The limited pharmacological treatment options for gastroparesis—domperidone and metoclopramide—are associated with known safety concerns. |
This review and meta-analysis of clinical trial and real-world evidence demonstrated that serious cardiovascular, endocrine, and extrapyramidal adverse events (AEs) were commonly experienced by patients treated with these drugs. |
Cardiovascular and endocrine AEs, such as QTc prolongation and hyperprolactinemia, were more frequently reported following treatment with domperidone than for metoclopramide, whereas extrapyramidal events, such akathisia and tardive dyskinesia, were reported more frequently following treatment with metoclopramide. |
The profile of AEs induced by domperidone and metoclopramide ranged across 13 organ system categories; however, complete data on the AEs actively measured and observed in patients were lacking. To improve patient care, future research should improve the reporting of the AEs experienced by patients receiving these treatments. |
1 Introduction
2 Methods
2.1 Eligibility Criteria and Study Selection
2.2 Information Sources and Search Strategy
2.3 Screening and Eligibility Assessment
2.4 Data Extraction and Data Items
2.5 Meta-analysis
3 Results
3.1 Study and Patient Characteristics
Study | Study design | Years of enrollment | N analyzed for AEs | Age (years), mean (SD)a | Females (%) | Etiology of gastroparesis | Treatment (ROA), dose, schedule | Comparison treatment | Treatment duration |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Domperidone | |||||||||
Clinical trials | |||||||||
Braun, 1989 [32] | RCT, crossover designb USA | NR | 20 (domperidone/placebo; entire study) 13 (domperidone/ placebo; crossover phase following a run-in period) | Adults; 51 (range 26–66) | 67 | DM type 1: 100% | Domperidone (oral), 10–20 mg, 4 ×/day | Placebo | 1 month (crossover phase) |
Danielli et al. 2014 [36] | Non-RCT, crossover design Israel | NR | 8 (domperidone) | Adults, NR | NR | DM type 2: 100% | Domperidone (oral), 20 mg, 4 ×/day | Acupuncture [comparator not of interest] | 12 weeks |
Davis et al. 1988 [23] | RCT, parallel design USA | NR | 9 (domperidone) 7 (placebo) | Adults; 57 (10) | 88 | Idiopathic: 100% | Domperidone (oral), 20 mg, 4 ×/day | Placebo | 6 weeks |
Heckert and Parkman 2018 [37]c | Non-RCT, single-arm trial USA | 2015–2016 | 34 (domperidone) | Adults; 44 (18) | 100 | DM: 15%; idiopathic: 85% | Domperidone (oral), 10 mg, 3 ×/day | NA | 36.9 (7.6) days |
Patterson et al. 1999 [27]d | RCT, parallel design USA | NR | 45 (metoclopramide) 48 (domperidone) | Adults; median 39 (range 19–69) | 65 | DM type 1: 100% | Metoclopramide (oral), 10 mg, 4 ×/day | Domperidone (Oral), 20 mg, 4 ×/day | 4 weeks |
Silvers et al. 1998 [30]e | RCT, parallel design USA | NR | 286 (domperidone; run-in phase) 105 (domperidone; RCT phase) 103 (placebo; RCT phase) | Adults; domperidone: 45 (13), placebo: 45 (12) | Domperidone: 68 Placebo: 69 | DM type 1: 100% | Domperidone (oral), 20 mg, 4×/day | Placebo | 4 weeks [Run-in phase]; 4 weeks [RCT phase] |
Observational studies | |||||||||
Field et al. 2019 [44] | Retrospective USA | 2012–2017 | 398 | Adults; 46 (17) | 86 | NRf | Domperidone (oral), 10 mg, 3–4 ×/day | NA | NR |
Horowitz et al. 1985 [42] | Prospective Australia | NR | 12 | Adults; 43 (NR) | 50 | DM Type 1: 100% | Domperidone (oral), 20 mg, 3 ×/day | NA | Mean: 1 month |
