Drug Comparison
For educational purposes only — a decision-support tool, not a substitute for clinical judgment.
Side-by-side rubric across 96 psychiatric medications. Every rating traces to a verbatim primary-source quote — click any cell to see it.
How to read this tool ▾
Rating scale
– Favorable / lower than class baseline
± Minimal / equivocal
+ Low / uncommon
++ Moderate / common
+++ High / very common
++++ Very high / class-outlier
Frequency vs severity
F = frequency, S = severity. Each gets its own pill colored on the same traffic-light scale: green → blue → yellow → orange → red. Click any cell for incidence percentages and NNH.
Evidence tier
A Network meta-analysis / RCT / FDA label
B Cohort / registry / pooled label data
C Expert review / textbook / case series
Sourcing
Click any cell to see the verbatim source quote and citation. Missing data shows n/a.
Data depth
++ Graded — frequency + severity, primary-source traces
+ FDA label — §6 frequency only (dashed border). Click for sub-types.
Blank — not yet checked (not “absent”)
–±++++++++++ABCF = frequency · S = severity · Dashed border = FDA label only · Click cell for details
1 drug selected — Pimozide(click to collapse)
1/4 selected
Pimozide
Orap
First-Generation Antipsychotic
FDA-approved indications
- Suppression of motor and phonic tics in Tourette's disorder — second-line, when development/daily function is severely compromised and standard treatment has failed
MechanismTypical Antipsychotic
Half-life55 hours
Decision GuideWhen to pick each / when to consider an alternative
Pimozide
Consider when
- Tourette syndrome — FDA-approved for Tourette's in patients who have failed first-line; historically most-studied agent for tics
- Delusional disorder, somatic type (monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis) — strongest evidence base among antipsychotics for this rare indication
- Refractory tics when other agents have failed — high D2 potency effective for severe tics unresponsive to other treatments
- Very long half-life desired for dosing simplicity — t½ ~55 hours allows once-daily dosing with stable levels
- +1 more
Consider an alternative when
- QTc risk factors or concomitant QT-prolonging drugs — strongest QTc signal among antipsychotics; contraindicated with SSRIs that inhibit CYP2D6/3A4
- On CYP3A4 or CYP2D6 inhibitors — contraindicated with macrolides, azole antifungals, SSRIs, HIV protease inhibitors
- Broad-spectrum psychotic disorder — FDA indication limited to Tourette's; not appropriate for schizophrenia first-line
- EPS-vulnerable patient — high-potency D2 blockade carries significant EPS risk; NMS risk present
- +1 more
| Axis | Pimozide FGA |
|---|---|
| Boxed Warnings | |
Cerebrovascular events (elderly w/ dementia) | |
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) | |
| CNS | |
Sedation / somnolence | |
Activation / insomnia | |
Akathisia / EPS | |
Tardive dyskinesia | |
Seizure risk | |
| Endocrine | |
Prolactin elevation | |
| Autonomic | |
Anticholinergic burden | |
Orthostatic hypotension | |
| Cardiac | |
QTc prolongation | |
Heart rate / tachycardia | |
| GI | |
Nausea / GI (general) | |
| Hepatic | |
Liver enzymes / hepatotoxicity | |
| Sexual | |
Sexual dysfunction | |
| Discontinuation | |
Withdrawal / discontinuation | |
| Interactions | |
CYP interactions / DDI profile | |
| Safety | |
Overdose toxicity | |
| Pregnancy | |
Teratogenicity | |