047: Ask Dr. Nice: Safety and Side Effects of Domperidone

Breastfeeding Outside the Box

In the US, it is natural that we have a lot of concerns about the safety and side effects of domperidone. Our Food & Drug Administration has not yet approved this medication (see episode #4 for more on that) so parents are generally obtaining it without a doctor's or certified nurse midwife's prescription*. That also means that the pharmacist is not able to oversee use of domperidone and how it plays out with other medications that the nursing parent is taking. That is our unfortunate reality today. With this in mind, it is essential that parents and lactation professionals understand and take responsibility for possible contraindications and side effects associated with domperidone. We are extremely fortunate once again to bend the hear of one of the most expert resources on safety and use of pharmaceuticals while breastfeeding, Dr. Frank Nice.