Pimozide Inhibits Type II but Not Type I Hair Cells in Chicken Embryo and Adult Mouse Vestibular Organs.

Background: Pimozide is a conventional antipsychotic drug of the diphenylbutylpiperidine class, widely used for treating schizophrenia and delusional disorders and for managing motor and phonic tics in Tourette's syndrome. Pimozide is known to block dopaminergic D2 receptors and various types of voltage-gated ion channels. Among its side effects, dizziness and imbalance are the most frequently observed, which may imply an effect of the drug on the vestibular sensory receptors, the hair cells.

Pimozide Increases a Delayed Rectifier K Conductance in Chicken Embryo Vestibular Hair Cells.

Pimozide is a conventional antipsychotic drug largely used in the therapy for schizophrenia and Tourette's syndrome. Pimozide is assumed to inhibit synaptic transmission at the CNS by acting as a dopaminergic D receptor antagonist. Moreover, pimozide has been shown to block voltage-gated Ca and K channels in different cells.