The effects of levosulpiride on gastric and gall-bladder emptying in functional dyspepsia

50% of patients with functional dyspepsia have delayed gastric emptying. Levosulpiride is an orthopramide drug that stimulates gastrointestinal motility. Aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of levosulpiride on symptoms and gastric and gall-bladder emptying, in dyspeptic patients. Thirty adult patients, treated for 20 days with levosulpiride (75 mg/day) or placebo, were evaluated in a randomized double-blind study. Symptoms were assessed by a cumulative index and overall intensity (visual analogue line). Gastric and gall-bladder emptying were evaluated by epigastric impedance (liquid meal) and real-time ultrasonography (mixed meal). Levosulpiride, with respect to placebo, accelerated the mean gastric half-emptying time of liquids (P < 0.05), gastric emptying (P < 0.001 at 180 min; P < 0.05 at 240 min), and gall-bladder emptying (P < 0.05 at 60 and 120 min) emptying after a solid-liquid mixed meal. Both the mean cumulative index (P < 0.05) and the overall intensity (P < 0.025) of dyspeptic symptoms were reduced significantly by levosulpiride. Our results showed that levosulpiride can be usefully employed in patients affected by functional dyspepsia.