Sulpiride is an antipsychotic drug that works to relieve the symptoms of schizophrenia. This drug works by blocking the do receptorspamin which is in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical compound that regulates many functions in the body, including mood and pebehavior.
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that causes sufferers to experience hallucinations, delusions, changes in behavior, and difficulty distinguishing between reality and their own thoughts. This condition occurs due to excessive dopamine activity in the brain.
Sulpiride works by blocking the excessive activity of dopamine in the brain. So that the symptoms of schizophrenia can be controlled.
Sulpiride trademark: dogmatic
What is Sulpiride?
| group | Antipsychotic |
| Category | Prescription drugs |
| Benefit | Relieves the symptoms of schizophrenia |
| Used by | Mature |
| Sulpiride for pregnant and lactating women | Category D: There is positive evidence of risks to the human fetus, but the benefits may outweigh the risks, for example in dealing with life-threatening situations. Sulpiride is absorbed into breast milk. If you are breastfeeding, do not use this medicine without consulting your doctor first. |
| Drug form | Tablets, capsules and injections |
Warnings Before Taking Sulpiride:
- Do not take sulpiride if you have a history of allergy to this drug.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy.
- Tell your doctor if you have pheochromocytoma, porphyria, cancer of the pituitary gland, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, dementia, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, myasthenia gravis, heart and blood vessel disorders, kidney disorders, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, enlarged prostate, or glaucoma.
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of stroke, breast cancer, blood clotting disorders.
- Avoid drinking or drinking alcohol while taking sulpiride because it can increase the side effects of sulpiride.
- Avoid driving a vehicle or operating heavy machinery while taking sulpiride as this medication may cause drowsiness.
- Have regular check-ups with your doctor while taking sulpiride. It aims to monitor the effectiveness of the drug.
- Use sunscreen while taking sulpiride because the medication can make your skin more sensitive to light.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking sulpiride before having any medical procedure.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines and supplements.
- If an allergic reaction or overdose occurs after taking sulpiride, see a doctor immediately.
Dosage and Rules of Use Sulpiride
The dose of sulpiride given to treat schizophrenia will be adjusted according to age, severity of the condition, and the dosage form of the drug. Here is the explanation:
Injection (intramuscular)
- Mature: 200–800 mg per day
Tablets and capsules
- Mature: 200–400 mg 2 times a day. The dose may be increased to 1,200 mg twice daily for patients with positive symptoms, or 800 mg/day for patients with negative symptoms.
- Children 14 years old: the same as the adult dose.
- seniors: lower than the adult dose, the dose will be adjusted by a doctor.
How to Take Sulpiride Correctly
Sulpiride should only be given by a doctor. Use sulpiride according to the doctor's advice and always read the instructions for using the drug before taking the drug.
Do not change your dose or stop taking the drug without consulting your doctor. Stopping the drug suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms.
Sulpiride can be taken with or without food. The dose of sulpiride will generally be increased slowly until it is according to the needs of the condition being experienced.
If you forget to take sulpiride, take the drug immediately if the break with the next schedule is not too close. If it is close, ignore it and do not double the dose.
Store sulpiride in a dry place in a cool temperature. Avoid direct sunlight and heat. Keep out of reach of children.
Sulpiride Interactions with Other Drugs
When used together with other medicines, sulpiride can cause several interactions, including:
- Decreased effectiveness of sulpiride when used with antacids or sucralfate
- Increased risk of side effects of sulpiride, if used with barbiturates, benzodiazepines, MAOIs, antihistamines, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants
- Increased risk of hypotension when used with antihypertensive drugs
- Increased risk of occurrence prolonged QT interval when used with diuretics, beta blockers, clodinine, diltiazem, verapamil, or other antiarrhythmic, antimalarial, antipsychotic drugs, sildelnafil, cisapride, and erythromycin injection
- Increased risk of occurrence extrapyramidal syndrome when used with lithium, metoclopramide, or tetrabenazine
- Decreased effectiveness of levodopa, ropinirole, pergolide, bromocriptine, and anticonvulsant drugs
- Increased risk of side effects of sulpiride when used with chemotherapy drugs
Taking sulpiride with food or alcoholic beverages may increase the drowsiness effect.
Sulpiride Side Effects and Dangers
Some of the side effects that can be caused by sulpiride are:
- Drowsiness
- Dizzy
- Nervous
- Dystonia, which is uncontrolled muscle movement
- Tremors, stiffness, difficulty speaking, and tardive dyskinesia
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Hard to sleep
- Sexual dysfunction
- Gynecomastia, which is enlargement of the breasts
- Breasts feel uncomfortable
- Arrhythmia, which is an irregular heartbeat
- Impaired milk production
Check with your doctor if you experience the side effects above. You also need to see a doctor immediately if you experience an allergic reaction to the drug, such as an itchy rash on the skin, swelling of the lips and eyelids, and difficulty breathing.
