6. History
1990s: Introduced to market by Sanofi-Aventis (A
French company)
2008s: Patent with Sanofi-Aventis expired and it was
available in generic formulations
7. How
Amisulpride
works?
Dopamine partial agonist; Dopamine
stabilizer
Dose dependent action & state
dependent action
Facilitates dopamine
transmission
Low doses
Blocks dopaminergic
transmission
High doses
High
dopaminergic
state
Reduces
dopaminergic
output
Low
dopaminergic
state
Increases
dopaminergic
output
Receptor Agonist Antagonist
D2 + (low doses) + (high doses)
D3 - +
H1, 5-HT7, 5-
HT2B
- +
8. How long?
Actions may start as early as by 1 week
Wait for 4-6 weeks to see the efficacy
Looking for cognitive functions: Wait for
16-20 weeks
Continue till complete remission / plateau
First episode psychosis: At least 1 year
after reaching plateau
Second & subsequent episodes: Indefinite
period of treatment
10. Using
Amisulpride?
Baseline investigation: Metabolic parameters
Specific situation: ECG, Electrolytes, Blood counts
If it does not work: Trying another antipsychotic
drug
After 2 failed trials of antipsychotics : Clozapine can
be tried
Augmentation of amisulpride: Valproate,
Lamotrigene, Carbamazepine, Oxcarb., Lithium,
BZDs
Reduces positive symptoms; Unable to eliminate the
symptoms completely (also valid for other
antipsychotics)
Monitoring for side effects:
EPS, Galactorrhoes, Amenorrhoea, Sleep disturbances,
Agitation, Anxiety, Constipation, Wt. gain
Dosing tips:
Negative symptom : 50 – 300mg/day
Positive symptoms: 400-800mg/day
Dysthymia : 50mg/day
Beyond 400mg/day, to be given in divided doses
Maximum recommended dose: 1200mg/day
Beyond 400mg/day@ Risk of agitation
Beyond 800mg/day @ Risk of QTc prolongation
Renal insufficiency needs cautious use
13. Amisulpride
versusother
atypical
antipsychotics for
schizophrenia
Trials comparing oral amisulpride with oral
forms of aripiprazole, clozapine, olanzapine,
quetiapine, risperidone, sertindole, ziprasidone or
zotepine in people with schizophrenia or
schizophrenia-like psychoses.
Amisulpride was similarly effective as olanzapine
and risperidone and more effective than ziprasidone
Amisulpride induced weight gain less than
risperidone
Conclusion:
Amisulpride may be somewhat more effective than
ziprasidone, and more tolerable in terms of weight gain
and other associated problems than olanzapine and
risperidone
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Jan 20;(1):CD006624. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006624.pub2.
21. Conclusion
Efficacy
Comparable to olanzapine & risperidone
Tolerability
Metabolic friendly
Higher risk of prolactinemia
Cost
For negative symptoms: Reasonable cost
Positive symptoms: Higher cost
Availability
Not an issue
Evidences
Less number of head to head trials