Development of sulpiride identification methods suitable for chemical-toxicological analysis

Abstract

Introduction. Sulpiride 5-(aminosulfonyl)-N-[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]- 2-methoxybenzamide is an antipsychotic drug. Sulpiride is a substituted benzamide derivative and a selective dopamine D2 antagonist indicated to treat acute and chronic schizophrenia. It has a short duration of action as it is given twice daily, and a wide therapeutic window as patients have survived single doses as high as 16g. Patients should be counselled regarding increased motor agitation, extrapyramidal reactions, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Sulpiride is a selective dopamine D2 and D3 receptor antagonist. It is estimated that D2 receptors should be 65-80% occupied for optimal treatment and minimal adverse effects. Numerous cases of lethal intoxications due to sulpiride overdosage were reported in the literature. The postmortem blood concentrations ranged from 3.9 to 38.7 mg/l, liver concentration of 11.0 μg/g has been reported. The average volume ofdistribution of sulpiride is 2.72 ± 0.66 L/kg