What It Is
Domperidone belongs to a class of medicines called antiemetics and prokinetic agents, meaning it's associated both with reducing nausea and with helping food move through the digestive tract.
What It's Used For
Domperidone is generally used to relieve symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, and a feeling of fullness after eating, often linked to slowed stomach emptying or digestive discomfort.
How It Works
Domperidone works by blocking dopamine receptors, particularly in areas involved in triggering nausea and vomiting, and in the digestive tract itself. In the digestive tract, this blocking action helps increase the contractions of the stomach wall, encouraging food to move through more efficiently. Because domperidone is designed to act largely outside the central nervous system, it's generally associated with different effects on the brain compared to some older antiemetic medicines with similar dopamine-blocking mechanisms.
History and Regulatory Status
Domperidone was developed by a Belgian pharmaceutical company and introduced in the late 1970s as an alternative to earlier antiemetic and prokinetic medicines. Its regulatory status has varied notably by country over the decades since its introduction, with some regulatory agencies placing restrictions on its use or availability at various points, based on ongoing safety reviews conducted by those agencies. It remains available in many countries, generally requiring a prescription, though its approved uses and availability differ from one regulatory jurisdiction to another.