Childhood is the happiest time of a person’s life. But along with a lot of fun, you need to be aware about a lot of diseases which may occur due to some unhealthy habits or may be other reasons. So, to help you with this here we are with another write-up to brief you about a health problem reflux and  a medicine called domperidone which is given to kids suffering from reflux.

A Guide for Domperidone for Reflux in Children

What is Reflux in Children?

Reflux is a health condition in kids in which the food in the stomach comes back into the esophagus (this is the food pipe which carries food from the mouth to the stomach). This condition can arise due to several reasons. So, in order to rescue your kid from this disease, you can give him a dose of Domperidone. This medicine increases the movement of food through the stomach and the intestine.

Now that you know that this medicine can be of great help to you, you will surely like to know about the uses, side effects, precautions and dosage of this medicine in case your kid suffers from reflux. Let’s dive in deeper into the details.

Dosage of Domperidone in Children

Well Well Well! When we talk about how much of a certain medicine should be given to your child in a certain situation, who could be a better help than your child’s doctor. Yes, domperidone dosage should be given to your child exactly as the doctor suggests. We must also make sure that the medicine is given at the same time everyday. Another point to keep in mind is that in case of reflux, we must give a dose of domperidone to the child 30 minutes before the meal.

For children under 12 years and weighing less than 35 kg the recommended dosage of domperidone as an oral suspension is 0.25 mg/kg(0.11 mg/lb)  for three times a day. So, the maximum dosage per day is 0.75 mg/kg per day.

In case the weight of the child is different, you can easily calculate the dosage for children using the weight based dose calculator to calculate the appropriate dosage as per the weight of your child.

Uses of Domperidone in Children

Reflux is basically a condition in which the movement of food is disrupted and domperidone is a medicine which increases the movement throughout the digestive system. So, domperidone is used to treat the symptoms of stomach disorder. Thus, it also reduces the effect of reflux in kids.

It is also used to prevent nausea and vomiting which are caused by certain medications. But, it is avoided by breastfeeding mothers due to certain safety concerns.

Side Effects of Domperidone in Children

Like the two sides of a coin, every medicine has some benefits as well as some side effects. The side effects do not affect everyone who takes this medicine, but some people may suffer from temporary or serious side effects due to this medicine.  So your child may have the following side effects due to this medicine:

Diarrhoea in Children

Diarrhoea can be one of the aftereffects of giving domperidone to your child as it affects the digestive system. Drinking a lot of water can help you ease this problem.

Headache as a side effect to Domperidone in Children

A mild headache may arise in the first few days as a side effects of this medicine but it subsides slowly. In case this condition prolongs you must consult your child’s  doctor.

Dizziness

Sitting back for a while when you feel dizzy can be a solution to this or else your child may faint.

Dry mouth

If you have dry mouth due to this medicine just eat some citrus fruits or toffee or chew a chewing-gum.

Nausea as a side effect to Domperidone in Chldren

 If you avoid spicy and rich food, this condition may not arise.

Cramps

Cramps in the stomach or leg muscles can arise as a side effect of domperidone, consult your doctor if it persists.

Apart from these common side effects which may not have a lot of damage, there are some extremely serious side effects as well.

• Uneven or fast heartbeat
• Muscle spasm
• Rashes
• Hot flashes
• Trembling or shaking hands
• Confusion or nervousness
• Chest pain

So, in case any sign of these serious side effects appear in your child after giving a dose of domperidone you should consult the doctor immediately.

Precautions while using Domperidone for reflux in children

In order to avoid unnecessary problems, precautions are necessary. Here are some things you must keep in your mind before giving domperidone to your child.

• Make sure that you inform the doctor about the medical history of your child, so that he may be aware of any serious side effect of the medicine, so he will suggest some other medicine.
• In case your kid is taking any other medicine, you must inform the doctor about it so as to know if any precautionary step has to be taken.
• Avoid overdose and never double-up the dose.
• Store the medicine at room temperature between 15 to 30 degrees C.
• This medicine can make your child feel sleepy, so consider this fact before and after giving the medicine.
• Be aware of all the side effects of this medicine and learn about them from your doctor as well.

Conclusion

So, these were the facts related to the medicine domperidone and its effects, uses and side effects when it is given to kids for curing reflux. I hope you must have got a brief idea about it. Also, it is always a safe take to check with your doctor before you give any medicine to your kid as the medicine which is supposed to ease his problems, may create severe problems for him. Smart Care! Happy Childhood!

References

https://chealth.canoe.com/drug/getdrug/dom-domperidone

https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=126&language=English