Amisulpride

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The active ingredient amisulpride works in the central nervous system: its antipsychotic effect is used in the treatment of symptoms of acute and chronic schizophrenia. Possible side effects are, for example, insomnia, anxiety, unhealthy restlessness and tremors. Here you can read everything you need to know about the effects, use and side effects of amisulpride.

This is how amisulpride works

Amisulpride belongs to the class of atypical neuroleptics - a group of newer drugs used to treat mental disorders.

Amisulpride is used in the therapy of schizophrenia. This group of mental disorders is characterized by a change in perception, a disturbance in thinking, drive and personality as a whole. The result is, on the one hand, "positive symptoms", ie those that arise from the disease and would normally not occur, such as delusions and hallucinations. On the other hand, “negative symptoms” result from the absence or inadequate expression of normally existing behavior. Examples are apathy, decreased feelings and social withdrawal.

Medicines treat positive symptoms better than negative symptoms. As an atypical neuroleptic, amisulpride is mainly used to treat negative symptoms, but it also improves positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Its effect in the central nervous system is mainly based on a blockade of the docking points of the neurotransmitter dopamine (dopamine receptors). The therapeutic effect only sets in after long-term use.

Uptake and degradation of amisulpride

Amisulpride is given by mouth (orally). Only about half of the amount of active ingredient ingested reaches the bloodstream and on to the central nervous system. About 12 to 20 hours after ingestion, the active substance is excreted completely and unchanged from the body by the kidneys in the urine.

When is amisulpride used?

Amisulpride is used to treat acute and chronic schizophrenic disorders. It can mainly alleviate the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as emotional deprivation and emotional and social withdrawal. But it can also reduce positive symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations and thought disorders.

This is how amisulpride is used

Amisulpride is taken in the form of tablets, solution, or tablets, twice a day. The maximum daily dose of 1200 milligrams must not be exceeded. Regular consumption is necessary to achieve the desired effect.

If necessary, amisulpride can be combined with other neuroleptics (clozapine and olanzapine).

What are the side effects of amisulpride?

Possible side effects of amisulpride are, for example, insomnia, anxiety, pathological restlessness with violent movements (agitation), tremors (tremor) and seated restlessness (akathisia). Movement disorders (extrapyramidal motor disorders) are generally a common side effect of neuroleptics, but occur less often with amisulpride than with other representatives of this group of drugs.

Amisulpride side effects also include increased prolactin production. Prolactin is a hormone that is increasingly secreted by the body, for example during pregnancy. The increased prolactin level can lead to menstrual disorders, chest pain and sexual dysfunction.

Like all neuroleptics, amisulpride also has a calming effect (sedating) and reducing nausea (anti-emetic).

What should be considered when taking amisulpride?

If there is impaired kidney function, the active ingredient should not be taken or only in lower doses.

Caution should be taken when taking amilsupride in:

Slow heart rate (bradycardia)
diabetes
epilepsy

Amisulpride should not be used with these active substances:

Agents against cardiac arrhythmias such as amiodarone, quinidine, disopyramide, flecainide, propafenone, sotalol, diltiazem, verapamil
Methadone (substitute drug for drug withdrawal)
L-DOPA (Parkinson's medication)
water tablets (diuretics)
Amphotericin B (anti-fungal agent)
certain medicines for depression (tricyclic antidepressants)
Antihistamines (for allergies)

How to get drugs with amisulpride

Since schizophrenic conditions urgently require medical treatment, amisulpride is only available with a prescription.

Since when has amisulpride been known?

Clozapine was developed as the first atypical neuroleptic in 1971. Since then, other atypical neuroleptics have been brought onto the market, including amisulpride, which was approved in Germany in 1999 for the treatment of schizophrenia.

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