Itopride hydrochloride extended-release vs film-coated tablets for gastrointestinal symptoms in functional dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders worldwide, characterized by symptoms such as epigastric pain, early satiety, postprandial fullness, and bloating. A study compared a new itopride hydrochloride regimen of 150 mg once daily with the established 50 mg three times daily regimen over 8 weeks in 564 patients with functional dyspepsia. Both groups showed similar improvement in symptom severity according to the Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire (LDQ): -9.60 points for three times daily versus -9.76 points for once daily. Patients preferred the once-daily regimen more (4.22 versus 3.83 points). Both treatment regimens were well tolerated with predominantly mild adverse events. The study confirmed that itopride hydrochloride 150 mg once daily is equally effective as the three times daily regimen and offers a more convenient treatment option.