How does domperidone work?
Domperidone 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).
It also blocks messages to the vomiting centre in your brain. This stops you feeling sick (nauseous) and prevents you from vomiting.
How long does it take to work?
Domperidone should start to work in about 30 to 60 minutes.
Why is domperidone not usually recommended for children under the age of 12 years?
Recent research shows that domperidone does not actually help when babies or young children are feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) due to a stomach bug.
This medicine has also been linked to heart problems in a small number of people.
For these reasons, domperidone is not recommended for children under 12 years old.
However, it's sometimes prescribed for babies and younger children to help with other types of nausea, vomiting and reflux.
How does it compare with similar medicines?
Domperidone belongs to a group of anti-sickness medicines called anti-emetics.
Anti-emetics work in a similar way to each other. However, domperidone is less likely than other anti-emetics to make you feel tired.
There are other medicines that can help with sickness. These include metoclopramide, ondansetron, cyclizine and promethazine.
If domperidone is not working for you, ask a doctor or a pharmacist for advice. They may be able to recommend a different medicine.
Will it affect my contraception?
Domperidone does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill, the progestogen-only pill and emergency contraception.
However, if domperidone is not working for you and you're being sick, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy.
Check the pill packet to find out what to do.
Find out more:
Can I drive or ride a bike?
Do not drive a car or ride a bike if domperidone makes you sleepy, or gives you an irregular heartbeat.
This may be more likely when you first start taking domperidone, but could happen at any time (for example, when starting another medicine).
It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.
Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking domperidone. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.
Can I drink alcohol while taking domperidone?
It's best to avoid alcohol when taking domperidone.
Drinking alcohol can make side effects worse, such as feeling sleepy or an irregular heartbeat.
Is there any food or drink that I need to avoid?
Apart from avoiding alcohol, you can eat and drink normally while taking domperidone.
It's best to take your medicine 15 to 30 minutes before meals.