Domperidone Guide: Uses, Dosage, Safety

A little-known risk: a medication often used for nausea and to help milk flow can rarely change your heart rhythm. That’s why domperidone needs careful use. Below I’ll explain what it does, how people normally take it, the most important warnings, and simple steps to stay safe.

How people use domperidone

Domperidone is a medicine that helps settle the stomach and speeds up how food moves through the gut. Doctors prescribe it for nausea, vomiting, bloating from slowed stomach emptying, and sometimes to help with low breast milk supply. It’s chosen because it doesn’t easily cross into the brain, so it causes fewer drowsy or movement-related effects than some alternatives.

Typical adult dosing is 10 mg taken up to three times a day, usually 15–30 minutes before meals. Many guidelines recommend keeping the total daily dose at or below 30 mg and using it for the shortest time needed. For breastfeeding, some clinicians use 10 mg three times daily, but this is off-label in many places and not a guaranteed fix—try improving latch and feeding support first.

Safety, interactions and practical tips

Domperidone has a key safety issue: it can lengthen the QT interval, a measure of heart rhythm on an ECG. That increases the risk of fast, dangerous heart rhythms in rare cases. Don’t take domperidone if you have known heart disease, low potassium or magnesium, or an abnormal ECG. If you’re over 60, the risk rises and doctors are usually more cautious.

Watch for symptoms: palpitations, fainting, dizziness, or sudden shortness of breath. If any of those appear, stop the drug and get urgent medical help.

Drug interactions matter. Avoid strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (like ketoconazole or certain antivirals), and be careful with other medications that prolong QT (some antipsychotics, certain antibiotics, and some antidepressants such as citalopram). Also skip grapefruit while on domperidone—it can raise drug levels.

For people with liver problems, dose adjustments may be needed. For pregnant or breastfeeding women, discuss risks and benefits with your clinician—domperidone is not universally recommended for increasing milk and should only be considered after non-drug measures and specialist advice.

Practical checklist before starting domperidone: confirm no heart disease, review all current meds (including supplements), check electrolytes if you have risk factors, and plan the shortest effective course. If your doctor suggests regular use, ask if an ECG is recommended for monitoring.

Want to order domperidone online? Only use reputable pharmacies and verify prescriptions. Self-medicating with this drug isn’t wise because of the heart risk and drug interactions. Ask your healthcare provider to help you weigh benefits and risks and to set a safe plan if domperidone might help.