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Amisulpride - Uses, Interactions, Side Effects, Warnings and Precautions

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Amisulpride is an antipsychotic drug used to treat mental illnesses like Schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Read the article below to know in depth about Amisulpride.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Manisha Raghunath Auradkar

Published At May 4, 2022
Reviewed AtAugust 17, 2023

Overview:

Amisulpride is a second-generation atypical antipsychotic drug and antiemetic drug. It is used to treat mental illnesses like Schizophrenia characterized by symptoms of delusion, hallucinations, thought disorders, changes in behavior, emotions, and bipolar disorder. It is also used as an antiemetic drug to treat and prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults. It is used either as a single dose or in combination with any other antiemetic drug of another drug class or group. Amisulpride is commonly sold under the brand name Solian or Sulprix.

Drug Group:

Amisulpride belongs to the group of antipsychotic drugs. The drugs in this group are used to treat mental illnesses. It is also used for treating anxiety and depression. Antipsychotic drugs are also called major tranquilizers.

Antipsychotics drugs are two types:

  • Newer or atypical antipsychotics.

  • Older typical well-established antipsychotics.

Newer or Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs -

These are second-generation drugs. This includes:

  • Amisulpride.

  • Clozapine.

  • Olanzapine.

  • Aripiprazole.

Older Typical Well-Established Antipsychotic Drugs-

These are first-generation drugs and includes:

  • Chlorpromazine.

  • Haloperidol.

  • Levomepromazine.

  • Sulpiride.

  • Flupentixol.

  • Pericyazine.

What Is Amisulpride Used For?

Amisulpride is used to treat mental conditions like Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a psychosis, a chronic and severe type of mental disorder characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, and behavior.

The symptoms of Schizophrenia are:

  • Hallucinations.

  • Delusion.

  • Abnormal Behavior.

  • Disorganized Speech.

  • Disturbances of emotions.

How Does It Work?

Amisulpride works by altering the effect of chemicals in the brain like Dopamine, Serotonin, Noradrenaline, and Acetylcholine. These chemicals are responsible for altering your mood, emotions, and behavior. These drugs, by altering the effects of the chemicals in the brain, can prevent you from experiencing the symptoms of hallucinations, delusions, and mood swings. Amisulpride is also an antiemetic drug that prevents and alleviates postoperative nausea and vomiting. It primarily works by blocking dopamine signaling in the chemoreceptor trigger zone, which is the area in the brain that relays the stimuli to the vomiting center.

Onset of Action:

Amisulpride will not completely cure the disorder, but it will help to ease the symptoms. It takes two to four weeks for the symptoms to reduce, and may take several months for better improvement.

What Is the Dosage?

The dose of Amisulpride differs for different people depending on the health condition of the individual and the body's response to the medications. The dosage ranges from 50 milligrams per day to 800 milligrams a day. Some people may require a higher dosage of up to 1200 milligrams a day. Take the dose as prescribed by your healthcare professional. If given once daily, the dosage of Amisupride should not exceed 300 mg/day. When higher doses need to be administered, it can be given twice daily.

dose of Amisulpride

Note:

As Amisupride has an hypotensive and sedative effect, it should be used in caution in older adults. In the case of children, the use of Amisupride is not advised in children and teenagers below the age of 18.

How to Use Amisulpride?

Take the dose as prescribed by your healthcare professional. Depending on the prescribed dose, you can take Amisulpride once or twice a day in the morning or evening. Try to take the dose at the same time every day. It is usually recommended to take an Amisulpride dose before food. If you have difficulty swallowing the tablets, then consult your healthcare professional about changing to the liquid form.

Missed Dose:

If you missed any dose, take it as soon as you realize you missed the dose. But if it delays as such that it is the time for the next dose, then try to take the next dose at the right time. Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed dose. Do not stop taking Amisulpride suddenly, as your symptoms may re-appear. Consult your healthcare professional before stopping the dose.

What Are the Drug Warnings or Precautions For Taking Amisulpride?

Precautions Before Taking Amisulpride:

You need to inform your healthcare professional about the medications you are taking for other illnesses. Because sometimes certain medications are not suitable for people with certain conditions or in certain situations it has to be used with caution. It has to be avoided in patients with hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and congestive heart failure.

Precautions While Taking Amisulpride:

  • Alcohol:

Avoid taking alcohol while you are taking Amisulpride, particularly when you start taking the treatment. Drinking alcohol while taking Amisulpride can cause drowsiness, affects concentration putting you at risk of falling and other accidents. It can also cause forgetfulness, agitation, and aggression. Do not stop the medication abruptly.

  • Gaining Weight:

Do monitor your weight. Inform your healthcare professional if you are putting on too much weight after taking the medication, particularly when you start the treatment.

  • Blood Tests:

Taking Amisulpride may result in changes in your blood glucose level, your cholesterol level, and your heart function. Keep monitoring your blood pressure, heart rate, liver functioning, and kidneys.

