PROPOFOL (Comment)

Neonatal Formulary 5 DOMPERIDONE (Comment) Might use trigger a dangerous arrhythmia ? Domperidone has never been licensed for use in North America, but it is now widely available and widely prescribed in Europe, particularly to treat the vomiting that often accompanies gastroenteritis in children (Pfeil et al., 2008), even though its main effect is to enhance gut motility. It has also been used for some years in the management of gastro-oesophageal reflux, even though there is, as yet, no good quality evidence that it does much measurable good (Pritchard et al., 2005), and such use became significantly more common after cisapride was eventually withdrawn from the market a few years after it was first shown to affect cardiac conduction, increase the QT conduction time and occasionally cause a potentially devastating arrhythmia (Wyowski, et al. 2001). The four controlled trials of use for reflux in young children reviewed by Pritchard et al. were all conducted at least 15 years ago. Only the first trial by Clara, published in 1979, claimed to uncover evidence of significant symptomatic relief. This was a relatively small two week study of 32 children two and a half months to ten years old (mean age 5 years). In half the 14 patients receiving active treatment in this study benefit was only achieved after the initial dose (300 micrograms/kg three times a day) was doubled. Two further trials involving 47 children (De Loore and Ravenstayn, 1979) and 17 ...