Domperidone
Description
Domperidone is an anti-emetic medicine that is used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by delayed gastric emptying (the time it takes for food to pass from the stomach to the small intestine). It increases intestinal movements and facilitates the excretion of the bowel. It is used alone or in combination with other medicines for relieving nausea, vomiting and indigestion. Domperidone works by blocking certain substances that trigger nausea or vomiting.
Domperidone may cause certain side effects like headache, dry mouth stomach pain, etc. Consult your doctor if these symptoms persist. This medicine may cause dizziness. Hence, do not drive or do anything that requires your mental focus, after taking it. Domperidone may also cause diarrhoea, so it is better to take plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration while taking this medicine.
Domperidone is a prescription medicine available as a tablet, dispersible tablet, capsule, suspension and oral drops. Your doctor will decide an appropriate dosage form and dose based on your condition. The solid dosage forms of domperidone are not recommended for use in children below 12 years of age due to the lack of safety data.
Domperidone is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine as it can increase the risk of side effects. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding before taking this medicine. If you have liver, kidney or gastrointestinal bleeding problems, inform your doctor before taking Domperidone.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Domperidone
- Swelling of face, lips, eyelids, tongue, hands and feet
- Difficulty in breathing
- Skin rash
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Disrupted menstrual cycle
- Breast pain and tenderness
- Dry mouth
- Loss of interest in sexual intercourse
- Diarrhoea
- Chest pain
- Feel of fainting
- Extreme tiredness
Uses of Domperidone
What is it prescribed for?
- Nausea and vomiting
- Gastric motility disorders
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of Domperidone can be observed within 30 to 60 minutes after taking it.
- Duration of effectThe effect of Domperidone lasts for an average duration of 6 hours.
- Safe with alcohol?Consumption of alcohol is not recommended during treatment with Domperidone due to the increased risk of serious side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, gastrointestinal bleeding, weakness, fatigue, etc.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendencies were reported for Domperidone.
- Usage in pregnancy?Domperidone is not recommended for use in pregnancy as sufficient data is not available regarding its safety. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine only if the benefits outweigh the risk. If you are pregnant do not take this medicine without consulting your doctor.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Domperidone is not recommended for use in breastfeeding. An alternate medicine may be preferred. Consult your doctor to discuss potential risks and benefits.
Allergy
Avoid using Domperidone if you are allergic to it. If you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc., seek immediate medical attention.
Tumor of Pituitary gland
Domperidone is not recommended for use if you have a tumour of prolactin-releasing hormone in the pituitary gland as this medicine is known to have a prolactin-releasing effect which can affect you, and may increase the risk of worsening your condition.
Heart diseases
Domperidone is not recommended for use if you have heart problems as it can result in QT prolongation affecting the electrical working of the heart. This can increase the risk of worsening your condition.
Liver disease
Domperidone is not recommended if you have liver problems as a poorly functioning liver takes a long time for break down of this medicine which increases the risk of toxicity in your blood.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Domperidone is not recommended for use in pregnancy as sufficient data is not available regarding its safety. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine only if the benefits outweigh the risk. If you are pregnant do not take this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Breast-feeding
Domperidone is not recommended for use in breastfeeding. An alternate medicine may be preferred. Consult your doctor to discuss potential risks and benefits.
General warnings
Other medicines
Domperidone may interact with many other medicines and cause severe side effects. Hence, it is advised to inform your doctor about all your current medicines before starting the treatment with this medicine.
Use in children
Domperidone is not recommended for use in children less than 12 years of age as the safety and efficacy data is not available.
Use in elderly
Domperidone should be used with caution in elderly people. The risk of severe side effects is significantly high and hence treatment should begin with the lowest possible dose.
Driving or operating machinery
Domperidone may cause dizziness, confusion, or disorientation and hence do not perform activities such as driving vehicles or operating machines after taking this medicine.
Electrolyte imbalance
Domperidone should be used with extreme caution if you have electrolyte imbalance due to the increased risk of worsening your condition. Consumption of electrolyte supplements is recommended based on your condition while on treatment with this medicine.
Prolactin imbalance
Domperidone may cause an imbalance in the levels of prolactin, resulting in disturbances in the menstrual cycle in women. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this medicine if required based on your clinical condition.
Missed Dose
If you forget to take a dose of Domperidone, take it as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Do not take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical attention if you suspect that you might have taken an overdose of Domperidone.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
N/A
Instructions
Consumption of alcohol is not recommended during treatment with Domperidone due to the increased risk of serious side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, gastrointestinal bleeding, weakness, fatigue, etc.
Interaction with Medicine
Cisapride
Erythromycin
Ketoconazole
Tramadol
Bromocriptine
Disease interactions
Kidney diseases
Domperidone should be used with extreme caution if you have kidney problems as an impaired kidney will not completely eliminate this medicine from your body, which increases the risk of toxicity.
Liver disease
Domperidone should be used with extreme caution if you have liver problems due to the increased risk of serious adverse effects and worsening your condition. Your doctor may monitor your liver function and may adjust the dose of this medicine if required based on your condition.
Gastro-intestinal disease
Use Domperidone with extreme caution if you have any gastrointestinal problem, particularly colitis (swelling of the inner lining of the colon), as it may worsen your condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Domperidone is used to treat nausea and vomiting. Take it as directed by your doctor. The dose of medicine and duration of the treatment will be decided by your doctor.
Do not take in more or fewer doses than recommended. Take plenty of water, have a fibre-rich diet, avoid foods that trigger your symptoms.
For syrup and suspension, follow all the usage instructions mentioned on the label. Measure the quantity to be consumed carefully and give to your child.
Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable effects.
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Caution should be maintained if you have any kidney or liver problems during the treatment course.
Keep away from the reach of children and pets. Ensure that unused medicine is disposed of properly.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Domperidone works by blocking certain chemicals messengers (dopamine) in the vomiting centre of your brain and acting on the upper digestive tract to increase the movement of the stomach and intestines. This causes faster gastric emptying which helps in the prevention of nausea and vomiting.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Antiemetics
Schedule
Schedule H
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Domperidone 10mg Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 14 September 2021].
Assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 14 September 2021].
Medsafe.govt.nz. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 14 September 2021].
Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Domperidone. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 14 September 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 30 Sep 2021
Disclaimer
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