Like most drug treatments such as domperidone, there’s always the specter of side effects, their potency on the body and how best to avoid or try to eliminate or minimize their influence as much as possible so that people can feel at ease when treated without worrying about the likely side effects that may appear. It’s no wonder that questions like: What are the side effects of domperidone, are often asked to indicate a genuine desire to know side effects and the need to protect oneself. Read on

All about the 10mg domperidone tablets

In this article we will take a look at the 10mg domperidone tablets in an effort to answer to topic not forgetting that the inclusion of other features of domperidone is essential for explaining the bigger picture.

Tablets

The domperidone 10mg tablet is produced as a white round biconvex tablet with the inscription “Dm 10” written on only one side.

Domperidone is prescribed for treating symptoms of nausea and vomiting

How the tablets are used

For best results, domperidone should be taken orally between 15 to 30 minutes before meals but if ingested before meals, the absorption of the medication into the body may be delayed.

It’s recommended that doses of the drug should be taken at the time specified and if a dose is missed, that dose should be dismissed and the scheduled dose continued. You shouldn’t “double” the dose so that you can make up for the dose you missed.

It has been established that the maximum duration for treatment using domperidone is only one week.

The domperidone tablet is given for treating adults and adolescents of 12 years of age or older and who weigh 35 kg or more.

Users should take only one 10mg tablet at intervals of 8 hours which gives a total dosage of 30mg per day.

Domperidone efficacy on children

The efficacy of domperidone on children of less than 12 years of age has not yet been conclusively established.

Similarly the successful effectiveness of domperidone on adolescents of 12 and more years has not yet been conclusively established.

Contraindications of domperidone

The term “contraindication” means that the use of something especially drug medications is inadvisable because it may cause an adverse response, for instance taking domperidone with aspirin is contraindicated.

In addition the contraindication of domperidone applies in the following situations:

• in patients suffering from moderate to severe hepatic (liver) problems.
• In patients who have long suffered from cardiac issues especially QTc patients with pronounced electrolyte disturbances or underlying cardiac diseases such as congestive heart failure.
• Combined application of domperidone with QT prolonging drugs except apomorphine.
• Interacted application of domperidone with CY3A4 inhibitors regardless of their effect on their QT prolonging effects.
• Where a patient has a high sensitivity to domperidone or any excipients.
• Where a prolactin-releasing pituitary tumor is the condition being treated.
• When the condition is associated with kidney problems

In any case, domperidone should not be used as a treatment for stimulating gastric motility if it can cause harm. It should also not be used to treat hemorrhaging of the gastro-intestinal tract, mechanical obstruction or perforation.

Warnings and precautions for using domperidone

Precautions related to the use of domperidone are essential to safeguard against the possible onslaught or causation and worsening of side effects. Here are some examples of medical situations that should encourage precautionary awareness.

Patients who have rare hereditary issues of intolerance to galactose found in milk sugar, absolute deficiency in lactase or deficiency of glucose-galactose malabsorption, should not be allowed to take domperidone.

Infant usage

During the first month of birth the risk of neurological side effects are greater in young children. This is because the metabolic functions and blood-brain barrier are not yet fully functional.

The appearance extrapyramidal symptoms may also be caused by overdosing of domperidone as well as other causes which should be prevented from taking place.

Kidney impairment

When severe kidney weakening occurs, there would be a need to prolong the usage of domperidone to counteract the severity of the impairment.

When this happens, a corresponding reduction of the frequency of domperidone dosing should be reduced from three to twice daily but this will depend on the severity of the renal impairment. The amount of the dose should also be reduced.

Effects on the heart and blood vessels

In medial parlance these are known as the cardiovascular effects some of which are highlighted below.

Domperidone has been associated with QT prolongation intervals on the electrocardiogram. However, during monitoring very rare cases of QT prolongation have been recorded in patients who take domperidone.

Reports have been submitted only on patients with exacerbating risk factors, abnormal ion found in body cells, blood or other natural occurring material and the simultaneous use of domperidone with some other medication.

Studies of disease origin and spread (epidemiology) show that domperidone has been associated with acute ventricular arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death with patients in the 60 years age group and above especially susceptible.

Patients who were taking more than 30mg doses of the drug were also susceptible as were patients who were also taking QT-prolonging drugs or CYP33A4 inhibitors.

Interactive use with apomorphine

Apomorphine is also a QT prolonging drug that can be used concomitantly with domperidone only if the benefits are greater than the risks involved from the combined usage.

The simultaneous use may also take place only if the precautions recommended for the combined application of the apomorphine SmPC are fulfilled to the letter.

It should be noted that the use of domperidone as a treatment should be immediately stopped if there are symptoms or signs appear which suggest that cardiac arrhythmia suddenly makes its presence and the patient should be allowed to consult their doctor.

Patients are strongly advised to immediately report any symptoms of any cardiac occurrence and they should also note that the 23mg domperidone tablet contains a very small 1millimeter of sodium per tablet which is a very negligible amount of sodium.

Bottom Line

While the side effects mentioned in this article appear more technical that those given elsewhere, they’re not difficult to understand by anyone with only a rudimentary knowledge of medicines and medical terms. What is more important is the ability to have a basic grasp and understanding of what a medication is, how to take it, the side effects it causes and the means of avoiding or minimizing their effects. That’s it in a nutshell!