Domperidone is a prescription medicine that helps reduce nausea and vomiting by improving stomach and intestinal motility. It is commonly used for symptoms linked to delayed gastric emptying, such as indigestion, bloating, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Domperidone is available as 10 mg tablets and as an oral suspension (1 mg/mL or 5 mg/mL), including the brand name Motilium. It may be prescribed for adults and for adolescents over 12, and dosing is typically taken 15 to 30 minutes before meals for a short period as directed.
Domperidone is sometimes prescribed off-label to help increase breast milk supply, although it is not FDA-approved for lactation. Possible side effects range from headache and diarrhea to rare but serious heart rhythm problems, and domperidone is not appropriate for everyone due to contraindications and drug interactions.
Of note, domperidone is not commercially available in the United States.
Indications for use
Domperidone is prescribed for the treatment of digestive problems associated with delayed gastric emptying, such as:
- GERD;
- Esophagitis;
- Indigestion;
- Abdominal distension;
- Upper abdominal pain;
- Excess burping or gas;
- Heartburn;
- Burning sensation without reflux.
Domperidone treats nausea and vomiting from gastric or intestinal motility issues. It also addresses symptoms caused by cancer therapy, infections, food poisoning, or side effects of certain Parkinson's drugs like levodopa or bromocriptine.
Domperidone for lactation
Domperidone has no official indication approved by the FDA for increasing breast milk production during lactation.
However, some studies have shown that domperidone has a galactagogue effect, meaning it stimulates breast milk production by increasing blood levels of prolactin. This hormone is responsible for stimulating milk production in the mammary glands.
In addition, these studies have shown that domperidone is safer to use than other drugs that stimulate breast milk production, such as metoclopramide, for example, because it doesn't act on the brain, is better tolerated, and causes fewer side effects.
Domperidone lacks official approval for breastfeeding but can be prescribed off-label by an OBGYN to boost milk production during lactation. The doctor must first evaluate the woman's health, weigh the risks and benefits, and set a clear treatment duration to ensure safety.
Also recommended: How to Increase Milk Supply: 9 Tips to Boost Production tuasaude.com/en/how-to-increase-milk-supplyDomperidone for diarrhea
Domperidone is not indicated for the treatment of diarrhea, as its main effect is to delay gastric emptying in conditions like GERD, indigestion, heartburn, and abdominal distension.
It is especially worth noting that one of the side effects of this medication is diarrhea.
Dosing instructions
Domperidone should be taken orally, 15 to 30 minutes before meals and, if necessary, at bedtime.
Domperidone should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor, with treatment limited to a maximum of 1 week for nausea and vomiting, or up to 4 weeks for other indications.
1. Domperidone 10 mg
The recommended dose for adults and adolescents over 12 years of age and weighing more than 35 kg (77 lb) is one 10 mg tablet, 3 times a day.
The maximum daily dose should not exceed 40 mg per day.
2. Domperidone oral suspension 1 mg/mL
For children or adolescents under 12 years of age and weighing less than 35 kg (77 lb), doses should be calculated by the pediatrician according to age and body weight.
Side effects
The most common side effects that can occur with domperidone are depression, anxiety, decreased libido, headache, drowsiness, agitation, diarrhea, acne, itching, increased breast sensitivity, increased milk production, absent periods (amenorrhea), breast pain, and muscle weakness.
Although rare, domperidone can also cause serious cardiac arrhythmias, agitation, nervousness, convulsions, or serious allergic reactions that require immediate medical attention.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should discontinue treatment immediately and proceed to the closest hospital, especially if you have other symptoms like difficulty breathing, coughing, chest pain, throat swelling, or swelling of the mouth, tongue, or face.
Does domperidone cause weight loss?
Domperidone does not cause weight loss. It neither promotes fat burning nor boosts energy expenditure. While diarrhea, a possible side effect, might create a false impression of weight loss, weight gain is far more common due to increased appetite.
Contraindications for use
Domperidone should not be used during lactation or in children under 12 years of age who weigh less than 35 kg (77 lb). It is also contraindicated for people with an allergy to domperidone or to any of the components in its formula. It should also be avoided by people with any type of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, bleeding, obstruction, or perforation.
This medication should be avoided during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and should be used only as prescribed.
Additionally, domperidone should not be used by people with a pituitary tumor, severe stomach pain, persistent dark stools, liver disease, or those taking medicines that affect metabolism or alter heart rhythm, such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, amiodarone, ritonavir, or saquinavir.