A dopamine-blocking medicine for nausea and indigestion

Clebopride

An older medicine that blocks dopamine to relieve nausea and help the stomach empty.

What is Clebopride?

Clebopride is an older anti-sickness (antiemetic) and prokinetic medicine that relieves nausea and helps the stomach empty, working by blocking dopamine. It is used in some countries for nausea, vomiting and indigestion-type symptoms, but it is not a standard UK-licensed medicine. Because it blocks dopamine, it can cause movement-related (extrapyramidal) effects such as stiffness, restlessness or unusual movements, as well as drowsiness. For these reasons it is used at the lowest helpful amount and for short periods.

Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Clebopride — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.

Written by Meds Global Health Clinical Team · Clinically reviewed by Dr Muhammad Suffyan, MB BS, Founder & Clinical Director · Last reviewed · How we review
Class: Antiemetic / prokinetic (dopamine antagonist) → Brands: Generic
Clebopride (Antiemetic / prokinetic (dopamine antagonist)) — Meds Global Health reference card with 2D molecular structure
Clebopride — Antiemetic / prokinetic (dopamine antagonist). The image shows the active ingredient's 2D molecular structure.

What it is

Clebopride is an older medicine that acts as both an antiemetic (to relieve nausea and vomiting) and a prokinetic (to help the stomach and gut move their contents along). It belongs to the same broad family as metoclopramide. It has been used in some countries for nausea, vomiting and the symptoms of slow or sluggish digestion, but it is not a standard licensed medicine in the UK, where other medicines are used instead. It is usually taken by mouth.

How it works

Clebopride blocks dopamine, a chemical messenger involved in triggering the vomiting reflex in the brain and in controlling how the gut moves. By blocking dopamine, it reduces nausea and the urge to vomit, and it encourages the stomach to empty and food to move along the gut, which can help indigestion-type symptoms linked to slow digestion. Because dopamine also controls movement elsewhere in the body, blocking it can lead to movement-related side effects, which is why it is used carefully and for short periods.

Company & origin

Originated / developed by: Generic (older medicine).

An older anti-sickness and prokinetic medicine used in some countries for nausea and indigestion; it is not a standard UK-licensed medicine.

Practical use

How to take Clebopride

General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.

  • Take it exactly as advised by your prescriber, usually for a short period rather than long term.
  • It is often taken before meals when used to help nausea or indigestion linked to slow stomach emptying.
  • Be cautious about driving or using machinery until you know whether it makes you drowsy.
  • Tell your prescriber straight away about any unusual movements, stiffness or restlessness.
  • Limit alcohol, as it can add to the drowsiness this medicine may cause.

Weighing it up

Advantages & disadvantages of Clebopride

Advantages

  • Can relieve nausea and help the stomach empty, easing indigestion-type symptoms.
  • Taken by mouth and long established in the countries where it is used.
  • Works in a similar way to other medicines in the metoclopramide family.

Disadvantages

  • Can cause movement-related (extrapyramidal) effects such as stiffness or unusual movements.
  • Can cause drowsiness and, with longer use, raise the hormone prolactin.
  • An older medicine that is not a standard UK-licensed treatment.

Practical use

Good to know

The key thing to understand about clebopride is that, as a dopamine-blocking medicine, it can cause movement-related (extrapyramidal) effects, such as muscle stiffness, restlessness, tremor or unusual movements of the face and body. These are more likely in younger people and with higher amounts or longer use, and any sudden or unusual movements should be reported promptly. It can also cause drowsiness, so take care with driving, using machinery and alcohol until you know how it affects you. With longer use it can raise the hormone prolactin, which may cause breast tenderness, milk production or changes in periods. It is an older medicine and is not a standard UK-licensed treatment, so in the UK other medicines are used instead.

Who should not take it / use with caution

  • People who have had a serious allergic reaction to clebopride should not take it.
  • It should be avoided where the gut is blocked, perforated or bleeding.
  • It is used with caution in people with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders, as it can make them worse.
  • It is used with care in younger people, who are more prone to movement-related side effects.

Monitoring

  • Watching for movement-related effects, especially early in treatment and in younger people.
  • Reviewing whether the medicine is still needed, as it is intended for short-term use.
  • Checking for signs of raised prolactin, such as breast changes or changes in periods, with longer use.

Side effects

  • Drowsiness or tiredness.
  • Movement-related effects such as stiffness, restlessness, tremor or unusual movements of the face and body.
  • Raised prolactin with longer use, which can cause breast tenderness, milk production or changes in periods.
  • Rarely, a serious reaction with high fever and muscle stiffness (neuroleptic malignant syndrome), which needs urgent medical attention.

Key interactions

  • It can add to drowsiness from alcohol, strong painkillers, sleeping tablets and some other medicines.
  • It may interact with antipsychotics and other dopamine-blocking medicines, increasing the risk of movement-related effects.
  • It can change how quickly the stomach empties, which may affect how other medicines are absorbed.

Available as: Tablets taken by mouth.

Answers

Clebopride: frequently asked questions

What is clebopride used for?

It is an older anti-sickness and prokinetic medicine used to relieve nausea and help the stomach empty, easing indigestion-type symptoms linked to slow digestion.

Is it related to metoclopramide?

Yes, it belongs to the same broad family and works in a similar way by blocking dopamine in the brain and gut.

Can it cause unusual movements?

Yes. As a dopamine-blocking medicine it can cause movement-related effects such as stiffness or unusual movements, which should be reported promptly.

Will it make me drowsy?

It can cause drowsiness, so take care with driving, using machinery and alcohol until you know how it affects you.

Is it used in the UK?

Clebopride is not a standard UK-licensed medicine; in the UK other anti-sickness medicines are used instead.

The wider class

About Antiemetic / prokinetic (dopamine antagonist)

Clebopride belongs to the antiemetic / prokinetic (dopamine antagonist) class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.

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Authoritative sources

  • BNF
  • NICE CKS

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