Domperidone and sudden death
Prescrire International 15(86): 226
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 1167-7422 PMID: 17167933 Document Number: 605083
(1) Domperidone, a "hidden" neuroleptic, is widely used as an oral antiemetic yet its efficacy has not been adequately documented. (2) In a case-control study domperidone was associated with an estimated relative risk of sudden cardiac death of 3.8 (95% confidence interval 1.5-9.7). (3) QT interval prolongation has been reported in an infant on domperidone, with normalisation after domperidone withdrawal. Serious cardiac arrhythmias led to the market withdrawal of the intravenous form of domperidone in the 1980s. (4) In practice, these data represent an additional reason not to use domperidone, or other antiemetics, for mild and transient health problems. Special care is required when other risk factors for QT interval prolongation are present.