General Information on Orap
Orap is used for suppressing phonic and motor tics associated with a Tourette’s disorder. Its generic name is Pimozide, and it comes under the category of anti-psychotic medicines.
The medicine is available in the form of oral tablets. It changes actions of certain chemicals or dopamine in the patient’s brain.
Your doctor will recommend you to buy Orap only if your symptoms are causing severe problems in your everyday life and other methods of treatment have failed to have any positive effects. This medicine should not be used to treat any mild symptoms of the condition.
Side effects of Orap
Do not buy Orap if you are allergic to Pimozide or to any other anti-psychotic medicine, or if you have history of Long QT syndrome. Also do not take it if you have low magnesium or potassium levels in your blood.
Inform your doctor beforehand if you have prolonged illness resulting in vomiting or diarrhea. Electrolyte imbalance may take place, which may eventually lead to heart rhythm problems.
Special tests and dosage adjustments may need to be made if you have any of these conditions:
- liver or kidney disease
- epilepsy or seizures
- heart disease
- heart rhythm disorder
- high blood pressure
- history of heart attack
- enlarged prostate or any urination problem
- glaucoma
Do not take Orap during pregnancy, especially during the last 3 months. This may cause serious problems in your newborn child, including withdrawal symptoms, feeding problems, breathing problems, fussiness, stiff or limp muscles or tremors.
This medicine is not meant to be given to patients less than 12 years of age.
Some common side effects that Orap patients may experience include:
- drowsiness, dizziness or headache
- restlessness
- dry mouth
- constipation
- vision problems
You should immediately inform your doctor if you develop seizures, convulsions, uncontrollable movements or twitching in eyes, tongue, lips, face, legs or arms, very stiff or rigid muscles, sweating, high fever, fast or uneven heart rate, confusion or tremors.
Some Orap patients may also develop an allergic reaction to the medicine. Symptoms of an allergy include hives on body, breathing problems, severe dizziness and swollen lips, tongue, throat or face. Discontinue using the medicine as soon as possible if you develop any of these symptoms.
Dosage of Orap
Initially, you will be advised to take Orap 1 to 2mg per day twice in a day. After that, the dosage can be increased every other day, depending on your response to the treatment. Most patients show sufficient results with Orap 0.2mg per kg per day. However, the maximum dosage should not exceed Orap 10mg per day.
In children, the treatment starts with Orap 0.05mg per kg, taken once at night. The dosage can be increased every 3rd day, not exceeding Orap 10mg per day.
Drug Interactions of Orap
Orap can severely react with drugs such as antispasmodic or anticholinergic drugs (e.g. scopolamine), azole antifungal medicines (e.g. itraconazole), macrolide antibiotics (e.g. erythromycin), protease inhibitors (e.g. ritonavir), antihistamines (e.g. diphenhydramine) or narcotic pain relievers (e.g. codeine).
