A double-blind study of domperidone in the symptomatic treatment of chronic post-prandial upper gastrointestinal distress

Abstract

Oral domperidone (30 mg/day) or placebo tablets were given to 41 patients presenting with symptoms of chronic post-prandial dyspepsia, in a double blind study. The tablets were taken three times a day before meals. The first part of the study lasted four weeks and was followed by a second four week period in which domperidone was given on an open basis to all subjects. At the end of the double-blind phase all indices but one (bitter regurgitation) as well as the gastro-oesophageal reflux cluster had significantly improved on domperidone treatment while none had done so on placebo. During the subsequent open four weeks of domperidone all items improved in both study groups. No side effects were seen in any of the participants in the study.