Proper and Rational Use of Cisapride in Clinical Practice 2000.7.3

Proper and Rational Use of Cisapride in Clinical Practice 2000.7.3

Cisapride, also known as prucalopride, has been banned from sale in the United States since last year due to side effects causing arrhythmias when used there. In response, an expert panel from the National Medical Products Administration consulted with Xi’an Janssen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., China’s main manufacturer of cisapride, and instructed the company to organize personnel and resources to conduct a nationwide survey on the cardiac reactions caused by this drug. The survey results showed that, unlike in the United States, cisapride has rarely caused adverse reactions in China. The reason is believed to be that Americans mainly take this drug to treat indigestion and chronic stomach problems, and because of their higher economic status, they often take multiple medications simultaneously, whereas Chinese patients tend to take single drugs, making drug interactions less likely.