Pregnancy:

There is not much information or data available regarding the use in pregnant women to establish a drug-associated risk of major congenital disabilities, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes.

Lactation:

There is no information of adverse effects of Amisulpride on milk production, and it also has no effects on the breastfed children.

What Are the Side Effects of Amisulpride?

The common side effects are:

  • Weight gain.

  • Feeling sleepy.

  • Constipation.

  • Changes in menstruation.

  • Unusual production of breast milk.

  • Breast enlargement in men.

  • Impotence in men.

  • Trouble getting an erection.

  • Blurred vision.

  • Changes in the movements.

  • Imbalance while walking.

  • Muscle stiffness.

  • Trembling.

There are some side effects that are not very commonly seen, such as:

  • Nasal congestion.

  • High cholesterol.

  • Increase in blood pressure.

  • Slowing heart rate.

What Are the Drug Interactions of Amisulpride?

There are some medications and herbal supplements that interact with Amisulpride.

  • Drugs that are contraindicated are:

    • Levodopa.

  • Drugs that need to be used with caution are:

    • Beta-blockers.

    • Calcium channel blockers.

    • Hypokalemia diuretics.

    • Stimulant laxatives.

    • Amphotericin B.

    • Glucocorticoids.

    • Neuroleptics.

    • Antidepressants.

Inform your healthcare professional before taking Amisulpride about the medications you are taking for the other illnesses.

What Are the Common Trade Names or Brand Names of Amisulpride?

The common brand names are:

  • Tablet Solace.

  • Tablet Sulprix.

  • Tablet Amisure.

  • Tablet Amisit.

  • Tablet Ampicon.

  • Tablet Aride SR-200.

  • Injection Barhemsys.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.

What Is Amisulpride Used For?

Amisulpride is an antiemetic and antipsychotic belonging to the class of drugs called antipsychotics. It is used to treat acute and chronic schizophrenia and also to prevent and treat postoperative nausea and vomiting.

2.

What Does Amisulpride Do to the Brain?

Amisulpride belongs to the group of drugs known as antipsychotics. These drugs work on the balance of chemical substances in the brain. It exerts its antipsychotic action by blocking the postsynaptic D2 and D3 receptors. At low concentrations blocking of the presynaptic D2 and D3 receptors was postulated to cause an antidepressant effect. By blocking the chemical messengers of the brain, Amisulpride helps in improving mood, behavior, and thoughts.

3.

Is Amisulpride Used for Anxiety?

There is no evidence that Amisulpride is used to treat anxiety. In fact, anxiety is one of the side effects of Amisulpride.

4.

What Are the Long-Term Side Effects of Amisulpride?

The extrapyramidal effects of Amisulpride include anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, tardive dyskinesia, drowsiness, dizziness, and seizures.

5.

How Long Does It Take for Amisulpride to Work?

Amisulpride may take several days to weeks for the symptoms to improve. Most people find this drug making them feel more relaxed and calm, and later over the weeks, the other symptoms should begin to improve.

6.

Does Amisulpride Make You Gain Weight?

Patients tend to gain weight after they start Amisulpride or any other antipsychotic drug. This is because Amisulpride can make you feel hungrier as Amisulpride changes the way the brain and the hormones work together to control your appetite.

7.

When Should I Take Amisulpride?

Amisulpride should be taken as instructed by the physician. The dosage will be adjusted to suit your health condition. Usually, two doses are prescribed, one in the morning and one in the evening. Make sure you take the tablet at the same time each day, and Amisulpride is best swallowed with a drink of water.

8.

What Class of Drug Is Amisulpride?

Amisulpride belongs to the class of antipsychotic drugs. The drugs under this group are used to treat mental illnesses. Antipsychotic drugs are also called major tranquilizers. Some of the other drugs that belong to this group include Clozapine, Olanzapine, and Aripiprazole.

9.

Is Amisulpride an Antidepressant?

Amisulpride is considered to be a potent antidepressant and is used to treat depressive symptoms. It works by blocking the chemical messengers and helps improve mood, behavior, and thoughts.

10.

What Is the Difference Between Amisulpride and Sulpiride?

Amisulpride and Sulpiride work in the same way. Sulpiride has been available for years, whereas Amisulpride is newer. And the brand names of Amisulpride include Solian, and the brand names of Sulpiride include Sulparex and Sulpitil.

11.

Does Amisulpride Cause Heart Problems?

Antipsychotic drugs which are prescribed to treat schizophrenia can increase the risk of heart diseases such as heart attack and irregular heartbeat. There are also studies stating that antipsychotics use increases the risk of sudden cardiac death.

12.

Does Amisulpride Make You Sleepy?

Amisulpride can make you sleepy, less alert, and drowsy and can also blur your vision. So because of these side effects, generally, driving or operating heavy machinery is not recommended after taking Amisulpride.
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Dr. Manisha Raghunath Auradkar
Dr. Manisha Raghunath Auradkar

General Practitioner

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