Pimozide Use for Tourette Syndrome and Other Off-Label Treatment

Course overview

Pimozide is a first-generation antipsychotic primarily indicated for the treatment of severe, refractory tics in Tourette syndrome (TS). With a pharmacological profile that extends beyond tic suppression, pimozide shows promise as an adjunctive therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and delusional parasitosis, utility in patients with Huntington's disease, as well as an investigational agent in oncology. Once used to treat patients with schizophrenia, it should be used with caution due to the risk of adverse effects. This review provides a biopsychosocial analysis of pimozide's clinical applications, pharmacodynamics, and critical considerations for healthcare providers to optimize therapeutic efficacy while mitigating potential risks.