Domperidone

What is domperidone?

Domperidone is a medicine that increases the movement of food through the stomach and intestines. This medicine is used to treat or prevent reflux (heartburn), and to relieve symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, prolonged feelings of fullness after meals, and loss of appetite. It may also improve feeding problems and spitting up. Domperidone may be used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by other medicines.

Domperidone comes in a tablet form, and a liquid can be made by certain pharmacies.

Before giving domperidone to your child

Tell your child's doctor if your child has:

• had any unusual or allergic reaction to domperidone or any other medications
• any bleeding or blockage in the gastrointestinal tract (gut)
• tumour on pituitary gland

Talk with your child's doctor or pharmacist if your child has any of the following conditions. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• irregular heart rhythms or heartbeats
• liver disease

How should you give your child domperidone?

Give your child this medicine:

• Exactly as your child's doctor or pharmacist tells you to.
• At the same time every day, unless your child's doctor tells you otherwise.
• For reflux, give the medicine 30 minutes before meals.
• If your child is taking liquid medication, measure liquid doses carefully. Use an oral syringe or medicine spoon provided by your pharmacist.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of domperidone?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child 2 doses to make up for 1 missed dose.

What are the possible side effects of domperidone?

Your child may have some side effects while they take domperidone. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of the following signs or symptoms and they do not go away, or they bother your child:

• diarrhea
• headache
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• stomach cramps

Call your child's doctor during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• pain or swelling of the breasts (for boys or girls)
• rash or hives

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be the signs of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to Emergency if your child has any of these signs:

• confusion
• muscle spasms, especially of the jaw, neck, and back
• a shuffling walk
• trembling or shaking hands
• twitching movements of the head or face
• uneven or fast heartbeats

What safety measures should you take when your child is using domperidone?

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with domperidone or in some cases the dose of domperidone or the other medicine may need to be adjusted. It is important that you tell your doctor and pharmacist if your child takes any other medications (prescription, over the counter, or herbal).

What other important information should you know about domperidone?

• You should keep domperidone tablets and liquid at room temperature, NOT in the refrigerator. Do not store the tablets in places where the air is moist, such as the bathroom or kitchen.
• Do not use any domperidone that is out of date. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away any domperidone that you do not use.
  

Keep domperidone out of your child's sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much domperidone, call the Ontario Poison Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free.

• Call 416-813-5900 if you live in Toronto.
• Call 1-800-268-9017 if you live somewhere else in Ontario.
• If you live outside of Ontario, call your local Poison Information Centre.