Sulpiride: the best known atypical, safe neuroleptic drug. Review of literature

This is a review of literature data on a neuroleptic drug--sulpiride. Sulpiride, a benzamide derivative displays selective affinity for mesolimbic and mesocortical dopamine receptors. For this reason it is classified as an atypical antipsychotic drug. In clinical use, it causes undesirable side effects (particularly extrapyramidal, cholinolytical) less often than classical neuroleptics, does not cause sedation, and has activating and antidepressive properties. These characteristics caused that it is considered a drug of first choice in delusional psychoses with inhibition, depression, lowered activity, intensified negative or deterioration symptoms. The most serious drawback of the drug is the risk of symptoms caused by increased prolactine excretion, and increase in body weight.