Motilium

General information about Motilium

What is Motilium used for?

Motilium 10 is used to treat nausea and vomiting and help relieve symptoms like bloating, fullness, heartburn and flatulence that cause discomfort when your digestive system is out of rhythm or you have eaten too much. Motilium 10 can also be used to relieve symptoms of nausea caused by some medications, such as anti-cancer drugs and medications used for Parkinson’s disease. Another use for Motilium is to increase breast milk production, as a side effect of its intended use.

How does Motilium work?

Motilium 10 contains the antiemetic domperidone that stops you feeling queasy and nauseous by blocking the action of the chemical messenger dopamine. This stops messages sent from your irritated or upset stomach being received by special receptors in the brain, preventing the brain triggering the vomiting response. Motilium 10 also blocks the same chemical messengers in the upper digestive system. This relieves dysmobility, which is when food processing slows down causing uncomfortable symptoms. Motilium 10 restores the natural rhythm of muscle contraction and relaxation in the stomach, which helps push food through your digestive system and prevents vomiting.

What does Motilium contain?

The active ingredient in Motilium tablets is the antiemetic medicine domperidone 10mg, which relieves symptoms of nausea and queasiness. Motilium also contains lactose, maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized potato starch, povidone, magnesium stearate, hydrogenated vegetable oil, sodium lauryl sulfate and hypromellose.

What Motilium doses are available?

You can buy Motilium as tablets of 10mg in packs of 100 tablets.

Treating nausea with Motilium

Domperidone, which is the active ingredient of motilium, is used to treat nausea and vomiting, as well as other symptoms of stomach problems, such as the feeling of bloating, fullness, heartburn and flatulence that cause discomfort. Motilium is an antiemetic medication that works by blocking the action of the chemical messenger dopamine in the brain and in the upper intestine, and this prevents vomiting and restores the natural rhythm of the digestive system.

How does Motilium help with breastfeeding?

If you are having trouble producing enough breast milk you can use Motilium to help with breastfeeding. Domperidone 10mg, the active ingredient of Motilium, increases blood levels of the hormone prolactin, which stimulates milk production in a new mother’s breast cells. This is an indirect result of blocking the chemical messenger dopamine, which is also how Motilium prevents nausea and vomiting. Motilium does pass from your blood into your breast milk, however, it is present in small amounts and there is no indication that it will harm your baby. Motilium has fewer side effects than metoclopramide, which is another medication used for stomach problems that also stimulates milk production. You should notice an increase in breast milk production approx 3 to 4 days after commencing Motilium and there is no harm in taking the product long term or throughout the time you are breastfeeding.

Motilium for increasing breast milk production

Motilium can be used to increase your breast milk production as it has been found to increase blood levels of the hormone prolactin, which stimulates milk production in a new mother’s breast cells. This is an indirect result of blocking the chemical messenger dopamine, which is also how Motilium prevents nausea and vomiting. Motilium does pass from your blood into your breast milk, however, it is present in small amounts and there is no indication that it will harm your baby. Motilium has fewer side effects than metoclopramide, which is another medication used for stomach problems that also stimulates milk production.

What are the side effects of Motilium?

Although it is unlikely that you will experience side effects from taking Motilium, there are some that are more common, such as headache, abdominal cramps and dry mouth. Because Motilium does not cross the blood brain barrier it does not cause what are known as extrapyramidal side effects, like convulsion and involuntary muscle actions that can be associated with some dopamine blocking medications. However, for the same reason Motilium can increase the production of the hormone prolactin, which stimulates breast milk secretion, and this can cause breast enlargement (gynaecomastia) and temporary stoppage of periods (amenorrhoea). These side effects will stop as soon as you stop taking Motilium.

When should Motilium not be used?

You should not use Motilium if you:

• have a known hypersensitivity to domperidone or any of the other components
• have an intolerance to lactose, a lactose malabsorption or a genetic disorder leading to accumulation of galactose in the blood (galactosaemia), as lactose is used to coat the tablets
• are taking another medication that may interact with Motilium and prevent one or both drugs working effectively, such as ketoconazole, fluconazole or voriconazole which is used to treat fungal infections; antibiotic containing erythromycin, clarithromycin or telithromycin; amiodarone, which is used to treat fast heart rate.
• have a condition where increasing gut motility could be harmful, such as gastrointestinal haemorrhage, mechanical obstruction or a perforation
• have a kidney or liver condition than causes impairment of renal or hepatic function
• have a pituitary tumour that causes over-production of prolactin (prolactinoma).

How should Motilium be taken?

You should take Motilium tablets 10mg swallowed whole with a glass of water 15 to 30 minutes before meals. If you are over 16, you can take a tablet three times a day and at bedtime, if necessary.
To increase breastmilk the usual dosage recommended by lactation consultants is up to TWO tablets FOUR times a day.
The dose you take and for how long depends on what you are being treated for and your doctor’s recommendation.

Motilium missed dose

If you miss a dose of Motilium 10, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Motilium be stored?

Store Motilium at room temperature and keep away from direct sunlight.

Where can you buy Motillium?

Motillium (correctly spelt Motilium) is a common misspelling of the antiemetic medication which is used to treat nausea and vomiting and help relieve symptoms of bloating and fullness that cause discomfort when your digestive system is out of rhythm. Motilium 10 can also be used to relieve symptoms of nausea caused by some medications, such as anti-cancer drugs. Another use for Motilium is to increase breast milk production, as a side effect of its intended use. You can buy Motillium (correctly spelt Motilium) online at InhouseChemist.vu.