Indigestion – when ulcers Pills don’t work – Think Nocturnal Bile Reflex – Helped by Domperidone

Chronic indigestion “dyspepsia” is a frequent medical problem and gets bad when ulcer pills fail to work. Now nighttime – bile reflux (regurgitation bile into stomach) may account for some. This is helped by agents that help bowel motility like Domperidone (motilium)

World J Gastroenterol. 2010 Feb 7;16(5):613-7.
Effect of domperidone therapy on nocturnal dyspeptic symptoms of functional
dyspepsia patients.
Chen SL, Ji JR, Xu P, Cao ZJ, Mo JZ, Fang JY, Xiao SD.
abstract here

  • They picked a group with nighttime aggravation symptoms
  • Put a tube down into stomach and found nighttime bile reflux from intestine into stomach
  • Found reflux decreased by domperidone as was dyspepsia symptoms.

Comment – domperidone is a nice drug – doesn’t enter brain so effects are peripheral. It would help with non-acid dyspepsia worse at night and first thing in AM..

 

addendum – can cause dangerous arrythmias at high dose if have ECG QT abnormalities – best get an ECG and avoid if have heart problems – sorry.

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