Clinical data | |
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Trade names | Solian, Barhemsys, others |
Other names | APD421 |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
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Routes of administration | By mouth, intravenous |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | 48% [5] [6] |
Protein binding | 16% [6] |
Metabolism | Liver (minimal; most excreted unchanged) [6] |
Elimination half-life | 12 hours [5] |
Excretion | Kidney [5] (23–46%), [7] [8] Faecal [6] |
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KEGG | |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.068.916 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C17H27N3O4S |
Molar mass | 369.48 g·mol−1 |
3D model (JSmol) | |
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Amisulpride is an antiemetic and antipsychotic medication used at lower doses intravenously to prevent and treat postoperative nausea and vomiting; and at higher doses by mouth to treat schizophrenia and acute psychotic episodes. It is sold under the brand names Barhemsys [9] (as an antiemetic) and Solian, Socian, Deniban and others (as an antipsychotic). [6] At very low doses it is also used to treat dysthymia. [10]
It is usually classed with the atypical antipsychotics. Chemically it is a benzamide and like other benzamide antipsychotics, such as sulpiride, it is associated with a high risk of elevating blood levels of the lactation hormone, prolactin (thereby potentially causing the absence of the menstrual cycle, breast enlargement, even in males, breast milk secretion not related to breastfeeding, impaired fertility, impotence, breast pain, etc.), and a low risk, relative to the typical antipsychotics, of causing movement disorders. [11] [12] [13]
Amisulpride is indicated for use in the United States in adults for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), either alone or in combination with an antiemetic of a different class; and to treat PONV in those who have received antiemetic prophylaxis with an agent of a different class or have not received prophylaxis. [9]
Amisulpride is believed to work by blocking, or antagonizing, the dopamine D2 receptor, reducing its signalling. The effectiveness of amisulpride in treating dysthymia and the negative symptoms of schizophrenia is believed to stem from its blockade of the presynaptic dopamine D2 receptors. These presynaptic receptors regulate the release of dopamine into the synapse, so by blocking them amisulpride increases dopamine concentrations in the synapse. This increased dopamine concentration is theorized to act on dopamine D1 receptors to relieve depressive symptoms (in dysthymia) and the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. [10]
It was introduced by Sanofi-Aventis in the 1990s. Its patent expired by 2008, and generic formulations became available. [14] It is marketed in all English-speaking countries except for Canada. [13]
Although according to other studies it appears to have comparable efficacy to olanzapine in the treatment of schizophrenia, [15] amisulpride augmentation, similarly to sulpiride augmentation, has been considered a viable treatment option (although this is based on low-quality evidence) in clozapine-resistant cases of schizophrenia. [16] [17] Another recent study concluded that amisulpride is an appropriate first-line treatment for the management of acute psychosis. [18]
Amisulpride is indicated for use in the United States in adults for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), either alone or in combination with an antiemetic of a different class; and to treat PONV in those who have received antiemetic prophylaxis with an agent of a different class or have not received prophylaxis. [9]
Amisulpride's use is contraindicated in the following disease states and populations [6] [19] [11]
Neither is it recommended to use amisulpride in patients with hypersensitivities to amisulpride or the excipients found in its dosage form. [6]
Hyperprolactinaemia results from antagonism of the D2 receptors located on the lactotrophic cells found in the anterior pituitary gland. Amisulpride has a high propensity for elevating plasma prolactin levels as a result of its poor blood–brain barrier penetrability and hence the resulting greater ratio of peripheral D2 occupancy to central D2 occupancy. This means that to achieve the sufficient occupancy (~60–80% [21] ) of the central D2 receptors in order to elicit its therapeutic effects a dose must be given that is enough to saturate peripheral D2 receptors including those in the anterior pituitary. [22] [23]
The British National Formulary recommends a gradual withdrawal when discontinuing antipsychotics to avoid acute withdrawal syndrome or rapid relapse. [24] Symptoms of withdrawal commonly include nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. [25] Other symptoms may include restlessness, increased sweating, and trouble sleeping. [25] Less commonly there may be a feeling of the world spinning, numbness, or muscle pains. [25] Symptoms generally resolve after a short period of time. [25]
There is tentative evidence that discontinuation of antipsychotics can result in psychosis. [26] It may also result in reoccurrence of the condition that is being treated. [27] Rarely tardive dyskinesia can occur when the medication is stopped. [25]
Torsades de pointes is common in overdose. [28] [29] Amisulpride is moderately dangerous in overdose (with the TCAs being very dangerous and the SSRIs being modestly dangerous). [30] [31]
Amisulpride should not be used in conjunction with drugs that prolong the QT interval (such as citalopram, bupropion, clozapine, tricyclic antidepressants, sertindole, ziprasidone, etc.), [30] reduce heart rate and those that can induce hypokalaemia. Likewise it is imprudent to combine antipsychotics due to the additive risk for tardive dyskinesia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. [30]
