such as clozaril has been questioned. Researchers have revisited the use of pimozide in clinical practice given its relatively low side effect profile. Pimozide has been investigated most recently as a possible mediator of cancer suppression and anti-cancer agent.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• I. Introduction
• II. Pharmacological Profile
  • Category
  • Mechanism of Action
  • Labeled Use
  • Dosing
  • Available Forms
  • Dosing Adjustment
    • a. Geriatric Patients
    • b. Hepatic Impairment
    • c. Renal Impairment
  • Contraindications
  • Adverse Effects
  • Warning and Precautions
  • Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
  • Drug-Drug and Drug-Food Interactions
• III. Clinical Pearls: Pimozide
• IV. Pimozide Overdose
• V. Case Study: Pimozide
  • Case Study 1: Treatment-resistant Schizophrenia
  • Case Study 1: Discussion
  • Case Study 2: Combination Pimozide and SSRI Treatment
  • Case Study 2: Discussion
• VI. Summary

Author

Dana Bartlett, RN, BSN, MSN, MA, CSPI

Dana Bartlett is a professional nurse and author. His clinical experience includes 16 years of ICU and ER experience and over 27 years as a poison control center information specialist. Dana has published numerous CE and journal articles, written NCLEX material, textbook chapters, and more than 100 online CE articles, and done editing and reviewing for publishers such as Elsevier, Lippincott, and Thieme. He has written widely on the subject of toxicology and was a contributing editor, toxicology section, for Critical Care Nurse journal. He is currently employed at the Connecticut Poison Control Center. He lives in Wappingers Falls, NY.