Vestibular pharmacology of domperidone in rabbits and man

Domperidone, administered to rabbits, is able t reduce the duration of a rotation-induced nystagmus. In human volunteers a similar effect was found in a double-blind study, in which single doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg were given orally. As electronystagmographic recordings were made during the rotation test at different time intervals after drug intake, the different dosages became comparable. The reduction of the nystagmus duration proved to be dose-dependent, whereas the peak velocity of the slow nystagmus component remained unchanged. The strongest effect of the drug appeared 60 min after intake, the effect lasted about 4 h. A mechanism of action different from that of cinnarizine and flunarizine is assumed because these drugs likewise influence the duration and the slow velocity component of nystagmus.