Pimozide

Summary

Pimozide (sold under the brand name Orap) is an antipsychotic drug of the diphenylbutylpiperidine class. It was discovered at Janssen Pharmaceutica in 1963. It has a high potency compared to chlorpromazine (ratio 50-70:1). On a weight basis it is even more potent than haloperidol. It also has special neurologic indications for Tourette syndrome and resistant tics. The side effects include akathisia, tardive dyskinesia, and, more rarely, neuroleptic malignant syndrome and prolongation of the QT interval.

Pimozide
Clinical data
Trade namesOrap
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa686018
License data
  • US FDA: Pimozide
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: B1
Routes of
administration
Oral
Drug classTypical antipsychotic
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability40-50%
MetabolismCYP3A4, CYP1A2 and CYP2D6
Elimination half-life55 hours (adults), 66 hours (children)
ExcretionUrine
Identifiers
  • 1-[1-[4,4-Bis(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]-4-piperidinyl]-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-one
CAS Number
  • 2062-78-4 checkY
PubChem CID
  • 16362
IUPHAR/BPS
  • 90
DrugBank
  • DB01100 checkY
ChemSpider
  • 15520 checkY
UNII
  • 1HIZ4DL86F
KEGG
  • D00560 checkY
ChEBI
  • CHEBI:8212 checkY
ChEMBL
  • ChEMBL1423 checkY
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
  • DTXSID8023474 Edit this at Wikidata
ECHA InfoCard100.016.520 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC28H29F2N3O
Molar mass461.557 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • Interactive image
  • Fc1ccc(cc1)C(c2ccc(F)cc2)CCCN5CCC(N4c3ccccc3NC4=O)CC5
  • InChI=1S/C28H29F2N3O/c29-22-11-7-20(8-12-22)25(21-9-13-23(30)14-10-21)4-3-17-32-18-15-24(16-19-32)33-27-6-2-1-5-26(27)31-28(33)34/h1-2,5-14,24-25H,3-4,15-19H2,(H,31,34) checkY
  • Key:YVUQSNJEYSNKRX-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  (verify)

Medical uses edit

Pimozide is used in its oral preparation in schizophrenia and chronic psychosis (on-label indications in Europe only), Tourette syndrome,[2] and resistant tics (Europe, United States and Canada).

There have been numerous studies showing pimozide can be used successfully to treat delusional parasitosis and traditionally was the drug of choice. However, newer medications have become prevalent recently as the preferred medication. In one case a series of 33 patients with delusional parasitosis (median age, 60 years), pimozide was prescribed for 24 patients, 18 of whom took the drug. The dose ranged from 1 to 5 mg daily. No information regarding initial dosing was specified, although the dose was continued for 6 weeks prior to tapering. Of those patients receiving pimozide, 61% (11/18) experienced improvement in or full remission of symptoms. The use of pimozide for the treatment of delusional parasitosis is based primarily on data from case series/reports that demonstrate some efficacy in the majority of patients. Currently, atypical antipsychotics such as olanzapine or risperidone are used as first line treatment. However, patients who experience negative side-effects with the first line medications are typically given pimozide.[3][4]

Pimozide has been used in the treatment of delusional disorder and paranoid personality disorder.[5]

Efficacy edit

A 2013 systematic review compared pimozide with other antipsychotics for schizophrenia or related psychoses:

Pimozide versus any other antipsychotic[6]
Summary
Enough overall consistency over different outcomes and time scales is present to confirm that pimozide is a drug with effectiveness similar to that of other, more commonly used antipsychotic drugs such as chlorpromazine for people with schizophrenia.[6]

Contraindications edit

It is contraindicated in individuals with either acquired, congenital or a family history of QT interval prolongation.[7] Its use is advised against in individuals with people with either a personal or a family history of arrhythmias or torsades de pointes.[7] Likewise its use is also advised against in individuals with uncorrected hypokalaemia and hypomagnesaemia or clinical significant cardiac disorders (e.g. a recent myocardial infarction or bradycardia.[7] It is also contraindicated in individuals being cotreated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or in those with a known hypersensitivity to pimozide or other diphenylbutyl-piperidine derivatives.[7] Likewise its use is contraindicated in individuals receiving treatment with CYP3A4, CYP1A2, or CYP2D6 inhibitors.[7]

Side effects edit

Very common (>10% frequency) side effects include:[8][7][9][10]

Overdose edit

Pimozide overdose presents with severe extrapyramidal symptoms, hypotension, sedation, QT interval prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias including torsades de pointes.[7] Gastric lavage, establishment of a patent airway and, if necessary, mechanically assisted respiration is the recommended treatment for pimozide overdose.[7] Cardiac monitoring should be continued for at least 4 days due to the long half-life of pimozide.[7]

Pharmacology edit

Pimozide acts as an antagonist of the D2, D3, and D4 receptors and the 5-HT7 receptor. It is also a hERG blocker.

