Priorities in choosing prokinetic for patients with functional dyspepsia: Focus on itopride

Functional dyspepsia is a widespread disease with many symptoms that reduce the patient's quality of life. The effectiveness of prokinetics, including in combination with proton pump inhibitors, has a high level of scientific evidence in the treatment of functional dyspepsia. The effectiveness of itopride hydrochloride is determined by a dual mechanism of action: antagonism to D 2-dopamine receptors and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. The drug exceeds of metoclopramide and domperidone in safety in relation to cardiac and neurological disorders. Itopride hydrochloride is not expected to have pharmacokinetic interactions with other drugs metabolized by the CYP3A4 system. In addition to functional dyspepsia, itopride hydrochloride is indicated in the treatment of chronic gastritis, gastrointestinal symptoms associated with gastric dysmotility or delayed gastric emptying, such as bloating, rapid satiety, a feeling of fullness in the stomach after eating, pain or discomfort in the epigastric region, loss of appetite, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. The pharmacoeconomic analysis shows an advantage of Itopride-SZ in comparing of the direct cost of it with the original and several generic drugs. In this way, it allows recommend Itopride-SZ as an affordable drug for various cohorts of patients.