Domperidone+Esomeprazole

When should one not use Domperidone+Esomeprazole

• If you are allergic to domperidone, esomeprazole or similar medicines.
• If you have severe heart problems such as congestive heart failure, heart rhythm problems, electrolyte imbalance.
• If you are taking any medicine which might affect the contraction of the heart muscle (QT prolongation).
• If you are suffering from liver or kidney disorder.
• If you are suffering from bleeding in the digestive system.
• If you have a blockage or tear in the intestines.
• If you have any tumour of the pituitary gland (Prolactin pituitary tumours).
• If you are taking medicines such as Nelfinavir (used in HIV infection), Clarithromycin (antibiotic), Ketoconazole (antifungal) or Verapamil (used in high blood pressure and chest pain).

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhoea
• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness

Other General Warnings

• You have heart problems and associated symptoms like palpitations, difficulty in breathing, and unconsciousness.
• You have any liver and kidney-related diseases.
• You have a specific blood test (Chromogranin A).
• You have a history of fractures or have osteoporosis or taking steroids.
• You develop skin lesions, especially in the sun-exposed area after taking this medicine.
• You experience stomach pain or indigestion, unexplained weight loss, have problems while swallowing, vomit out food or blood after taking this medicine.
• You have low levels of vitamin B12. This medicine is known to reduce the absorption of vitamin B12 after long term use. Supplements may be needed.
• You are taking medicines to treat HIV or apomorphine (used to treat muscle stiffness).
• You experience black stools or have a stomach tumour.
• You are on this medicine for long-term treatment, your blood magnesium levels may decrease. Hence, your doctor may perform regular tests for the same.
• Taking this medicine for more than one year may increase the chances of developing bone fractures.
• This medicine may lead to a slightly increased risk of bacterial infections due to Salmonella and Campylobacter.
• Domperidone+Esomeprazole is not recommended for patients below the age of 18 years.

How Does It Work?

• A pump called the proton pump in the stomach is responsible for the flow of stomach acids.
• Domperidone acts by increasing the motility of the stomach and intestines so that acid does not reflux back into the food pipe.
• Esomeprazole works by binding to this proton pump in stomach cells and blocks the acid secretion.

Interactions with other medicines

• Some medicines can affect the way domperidone+esomeprazole works or this medicine itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time.
• Tell your doctor about all the medicines, supplements, or herbals you are currently taking or might take to avoid any possible interaction.
• Domperidone+Esomeprazole should not be taken concomitantly along with medicines such as nelfinavir (used to treat HIV infection), amiodarone (used to treat muscle stiffness), clarithromycin (antibiotic), ketoconazole (antifungal) or verapamil (used in high blood pressure, chest pain).
• This combination should also not be taken along with medicines used to treat heart problems (quinidine, sotalol), psychiatric illness (haloperidol, citalopram), antifungals (pentamidine), antimalarials (halofantrine, lumefantrine), medicines used to treat allergies (mizolastine), medicines to treat in cancer (toremifene, vandetanib), gastric emptying medicines (cisapride) and other medicines like diphemanil and methadone.
• Concomitant use along with medicines used to treat psychiatric illness (diazepam), used to treat fits (phenytoin) is not recommended as it may increase the side effects of the medicines.
• Medicine used to treat heart failure like digoxin may lead to toxicity when taken with domperidone+esomeprazole.
• If you are taking warfarin (blood-thinner) along with this combination, caution is needed as there are chances of increased bleeding.
• Medicines like Rifampicin, Methotrexate, Tacrolimus, Voriconazole, Cilostazol, Clopidogrel, Azithromycin, St John's wort, etc. should be used cautiously along with this combination.