Site | Ki (nM) | Species | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
SERT | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
NET | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
DAT | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
5-HT1A | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
5-HT1B | 1,744 | Human | [33] |
5-HT1D | 1,341 | Human | [33] |
5-HT1E | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
5-HT2A | 8,304 | Human | [33] |
5-HT2B | 13 | Human | [33] |
5-HT2C | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
5-HT3 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
5-HT5A | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
5-HT6 | 4,154 | Human | [33] |
5-HT7 | 11.5 | Human | [33] |
α1A | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
α1B | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
α1D | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
α2A | 1,114 | Human | [33] |
α2C | 1,540 | Human | [33] |
β1 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
β2 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
β3 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
D1 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
D2 | 3.0 | Human | [33] |
D3 | 3.5 | Rat | [33] |
D4 | 2,369 | Human | [33] |
D5 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
H1 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
H2 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
H4 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
M1 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
M2 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
M3 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
M4 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
M5 | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
σ1 | >10,000 | Rat | [33] |
σ2 | >10,000 | Rat | [33] |
MOR | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
DOR | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
KOR | >10,000 | Human | [33] |
GHBHigh | 50 (IC50 ) | Rat | [34] |
NMDA (PCP) | >10,000 | Rat | [35] |
Values are Ki (nM). The smaller the value, the more strongly the drug binds to the site. |
Amisulpride functions primarily as a dopamine D2 and D3 receptor antagonist. It has high affinity for these receptors with dissociation constants of 3.0 and 3.5 nM, respectively. [33] Although standard doses used to treat psychosis inhibit dopaminergic neurotransmission, low doses preferentially block inhibitory presynaptic autoreceptors. This results in a facilitation of dopamine activity, and for this reason, low-dose amisulpride has also been used to treat dysthymia. [6]
Amisulpride and its relatives sulpiride, levosulpiride, and sultopride have been shown to bind to the high-affinity GHB receptor at concentrations that are therapeutically relevant (IC50 = 50 nM for amisulpride). [34]
Amisulpride, sultopride and sulpiride respectively present decreasing in vitro affinities for the D2 receptor (IC50 = 27, 120 and 181 nM) and the D3 receptor (IC50 = 3.6, 4.8 and 17.5 nM). [36]
Though it was long widely assumed that dopaminergic modulation is solely responsible for the respective antidepressant and antipsychotic properties of amisulpride, it was subsequently found that the drug also acts as a potent antagonist of the serotonin 5-HT7 receptor (Ki = 11.5 nM). [33] Several of the other atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone and ziprasidone are potent antagonists at the 5-HT7 receptor as well, and selective antagonists of the receptor show antidepressant properties themselves. To characterize the role of the 5-HT7 receptor in the antidepressant effects of amisulpride, a study prepared 5-HT7 receptor knockout mice. [33] The study found that in two widely used rodent models of depression, the tail suspension test, and the forced swim test, those mice did not exhibit an antidepressant response upon treatment with amisulpride. [33] These results suggest that 5-HT7 receptor antagonism mediates the antidepressant effects of amisulpride. [33]
Amisulpride also appears to bind with high affinity to the serotonin 5-HT2B receptor (Ki = 13 nM), where it acts as an antagonist. [33] The clinical implications of this, if any, are unclear. [33] In any case, there is no evidence that this action mediates any of the therapeutic effects of amisulpride. [33]
Amisulpride shows stereoselectivity in its actions. [37] Aramisulpride ((R)-amisulpride) has higher affinity for the 5-HT7 receptor (Ki = 47 nM vs. 1,900 nM) while esamisulpride ((S)-amisulpride) has higher affinity for the D2 receptor (4.0 nM vs. 140 nM). [37] [38] An 85:15 ratio of aramisulpride to esamisulpride (SEP-4199) which provides more balanced 5-HT7 and D2 receptor antagonism than racemic amisulpride (50:50 ratio of enantiomers) is under development for the treatment of bipolar depression. [39]
Through a high direct unmetabolized excretion, it has, despite its high usual dose, also high affinity for dopamine-D2-D3-receptors. Also the available literature gives us hints about also relatively high receptor dissociation kinetics (through a delayed but high occupancy at dopamine receptors after 6 hours from a 100 mg exposure). Moreover, this dopamine exposure could be slightly more "balanced" providing some little advantages over haloperidol in using it for drug exposure. Due to its lack of compensatory serotonin effects and also not having an anticholinergic profile, it may not considered as an effective alternative if akathasia is a problem. [5] [23] [40]
Brand names include: Amazeo, Amipride (AU), Amival, Solian (AU, IE, RU, UK, ZA), Soltus, Sulpitac (IN), Sulprix (AU), Midora (RO) and Socian (BR). [41] [42]
