Inhibition of sulpiride on the cephalic phase of gastric acid and gastrin secretion in duodenal ulcer patients.

In 13 patients with duodenal ulceration psychic stimulation with food resulted in a significant rise in gastric acid secretion and in serum gastrin. This rise was abolished when the patients were pre-treated with sulpiride, a non-sedative neuroleptic acting on the hypothalamus. These findings suggest that sulpiride, by virtue of its inhibitory effect on the cephalic phase of acid secretion, may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of duodenal ulcers.