Sulpiride versus metoclopramide in nononcologic patients with vomiting or nausea

Metoclopramide, a benzamide substitute, is used frequently as an antiemetic drug. Sulpiride, another benzamide substitute, was investigated and found to be safe and effective in a handful of studies involving only oncologic o r other severely symptomatic patients. In this investigation the authors co mpared prospectively the antiemetic efficacy of sulpiride versus metoclopra mide in a double-blind, randomized study involving 36 nononcologic patients with transient vomiting or nausea of various etiologies. Each group of 18 patients received oral metoclopramide or sulpiride (10 mg or 50 mg respecti vely) every 8 hours for a total of three doses each (24 hours of treatment) . A 5-point score was used to evaluate symptomatic relief. Efficacy of the two drugs proved similar, and at the end of the study, 14 and 13 of 18 pati ents on sulpiride or metoclopramide respectively were asymptomatic. Only tr ansient, minor side effects were reported in one patient in each group. The authors conclude that sulpiride is an effective and safe antiemetic drug t hat can be adopted legitimately in such cases as a first choice, or serve a s an equipotent alternative to metoclopramide in patients sensitive to the latter.