Sulpiride
Toxicology Overview / Directory
Purpose of the test
Sulpiride (Dolmatil, Sanofi-Synthelabo) is a substituted benzamide that is used as an antipsychotic and also as an antidepressant/anxiolytic in some countries. Sulpiride is slowly and incompletely absorbed after oral administration and extensively metabolised (about 20 % of an oral dose is excreted in the urine as unchanged drug). The plasma half-life of sulpiride is 6-8 h. Antipsychotic effects occur at daily oral doses of 400-1800 mg with a maximum reported daily dose of 3600 mg. Antidepressant effects generally occur at lower daily doses (50-300 mg).
Sulpiride assay is sometimes useful in assessing adherence and in the diagnosis of acute poisoning. Steady-state plasma sulpiride concentrations in the range 270-780 μg/L have been reported in patients given 800 mg sulpiride/day, but plasma concentrations more than 500 μg/L are thought to be undesirable for optimal clinical response.
Sample Requirements
4 mL of ETDA whole blood is preferred. Serum or plasma can be used if required, but please avoid gel-separator tubes.
Storage and Transport
Please refrigerate (if possible) if not sending immediately. Send by first class post to:
Toxicology Unit
Top Floor,
Bessemer Wing
King’s College Hospital
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RS
Please use the form below, COMPLETE ALL FIELDS, and send as a hard copy with the sample.
PDF Request Form
Download Sulpiride Request Form
Turnaround Time
Results are available within 5 working days of receipt in the laboratory.
Price
Price available on application - please contact adrianturner1@nhs.net. Discounts could be available for significant workloads.
Contacts
Clinical Advice & Interpretation
Dr Bob Flanagan
E robert.flanagan@nhs.net
T 020 3299 5881
F 020 3299 5888
Laboratory
Simon Handley
T 020 3299 5883
F 020 3299 5888
References
Flanagan RJ. Therapeutic Monitoring of Antipsychotic Drugs. CPD Clinical Biochemistry, 2006.
Hiemke C et al. AGNP consensus guidelines for therapeutic drug monitoring in psychiatry: update 2011. Pharmacopsychiatry, 2011; 44: p195-235
Fisher DS et al. LC-MS/MS of some atypical antipsychotics in human plasma, serum, oral fluid and haemolysed whole blood. Forensic Science International, 2013 (epub ahead of print)
Fisher DS et al. Stability of some atypical antipsychotics in human plasma, haemolysed whole blood, oral fluid, human serum and calf serum. Forensic Science International, 2013 (epub ahead of print)
Fisher DS et al. Plasma, Oral Fluid, and Whole Blood Distribution of Antipsychotics and Metabolites in Clinical Samples. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, 2013 (epub ahead of print)
