Amisulpride Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Amisulpride Tablet is an atypical antipsychotic medicine used to treat symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and thought disturbances, as well as lack of interest and apathy, that occur with mental disorders such as psychosis and schizophrenia. It works by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain, with different effects at low and high doses. This medicine is available as a tablet and should be used exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

What is Amisulpride Tablet

Amisulpride is an atypical antipsychotic medicine. It is used to treat symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and thought disturbances, as well as lack of interest and apathy, that can occur with mental disorders such as psychosis and schizophrenia.

Amisulpride Tablet uses

• Acute and chronic schizophrenia, including both positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, confused thinking) and negative symptoms (social withdrawal, emotional flatness, apathy)
• Acute psychosis
• Helps improve attention, working memory, and depressive or anxiety symptoms linked to psychotic disorders

Benefits of Amisulpride Tablet

• Low doses help improve negative symptoms such as low motivation and poor social interaction
• Higher doses help control positive symptoms like hallucinations, confused thinking, and delusions
• May help improve attention and working memory

How Amisulpride Tablet works

This medicine works by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. At low doses it blocks receptors that release dopamine, which increases dopamine activity and helps reduce negative symptoms. At higher doses it blocks dopamine receptors directly, which calms down overactive dopamine signals and helps reduce positive symptoms like hallucinations.

Amisulpride Tablet dosage

Take this medicine at least an hour before food. Drink plenty of water while taking this medicine. Your dose may change over time based on how you respond to treatment. Continue taking this medicine for the full recommended duration even if you start feeling better. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but skip it if it is almost time for your next dose.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Amisulpride Tablet

Common

• Weight gain and increased appetite
• Constipation, dry mouth, nausea, and stomach discomfort
• Drowsiness, sedation, insomnia, anxiety, dizziness
• Mild tremors
• Muscle stiffness, spasms, restlessness, or slow movement
• Irregular menstrual periods, lack of ovulation, milk discharge from the breasts, or breast enlargement in males
• Fever, excessive sweating, change in heart rate
• Restless legs, twitches in the tongue and face, trembling, excessive salivation
• Decreased libido
• Agitation and anxiety

Serious

• Heart rhythm problems, including QT interval prolongation or serious irregular heartbeats
• Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (a rare, life-threatening reaction with high fever, severe muscle rigidity, rapid breathing, and confusion)
• Severe chest pain
• Swelling, pain, and redness in the legs
• Increased frequency of infections
• Severe skin allergy
• Seizures
• Low potassium level with leg cramps, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in the chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, or muscle weakness
• Sudden dizziness like you might pass out
• Fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Suicidal thoughts or changes in behavior

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you have a prolactin-dependent tumor, a rare adrenal gland tumor called pheochromocytoma, severe liver or kidney disease without dose adjustment, or if you are breastfeeding.
• This medicine should not be used in people with Parkinson's disease, as it can make symptoms worse.
• This medicine should be used with caution in people with heart rhythm disorders, as the risk of serious side effects is higher.
• This medicine should not be used in people with a history of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, and it should be restarted only with caution if this has happened before.
• This medicine should not be used in children who have not yet gone through puberty, due to a higher risk of hormone-related side effects and growth problems.
• Elderly people should use this medicine with caution because they have a higher risk of serious side effects.
• This medicine should be started only after low potassium levels in the body have been corrected, and should be used carefully in people with low potassium.
• This medicine has been linked to suicidal thoughts in some patients. Patients should be counseled about this, and any change in behavior suggesting suicidal thoughts should be reported to the doctor.
• This medicine has some potential for abuse and habit-forming behavior has been reported in a few cases.
• Use of this medicine during pregnancy is not recommended unless absolutely necessary. It should only be used if the benefits outweigh the risks.
• This medicine is not recommended while breastfeeding. If it must be used, breastfeeding should be stopped, so talk to your doctor first.
• This medicine should be used carefully in people with reduced kidney function, and your doctor may need to adjust your dose and monitor you closely.
• This medicine should not be used in people with severe liver disease unless the dose is adjusted by a doctor.
• Avoid or limit alcohol while taking this medicine, as it increases the risk of side effects such as confusion, lack of focus, anxiety, and drowsiness. Contact your doctor if you feel very drowsy.
• This medicine can cause moderate to severe drowsiness and may reduce your ability to concentrate, so avoid driving or operating heavy machinery after taking it.

Storage

• Store at or below 25°C (some regional product guidelines permit up to 30°C). Do not store the medication in warm areas like bathrooms or near kitchen stoves.
• Keep the tablets in their original blister pack or container to protect them from light and humidity. Do not remove them and store them in a daily pill organizer unless advised otherwise.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you have sudden dizziness like you might pass out, fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, or shortness of breath.
• Call your doctor right away if you have signs of low potassium, such as leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, or muscle weakness.
• Seek immediate emergency care if you develop signs of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, such as high fever, severe muscle rigidity, rapid breathing, and confusion.
• Contact a doctor if you suspect an overdose, which may cause excessive drowsiness, a drop in blood pressure, agitation, or coma.

Alternatives

• Quetiapine
• Olanzapine
• Risperidone
• Aripiprazole