Similarly to other typical antipsychotics pimozide has a high affinity for the dopamine D2 receptor and this likely results in its sexual (due to prolactin hypersecretion) and extrapyramidal side effects as well as its therapeutic efficacy against the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.[11]

Binding profile[Note 1]
Protein Ki (nM)[12] Notes
5-HT1A 650
5-HT2A 48.4 This receptor is believed to be responsible for the atypicality of other antipsychotics like clozapine, olanzapine and quetiapine. Pimozide's affinity towards this receptor is low compared to its affinity for the D2 receptor and hence this receptor unlikely contributes to its effects to any meaningful extent.
5-HT2C 2,112
5-HT6 71
5-HT7 0.5 Relatively high affinity for this receptor may explain its supposed antidepressant-like effects in animal models of depression.[13]
α1A 197.7 Low affinity towards this receptor may explain why pimozide has a lower liability for producing orthostatic hypotension.[11]
α2A 1,593
α2B 821
α2C 376.5
M3 1,955 This receptor is believed to be responsible for the interference with glucose homeostasis seen with some of the atypical antipsychotics such as clozapine and olanzapine.[14] Pimozide's low affinity for this receptor likely contributes to the comparatively mild effects on glucose homeostasis.
D1 >10,000
D2 0.33 Likely the receptor responsible for the therapeutic effects against the positive symptoms of schizophrenia of antipsychotics like pimozide as well as the prolactin-elevating and extrapyramidal side effect-generating effects of typical antipsychotics like pimozide.[14]
D3 0.25
D4 1.8
hERG 18 May be responsible for pimozide's high liability for prolonging the QT interval.[14]
H1 692 Likely responsible for why pimozide tends to produce so little sedation.[14]
σ 508
Pharmacokinetic data[8][7][9][10]
Pharmacokinetic parameter Value
Time to peak plasma concentration (Tmax) 6-8 hr
Peak plasma concentration (Cmax) 4-19 ng/mL
Elimination half-life (t1/2) 55 hours (adults), 66 hours (children)
Metabolising enzymes CYP3A4, CYP1A2 and CYP2D6
Excretion pathways Urine

History edit

In 1985 pimozide was approved by the FDA for marketing as an orphan drug for the treatment of Tourette's syndrome.[2]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ A lower Ki value indicates a stronger binding

References edit

  1. ^ Anvisa (31 March 2023). "RDC Nº 784 - Listas de Substâncias Entorpecentes, Psicotrópicas, Precursoras e Outras sob Controle Especial" [Collegiate Board Resolution No. 784 - Lists of Narcotic, Psychotropic, Precursor, and Other Substances under Special Control] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário Oficial da União (published 4 April 2023). Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b Colvin CL, Tankanow RM (June 1985). "Pimozide: use in Tourette's syndrome". Drug Intelligence & Clinical Pharmacy. 19 (6): 421–424. doi:10.1177/106002808501900602. PMID 3891283. S2CID 19179304.
  3. ^ Generali JA, Cada DJ (February 2014). "Pimozide: parasitosis (delusional)". Hospital Pharmacy. 49 (2): 134–135. doi:10.1310/hpj4902-134. PMC 3940679. PMID 24623867.
  4. ^ Meehan WJ, Badreshia S, Mackley CL (March 2006). "Successful treatment of delusions of parasitosis with olanzapine". Archives of Dermatology. 142 (3): 352–355. doi:10.1001/archderm.142.3.352. PMID 16549712.
  5. ^ Munro A (1999). Delusional disorder. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-58180-X.
  6. ^ a b Mothi M, Sampson S (November 2013). "Pimozide for schizophrenia or related psychoses". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 11 (11): CD001949. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001949.pub3. PMID 24194433. Archived from the original on 27 November 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Oral 4 mg tablets. - Summary of Product Characteristics". electronic Medicines Compendium. Janssen-Cilag Ltd. 2 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Oral (pimozide) dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more". Medscape Reference. WebMD. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  9. ^ a b Brayfield A (12 February 2013). Pimozide. London, UK: Pharmaceutical Press. Retrieved 4 December 2013. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  10. ^ a b "ORAP (pimozide) tablet [Teva Select Brands]". DailyMed. Teva Select Brands. July 2012. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  11. ^ a b Taylor D, Paton C, Shitij K (2012). The Maudsley prescribing guidelines in psychiatry. West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-470-97948-8.
  12. ^ Roth BL, Driscol J (12 January 2011). "PDSP Ki Database". Psychoactive Drug Screening Program (PDSP). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the United States National Institute of Mental Health. Archived from the original on 8 November 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  13. ^ Mahesh R, Pandey DK, Bhatt S, Gautam BK (January–March 2011). "Anti-depressant like Effect of Pimozide in Acute and Chronic Animal Models of Depression". Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. 45 (1): 46–53.
  14. ^ a b c d Brunton L, Chabner B, Knollman B (2010). Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (12th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 978-0-07-162442-8.

External links edit