Recent findings from the European Medicines Agency have led to a pivotal update in the usage guidelines for the heartburn drug Motilium, also known as domperidone, by the UK's MHRA. The drug now faces restrictions due to links with cardiac complications and fatalities, particularly when misused for non-recommended conditions like heartburn or bloating.
March 2024 — Motilium (domperidone) safety alert
In March 2024 we published an urgent advisory after the European Medicines Agency shared new safety data and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency updated its guidance. The headline: Motilium, also known as domperidone, now faces tighter limits because of links to serious heart problems and some deaths when it was used outside recommended conditions.
What changed in March 2024
The EMA review found a higher risk of cardiac issues with domperidone in certain situations. The MHRA responded by restricting where and how it can be used. Regulators were especially concerned about people taking it for simple heartburn or bloating, off-label uses, higher than recommended doses, or alongside other drugs that affect heart rhythm.
Why does this matter? Domperidone can lengthen the QT interval in the heart rhythm in some people. That can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias. The risk rises with higher doses, older age, pre-existing heart conditions, and when combined with some antifungals, antibiotics, or other medicines that block the same metabolic pathway.
What you should do now
Are you taking Motilium or buying it over the counter? Don’t stop it abruptly without talking to your doctor or pharmacist. If you use domperidone for nausea, check with your prescriber whether you still need it under the new rules. Ask about safer alternatives such as antacids, H2 blockers, or proton pump inhibitors for heartburn, and other antiemetics for nausea.
Watch for warning signs — palpitations, fainting, dizziness, rapid or irregular heartbeat. If you get any of these symptoms, seek medical help right away. Also mention any heart condition or if you take medicines like erythromycin, ketoconazole, some antidepressants, or certain antipsychotics — these can raise domperidone's risk.
Pharmacists can help you review your medicines. They can check interactions and advise whether a dose change or an alternative drug is safer. If you were using domperidone off-label, for example to boost milk supply, speak to a clinician about safer options and monitored use.
We posted a full report titled "Urgent Health Advisory: Restricting Motilium Usage Due to Heart-Related Fatalities" in March 2024. That article summarizes EMA findings and the MHRA update and lists practical next steps for patients and prescribers.
If you want up-to-date official guidance, check the MHRA and EMA sites or ask a healthcare professional. Reporting side effects helps regulators spot problems faster, so report any suspected adverse reactions to your national reporting system.
Questions? Use our site to read the full advisory or contact your pharmacist. Your safety matters — make sure any medication you take matches current guidance and your personal risk profile.