Domperidone: What It Is, How It Works, and What Alternatives Exist

When your stomach feels sluggish or you’re stuck with constant nausea, domperidone, a peripheral dopamine receptor antagonist used to treat nausea and improve stomach emptying. Also known as Motilium, it works directly on the digestive system without crossing the blood-brain barrier, which means fewer brain-related side effects than older drugs. Unlike some anti-nausea meds, domperidone doesn’t make you drowsy or dizzy the way metoclopramide sometimes does. That’s why people turn to it for morning sickness, chemotherapy side effects, or slow digestion after meals.

But domperidone isn’t a one-size-fits-all fix. It’s closely tied to gastrointestinal motility, the movement of food through the digestive tract—if that’s off, you get bloating, vomiting, or that heavy feeling after eating. It’s also often compared to metoclopramide, a similar drug that affects the brain and carries higher risks of movement disorders. While both help with nausea, domperidone is preferred for long-term use because it’s less likely to cause serious neurological side effects. Still, it’s not approved for use in the U.S. due to heart rhythm concerns, which is why many people look for alternatives like ondansetron or natural options such as ginger or acupressure.

If you’re using domperidone, you’re likely managing something deeper than just an upset stomach—maybe gastroparesis, reflux, or side effects from another medication. The posts below dive into how it stacks up against other treatments, what real users report, and which conditions it actually helps with. You’ll also find comparisons to similar drugs, safety tips for long-term use, and what to do if domperidone doesn’t work for you. There’s no fluff here—just clear, practical info based on real experiences and medical evidence.