Domperidone

Domperidone is an anti-sickness medicine. It helps you to stop feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting).

It works by causing the muscles at the top of your stomach to tighten and the muscles at the bottom of your stomach to relax. This makes you less likely to be sick (vomit).

Domperidone can also be used to treat stomach pain if you're having end of life care (palliative care).

It is sometimes used to increase milk supply. Your doctor may prescribe it if you're having trouble breastfeeding but only if other things have not worked.

Domperidone is available on prescription only. It comes as tablets or as a liquid that you swallow.

Most adults, and children aged 12 years old and over, can take domperidone.

It's sometimes prescribed for babies and younger children by a specialist doctor.

Domperidone is not suitable for some people.

To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to domperidone or any other medicine
• weigh less than 35kg
• have a condition that can cause a blockage in your bowel, such as Crohn's disease or diverticulitis
• have ever had bleeding from your stomach or gut
• have a tumour on your pituitary gland
• have liver, kidney or heart problems, or an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)

Domperidone may not be suitable for people over 60 years old. This is because there's more risk of side effects.

Domperidone comes as tablets and a liquid that you swallow.

The usual dose for adults and children aged 12 years old and older is one 10mg tablet (or 10ml of liquid), up to 3 times a day.

Swallow your tablet whole with a drink of water. Do not crush or chew it.

Domperidone liquid comes with an oral plastic syringe to help you measure your dose. If you do not have a syringe, ask a pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon, as this will not measure the right amount.

You can take domperidone up to 3 times a day, but only take it when you need it. Leave 8 hours between each dose you take.

It's best to take domperidone before food. Take it 15 to 30 minutes before you have a meal or snack.

You'll usually take domperidone for up to 1 week. This is because it can cause an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) if you take it for longer or at a high dose.

Your doctor will tell you how long to take it for. They'll recommend that you take it for the shortest possible time and at the lowest dose that works for you.

If you forget to take domperidone, take it as soon as you remember, as long as this is at least 2 hours before your next dose is due. If it is less than 2 hours before your next dose is due, skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time.

Never take 2 doses at the same time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

Taking too much domperidone can be dangerous.

If you take more than your prescribed dose, you may get a fast or irregular heartbeat.

• you take more than your prescribed dose of domperidone

Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111

If you need to go to A&E, do not drive. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring the domperidone packet or leaflet inside it, any remaining medicine, and any other medicines you take.

More than 1 in 100 people who take domperidone will get a dry mouth. This common side effect is usually mild and goes away by itself.

If this happens, try chewing sugar-free gum or sucking a sugar-free sweet.

Serious side effects are rare.

Call a doctor or call 111 now if:

• your muscles or eyes start moving in an unusual or uncontrolled way
• you have problems peeing

• you have a seizure or fit
• you have a fast or irregular heartbeat

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring all the medicines you take with you.

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to domperidone.

Call 999 now if:

• your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
• your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
• your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• someone faints and cannot be woken up
• a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

These are not all the side effects of domperidone. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Domperidone can be taken in pregnancy if other anti-sickness medicines have not worked.

If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take domperidone while breastfeeding but it's best to only take it for a short time.

There is not much information about how much domperidone passes into breast milk, but it's only a tiny amount. It's been used during breastfeeding for many years without babies having side effects.

Domperidone can also be used to help increase your breast milk supply. Although it's not made for this purpose, a specialist may offer this to you, if other things have not worked.

If you notice your baby has diarrhoea, or you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to a midwife, health visitor, pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible.

There's no evidence to suggest that taking domperidone affects fertility in either men or women.

Tell your doctor if you're:

• trying to get pregnant
• pregnant
• breastfeeding

Some medicines and domperidone can affect each other. This may increase your chance of having side effects.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking:

• antidepressants or antipsychotic medicines
• antibiotics or medicines for fungal infections
• medicines for malaria
• medicines for HIV infection
• medicines for a heart condition or high blood pressure
• medicines for cancer, or if you're having treatment for cancer

It's usually best to only take 1 type of medicine for feeling or being sick.

If domperidone does not work for you, speak to a doctor. They may want to recommend a different medicine.

Some herbal remedies can make your side effects worse.

There's not enough information to say that other complementary medicines and herbal remedies are safe to take with domperidone. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.