Domperidone helps relieve nausea and vomiting in adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older) weighing 35 kg or more.
This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.
Take Domperidone exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Take it on an empty stomach, at least 15-30 minutes before a meal. Try to take it at the same time each day.
This medicine is available as a tablet or oral suspension.
If you are taking the oral suspension, shake the bottle well before you take it to ensure that the liquid is evenly mixed. Use the measuring cup or oral syringe provided to measure your dose. Refer to the package insert for directions on how to use the oral syringe.
You may stop taking this medicine when you no longer have nausea or vomiting.
Do not take this medicine for more than 1 week unless instructed by your doctor.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- prolactinoma (a tumour of the pituitary gland that overproduces a hormone called prolactin which stimulates the breast to produce milk)
- heart disease e.g. heart rhythm disorder, heart failure (weakness and inability of the heart to pump blood)
- significant disturbances of essential mineral in the body e.g. low or high potassium levels in the blood, low magnesium levels in the blood
- stomach or bowel problems e.g. stomach bleeding, bowel blockage, tear in the intestines
- moderate or severe liver disease
as Domperidone may not be suitable for you.
Do not take Domperidone with medicines for irregular heartbeat, HIV and fungal infections, and certain antibiotics. Please see the section "Can I take this with other medicines?" below for more information.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- personal or family history of breast cancer
- risk factors for sudden stopping of the heart e.g. family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol level, diabetes, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption
- kidney disease
- mild liver disease
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Domperidone to a child or an elderly. Children and elderly people may be more sensitive to the side effects.
For as long as you are taking this medicine, you may need to have regular tests such as ECG (a test used to record the electrical activity of the heart) and kidney function tests, to check your body’s response to the medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you will need to have these tests.
Domperidone may cause any of the following side effects: headache, sleepiness, dry mouth, diarrhoea, weakness, rash, itching, breast pain and tenderness, and loss of sexual desire.
Some women may experience milk secretion unrelated to breastfeeding while some men may experience breast enlargement. Discuss with your doctor if you are concerned about these side effects.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- fast, irregular, or abnormal heartbeat
- chest pain or pressure
- uncontrollable movements such as irregular eye or tongue movements, abnormal posture like twisted neck, trembling and muscle stiffness
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not take Domperidone if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines for irregular heartbeat e.g. disopyramide, amiodarone
- medicines for mood disorders e.g. haloperidol, pimozide, sertindole
- medicines to treat depression e.g. citalopram, escitalopram, nefazodone
- medicines for cold or allergy e.g. mequitazine, mizolastine
- medicines for stomach problems e.g. cisapride, dolasetron, prucalopride
- medicines for cancer e.g. toremifene, vandetanib, vincamine
- medicines for HIV infection e.g. ritonavir, atazanavir, indinavir
- medicines to treat fungal infection e.g. ketoconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole
- certain antibiotics e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin, pentamidine, levofloxacin, spiramycin
- medicines for malaria e.g. halofantrine, lumefantrine
- methadone (strong painkiller)
- bepridil (medicine for high blood pressure)
- aprepitant (medicine used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer drugs)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Domperidone.
This medicine should not be taken with antacids or other medicines that reduce stomach acid (e.g. cimetidine, sodium bicarbonate) as these medicines could reduce the effectiveness of Domperidone. If you must take these medicines, take them between meals after you have taken Domperidone.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Avoid excessive consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice (more than 1 litre a day).
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Protect from light and moisture.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.