Sulpitil (sulpiride) - now discontinued in the UK

How does it work?

Sulpitil tablets contain the active ingredient sulpiride, which is a type of medicine called an antipsychotic. It is used to treat the psychiatric illness schizophrenia. (NB. Sulpiride is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.)

Sulpiride works by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. Dopamine is a natural compound called a neurotransmitter. These are chemicals that are stored in nerve cells and are involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter known to be involved in regulating mood and behaviour, amongst other things.

Psychotic illness is considered to be caused by disturbances in the activity of neurotransmitters (mainly dopamine) in the brain. Schizophrenia is known to be associated with an overactivity of dopamine in the brain, and this may be associated with the delusions and hallucinations that are a feature of this disease.

Sulpiride works by blocking the receptors in the brain that dopamine acts on. This prevents the excessive activity of dopamine and helps to control schizophrenia.

Schizophrenic patients may experience 'positive symptoms' (such as hallucinations, disturbances of thought, hostility) and/or 'negative symptoms' (such as lack of emotion and social isolation). Sulpiride is effective in relieving both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

What is it used for?

Schizophrenia.

Warning!

This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. You should avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you should not suddenly stop taking this medicine, even if you feel better and think you don't need it any more. This is because the medicine controls the symptoms of the illness but doesn't actually cure it. This means that if you suddenly stop treatment your symptoms could come back. Stopping the medicine suddenly may also rarely cause withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, difficulty sleeping or tremor. When treatment with this medicine is stopped, it should be done gradually, following the instructions given by your doctor.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience any abnormal movements, particularly of the face, lips, jaw and tongue, while taking this medicine. These symptoms may be indicative of a rare side effect known as tardive dyskinesia, and your doctor may ask you to stop taking this medicine, or decrease your dose.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms while taking this medicine: high fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, faster breathing and drowsiness or sleepiness. These symptoms may be due to a rare side effect known as the neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and your treatment may need to be stopped.

Use with caution in

Elderly people

Decreased kidney function

Excited, agitated or aggressive states (hypomania)

History of epilepsy

Parkinson's disease

Disease affecting the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease)

Personal or family history of an abnormal heart beat, seen on a heart monitoring trace as a 'prolonged QT interval', and people taking other medicines that can could increase the risk of this (see end of factsheet for more details)

Slow heart rate (bradycardia)

Low level of potassium in the blood (hypokalaemia).

Not to be used in

Children under 14 years of age

Severe liver disease

Severe kidney disease

Severe blood disorders

Hereditary blood disorders called porphyrias

Tumour of the adrenal gland (phaeochromocytoma)

Tumour of the pituitary gland in the brain (pituitary prolactinoma)

Breast cancer

Alcohol intoxication

Reduced awareness, slow reactions or drowsiness due to illnesses that reduce activity in the central nervous system.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine passes into breast milk. It is not recommended for mothers who are breastfeeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink.

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