Stopping domperidone

[MissyLissa]

I'm coming up to my 6 week mark on the drug and I've increased my dose to 160 mg a day so I think it's safe to say that it didn't work for me. Do I need to wean off the medication or can I just quit since it didn't increase my supply at all?

[Megan73]

Dr. Newman – the breastfeeding expert who really pioneered the use of domperidone for lactation – suggests gradually weaning off it even if you don't think it's done any good.
Here's the handout:
http://www.drjacknewman.com/help/Dom...20Stopping.asp
I've been taking it for more than eight months and have no idea if it's done any good but was too afraid to stop. I'm now gradually weaning off, dropping one pill a day every week. I was taking 90 mg a day and am now at 70 and haven't noticed any change in supply.

[indeospero]

I wanted to echo the pp in saying that it is recommended to wean slowly from the domperidone (dropping one pill every 4-7 days). I also wanted to add that many mamas, even when weaning slowly, experience some mood wonkiness when coming off of domperidone. I felt very sad and listless for a week or two. This is just temporary and not really severe; but I wanted to mention it so that if you experience this, you will know why. Good luck!

[Megan73]

Originally Posted by indeospero

I felt very sad and listless for a week or two. This is just temporary and not really severe; but I wanted to mention it so that if you experience this, you will know why. Good luck!

I AM feeling this way – good to know why. Thanks, Meg.

[zakoh02]

I just stopped it cold turkey after taking it for two months (experienced mood swings and weight gain) and my supply has tanked. I wish I would have weaned off of it.

[spughy]

I took domperidone for 18 months (90 mg per day - 3 X 10 mg, 3 x per day) and it DID very much help my supply. When I went off it I didn't notice a decrease in supply until I got down to 20 mg per day, then it was quite dramatic. I don't know if the "sudden drop-off" is typical but it's what happened for me.

[Crankerton]

All I can say is goooo slooooow ...

I was on Domperidone with my first child (and am using it for my second now). One time, I mistimed my shipment and ended up having to take less for a few days to make it last. I was a crying mess. We also weaned slowly, but by the end of breastfeeding, I was crying and so sad and very tired by the end.

On a related note, this time around, after i started on the Dom, I started to feel like a whole different person -- Like my pre-pregnancy self. Very energetic and it was like a mental fog had lifted!!! I talked to my OB about it and asked some questions. I knew that Dom has the effect of raising prolactin. He thought that it might have counteracted my estrogen levels. He also said that prolactin has an effect on the pituitary gland. Either of these might be contributing factors. It would stand to reason that this might have been why I was feeling lousy when breastfeeding was ending last time.

Just go slow!