Cisapride accelerates gastric emptying and mouth-to-caecum transit of a barium meal.

Cisapride (R 51 619) is a newly synthesized compound, which facilitates the release of acetylcholine in the myenteric plexus of the gut. Its effect on gastric emptying of a barium meal was evaluated in 84 patients under randomized, double-blind conditions. Two oral doses (5 mg and 10 mg) of cisapride were compared with a placebo, and two intravenous doses (4 mg and 8 mg) with a placebo and with 10 mg metoclopramide. All doses of cisapride and metoclopramide were significantly superior to placebo in accelerating gastric emptying, intensifying antral contractions and shortening the mouth-to-caecum transit time. The effects of 8 mg cisapride and 10 mg metoclopramide given intravenously were comparable.