Motilium 10mg Tablets (Domperidone)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Motilium 10mg Tablets Used For?
Motilium contains domperidone, which is an antiemetic and prokinetic medicine that helps control nausea and vomiting while improving stomach movement.
Primary Uses
Motilium is used to treat nausea and vomiting in adults, and discomfort caused by gastroparesis (slow-moving stomach). Gastroparesis symptoms include not being able to finish meals, feeling too full or bloated after eating, loss of appetite, feeling sick, and possibly vomiting or belching without relief.
How It Works
Motilium works by blocking the action of a chemical messenger in the brain that causes nausea and vomiting. It also increases movement and contractions of the stomach and intestines, allowing food to move more easily through the stomach.
How to Take Motilium 10mg Tablets
Take Motilium exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The timing of doses is important for best results.
Dosage Instructions
The usual dose for adults is one tablet three times daily. Take Motilium 15 to 30 minutes before meals, and if necessary at bedtime. For nausea and vomiting, this medicine is usually used for a maximum of 1 week. For other conditions, initial treatment duration is up to a maximum of 4 weeks. Continue using Motilium until your doctor tells you to stop.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Try to take each dose at the scheduled time. If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose when you are meant to. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose. If you have missed more than one dose or are unsure what to do, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Headache
- Trouble sleeping
- Nervousness
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Tiredness or irritability
- Sleepiness or drowsiness
- Dry mouth or thirst
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Changes in appetite or heartburn
- Rash or itchy skin
- Itchy eyes and crusty eyelids with discharge
- Mouth ulcers or cold sores
- Uncontrollable movements of face, arms and legs
- Excessive trembling
- Excessive muscle stiffness or muscle spasm
- Irregular or no menstrual period
- Unusual secretion of breast milk
- Decrease in sex drive in men or women
- Breast tenderness or breast enlargement in men and women
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Fast or irregular heart beats
- Swelling of hands, ankles or feet
- Passing urine more frequently or pain when passing urine
- Allergic reaction (skin rash, itching, shortness of breath, swelling of face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat causing difficulty swallowing or breathing)
- Fits or seizures
- Agitation
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Motilium should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Motilium 10mg Tablets
Do not use Motilium if you are allergic to domperidone or any ingredients, have a pituitary gland tumor called prolactinoma, have or have had liver disease, have increased stomach or bowel contractions (such as bleeding, blockage or puncture in gastrointestinal tract), have heart problems including abnormal heart beat, or are taking certain medications including ketoconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole (antifungals), ritonavir or saquinavir (HIV medications), telaprevir (hepatitis C), or antibiotics erythromycin, clarithromycin or telithromycin.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have a pre-existing heart condition, kidney disease (current or past), breast cancer (current or past), or cannot digest lactose (milk sugar). A risk of unusual heart beat or sudden heart failure has been associated with Motilium use, with higher risk in patients older than 60 years or taking more than three tablets daily.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
Heart Risk Warning: Higher risk of heart problems in patients over 60 or taking more than 3 tablets daily
Drug Interactions
Several medications can interfere with Motilium and affect how it works, particularly those that slow down metabolism and can affect heart rhythm.
Timing Important: Do not take antacids within 2 hours of taking Motilium as stomach acid is needed for proper absorption
- Antifungal medicines (ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole)
- Antibiotics (erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin)
- Heart medicines (amiodarone, diltiazem, verapamil)
- HIV/AIDS medicines (ritonavir, saquinavir, amprenavir, atazanavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir)
- Hepatitis C medicine (telaprevir)
- Anticholinergic drugs (for allergy, asthma, incontinence, gastrointestinal cramps)
- Dopaminergic agonists (for Parkinson’s Disease)
- Antidepressant (nefazodone)
- Anti-nausea medicine (aprepitant)
- Stomach acid medicines (antacids) – do not take within 2 hours of Motilium
Alcohol & Driving
Motilium may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, and you should inform your doctor about alcohol consumption.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Motilium affects you.
Storage
Keep Motilium tablets in the pack until it is time to take them. Store in a cool dry place where the temperature is below 30°C. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Keep where young children cannot reach it.
Overdose Information
If you think you have used too much Motilium, you may need urgent medical attention. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (Australia: 13 11 26, New Zealand: 0800 POISON), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
For nausea and vomiting, Motilium is usually used for a maximum of 1 week. For gastroparesis symptoms, initial treatment duration is up to 4 weeks maximum.
Yes, Motilium should be taken 15 to 30 minutes before meals, and if necessary at bedtime for best results.
Side effects like uncontrollable movements, muscle stiffness, menstrual irregularities, and breast-related effects will reverse on stopping treatment. Follow your doctor’s instructions about stopping.
You should tell your doctor if you drink alcohol, as this may affect your treatment.
Elderly patients over 60 years have a higher risk of heart problems with Motilium use. It should be used with caution at the lowest effective dose, particularly in older patients.
Skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose. If you’ve missed multiple doses, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not take antacids or medicines that reduce stomach acid within 2 hours of taking Motilium, as sufficient stomach acid is required for proper absorption.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.