An antipsychotic
Sulpiride
An antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia; it can raise prolactin and cause movement effects, and should not be stopped suddenly.
What is Sulpiride?
Sulpiride is an antipsychotic medicine used to treat schizophrenia. It works on dopamine signalling in the brain to help reduce symptoms such as hallucinations and disordered thinking. It can raise a hormone called prolactin and cause movement-related side effects, and it should not be stopped suddenly.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Sulpiride — 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.
What it is
Sulpiride is an antipsychotic used in the UK to treat schizophrenia, including symptoms such as hearing voices, unusual beliefs and disordered thinking. It works by adjusting dopamine signalling in the brain. Like other antipsychotics it is taken regularly to keep symptoms under control and to reduce the chance of relapse, and it is reviewed over time to balance benefit against side effects such as raised prolactin and movement effects.
How it works
Sulpiride blocks dopamine receptors in the brain. In schizophrenia, over-activity of dopamine signalling in certain pathways is linked to symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, and reducing this signalling helps calm those symptoms. Blocking dopamine in other pathways explains some side effects, including raised prolactin (a hormone) and movement-related effects.
What it treats
Conditions Sulpiride is used for
Practical use
How to take Sulpiride
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Take it regularly as prescribed to keep symptoms controlled, even when you feel well.
- Take it consistently and try not to miss doses, as steady levels help it work.
- Tell your prescriber about any stiffness, restlessness, tremor or unusual movements.
- Report breast tenderness, milk production, or changes to periods or sexual function, which can be due to raised prolactin.
- Do not stop it suddenly; speak to your prescriber, who will reduce it gradually if it needs to be changed or stopped.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Sulpiride
Advantages
- It is an effective antipsychotic for the symptoms of schizophrenia.
- Regular use helps reduce the chance of relapse.
- It tends to be less sedating than some other antipsychotics, which suits some people.
Disadvantages
- It commonly raises prolactin, which can cause breast and sexual side effects and menstrual changes.
- It can cause movement-related effects such as stiffness, restlessness and tremor.
- It should not be stopped suddenly and needs care in people at risk of heart-rhythm changes.
Practical use
Good to know
Sulpiride is taken regularly to keep symptoms controlled and to help prevent relapse, and it works best when taken consistently. It can raise a hormone called prolactin, which may cause effects such as breast tenderness, milk production or changes to periods or sexual function. It can also cause movement-related effects (sometimes called extrapyramidal side effects), such as stiffness, restlessness or tremor. It should not be stopped suddenly, as this can cause symptoms to return or rebound effects; any change is made gradually. It is used with care in people at risk of heart-rhythm changes.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People with certain heart-rhythm problems (such as a prolonged QT interval) or significant heart disease, unless carefully assessed.
- People with a hormone-sensitive tumour that is affected by prolactin, or a phaeochromocytoma.
- Anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction to sulpiride.
Monitoring
- Review of symptoms, benefit and side effects, including movement effects and prolactin-related symptoms.
- Checks on weight, and on the heart's rhythm where there is a relevant risk.
- Gradual reduction rather than abrupt stopping if treatment is to be changed.
Side effects
- Raised prolactin, which can cause breast tenderness, milk production, and changes to periods or sexual function.
- Movement-related effects such as stiffness, restlessness, tremor or slowed movements.
- Weight changes, sleep disturbance and, sometimes, drowsiness.
- Rarely, effects on the heart's rhythm; very rarely, a serious reaction with high fever and stiffness (seek urgent help).
Key interactions
- Other medicines that affect the heart's rhythm can add to the risk when combined.
- Other sedating medicines and alcohol can add to drowsiness.
- Some medicines (such as certain Parkinson's treatments) work in the opposite way and may interact; tell your prescriber about all your medicines.
Available as: Tablets and an oral solution.
Answers
Sulpiride: frequently asked questions
What is sulpiride used for?
Sulpiride is an antipsychotic used mainly to treat schizophrenia, helping to reduce symptoms such as hearing voices, unusual beliefs and disordered thinking. It is taken regularly to keep symptoms controlled and to help prevent relapse.
Can sulpiride affect my hormones?
Yes — it can raise a hormone called prolactin. This may cause breast tenderness, milk production, or changes to periods or sexual function. Tell your prescriber if you notice these, as the treatment can be reviewed.
What are the movement side effects of sulpiride?
Like other antipsychotics it can cause movement-related effects such as stiffness, restlessness, tremor or slowed movements. Report these to your prescriber, who can adjust treatment or add a medicine to help.
Can I stop sulpiride suddenly?
No — stopping suddenly can cause symptoms to return or rebound effects. If you want to change or stop it, speak to your prescriber, who will reduce it gradually.
Does sulpiride make you drowsy?
It tends to be less sedating than some other antipsychotics, but it can still cause some drowsiness in some people. Take care with driving and machinery until you know how it affects you.
The wider class
About Antipsychotics
Sulpiride belongs to the antipsychotics class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
Browse by body system
Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
Building a medicines information resource?
We create evidence-led, dose-free drug and formulary references for teams.