Sulpiride for schizophrenia and Tourette’s syndrome

Name of medicine

Sulpiride

Brand names: Dolmatil®, Sulpor®

This leaflet is about the use of sulpiride for the treatment of schizophrenia and Tourette’s syndrome. 

Why is it important for my child to take sulpiride?

Sulpiride changes the levels of some important chemicals in the brain such as dopamine and serotonin.

• For children with schizophrenia, sulpiride will reduce their symptoms and help their mood and behaviour to be more stable.
• For children with Tourette’s syndrome, sulpiride will help to reduce the severity and frequency of tics.

What is sulpiride available as?

Tablets: 200 mg, 400 mg

Liquid medicine (Sulpor): 200 mg in 5 mL

When should I give sulpiride

Sulpiride is usually given twice each day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Ideally, these times are 10–12 hours apart, for example some time between 7 and 8 am, and between 7 and 8 pm.

How much should I give?

Your doctor will work out the amount of sulpiride (the dose) that is right for your child. The dose will be shown on the medicine label.

Your doctor may suggest that your child starts on a low dose. They may then increase the dose over a period of days or weeks depending on how your child does. If you are not sure how much to give, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

How should I give sulpiride?

Tablets

Tablets should be swallowed with a glass of water, milk or juice. Your child should not chew the tablets. You can crush the tablet and mix it with a small amount of soft food such as yogurt, honey or jam. Make sure your child swallows it all straight away.

Liquid medicine

Measure out the right amount using a medicine spoon or oral syringe. You can get these from your pharmacist. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right amount.

When should the medicine start working?

This depends on what your child is being treated for.

• If your child gets hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), these should start to get better after a week or so. It may take longer than this for delusions (thinking something is real that is not) to stop.
• It may take 6–8 weeks before your child’s mood and behaviour begin to seem more normal.
• It is likely to take 4–6 weeks for symptoms of tics or Tourette’s syndrome to get better.
• It is important that you continue to give sulpiride during this time. If you worried about whether the medicine is helping, contact your doctor.

What if my child is sick (vomits)?

If your child is sick less than 30 minutes after having a dose of sulpiride, give them the same dose again.

If your child is sick more than 30 minutes after having a dose of sulpiride, you do not need to give them another dose. Wait until the next normal dose.

What if I forget to give it?

If you remember up to 4 hours after you should have given a dose, give your child the missed dose. For example, if you usually give a dose at about 7 am, you can give the missed dose at any time up to 11 am.

If you remember after that time, do not give the missed dose. Just give the next dose as usual.

What if I give too much?

If you think you may have given your child too much sulpiride, contact your doctor or NHS Direct (111 in England and Scotland; 111 or 0845 4647 in parts of Wales). Have the medicine or packaging with you if you telephone for advice.

Are there any possible side effects?

We use medicines to make our children better, but sometimes they have other effects that we don’t want (side effects).

Side effects you must do something about

Other side-effects you need to know about

If any of the side-effects below are still a problem after 2 weeks, contact your doctor:

• Your child may feel sleepy, tired or weak when they first start taking this medicine, or feel stiffness in their muscles.

• Your child may get stomach ache and feel sick (nausea). They may also get constipated (difficulty doing a poo).

• Your child may feel light-headed or dizzy when they stand up, or may faint. Encourage them to stand up slowly, and to sit or lie down if they feel dizzy or lightheaded. If this happens often, contact your doctor to check your child’s blood pressure, as it may be too low.

• Your child’s eyesight may be blurred (fuzzy).

• Your child may feel listless (they may not want to do anything) or have a low mood. However, some children become agitated and find it difficult to relax.

• They may be hungrier than usual (increased appetite). Encourage them to eat fruit and vegetables and low-calorie foods, rather than foods that contain a lot of calories (avoid crisps, cakes, biscuits and sweets), and to have plenty of exercise. Otherwise they may put on weight.

   

• In girls, sulpiride can cause irregular periods and the breasts may get larger.

• Your child may find it difficult to regulate their body temperature and feel hot and cold.

There may sometimes be other side effects that are not listed above. If you notice anything unusual and are concerned, contact your doctor. You can report any suspected side effects to a UK safety scheme at mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

Can other medicines be given at the same time as sulpiride?

• You can give your child medicines that contain paracetamol or ibuprofen, unless your doctor has told you not to.

sulpiride should not be taken with some medicines that you get on prescription. It is important to tell your doctor and pharmacist about any other medicines your child is taking before starting sulpiride.

The sulpiride should not be taken at the same time as medicines for indigestion. You should allow at least 2 hours before or after giving sulpiride if you need to give your child an indigestion remedy.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving any other medicines to your child. This includes herbal and complementary medicines.

Is there anything else I need to know about this medicine?

• If you or your child wants to stop sulpiride, discuss this with your doctor. They may want to reduce the dose bit by bit so that your child doesn’t get withdrawal symptoms.
• Teenagers should be aware that if they drink alcohol while taking sulpiride, the effects will be stronger. Ideally, they should not drink alcohol.
• Sulpiride can affect the ability to do skilled tasks such as driving.
• Your doctor may check your child’s heart and take blood samples to check that their liver and kidney function has not been affected by this medicine. 

General advice about medicines

• Try to give medicines at about the same times each day, to help you remember.

• If you are not sure a medicine is working, contact your doctor but continue to give the medicine as usual in the meantime. Do not give extra doses, as you may do harm.

• Only give this medicine to your child. Never give it to anyone else, even if their condition appears to be the same, as this could do harm.

• Make sure that you always have enough medicine. Order a new prescription at least 2 weeks before you will run out.

• Make sure that the medicines you have at home have not reached the ‘best before’ or ‘use by’ date on the packaging. Give old medicines to your pharmacist to dispose of.

Where should I keep this medicine?

• Keep the medicine in a cupboard, away from heat and direct sunlight.

• It does not need to be kept in the fridge.

• Make sure that children cannot see or reach the medicine.

• Keep the medicine in the container it came in.

Who to contact for more information?

Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse will be able to give you more information about sulpiride and about other medicines used to treat schizophrenia and Tourette’s syndrome.

Copyright disclaimer

Version [1]. © NPPG, RCPCH and WellChild, all rights reserved. Review by July 2015.

The primary source for the information in this leaflet is the British National Formulary for Children. For details on any other sources used for this leaflet, please contact us through our website, www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk.

We take great care to make sure that the information in this leaflet is correct and up-to-date. However, medicines can be used in different ways for different patients. It is important that you ask the advice of your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about something. This leaflet is about the use of these medicines in the UK, and may not apply to other countries. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG), WellChild and the contributors and editors cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information, omissions of information, or any actions that may be taken as a consequence of reading this leaflet.