Sulpiride Alcohol

Engleman EA, McBride WJ, Li TK, Lumeng L, Murphy JM (2003) Ethanol drinking experience attenuates (—)sulpiride-induced increases in extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus ac-cumbens of alcohol-preferring (P) rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 27 424-31 Ennis C, Kemp JD, Cox B (1981) Characterisation of inhibitory 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors that modulate dopamine release in the striatum. J Neurochem 36 1515-20 Ensinger H, Majewski H, Hedler L, Starke K (1985) Neuronal and postjunctional components in the blood pressure effects of dopamine and bromocriptine in rabbits. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 234 681-90... 

Seppala, T., Saario, I., Manila, M. (1976). Two weeks treatment with chlorpromazine, thioridazine, sulpiride, or bromazepam Actions and interactions with alcohol on psychomotor skills related to driving. Modern Problems in Pharmacopsychiatry, 11, 85-90. 

Levy AD, Murphy JM, McBride WJ, Lumeng L, Li TK (1991) Microinjection of sulpiride into the nucleus accumbens increases ethanol drinking in alcohol-preferring (P) rats. Alcohol Alcohol Suppl 7 417 120. 

The detrimental effects of alcohol on the skills related to driving are made worse by chlorpromazine, and, to a lesser extent, by flu-pentixol, sulpiride and thioridazine. Small or single-dose studies with haloperidol or tiapride surest that any interaction would seem to be mild nevertheless, all antipsychotic drugs which cause drowsiness have the potential to enhance the effects of alcohol. There is evidence that drinking can precipitate the emergence of extrapyramidal adverse effects in patients taking antipsychotics. 

The documentation is limited. The manufacturers of flupentixoP and haloperidol warn that, in common with other antipsychotic drugs, the effects of alcohol maybe enhanced. Warn patients that if they drink alcohol while taking chlorpromazine, and to a lesser extent flupenthixol, sulpiride or thioridazine (probably other related drugs as well), they may become very drowsy, and should not drive or handle other potentially dangerous machinery. Some risk is possible with any antipsychotic that causes drowsiness, including those used as antiemetics, such as prochlorperazine. 

Liljequist, R., Linnoila, M., Mattila, M. J., Saario, 1. and Seppala, T. (1975) Effect of two weeks treatment with thioridazine, chlorproma-zine, sulpiride, and biomazepam, alone or in combination with alcohol, on learning and memory in man. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.j, 44, 205. 

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