Domperidone

-a drug that can help a man lactate and cause cardiac arrest, do the beneifits outweigh the risks?

Aug 17, 2023, My wife tells me that the doctors at BC Children's Hospital want to start a new drug, Domperidone for our son, Theo Lim due to his excess bile secretions due to the overfeeding and unnecessary g-j tube procedure.  I printed out some information and ran to the hospital and gave my letter and a speech letting them know I do not consent to using this drug on my son and that they are very disrespectful if they push this new drug on him.  Nurse tells me Theo is under MCFD custody and I have no say in his medical treatment. 

How does domperidone work?

Domperidone blocks some of the body’s dopamine receptors, called D2 receptors. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, but it’s not just found in the brain. There are also D2 dopamine receptors in the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract, When domperidone blocks those receptors, it causes increased movement through the digestive system, relieving some gastrointestinal symptoms and treating nausea.

https://globalnews.ca/news/9457583/domperidone-canada-breastfeeding-explainer/

Domperidone blocks the substance on the brain that triggers nausea or vomiting and it also increases the movement of food in the stomach and intestine, thereby improves digestion.

Drug Class: Dopamine (D2) receptor antagonist-Prokinetic agent (Benzimidazole Derivative)

It raises the level of prolactin in the human body and is used to induce and promote breast milk production. 

What Does Prolactin Do?

Prolactin is a hormone that is necessary for breast milk production. It is made in the pituitary gland (a small gland at the base of the brain). Additionally, prolactin can affect levels of estrogen and testosterone in the body. Very high prolactin levels lead to low levels of estrogen and testosterone.

During the first year of life, the mean prolactin value for both boys and girls was approximately 10 ng ml. Mean prolactin levels for both male and female children, aged 2–12 years, were approximately 5 ng/ml. Mean levels for the adolescent female were not increased significantly over those for adolescent males. However, the mean prolactin level of all values determined for adult females (7.9 ± 0.40 ng/ml sem) was significantly increased (P < 0.001) over the mean level for adult males (5.2 ± 0.55 ng/ml, sem).

Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and at the InfantRisk Center at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center have documented cases of women who suffered severe anxiety, depression, intrusive disturbing thoughts and insomnia while trying to stop taking domperidone.

Are there other safety concerns about domperidone? Yes.

Health Canada has previously issued warnings about potential cardiac risks, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and sudden death associated with domperidone.

Domperidone Prescribing Practices Exposed Patients to Cardiac Risk despite a “Black Box” Warning: A Canadian Tertiary Care Center Study

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4904657/

In Canada, the product’s labelling includes a maximum recommended daily dose of 30 mg. Much higher doses, generally starting at 90 mg a day, are prescribed to promote lactation.

The FDA has banned domperidone altogether in the U.S - even for its intended use to treat gastrointestinal symptoms - because of concerns about cardiac risks.

CDC states that “Transgender and nonbinary-gendered individuals may give birth and breastfeed or feed at the chest (chestfeed).” CDC also responds to the question of “Can transgender parents who have had breast surgery breastfeed or chestfeed their infants?” with the one-word answer “Yes.”

What is the CDC male lactation drug?

“In order to enhance lactation, the CDC is encouraging these individuals to use Domperidone, a risky drug not legally approved or sold in the U.S. This dangerous medication has serious side effects that could pose life-threatening complications for adults and more so the infant.  Jul 6, 2023

Why does the medical team want to start my son on this dangerous drug?

Do they not know that he has a double outlet left ventricle with ventricular septal defect?

Why didn’t they do a swallow test before they did a G tube surgery?

Why did they have a 3.5hr feed and a 30 min break schedule after his G tube procedure and never changed it? 

Why did the requests of the parents to let his digestive system rest go unheeded?

Why did they do a GJ tube procedure 3 weeks after the G-tube surgery?

Do they have the best interests of my child or do they prefer to appease the billion dollar pharmaceutical corporations?

Is it ethically right for MCFD to remove all medical decision making from the parents?