Sulpor (sulpiride)

Health and Nutrition > Medicines > S



How does it work?

Sulpor oral solution contains 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.