Orap tablets contain the active ingredient pimozide, which is a type of medicine called an antipsychotic. It is sometimes described as a neuroleptic or a 'major tranquilliser', though this last term is fairly misleading, as this type of medicine is not just a tranquilliser, and any tranquillising effect is not as important as its main mechanism of action in psychiatric illness.
Pimozide works by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. Dopamine is a natural compound called a neurotransmitter, and is involved in transmitting messages between brain cells. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter known to be involved in regulating mood and behaviour, amongst other things.
Psychotic illness, and particularly schizophrenia, is thought to be caused by overactivity of dopamine in the brain. Pimozide blocks the receptors that dopamine acts on, and this prevents the overactivity of dopamine in the brain. This helps to control psychotic illness.
Pimozide improves disturbed thoughts, hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses, such as paranoid psychosis or a condition called monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis. In this condition the sufferer is preoccupied with and convinced that they have one particular medical problem, for example they may have a delusion or hallucinations that they are infected with parasites.
Other psychotic illness, for example paranoid psychosis or monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis
Warning!
This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink.
The manufacturer recommends that you should avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine, as grapefruit juice can affect the level of the medicine in your body.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you should not suddenly stop taking this medicine, even if you feel better and think you don't need it any more. This is because the medicine controls the symptoms of the illness but doesn't actually cure it. This means that if you suddenly stop treatment your symptoms could come back. Stopping the medicine suddenly may also rarely cause withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sweating, difficulty sleeping, or abnormal involuntary muscle movements. When treatment with this medicine is stopped, it should be done gradually, following the instructions given by your doctor.
Your heart function should be checked with an electrocardiogram before you start treatment with this medicine. This should be repeated every year to monitor your heart and make sure this medicine is not affecting it.
Consult your doctor immediately if you experience abnormal movements, particularly of the face, lips, jaw and tongue, while taking this medicine. These symptoms may be indicative of a rare side effect known as tardive dyskinesia, and your doctor may ask you to stop taking this medicine, or decrease your dose.
Consult your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms while taking this medicine: high fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, faster breathing and drowsiness or sleepiness. These symptoms may be due to a rare side effect known as the neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and your treatment may need to be stopped.
People with an abnormal heart rhythm seen on the heart monitoring trace (ECG) as a 'prolonged QT interval', or people with a family history of this, or people taking other medicines that can could increase the risk of this (see end of factsheet)
Very slow heart rate (bradycardia)
Low level of potasium in the blood (hypokalaemia)
Low level of magnesium in the blood (hypomagnesaemia)
Reduced awareness, slow reactions or drowsiness, eg due to medicines or illness that reduce activity in the brain and nervous system
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
The safety of this medicine in pregnancy has not been established. It is not recommended for use in pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Significant amounts of this medicine may pass into breast milk and could be harmful to a nursing infant. The manufacturer recommends that women who need to take this medicine should not breastfeed their infants. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Label warnings
This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink.
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The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use
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