Pimavanserin tartrate

What Pimavanserin tartrate is used for

Quoted from the “Indications and Usage” section of the FDA-approved label.

NUPLAZID ® is indicated for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis […]. NUPLAZID is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis.

— FDA label: Nuplazid, Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective June 18, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Label quoted: the one for the most common form (tablet, coated, oral), Nuplazid, Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.; it covers 2 products in the FDA NDC Directory. The side effects, interactions, dosage and pregnancy quotes below come from this same label.

The FDA has 2 labels for products of this medicine (different makers and forms); uses can differ between them. Check the label that comes with your own medicine.

This page is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine.

Conditions named on the label

These condition names appear word for word in the label’s “Indications and Usage” text (matched with a reviewed table). Each page lists hospitals whose own websites name the condition.

Related medical specialties

Boxed warning

A boxed warning (“black box”) is the FDA’s strongest warning on a drug label, for serious or life-threatening risks.

This label has a boxed warning. Its heading: WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS. Read it on the full label →

2 of 2 FDA labels for this medicine have a boxed warning.

Pimavanserin tartrate boxed warning: what the label says

Quoted from the boxed warning of the FDA-approved label.

WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. NUPLAZID is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia who experience psychosis unless their hallucinations and delusions are related to Parkinson's disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

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WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. NUPLAZID is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia who experience psychosis unless their hallucinations and delusions are related to Parkinson's disease. (5.1)

— FDA label: Nuplazid, Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective June 18, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Pimavanserin tartrate side effects

Quoted from the “Adverse Reactions” section of the FDA-approved label. Tell your doctor about any side effect that worries you.

The following serious adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere in the labeling: Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] QT Interval Prolongation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] Most common adverse reactions (≥5% and twice the rate of placebo): peripheral edema and confusional state.

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(6.1) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-844-422-2342 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The clinical trial database for NUPLAZID consists of over 1200 subjects and patients exposed to one or more doses of NUPLAZID. Of these, 616 were patients with hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis (PDP). In the placebo-controlled setting, the majority of experience in patients comes from studies evaluating once-daily NUPLAZID doses of 34 mg (N=202) compared to placebo (N=231) for up to 6 weeks. In the controlled trial setting, the study population was approximately 64% male and 91% Caucasian, and the mean age was about 71 years at study entry. Additional clinical trial experience in patients with hallucinations and delusions associated with PDP comes from two open-label, safety extension studies (total N=497). The majority of patients receiving long-term treatment received 34 mg once-daily (N=459). Over 300 patients have been treated for more than 6 months; over 270 have been treated for at least 12 months; and over 150 have been treated for at least 24 months. The following adverse reactions are based on the 6-week, placebo-controlled studies in which NUPLAZID was administered once daily to patients with hallucinations and delusions associated with PDP. Common Adverse Reactions (incidence ≥5% and at least twice the rate of placebo): peripheral edema (7% NUPLAZID 34 mg vs. 2% placebo) and confusional state (6% NUPLAZID 34 mg vs. 3% placebo). Adverse Reactions Leading to Discontinuation of Treatment A total of 8% (16/202) of NUPLAZID 34 mg-treated patients and 4% (10/231) of placebo-treated patients discontinued because of adverse reactions. The adverse reactions that occurred in more than one patient and with an incidence at least twice that of placebo were hallucination (2% NUPLAZID vs. <1% placebo), urinary tract infection (1% NUPLAZID vs. <1% placebo), and fatigue (1% NUPLAZID vs. 0% placebo). Adverse reactions that occurred in 6-week, placebo-controlled studies and that were reported at an incidence of ≥2% and >placebo are presented in Table 1.

— FDA label: Nuplazid, Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective June 18, 2026. This is part of the section. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Pimavanserin tartrate drug interactions

Quoted from the “Drug Interactions” section of the FDA-approved label. Tell your pharmacist about every medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take.

Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Reduce NUPLAZID dose to 10 mg once daily. (2.3, 7.1) Strong or Moderate CYP3A4 Inducers: Avoid concomitant use of NUPLAZID. (2.3, 7.1) 7.1 Drugs Having Clinically Important Interactions with NUPLAZID Table 2 Clinically Important Drug Interactions with NUPLAZID QT Interval Prolongation Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of drugs that prolong the QT interval may add to the QT effects of NUPLAZID and increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmia.

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Intervention: Avoid the use of NUPLAZID in combination with other drugs known to prolong QT interval (e.g., Class 1A antiarrythmics, Class 3 antiarrythmics, certain antipsychotics or antibiotics) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NUPLAZID with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor increases pimavanserin exposure [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. Intervention: If NUPLAZID is used with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, reduce the dosage of NUPLAZID [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)]. Strong or Moderate CYP3A4 Inducers Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NUPLAZID with strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducers reduces pimavanserin exposure [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. Intervention: Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducers with NUPLAZID [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)]. 7.2 Drugs Having No Clinically Important Interactions with NUPLAZID Based on pharmacokinetic studies, no dosage adjustment of carbidopa/levodopa is required when administered concomitantly with NUPLAZID [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

— FDA label: Nuplazid, Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective June 18, 2026. This is part of the section. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Pimavanserin tartrate dosage

Quoted from the “Dosage and Administration” section of the FDA-approved label. Your own dose is the one your doctor prescribes: do not change it on your own.

Recommended dose is 34 mg taken orally once daily, without titration. (2.1) Can be taken with or without food. (2.2) Capsules may be swallowed whole or opened and entire contents sprinkled over a tablespoon of certain types of soft food. (2.2) 2.1 Recommended Dosage The recommended dose of NUPLAZID is 34 mg taken orally once daily, without titration. 2.2 Administration Information NUPLAZID can be taken with or without food [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

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NUPLAZID capsules can be taken whole, or opened and the entire contents sprinkled over a tablespoon (15 mL) of applesauce, yogurt, pudding, or a liquid nutritional supplement. Consume the drug/food mixture immediately without chewing; do not store for future use. 2.3 Dosage Modifications for Concomitant Use with CYP3A4 Inhibitors and Inducers Coadministration with Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors The recommended dose of NUPLAZID when coadministered with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors is 10 mg, taken orally as one tablet once daily [see Drug Interactions (7.1)]. Coadministration with Strong or Moderate CYP3A4 Inducers Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducers with NUPLAZID [see Drug Interactions (7.1)].

— FDA label: Nuplazid, Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective June 18, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Pimavanserin tartrate in pregnancy

Quoted from the pregnancy part of the FDA-approved label. Ask your doctor before you take any medicine while pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Risk Summary There are no data on NUPLAZID use in pregnant women that would allow assessment of the drug-associated risk of major congenital malformations or miscarriage. In animal reproduction studies, no adverse developmental effects were seen when pimavanserin was administered orally to rats or rabbits during the period of organogenesis at doses up to 10- or 12-times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 34 mg/day, respectively.

