Switching from (120mg/day) Domperidone to ...something else that works...?

[germin8]

So I've been on domperidone and this drug has helped increase my supply only slightly. I'm on 120mg/day, and I still supplement A LOT!!!
An RN said some people go as high as 200 mg/day. Will my milk increase more if I take a higher dosage? The problem is the midwives (CNMs) I am seeing say that I am already on the maximum dosage?!?! Should I get a 2nd opinion?

Should I switch drugs...? Is there a chance they could work better for me...?
Has anyone switched? To what?

For those that have switched, did you have to pump more to increase your supply? I'm currently pumping 2 to 5 times a day. It worked the 6 weeks I tried it, but then I had to slow down and my supply went down. It's just so hard to be committed and pumping all the time!

[irsheyez76]

I am having the same issue and was wondering about going up to 200mg

[Megan73]

I've heard of women taking 160 mg/day –*check out Dr. Newman's Clinic BF site. I think it's worth a try.
But is baby draining the breast REALLY well at each feeding? I'd suggest pumping more often and with a hospital-grade pump if not. I know it's exhausting but the dom can't work without demand, too.
Hang in there, mama.

[germin8]

People often say to check out Dr. Newman's website. I did read that the dosage can go up to 160mg/day... but are people doing this without prescription? Are they doing this on there own?

[Megan73]

Dr. Newman is in Canada, where domperidone is available by prescription, and he's prescribing these dosages.
But as I said, I wouldn't focus too much on the dosage – demand is key.
If I recall correctly from your other threads, your babe is demanding a really high-flow supp tube which suggests transfer may be a big issue. While you work on that flow preference, you really need to be pumping a lot, no matter how much dom you're taking.

[Somemyrrh]

I take Dom and twelve fenugreek capsules/ day. The combo maxes out my low supply, whereas one or the other is less effective.

[germin8]

Megan73, Yes... I have a slow flow. Thank you for the reminder about needing to pump.

Somemyrrh, I'm thinking of switching from tincture to ground fenugreek. I wondered if doing combos worked better or not.

[Mnkymma]

I was taking 150mg of Dom and 9-12 fenugreek capsules/day for a long time to be able to feed my son about a 75% supply of BM and 25% formula supplement. Right around when he was a year old and we stopped the formula supplements, I tried More Milk Plus with Goats Rue and had a very noticeable increase in my supply. I was able to decrease the fenugreek and Dom a lot and the More Milk Plus became my main galactagogue. I wish I had tried it sooner!

[April Dawn]

OP, how long have you been on domperidone? It can take up to six weeks to see the full effects of it.

Edited by April Dawn - 7/5/11 at 11:23pm

[germin8]

I have been on domperidone for 3 months now. Yes, less than 6 weeks into it, my supply had increased (w/ pumping). I would wake up in the early, early hours of the morning and feel full. I would say, I went from a 10% to <50% supply (but I have such a slow, weak flow I have to pump to maintain, baby won't suckle it out alone). Then, I returned to work for ~3 weeks (to give my resignation) and my routine was affected... my supply did not improve nor maintain. I practically gave up. So, I'm back at it again... pumping daytime hours... and sometimes at night. I think I can get back to where I was before if I don't give up (oh, so hard to be motivated)... but, the slow flow makes it difficult to nurse from breast alone. Fortunately, I think I just discovered jicama helps move my milk some! I saw BOTH my breasts dripping after eating jicama twice. I never dripped from my right breast before! Although, the lady at the health store said to try Guinness Beer (I don't drink alcohol!).

Mnkymma, you were on both fenugreek & More Milk Plus... I will have to try that! I'm on dom, More Milk Plus(MMP), & Goat's Rue also... I'm considering switching from MMP to ground fenugreek. Glad to know it worked better for you... I'm just trying "almost everything".

[Megan73]

I need to clarify. I think it's unlikely you have "slow flow" – although it's quite possible to have slow letdown – I think it's more likely your baby either has problems transferring milk or has become accustomed to fast flow, either from a bottle or the larger-size supp tubes or both.
An IBCLC can likely help you with this. Hang in there, mama.

[germin8]

Well, I guess slow flow is slow letdown (in my mind)... I'll use slow letdown.

But, I don't think there are problems with transfer... because at 5AM-ish DD can nurse VERY WELL without SNS. That's the only time I have a decent supply... although, lately it decreased some since DD slept right through it a few times and I didn't pump, so I haven't had a good supply and now I am working on building that up again. But, really... DD had no problems during those times!!! There was nothing slow about that... no problems transferring... I could hear DD swallow away! So, I truly believe my slow let-down is THE problem... when it's not 3AM-5AM.

ADDED: Plus, there are times during the day where DD won't take breast alone (b/c too slow), yet I can pump an ounce out of them.

I've switched from More Milk Plus to fenugreek powder... we'll see how that goes! Hopefully I can smell like maple syrup soon. And, I've started pumping more... I've been motivated lately... hopefully, it will stay that way. If this doesn't work... I will wonder again if I should UP my domperidone. I'll keep you posted...

[Somemyrrh]

If I drink a stout beer (actually, it only takes about 3 oz. Of beer for me), I have a much faster letdown. If I drink an entire beer, I actually leak, which is unusual for my 1 oz supply.

[maribrooklyn]

Hi mama!

I am a low supply mama as well and just wanted to add my support...hang in there! It's fabulous that you are trying so hard to provide bm for your little one. I am almost 9 months into bfing my second and it's the hardest thing I've ever done. I've never heard of anyone taking more than 160 mg/dpd so please be careful with that. I stopped dpd around month 6 and now take fenugreek, blessed thistle, occasionally barley grass and nettles, and goat's rue and/or shatavari. They all seem to do the same thing for me, so I can't really advise on that.

Keep it up!!!

[germin8]

Thanks, maribrooklyn.