Should Domperidone be taken before or after meals?
Apr 17, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Introduction
Domperidone before or after meals: Domperidone is usually taken 15 to 30 minutes before meals. This is because the stomach is empty before eating, allowing the medication to come into contact with gastric wall cells more easily and be absorbed more quickly. Additionally, taking it before meals ensures that the drug reaches its peak effectiveness when it is most needed to alleviate symptoms. Domperidone is a prokinetic agent for the upper gastrointestinal tract that promotes gastric emptying and improves symptoms such as bloating and belching.
Motilium, also known as Domperidone tablets, is primarily used to treat dyspepsia caused by delayed gastric emptying, gastroesophageal reflux, and esophagitis. It can also be used for heartburn with or without regurgitation of gastric contents. Additionally, it is specifically indicated for nausea and vomiting caused by functional, organic, infectious, dietary, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy factors. Now, should Motilium be taken before or after meals? The following explanation will answer this question.
Should Motilium Be Taken Before or After Meals?
Typically, Motilium should be taken 15–30 minutes before meals. Taking it before meals, when the stomach is empty, allows the medication to come into contact with gastric mucosal cells more easily and be absorbed more quickly. Moreover, when the drug's effect peaks before meals, it is more beneficial for alleviating symptoms of discomfort. Motilium is a prokinetic agent for the upper gastrointestinal tract that promotes gastric emptying, moving food from the stomach into the duodenum, thereby relieving symptoms of dyspepsia such as abdominal distension and belching. It serves as an adjunctive treatment for chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and reflux esophagitis. However, it should be noted that Motilium is not recommended for use in pregnant women or children under 18 years of age. In addition, adults should not take Motilium continuously for more than seven days to avoid potential adverse effects on health.
Knowledge Expansion: The Effects of Motilium
1. Promotes Intestinal Motility
Motilium is a commonly used medication in clinical practice for treating gastrointestinal disorders. Its main function is to promote intestinal motility. After administration, it can relieve gastrointestinal discomfort and symptoms of indigestion. At the same time, it can also alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms such as belching, nausea, and vomiting.
2. Promotes Lactation After Childbirth
Motilium can increase the level of prolactin in women's blood serum, thus having a certain effect in promoting lactation after childbirth. However, it should be noted that Motilium cannot treat prolactinoma, and when used to increase serum prolactin levels, the duration of administration should not be too long, otherwise it may cause adverse effects.
3. Enhances Gastric Motility
Motilium enhances gastric motility by promoting gastric peristalsis, shortening postprandial gastric emptying time, and increasing the diameter and prolonging the relaxation period of the pyloric opening—the junction between the stomach and the duodenum—facilitating the movement of food into the intestines. In addition, Motilium increases the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter, preventing gastroesophageal reflux. Thus, it effectively enhances gastric motility.
The above is the introduction of whether Motilium should be taken before or after meals. We hope this information is helpful to you.
