The effects of domperidone on gastric emptying of liquid in man

1 The effects of domperidone (20 mg) i.v. and saline i.v. on gastric emptying of 500 ml of fluid have been compared in a blind study in six normal male volunteers. 2 Gastric emptying was measured by real-time ultrasound. 3 Domperidone significantly reduced the volume in the stomach 5 min after the drink (domperidone 306 +/- 17 ml, saline 404 +/- 31 ml, P less than 0.02). 4 Domperidone had no significant effect on the half-life of gastric emptying measured between 5 and 60 min (T1/2 domperidone 21.2 +/- 1.17 min, T1/2 saline 21.3 +/- 1.58 min). 5 A similar pattern of gastric emptying to that produced by domperidone could be produced by giving a drink of a smaller volume.