Experiences with

Domperidone

About domperidone

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

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

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

It is also known by the brand name Motilium.

Key facts

  • You usually take domperidone when you need it, up to 3 times a day.
  • It works best if you take it before meals.
  • The most common side effect of domperidone is a dry mouth.
  • It is generally prescribed for a short time only (usually up to 1 week).

Who can and cannot take domperidone

Domperidone can be taken by most adults, and children aged 12 years and older.

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

Domperidone is not suitable for some people.

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 bowel obstruction, such as Crohn's disease or diverticulitis
  • have recently had abdominal surgery, such as a hernia operation or caesarean section
  • 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

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

How and when to take it

Always follow a doctor's instructions when taking domperidone.

Take it when you need it to help with your symptoms.

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

Tablets: take the tablet whole with a drink of water. Do not crush or chew it.

Liquid: the medicine comes with an oral 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 give you the right amount.

Dosage

The usual dose for adults and children aged 12 years and older is one 10mg tablet (or 10ml of liquid).

You can take domperidone up to 3 times a day, if you need it. Space doses evenly throughout the day, at least 8 hours apart.

If you forget to take it

If you forget to take domperidone, take it as soon as you remember. If it's almost time for your next dose, 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.

If you take too much

Taking too much domperidone can be dangerous.

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

If you need to go to A&E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.

Take the domperidone packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you.

Side effects

Like all medicines, domperidone can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

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

Serious side effects

Serious side effects are rare.

Tell a doctor straightaway if:

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

Serious allergic reaction

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

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

You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.

How to cope with side effects

What to do about:

  • dry mouth – try chewing sugar-free gum or sucking a sugar-free sweet

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Domperidone is not usually recommended in pregnancy.

Find out more about how domperidone can affect you and your baby during pregnancy from the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPs) website.

Domperidone and breastfeeding

Domperidone is not usually recommended when breastfeeding, as it passes into breast milk in small amounts. Talk to a doctor, as other medicines might be better.

If your baby was premature, had a low birth weight or has health problems, speak to a doctor before taking any anti-sickness medicine.

Domperidone is sometimes used to increase milk supply. However, there is some evidence that it can give a baby an irregular heartbeat. Talk to a doctor about the benefits and possible risks of taking domperidone when breastfeeding.

If you take domperidone while breastfeeding and you notice anything unusual with your baby, such as sleeping more than usual, talk to a health visitor or doctor as soon as possible.

Tell a doctor if you're:

  • trying to get pregnant
  • pregnant
  • breastfeeding

Cautions with other medicines

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

Tell a 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 having treatment for cancer

Is it safe to take with other anti-sickness medicines?

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.

Mixing domperidone with herbal remedies or supplements

Some herbal remedies can make your side effects worse. Speak to your pharmacist before taking any herbal medicines.

Important

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

Common questions

HealthUnlocked contains information from NHS Digital, licensed under the current version of the Open Government Licence

132 public posts

Medication question

Just wondering if metoclopramide / Domperidone are know have have RLS as a side effect/worsen it? Thanks!
in Restless Legs Syndrome

Omeprazole or Domperidone

What do people find the best to use for acid sickness coming out of nose & mouth during night .
in Pain Concern

Best drugs /treatment for Oesophageal dysmotility

I was on Domperidone a few years back but had side effwcts. Just wondering if there is anything new about , I have a chronic cough and lots of mucus too . Had this since around 2009 .
in Oesophageal Patients Association
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Total gastrectomy medication

I take Omeprazol 2 x 20mg daily and Domperidone 3 x 10mg daily to supposedly help keep the bile down. With this medication I continue to have bad bouts of reflux during the day, not so much at night anymore, that can go on for a few hours.
in Oesophageal Patients Association

Ivor Lewis best surgeon ever!

