sulpiride at a glance
Medicine class
Substituted benzamide antipsychotic
Licensed use
Acute and chronic schizophrenia
Available forms
Tablets and oral solution
Driving
Drowsiness, dizziness, visual disturbance or reduced alertness can impair driving and machinery use.
What is sulpiride used for?
The selected products are licensed for:
Acute schizophrenia
Chronic schizophrenia
How does sulpiride work?
Sulpiride blocks dopamine receptors in the brain, modifying signalling involved in symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking.
sulpiride preparations and strengths
Oral solution
Route: Oral
Strengths: 200 mg/5 mL
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg
How to take sulpiride
Follow the dispensing label and prescriber’s instructions. Swallow tablets whole with water. Take the oral solution by mouth and measure it accurately. Do not stop sulpiride without prescriber advice.
The selected tablet score line helps swallowing; it does not divide the tablet into equal amounts.
Check with a pharmacist before switching between tablets and liquid, as excipients and product-specific restrictions differ.
Tell a pharmacist about antacids or sucralfate, which can reduce absorption.
sulpiride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Sleepiness or sedation
- Restlessness, tremor, stiffness or other movement symptoms
- Difficulty sleeping
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Raised prolactin, which may cause breast pain, milk production or menstrual changes
- Skin rash
- Raised liver enzymes
Get urgent medical advice
- High temperature, severe stiffness, sweating, fast heartbeat or confusion (neuroleptic malignant syndrome)
- Severe allergic reaction
- QT prolongation or a dangerous irregular heartbeat
- Seizure
- Blood clot in a leg or lung
- Low white-cell count, suggested by unexplained fever, sore throat or repeated infections
- Persistent involuntary movements
- Severe liver injury or muscle breakdown
sulpiride in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are very limited. The selected product information does not recommend sulpiride unless expected benefit justifies potential risk. Exposure near delivery may cause temporary movement, muscle-tone, breathing, feeding or withdrawal symptoms in the newborn; pregnancy or pregnancy planning requires prompt specialist review.
sulpiride while breastfeeding
Sulpiride can pass into breast milk in relatively large amounts, and evidence about effects in breastfed infants is insufficient. Discuss the balance of effective maternal treatment, breastfeeding benefits and possible infant exposure with the prescriber or a specialist breastfeeding medicines service.
sulpiride interactions
Check prescribed, over-the-counter and recreational substances before treatment. Important examples include:
Levodopa and dopamine-agonist Parkinson’s treatments, including ropinirole
Their effects oppose sulpiride; concomitant use is contraindicated in the selected product information.
Alcohol
Can increase sedation and should be avoided.
Common questions about sulpiride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is sulpiride used for?
The selected products are licensed for acute and chronic schizophrenia.
Can sulpiride make you sleepy?
Yes. Sleepiness, sedation, dizziness and reduced alertness can occur; do not drive or operate machinery if affected.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.