Domperidone discontinued in the UK — March 2024 archive

This archive month highlights one focused post: a clear look at domperidone’s removal from UK use and what that change meant for patients and prescribers. The original article reviews the decision made in September 2014, explains the safety concerns that drove it, and outlines how treatment options shifted for adults over 16.

What happened and why it matters

Domperidone (often sold as Motilium) used to be a common short-term medicine for nausea and digestive upset. In the UK it was discontinued in September 2014 after regulators raised concerns about rare but serious heart risks. That pulled it out of routine use for people 16 and older and also stopped some of the older, off-label uses like treating post-meal discomfort.

The key practical point: if you took domperidone in the past or were prescribed it, don’t panic, but do check with your doctor or pharmacist. The change meant prescribers had to find safer options and be more careful when patients had other heart or medication risks.

What patients should do now

If you had domperidone prescribed before, bring it up at your next GP visit. Ask whether your current symptoms still need drug treatment and what safer alternatives exist. Don’t suddenly stop a medicine without checking—if you’re on it now, your clinician will advise whether to switch and how to do it safely.

Ask your clinician about interactions and heart risk checks. Regulators were worried about arrhythmias when domperidone was used with other drugs that affect the heart. So give your doctor a full list of medicines and supplements you take, and mention any heart conditions.

There are other ways to manage nausea and indigestion: lifestyle changes, dietary tweaks, and different antiemetics or acid-reducing drugs. Some alternatives have their own risks, so your prescriber will balance benefits and harms for your situation.

For breastfeeding parents: domperidone has sometimes been used to boost milk supply, but safety concerns changed that practice in the UK. Talk to your midwife, GP, or a lactation specialist about safer approaches before trying any medication for milk production.

Finally, if you notice new symptoms like unexpected heart palpitations or fainting while taking any medicine for nausea or digestion, seek medical advice right away. Also consider reporting side effects to your healthcare team or the national reporting system so regulators can keep safety data current.

This archive post gives a practical snapshot: domperidone’s UK discontinuation in 2014 was driven by heart-safety concerns, it changed how doctors treat adults over 16, and it pushed patients and clinicians to safer alternatives and better checks. If you want details, check the full article linked in this archive for a deeper look at the evidence and policy timeline.