I take domperidone to help empty what’s left in there. My surgeon was incredible, Simon Bann! He saved my life! Goodness knows what could’ve happened if Not found! It was benign, so lucky!
in Oesophageal Patients Association

gastroparesis

My daughter can't take any of the meds eg domperidone
in PBC Foundation

Chemotherapy sucks

Only had one treatment of FEC and 2 weeks later my hair has fell out and my finger nails are lifting, next one is Thursday, not looking forward to it, ran out of domperidone, tablets, asked for a few more and they can’t give them to me till Tuesday! How are people coping with the queasiness?
in Breast Cancer Haven

DCM & DRUGS

Even internet literature proscribes usage of domperidone for heart failure patients. Please guide me as to whether quit domperidone & continue with pantarazole only. Praying excuse for disturbing you. With warm regards, M. Vivekanandan
in British Heart Foundation

vomitting everyday for 6 weeks with stomach pains (not pregnant). Tests ok. No medication has helped so far. Any ideas/direction?

I have tried a number of different medication Dimenhydrinate 50mg - no help Zofran (Ondansetron) 4mg - no help Domperidone 10mg - No help (not at the same time as the Zofran) Pramin (Metoclopramide) 10mg - no help and made me feel awful. Will not take again.
in IBS Network

DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY

Kept on beta blockers, diuretics, statin, clopidegril, pantarazole with domperidone & losartan with potassium. CAG done with no blocks. On half salt and fluid restriction. Symptoms reduced. On a review before one and a half month it was found that my potassium & creatinine levels were high 4.7 &!
in British Heart Foundation

Excessive tiredness

At present I am taking domperidone and Audmonal Forte thrice-daily before meals and they have definitely helped. My question today is, have any of you out there found a cure for the excessive tiredness I feel.
in Oesophageal Patients Association

DCM & DOMPERIDONE

Respected & dear colleagues, Taking domperidone 30 mg daily for 8 months. No nausea /vomiting or stomach disorder now. Can I stop it abruptly? I am 60 yrs male with DCM
in British Heart Foundation

Domperidone side effects?

Has anyone else tried domperidone? Been told I have Gastroparesis and really want to be able to eat but really freaked out when the side effects list anxiety, depression, insomnia, heart problems and loads of other bad stuff. Would be great to hear if anyone has any experinace of it :)
in Ehlers-Danlos Support UK

Gastroparesis treatment (drugs or natural?)

Going to give it a month to see if acupuncture, probiotics and enzymes will work, has anyone got any experiance of the holistic side or taken the Domperidone drug?
in Ehlers-Danlos Support UK

Watch video - FYI

experience of using apomorphine subcutaneous injection for treating PD can be traced back to 1951 when the drug was shown to have a major potential for relief of motor symptoms in PD.42 Therapy with the drug evolved over the next three decades in Europe, and some other countries with the discovery that domperidone
in Parkinson's Movement

not sure whether to start potty training partial witholding 3 year old girl?

relatively soft, but sometimes she seems to struggle - im confused as to whether she is purely struggling to keep them in, of if they hurt. she has occasionally complained that her tummy hurts, although i dont know if this is constipation or whether its reflux (she has suffered reflux since birth and was on domperidone
in ERIC

Domperidone and Belching

Anyone tried domperidone for reflux? Every time I have it I end up with bad belching from it. Helps my constipation sometimes but isn't it meant to reduce belching? Not sure if it helps or makes my gerd worse also, I sometimes have heartburn after taking it.
in Oesophageal Patients Association

Gerd and Sore throat

Anyway at A&E they told me to take domperidone to stop the acid coming up my throat. This hasn't helped much if at all, just giving me diarrhea. Where do I go now in terms of my throat and reflux?
in Oesophageal Patients Association

Gerd and Sore Throat

Anyway at A&E they told me to take domperidone to stop the acid coming up my throat. This hasn't helped much if at all, just giving me diarrhea. Where do I go now in terms of my throat and reflux?
in IBS Network

Severe Acid Reflux Support/Advice

I've just been given pantroprazole as the last med my GP is willing to try as I refused domperidone because of the small risk of cardiac issues that would've probably sent my anxiety through the roof. I also had bloods done to check for dietary things like celiac which have all come back fine.
in Oesophageal Patients Association
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