Domperidone (trade names Motilium, Motillium, Motinorm and Costi) is an antidopaminergic drug, developed by Janssen Pharmaceutica, and used orally, rectally or intravenously, generally to suppress nausea and vomiting. It has also been used to stimulate lactation.
Contents
Uses
Gastrointestinal problems
There is some evidence that domperidone has antiemetic activity.[2] Domperidone is used, together with metoclopramide, cyclizine, and 5HT3 receptor antagonists (such as granisetron) in the treatment of nausea and vomiting.
Domperidone is a first choice anti-emetic in most countries,[citation needed]. However, it is not approved for prescription in the US. Although it has never been officially approved for use in the United States, domperidone is sometimes purchased from pharmacies in other countries for this purpose.
It can be used in patients with Parkinson's disease[3] because, unlike metoclopramide[4], domperidone does not cross the blood-brain barrier.
Domperidone has also been found effective in the treatment of gastroparesis,[5] a stomach motility condition, and for paediatric Gastroesophageal reflux (infant vomiting).
Lactation
The hormone prolactin stimulates lactation in humans, and its release is inhibited by the dopamine secreted by the hypothalamus. Domperidone, by acting as an anti-dopaminergic, results in increased prolactin secretion, and thus promotes lactation.
Since, according to the American FDA, domperidone is not approved for enhanced lactation in any country,[6] it is sometimes self-prescribed from original research or prescribed "off-label" for this use in countries around the world.[7]
Controversy
Janssen Pharmaceutical has brought domperidone before the FDA several times in the last two decades, with the most recent effort in the 1990s. Numerous U.S. clinical drug trials have demonstrated its safety and efficacy in dealing with gastroparesis symptoms, but the FDA turned down Janssen's application for domperidone, even though the FDA's division of gastrointestinal drugs had approved domperidone.[8]
In June 2004, the United States' main regulation agency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), issued a letter warning women not to take domperidone, citing unknown risks to parents and infants, and warned pharmacies that domestic sale was illegal, and that import shipments from other countries would be searched and seized. Domperidone is excreted in breast milk, and no studies on its effects on breastfeeding infants have been reported in the literature. Individual incidents of problems with the drug include cardiac arrest and arrhythmia, complications with other medications, as well as complications with improper intravenous use[7]. A recent paper suggests there may be increased risk of seizures to neonates of mothers taking oral domperidone[9].
Some doctors and pharmacists do not fully accept the FDA's reasoning and still favor domperidone's use in increasing milk supply. Such doctors and pharmacists claim the drug is safe in the doses given for this purpose but have no evidential data or studies to base their claim.[10] The American Academy of Pediatrics considers domperidone "usually compatible with breastfeeding".[11]
There is a new controversy in Britain regarding lethal levels of sodium found in children who are administered this drug. It is now subject to a medical review following a number of criminal trials where parents were charged with child abuse by salt poisoning based on hypernatremia in the affected children.[12] Recent studies also cite increased QT intervals in neonates taking Domperidone. [13].
Pharmacology
Domperidone blocks the action of dopamine. It has strong affinities for the D2 and D3 dopamine receptors [14], which are found in the chemoreceptor trigger zone, located just outside the blood brain barrier, which - among others - regulates nausea and vomiting (area postrema on the floor of the fourth ventricle and rhomboid fossa).
See also
- itopride
- metoclopramide
- benzamide
- cisapride
Brand
Many brand names and combinations of the drug exist. The combination of domperidone and pantoprazole is marketed as Dompan by Medley Pharmaceuticals. Domperidone is sold as Motinorm by GlaxoSmithKline. In India for Paediatric purpose Domperidone is available as Domperi Suspension(Domperidone 1 mg/ml, 30 ml Suspension;Ipca Laboratories Ltd, Mumbai)[1]and Domstal(Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.)[2]
References
- ^ Domperidone MedSafe NZ Government
- ^ Swann IL, Thompson EN, Qureshi K (November 1979). "Domperidone or metoclopramide in preventing chemotherapeutically induced nausea and vomiting". British medical journal 2 (6199): 1188. PMID 519355.
- ^ Shindler JS, Finnerty GT, Towlson K, Dolan AL, Davies CL, Parkes JD (December 1984). "Domperidone and levodopa in Parkinson's disease". British journal of clinical pharmacology 18 (6): 959–62. PMID 6529536.
- ^ Rossi S, editor. Australian Medicines Handbook 2006. Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook; 2006.
- ^ Silvers D, Kipnes M, Broadstone V, et al. (1998). "Domperidone in the management of symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis: efficacy, tolerability, and quality-of-life outcomes in a multicenter controlled trial. DOM-USA-5 Study Group". Clinical therapeutics 20 (3): 438–53. doi:. PMID 9663360.
- ^ Domperidone for lactating women, Canadian Medical Association Journal, Orlando P. da Silva and David C. Knoppert. 2004 Sep 28;171(7):725-6.
- ^ a b FDA Warns Against Women Using Unapproved Drug, Domperidone, to Increase Milk Production FDA
- ^ Letter to Consumer Safety Office, FDA Gastroparesis and Dysmotilities Association
- ^ Journal of Pediatrics 2008
- ^ Official Statements From Prominent Physicians breastfeedingonline.com
- ^ Maternal Medication Usually Compatible With Breastfeeding American Academy of Pediatrics
- ^ Current news coverage of latest trial The Scotsman
- ^ Djeddi D, Kongolo G, Lefaix C, Mounard J, Léké A. (2008). "Effect of domperidone on QT interval in neonates.". Journal of Pediatrics 153 (5): 596-598. PMID 18589449.
- ^ "PDSP Ki Database". http://pdsp.med.unc.edu/pdsp.php.
External links
- GPDA letter to the FDA about domperidone for gastroparesis