Sulpiride

Sulpiride, sold under the brand name Dogmatil among others, is an atypical antipsychotic medication of the benzamide class which is used mainly in the treatment of psychosis associated with schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, and is sometimes used in low dosage to treat anxiety and dysthymia.
The drug is chemically and clinically similar to amisulpride. Levosulpiride is its purified levo-isomer and is sold in some countries for similar purposes.
Sulpiride is commonly used in Asia, Central America, Europe, South Africa and South America. It is not approved in the United States, Canada, or Australia.

Medical uses

Schizophrenia

Sulpiride's primary use in medicine is in the management of the symptoms of schizophrenia. It has been used as both a monotherapy and adjunctive therapy in schizophrenia.

Depression and anxiety

It has also been used in the treatment of dysthymia. There is evidence, although low quality, that sulpiride could accelerate antidepressant response in patients with major depressive disorder. In Japan, sulpiride is both approved as a treatment for schizophrenia and for major depressive disorder.
There is also evidence of its efficacy in treating panic disorder. It was studied at low doses in the treatment of refractory panic disorder and was reported to be effective in a small open-label study.

Other uses

Sulpiride is indicated for the treatment of vertigo in some countries.

Contraindications

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to sulpiride
Pre-existing breast cancer or other prolactin-dependent tumors
Phaeochromocytoma
Intoxication with other centrally-active drugs
Concomitant use of levodopa
Acute porphyria
Comatose state or CNS depression
Bone-marrow suppression

Cautions

Pre-existing Parkinson's disease
Patients under 18 years of age
Pre-existing severe heart disease/bradycardia, or hypokalemia
Patients with pre-existing epilepsy. Anticonvulsant therapy should be maintained
Lithium use — increased risk of neurological side effects of both drugs
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy: Animal studies did not reveal any embryotoxicity or fetotoxicity, nor did limited human experience. Due to insufficient human data, pregnant women should be treated with sulpiride only if strictly indicated. Additionally, the newborns of treated women should be monitored, because isolated cases of extrapyramidal side effects have been reported.
Lactation: Sulpiride is found in the milk of lactating women. Since the consequences are unclear, women should not breastfeed during treatment.
Side effects

Sulpiride is usually well tolerated, producing few adverse effects. Their incidences are as follows:
; Common adverse effects:

Dizziness
Headache
Extrapyramidal side effects
Somnolence
Insomnia
Weight gain or loss
Hyperprolactinemia
Nausea
Vomiting
Nasal congestion
Anticholinergic adverse effects such as:
Impaired concentration

; Rare adverse effects:

Tardive dyskinesia — a rare, potentially irreversible movement disorder that results from prolonged treatment with antidopaminergic agents such as antipsychotics. It presents with slow, involuntary, repetitive and purposeless movements that most often affect the facial muscles.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome — a rare, life-threatening complication that results from the use of antidopaminergic agents. Its incidence increases with concomitant use of lithium salts
Blood dyscrasias — rare, sometimes life-threatening complications of the use of a number of different antipsychotics which involves abnormalities in the composition of a person's blood. Examples include:
Seizures
Torsades de pointes

; Unknown incidence adverse effects include:

QTc interval prolongation which can lead to potentially fatal arrhythmias.
Cholestatic jaundice
Elevated liver enzymes
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Allergic reactions
Photosensitivity — sensitivity to light
Skin rashes
Depression
Catatonia
Palpitations
Agitation
Diaphoresis — sweating without a precipitating factor
Hypotension — low blood pressure
Hypertension — high blood pressure
Venous thromboembolism
Overdose

Sulpiride has a relatively low order of acute toxicity. Substantial amounts may cause severe but reversible dystonic crises with torticollis, protrusion of the tongue, and/or trismus. In some cases all the classical symptoms typical of severe Parkinson's disease may be noted; in others, over-sedation/coma may occur. The treatment is largely symptomatic. Some or all extrapyramidal reactions may respond to the application of anticholinergic drugs such as biperiden or benzatropine. All patients should be closely monitored for signs of long QT syndrome and severe arrhythmias.

Interactions

Sulpiride neither inhibits nor stimulates cytochrome P450 family of oxidizing enzymes in human, thus would not cause clinically significant interactions with other drugs, which are metabolized by CYPs. However, the risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when sulpiride is combined with other drugs, but this is not related to substrates, inducers and inhibitors of CYPs.

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Sulpiride is a selective antagonist at dopamine D₂, D₃ and to a lesser extent D₄ receptors. Antagonism at 5-HT_2A dominates in doses exceeding 600 mg daily. In doses of 600 to 1,600 mg sulpiride shows mild sedating and antipsychotic activity. Its antipsychotic potency compared to chlorpromazine is only 0.2. In low doses its prominent feature is antagonism of presynaptic inhibitory dopamine and serotonin receptors, accounting for some antidepressant activity and a stimulating effect. Additionally, it alleviates vertigo.
The benzamide neuroleptics have been shown to activate the endogenous gamma-hydroxybutyrate receptor in vivo at therapeutic concentrations. Sulpiride was found in one study in rats to upregulate GHB receptors. GHB has neuroleptic properties and it is believed binding to this receptor may contribute to the effects of these neuroleptics.
Sulpiride, along with clozapine, and valproate has been found to activate DNA demethylation in the brain.

History

Sulpiride was discovered in 1966 as a result of a research program by Justin-Besançon and C. Laville at Laboratoires Delagrange who were working to improve the anti-dysrhythmic properties of procainamide; the program led first to metoclopramide and later to sulpiride. Laboratoires Delagrange was acquired by Synthelabo in 1991 which eventually became part of Sanofi.

Society and culture

Brand names

Sulpiride is marketed under the brand names Dogmatil, Dolmatil, Eglonyl, Espiride, Modal, Prometar, Equilid and Sulpor, among many others.

Medicinal forms

These include tablet and oral solution

Patient aversions

Some individuals from the Caribbean region may have an aversion to taking the medication due to the association with the brand name of Dogmatil. Dogmatil has been associated with dog medication.

Research

Hormonal contraception

Sulpiride has been studied for use as a hormonal contraceptive in women in whom conventional oral contraceptives are contraindicated and to potentiate progestogen-only contraceptives. The contraceptive effects of sulpiride are due to its prolactin-releasing and antigonadotropic effects and the hyperprolactinemia–amenorrhea state that it induces.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Since the use of psychotropic drugs is efficient in treating irritable bowel syndrome, sulpiride is studied as potential sole maintenance therapy in the treatment of IBS.