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Review
. 2023 Aug 1;77(2):e13-e22.
doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003822. Epub 2023 May 9.

Drugs in Focus: Domperidone

Maria Giovanna Puoti  1 , Amit Assa  2 , Marc Benninga  3 , Ilse Julia Broekaert  4 , Francisco Javier Martin Carpi  5 , Marco Deganello Saccomani  6 , Jernej Dolinsek  7 , Matjaz Homan  8 , Emmanuel Mas  9 , Erasmo Miele  10 , Christos Tzivinikos  11 , Mike Thomson  12 , Osvaldo Borrelli  1
Affiliations
Review

Drugs in Focus: Domperidone

Maria Giovanna Puoti et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. .

Abstract

Domperidone is a peripheral dopamine-2 receptor antagonist with prokinetic and antiemetic properties. Its prokinetic effects are mainly manifest in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Currently its use is restricted to relief of nausea and vomiting in children older than 12 years for a short period of time. However, among (pediatric) gastroenterologists, domperidone is also used outside its authorized indication ("off label") for treatment of symptoms associated with gastro-esophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia, and gastroparesis. Little is known about its efficacy in the treatment of GI motility disorders in children and controversial data have emerged in the pediatric literature. As its use is off label, appropriate knowledge of its efficacy is helpful to support an "off label/on evidence" prescription. Based on this, the purpose of this review is to summarize all evidence on the efficacy of domperidone for the treatment of GI disorders in infants and children and to report an overview of its pharmacological properties and safety profile.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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