Orap (Pimozide)

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

Tell your doctor if you have a prolonged illness that causes diarrhea or vomiting. You may develop an electrolyte imbalance, which could cause heart rhythm problems while you are taking pimozide.

It may take several weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

Do not stop using pimozide suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using pimozide.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line.

Overdose symptoms may include some of the serious side effects listed in this medication guide.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• seizure (convulsions);
• twitching or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs; or
• very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.

Less serious side effects may include:

• fever;
• headache, dizziness, drowsiness;
• feeling restless;
• vision problems;
• constipation; or
• dry mouth.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

To make sure you can safely take ORAP, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• seizures or epilepsy;
• heart disease, high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder, or a history of a heart attack;
• enlarged prostate or urination problems; or
• glaucoma.

Before you start taking ORAP, your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG). This machine measures electrical activity of the heart.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

Taking this medication during the last 3 months of pregnancy may cause problems in the newborn, such as withdrawal symptoms, breathing problems, feeding problems, fussiness, tremors, and limp or stiff muscles. However, you may have withdrawal symptoms or other problems if you stop taking your medicine during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking ORAP, do not stop taking it without your doctor's advice.

ORAP should not be given to a child younger than 12 years old.

It is not known whether ORAP passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using ORAP.

ORAP may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of ORAP.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with ORAP and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Avoid eating or drinking grapefruit products while taking this medication.

Before using ORAP, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by ORAP.

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• ciprofloxacin (Cipro), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin);
• a diuretic (water pill);
• fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax);
• lidocaine (Xylocaine);
• methoxsalen (Oxsoralen, Uvadex, 8-Mop);
• mexiletine (Mexitil);
• thiabendazole (Mintezol); or
• medicine to treat or prevent seizures.

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with ORAP. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.