Amisulpride is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States in psychiatric indications, but it is approved and in use throughout Europe, [42] Asia, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia [6] to treat psychosis and schizophrenia. [43] [44]
An IV formulation of Amisulpride was approved for the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting ("PONV") in the United States in February 2020. [45] [9] [46]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a 10 mg/4mL amisulpride IV formulation for use in post-operative nausea based on evidence from four clinical trials of 2323 subjects undergoing surgery or experiencing nausea and vomiting after the surgery. [46] The trials were conducted at 80 sites in the United States, Canada and Europe. [46]
Two trials (Trials 1 and 2) enrolled subjects scheduled to have surgery. [46] Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either amisulpride or a placebo drug at the beginning of general anesthesia. [46] In Trial 1, subjects received amisulpride or placebo alone, and in Trial 2, they received amisulpride or placebo in combination with one medication approved for prevention of nausea and vomiting. [46] Neither the subjects nor the health care providers knew which treatment was being given until after the trial was complete. [46]
The trials counted the number of subjects who had no vomiting and did not use additional medications for nausea or vomiting in the first day (24 hours) after the surgery. [46] The results then compared amisulpride to placebo. [46]
The other two trials (Trials 3 and 4) enrolled subjects who were experiencing nausea and vomiting after surgery. [46] In Trial 3, subjects did not receive any medication to prevent nausea and vomiting before surgery and in Trial 4 they received the medication, but the treatment did not work. [46] In both trials, subjects were randomly assigned to receive either amisulpride or placebo. [46] Neither the subjects nor the health care providers knew which treatment was being given until after the trial was complete. [46]
The trials counted the number of subjects who had no vomiting and did not use additional medications for nausea or vomiting in the first day (24 hours) after the treatment. [46] The trial compared amisulpride to placebo. [46]
The FDA has not approved amisulpride for use in any psychiatric indication. LB Pharmaceuticals is developing N-methyl amisulpride for the use in the treatment of schizophrenia; a Phase 2 first-in-patient study is planned for 2023. [47]
Antipsychotics, previously known as neuroleptics and major tranquilizers, are a class of psychotropic medication primarily used to manage psychosis, principally in schizophrenia but also in a range of other psychotic disorders. They are also the mainstay, together with mood stabilizers, in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Moreover, they are also used as adjuncts in the treatment of treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.
Chlorpromazine (CPZ), marketed under the brand names Thorazine and Largactil among others, is an antipsychotic medication. It is primarily used to treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Other uses include the treatment of bipolar disorder, severe behavioral problems in children including those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, nausea and vomiting, anxiety before surgery, and hiccups that do not improve following other measures. It can be given orally, by intramuscular injection, or intravenously.
The atypical antipsychotics (AAP), also known as second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) and serotonin–dopamine antagonists (SDAs), are a group of antipsychotic drugs largely introduced after the 1970s and used to treat psychiatric conditions. Some atypical antipsychotics have received regulatory approval for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, irritability in autism, and as an adjunct in major depressive disorder.
Quetiapine, sold under the brand name Seroquel among others, is an atypical antipsychotic medication used for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. Despite being widely used as a sleep aid due to its sedating effect, the benefits of such use may not outweigh its undesirable side effects. It is taken orally.
Olanzapine, sold under the brand name Zyprexa among others, is an atypical antipsychotic primarily used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is also commonly used 'off-label' for treatment of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and as an appetite stimulant. For schizophrenia, it can be used for both new-onset disease and long-term maintenance. It is taken by mouth or by injection into a muscle.
Perphenazine is a typical antipsychotic drug. Chemically, it is classified as a piperazinyl phenothiazine. Originally marketed in the United States as Trilafon, it has been in clinical use for decades.
Aripiprazole, sold under the brand names Abilify and Aristada, among others, is an atypical antipsychotic. It is primarily used in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; other uses include as an add-on treatment in major depressive disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), tic disorders, and irritability associated with autism. Aripiprazole is taken by mouth or via injection into a muscle. A Cochrane review found low-quality evidence of effectiveness in treating schizophrenia.
A dopamine antagonist, also known as an anti-dopaminergic and a dopamine receptor antagonist (DRA), is a type of drug which blocks dopamine receptors by receptor antagonism. Most antipsychotics are dopamine antagonists, and as such they have found use in treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and stimulant psychosis. Several other dopamine antagonists are antiemetics used in the treatment of nausea and vomiting.