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Administration of pimavanserin to pregnant rats during pregnancy and lactation resulted in maternal toxicity and lower pup survival and body weight at doses which are 2-times the MRHD of 34 mg/day [see Data]. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Pimavanserin was not teratogenic in pregnant rats when administered during the period of organogenesis at oral doses of 0.9, 8.5, and 51 mg/kg/day, which are 0.2- and 10-times the MRHD of 34 mg/day based on AUC at mid and high doses, respectively. Maternal toxicity included reduction in body weight and food consumption at the highest dose. Administration of pimavanserin to pregnant rats during pregnancy and lactation at oral doses of 8.5, 26, and 51 mg/kg/day, which are 0.14- to 14-times the MRHD of 34 mg/day based on AUC, caused maternal toxicity, including mortality, clinical signs including dehydration, hunched posture, and rales, and decreases in body weight, and/or food consumption at doses ≥26 mg/kg/day (2-times the MRHD based on AUC). At these maternally toxic doses there was a decrease in pup survival, reduced litter size, and reduced pup weights, and food consumption. Pimavanserin had no effect on sexual maturation, neurobehavioral function including learning and memory, or reproductive function in the first generation pups up to 14-times the MRHD of 34 mg/day based on AUC. Pimavanserin was not teratogenic in pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis at oral doses of 4.3, 43, and 85 mg/kg/day, which are 0.2- to 12-times the MRHD of 34 mg/day based on AUC. Maternal toxicity, including mortality, clinical signs of dyspnea and rales, decreases in body weight and/or food consumption, and abortions occurred at doses 12-times the MRHD of 34 mg/day based on AUC.

— FDA label: Nuplazid, Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective June 18, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →

When Pimavanserin tartrate should not be used

Quoted from the “Contraindications” section of the FDA-approved label.

NUPLAZID is contraindicated in patients with a history of a hypersensitivity reaction to pimavanserin or any of its components. Rash, urticaria, and reactions consistent with angioedema (e.g., tongue swelling, circumoral edema, throat tightness, and dyspnea) have been reported [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. Known hypersensitivity to NUPLAZID or any of its components. (4)

— FDA label: Nuplazid, Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective June 18, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Pimavanserin tartrate overdose

Quoted from the “Overdosage” section of the FDA-approved label. If someone may have taken too much, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (or 911 in an emergency).

Human Experience The pre-marketing clinical trials involving NUPLAZID in approximately 1200 subjects and patients do not provide information regarding symptoms with overdose. In healthy subject studies, dose-limiting nausea and vomiting were observed. 10.2 Management of Overdose There are no known specific antidotes for NUPLAZID.

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In managing overdose, cardiovascular monitoring should commence immediately and should include continuous ECG monitoring to detect possible arrhythmias [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. If antiarrhythmic therapy is administered, disopyramide, procainamide, and quinidine should not be used, as they have the potential for QT-prolonging effects that might be additive to those of NUPLAZID [see Drug Interactions (7.1)]. Consider the long plasma half-life of pimavanserin (about 57 hours) and the possibility of multiple drug involvement. Consult a Certified Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) for up-to-date guidance and advice.

— FDA label: Nuplazid, Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective June 18, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Forms and how it is given

Companies that list this medicine

Labelers in the FDA NDC Directory: the company named on the package (maker or distributor), with the number of prescription products.

• Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.2 products
• Novadoz Pharmaceuticals LLC1 product

FDA approval history

• NDA: New Drug Application: how a new (usually brand-name) medicine is approved.
• ANDA: Abbreviated New Drug Application: how a generic version is approved.

Generic approvals (1)

• ANDA214925Msn · January 16, 2024

Shortage status

The FDA drug shortage list does not show these products.

FDA Drug Shortages database →

Recalls

No recall linked to these products (by their NDC code) appears in the FDA enforcement reports.

Official identifiers

Next steps

• Find a pharmacy near youAsk which price applies to you and whether your product is affected by a recall
• Latest FDA drug recallsAll medicines, newest first
• NuplazidBrand page: products, maker and price
• Parkinson's diseaseCondition named on the label: hospitals that treat it
• Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.Maker or distributor
• Novadoz Pharmaceuticals LLCMaker or distributor
• All prescription drugs A to ZSearch by generic, brand or Spanish name

Sources

1. FDA-approved label on DailyMed (National Library of Medicine) — Nuplazid, Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective June 18, 2026; via openFDA, FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
2. NDC Directory (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
3. Drugs@FDA (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
4. Drug recall enforcement reports (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 27, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
5. Drug shortages (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026

openFDA data is provided by the FDA as is; it may be incomplete. Always rely on the label that comes with your medicine. FDA Enforcement Report search →

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