domperidone maleate at a glance
Medicine class
Antiemetic and peripheral dopamine antagonist.
Licensed use
Relief of nausea and vomiting.
Administration
The orodispersible tablet dissolves on the tongue and can be swallowed with or without water.
Food
Take before food as directed because food delays absorption.
What is domperidone maleate used for?
The selected product has one licensed indication. Other uses need separate clinical assessment.
Licensed: relief of nausea and vomiting.
Off-label: a specialist may consider it to increase breast-milk supply after assessment and non-medical measures.
How does domperidone maleate work?
It blocks dopamine receptors involved in vomiting and affects stomach movement, helping reduce nausea and vomiting. It acts mainly outside the brain, although nervous-system effects can occur. Dopamine blockade also increases prolactin release.
domperidone maleate preparations and strengths
Dispersible tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 10 mg
How to take domperidone maleate
Follow the prescription label. Take the selected orodispersible formulation before food. Place it on the tongue, let it break down, then swallow with or without water. Keep it in its moisture-protective packaging until needed.
The tablet contains aspartame, a source of phenylalanine.
Tell the prescriber or pharmacist about swallowing difficulties, phenylketonuria or excipient concerns.
domperidone maleate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Dry mouth
Get urgent medical advice
- Fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting or collapse
- Seizure
- Unusual or uncontrolled eye or muscle movements
- Inability to pass urine
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling and breathing difficulty
domperidone maleate in pregnancy
It may be considered during pregnancy when other anti-sickness treatments have not worked. Evidence is limited, so the prescriber should assess expected benefit, uncertainty, other medicines and risk factors.
domperidone maleate while breastfeeding
Only a very small amount reaches breast milk. Use requires professional assessment, with extra advice if the infant has cardiac or severe liver disease or takes interacting medicines. Use to increase milk supply is off-label and requires specialist breastfeeding assessment.
domperidone maleate interactions
Some medicines can increase domperidone concentrations or abnormal-heart-rhythm risk. A pharmacist or prescriber should check the complete medicines list.
QT-prolonging medicines
Medicines including amiodarone, sotalol, citalopram, escitalopram and haloperidol add to cardiac rhythm risk; concurrent use is contraindicated.
Macrolide antibiotics
Erythromycin and clarithromycin increase exposure and cardiac risk. Azithromycin requires caution because it can prolong QT.
Systemic azole antifungals and HIV protease inhibitors
Potent CYP3A4 inhibition can substantially increase domperidone concentrations; concurrent use is contraindicated.
Common questions about domperidone maleate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is domperidone maleate prescribed for?
The selected product is licensed to relieve nausea and vomiting. Other uses are outside its licence and need separate clinical justification.
Is Epzit the same as domperidone maleate?
Epzit is a brand of orodispersible tablet containing domperidone supplied as domperidone maleate.
Can domperidone maleate affect the heart?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.