Prochlorperazine, formerly sold under the brand name Compazine among others, is a medication used to treat nausea, migraines, schizophrenia, psychosis and anxiety. It is a less preferred medication for anxiety. It may be taken by mouth, rectally, injection into a vein, or injection into a muscle.
Dopaminergic means "related to dopamine", a common neurotransmitter. Dopaminergic substances or actions increase dopamine-related activity in the brain.
Sulpiride, sold under the brand name Dogmatil among others, is an atypical antipsychotic medication of the benzamide class which is used mainly in the treatment of psychosis associated with schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, and is sometimes used in low dosage to treat anxiety and mild depression. Sulpiride is commonly used in Asia, Central America, Europe, South Africa and South America. Levosulpiride is its purified levo-isomer and is sold in India for similar purposes. It is not approved in the United States, Canada, or Australia. The drug is chemically and clinically similar to amisulpride.
Flupentixol (INN), also known as flupenthixol, marketed under brand names such as Depixol and Fluanxol is a typical antipsychotic drug of the thioxanthene class. It was introduced in 1965 by Lundbeck. In addition to single drug preparations, it is also available as flupentixol/melitracen—a combination product containing both melitracen and flupentixol . Flupentixol is not approved for use in the United States. It is, however, approved for use in the UK, Australia, Canada, Russian Federation, South Africa, New Zealand, Philippines, Iran, Germany, and various other countries.
Asenapine, sold under the brand name Saphris among others, is an atypical antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and acute mania associated with bipolar disorder as well as the medium to long-term management of bipolar disorder.
Melperone is an atypical antipsychotic of the butyrophenone chemical class, making it structurally related to the typical antipsychotic haloperidol. It first entered clinical use in 1960s.
Tiapride is a drug that selectively blocks D2 and D3 dopamine receptors in the brain. It is used to treat a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders including dyskinesia, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, negative symptoms of psychosis, and agitation and aggression in the elderly. A derivative of benzamide, tiapride is chemically and functionally similar to other benzamide antipsychotics such as sulpiride and amisulpride known for their dopamine antagonist effects.
Sultopride (trade names Barnetil, Barnotil, Topral) is an atypical antipsychotic of the benzamide chemical class used in Europe, Japan, and Hong Kong for the treatment of schizophrenia. It was launched by Sanofi-Aventis in 1976. Sultopride acts as a selective D2 and D3 receptor antagonist. It has also been shown to have clinically relevant affinity for the GHB receptor as well, a property it shares in common with amisulpride and sulpiride.
Levosulpiride, sold under the brand name SULPEPTA , is a potent prokinetic agent of the benzamide class. It is a selective antagonist of the dopamine D2 receptors and 5-HT4 agonist on both central and peripheral nervous systems. Levosulpiride is claimed to have mood elevating properties.
N-Desmethylclozapine (NDMC), or norclozapine, is a major active metabolite of the atypical antipsychotic drug clozapine. Unlike clozapine, it possesses intrinsic activity at the D2/D3 receptors, and acts as a weak partial agonist at these sites similarly to aripiprazole and bifeprunox. Notably, NDMC has also been shown to act as a potent and efficacious agonist at the M1 and δ-opioid receptors, unlike clozapine as well. It was hypothesized that on account of these unique actions, NDMC might underlie the clinical superiority of clozapine over other antipsychotics. However, clinical trials found NMDC itself ineffective in the treatment of schizophrenia. This may be because it possesses relatively low D2/D3 occupancy compared to 5-HT2 (<15% versus 64–79% at a dose of 10–60 mg/kg s.c. in animal studies). Albeit not useful in the treatment of positive symptoms on its own, it cannot be ruled out that NDMC may contribute to the efficacy of clozapine on cognitive and/or negative symptoms.
Clocapramine, also known as 3-chlorocarpipramine, is an atypical antipsychotic of the iminostilbene class which was introduced in Japan in 1974 by Yoshitomi for the treatment of schizophrenia. In addition to psychosis, clocapramine has also been used to augment antidepressants in the treatment of anxiety and panic.
Aripiprazole lauroxil, sold under the brand name Aristada, is a long-acting injectable atypical antipsychotic that was developed by Alkermes. It is an N-acyloxymethyl prodrug of aripiprazole that is administered via intramuscular injection once every four to eight weeks for the treatment of schizophrenia. Aripiprazole lauroxil was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 5 October 2015.
Withdrawal of antipsychotic drugs after long-term therapy should always be gradual and closely monitored to avoid the risk of acute withdrawal syndromes or rapid relapse.