1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Bipolar Disorder

Orap / Pimozide Side Effects
Bipolar Medications Library

By Kimberly Read & Marcia Purse, About.com

Updated July 17, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Orap - generic Pimozide - is an antipsychotic medication which may be prescribed for treatment of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.

Common Side Effects:

Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Blurred vision or other vision problems; constipation; dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting when getting up from a lying or sitting position; drowsiness; dryness of mouth; skin discoloration

Less Common Side Effects:

Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Decreased sexual ability; diarrhea; headache; loss of appetite and weight; mental depression; nausea and vomiting; tiredness or weakness

SPECIAL WARNING:

Along with its needed effects, pimozide can sometimes cause serious unwanted effects. Tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder) may occur and may not go away after you stop using the medicine. Signs of tardive dyskinesia include fine, worm-like movements of the tongue, or other uncontrolled movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, or arms and legs. Other serious but rare side effects, such as abnormal heart rhythm or the neuroleptic malignant syndrome, may also occur. You and your doctor should discuss the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of taking it.

Stop taking pimozide and get emergency help immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare - Signs of the neuroleptic malignant syndrome (usually two or more occur together):

Convulsions (seizures); difficult or unusually fast breathing; fast heartbeat or irregular pulse; fever (high); high or low (irregular) blood pressure; increased sweating; loss of bladder control; muscle stiffness (severe)

Notify Doctor As Soon As Possible:

More Common: Difficulty in speaking; dizziness or fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; loss of balance control; lack of facial expression; mood or behavior changes; restlessness or need to keep moving; shuffling walk; slowed movements; stiffness of arms and legs; swelling or soreness of breasts (less common in males); trembling and shaking of fingers and hands; unusual secretion of milk (rare in males)

Less Common or Rare: Difficulty in swallowing; inability to move eyes; increased blinking or spasms of eyelid; lip smacking or puckering; menstrual changes; muscle spasms, especially of the face, neck, or back; puffing of cheeks; rapid or worm-like movements of tongue; skin rash and itching; sore throat and fever; swelling of face; uncontrolled chewing movements; uncontrolled movements of neck, trunk, arms, or legs, including twisting movements; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual facial expressions or body positions; yellow eyes or skin

Withdrawal Side Effects - Notify Doctor:

Lip smacking or puckering; puffing of cheeks; rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue; uncontrolled chewing movements; uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs

Overdose Effects - Notify Doctor:

Coma; convulsions (seizures); dizziness (severe); muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness (severe); troubled breathing (severe); uncontrolled movements (severe)

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Explore Bipolar Disorder
About.com Special Features

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Bipolar Disorder
  4. Medications
  5. Antipsychotics
  6. Orap
  7. Side Effects - Orap / Pimozide Bipolar Disorder Medications>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.