pulsid

Pulsid is a brand name that has been used for cisapride, a gastroprokinetic medication. Cisapride is a serotonin 5-HT4 receptor agonist that enhances acetylcholine release in the enteric nervous system, increasing motility of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. By promoting coordinated muscular activity, it was used to improve gastric emptying and reduce symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux and gastroparesis. It was prescribed for short-term management when other treatments were not effective.

Cisapride was developed in the 1980s and marketed under various brand names, including Pulsid in some markets and Propulsid in others. During the 1990s it gained widespread use for GERD and related motility disorders. Safety concerns emerged due to the drug’s potential to prolong the QT interval and cause life-threatening arrhythmias such as torsades de pointes, especially when combined with drugs that inhibit hepatic CYP3A4 or in patients with electrolyte disturbances. These risks led regulatory actions in many regions, and by the early 2000s cisapride was withdrawn from the market or placed under strict prescribing restrictions with requirements for drug interaction monitoring.

Current status: In most countries, Pulsid/cisapride is no longer available for routine clinical use. Where it remains accessible at all, it is typically under severe restrictions and requires specialist oversight, with emphasis on avoiding drug interactions and close monitoring. The withdrawal of cisapride has largely shifted management of GERD and gastroparesis to alternative therapies with more favorable safety profiles.