Drug interactions
Pimozide + Salmeterol
Severity: Moderate
Pimozide and Salmeterol: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Both agents can prolong the QT interval or provoke arrhythmias: pimozide through hERG channel blockade and salmeterol through beta-2 stimulation with tachycardia and hypokalemia. The combination may raise the risk of torsades de pointes, particularly with other risk factors.
What this interaction means in plain words
Pimozide and Salmeterol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Pimozide belongs to Central Nervous System; Salmeterol belongs to Respiratory.
Why it happens
Additive QT prolongation and proarrhythmic effects, with beta-agonist-induced hypokalemia increasing susceptibility.
What to do
Obtain a baseline ECG and monitor QTc and serum potassium and magnesium, correcting any deficits. Avoid adding other QT-prolonging drugs.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Pimozide and Salmeterol, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Salmeterol
- Ritonavir + Salmeterol Contraindicated
- Salmeterol + Saquinavir Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Salmeterol Major
- Arformoterol + Salmeterol Major
- Atazanavir + Salmeterol Major
- Budesonide-formoterol + Salmeterol Major
Other interactions of Pimozide
- Adagrasib + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Amiodarone + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Amisulpride + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Amoxapine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Anagrelide + Pimozide Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Pimozide with Salmeterol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Pimozide and Salmeterol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Both agents can prolong the QT interval or provoke arrhythmias: pimozide through hERG channel blockade and salmeterol through beta-2 stimulation with tachycardia and hypokalemia. The combination may raise the risk of torsades de pointes, particularly with other risk factors.
How serious is the interaction between Pimozide and Salmeterol?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Obtain a baseline ECG and monitor QTc and serum potassium and magnesium, correcting any deficits. Avoid adding other QT-prolonging drugs.
What other medicines interact with Salmeterol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Salmeterol with, for example, Ritonavir, Saquinavir, Amitriptyline. The full list is on the Salmeterol page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
