In Canada—

• Anti-emetic
• Dopaminergic blocking agent

Domperidone ( dom-PER-i-done) is a medicine that increases the movements or contractions of the stomach and bowel. Domperidone is also used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by other drugs used to treat Parkinson's Disease.

Domperidone is to be given only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor. It is available in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Tablets (Canada)

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For domperidone the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to domperidone.

Pregnancy—Pregnancy—domperidone has not been studied in pregnant women. However, domperidone has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.

Breast-feeding— Breast-feeding—Domperidone passes into the breast milk, but it is not known if domperidone will cause unwanted effects in the newborn. It may be necessary for you to take another medicine or to stop breast-feeding during treatment. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.

Children—Children—Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of domperidone in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing the use of domperidone in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine, especially:

• Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (furazolidone [e.g., Furoxone], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegilene [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])

• Bleeding from the stomach or other problems involving the bowels
• Pituitary (brain) tumor
• Liver disease
• Medicine sensitivity to domperidone

Dosing—

The dose of domperidone will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of domperidone.If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of tablets of that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking domperidone.

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • Treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders:
    • Adults—10 milligrams (mg) three to four times daily. Some patients may require higher doses up to 20 mg three or four times daily.
  • Nausea and vomiting:
    • Adults—20 milligrams (mg) three to four times daily.

Missed dose—

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—

To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it.

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur

• Difficulty in speaking;  disorientation ;  dizziness;  fainting;  irregular heartbeat;  light-headedness ;  loss of balance or muscle control 

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Less common

• Loss of balance or muscle control;  swelling of the mouth 

• Rare
  • Fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse;  swelling of face, hands, lower legs, or feet 
  
  

. Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome.

• Less common
  • Breast milk flowing from the nipple;  dry mouth;  swelling of the breast in the male;  headache;  hives;  hot flashes;  itching of skin;  itching, redness, pain, or swelling of eye;  menstrual irregularities;  pain in the breast 
  
  

• Change in need to urinate;  change in appetite;  constipation;  diarrhea;  burning, difficult, or painful urination ;  difficulty in speaking ;  dizziness;  drowsiness;  heartburn;  irritability;  lack or loss of strength;  leg cramps;  mental dullness;  nervousness;  palpitations;  sluggishness;  stomach cramps;  thirst;  tiredness;  weakness