Kochet al. 1989 [50] | Case series USA | NR | 6 | Adults; NR (range 22–65) | 50 | DM Type 1: 100% | Domperidone (oral), 20 mg, 4 ×/day | NA | 6 months |
Kozarek 1990 [45] | Retrospective USA | NR | 57 | Adults; median 39 (19–78) | 68 | DM: 100% | Domperidone (oral), 40–80 mg, 4 ×/day | NA | Median: 246 days |
Molino et al. 1987 [51] | Case series Italy | NR | 12 | Adults; 38.8 (7.1) | 17 | Post-surgery: 100% | Domperidone (oral), 10 mg. 3 ×/day | NA | 4 weeks |
Ortiz et al. 2015 [46] | Retrospective USA | 2009–2013 | 37 | Adults; 40 (range 18–70) | 69 | DM: 45%; idiopathic: 36%; non-gastroparesis: 19% | Domperidone (oral), 10–40 mg, 4 ×/day | NA | Mean 8 months (range 3 months to 4 years) |
Parkman et al. 2011 [48] | Cross-sectional USA | NR | 48 | Adults; 42 (16) | 83 | DM: 19%; idiopathic: 81% | Domperidone (oral), 10–30 mg, 4 ×/day | NA | Range: 2 months to 2 years |
Schey et al. 2016 [40] | Prospective USA | 2014–2015 | 115 | Adults; 41 (17) | 90 | DM: 14%; idiopathic: 77%; post-surgery: 8%; NR: 1% | Domperidone (oral), 10 mg, 3–4 ×/day | NA | 2.4 (2.7) months |
Soykan et al. 1997 [41] | Prospective USA | NR | 17 | Adults; 43 (NR) | 76 | DM: 18%; idiopathic: 70%; post-surgery: 12% | Domperidone (oral), 20 mg, 4 ×/day | NA | 48 (range 6–48) months |
Metoclopramide | |||||||||
Clinical trials | |||||||||
Erbas et al. 1993 [33] | RCT, crossover design Turkey | NR | 13 (metoclopramide/erythromycin) | Adults; 47 (16) | 69 | DM type 1: 38%; DM type 2: 62% | Metoclopramide (oral), 10 mg, 3 ×/day | Erythromycin (oral), 250 mg, 3 ×/day | 3 weeks |
McCallum et al. 1983 [24] | RCT, parallel design USA | NR | 20 (metoclopramide) 24 (placebo) | Adults; metoclopramide :40 (range 21–63), placebo: 42 (range 28–67) | Metoclopramide: 55 Placebo: 77 | DM: 100% | Metoclopramide (oral), 10 mg, 4 ×/day | Placebo | 3 weeks |
McClelland and Horton 1978 [31] | RCT, parallel design USA | 1976–1978 | 8 (metoclopramide); 9 (placebo) | Adults; 51 (NR) | 10 | Post-surgery: 100% | Metoclopramide (oral),g 10 mg, 4 ×/day | Placebo | 3–27 months |
Parkman et al. 2014 [25] | RCT, parallel design USA | NR | 89 (metoclopramide) | Adults; mean range across metoclopramide arms: 54–56 | % Range across metoclopramide arms:46–64 | DM type 1: 8%; DM type 2: 92% | Metoclopramide (nasal spray) 10 mg and 20 mg, 1 spray in each nostril, 4 ×/day | Metoclopramide (oral), 10 mg, 4 ×/day | 6 weeks |
Parkman et al. 2015 [26] | RCT, parallel design USA | NR | 190 (metoclopramide) 95 (placebo) | Adults; mean range across metoclopramide arms: 50–52 | % Range across metoclopramide arms: 67–74 | DM type 1: 18%; DM type 2: 83% | Metoclopramide (nasal spray) 10 mg and 14 mg, 1 spray in each nostril, 4 ×/day | Placebo | 28 days |
Patterson et al. 1999 [27]h | RCT, parallel design USA | NR | 45 (metoclopramide) 48 (domperidone) | Adults; median 39 (range 19–69) | 65 | DM type 1: 100% | Metoclopramide (oral), 10 mg, 4 ×/day | Domperidone (oral), 20 mg, 4 ×/day | 4 weeks |
RCT, parallel design USA | NR | 40 (metoclopramide) 40 (placebo) | Adults; mean range across metoclopramide and placebo arms: 42–45 | % Range across metoclopramide and placebo arms: 80–86 | DM: 9%: idiopathic: 49%; post-surgery: 36% [28] DM: 18%: idiopathic: 68%; post-surgery: 14% [29] | Metoclopramide (oral), 10 mg, 4 ×/day | Placebo | 3 weeks | |
Ricci et al. 1985 [34] | RCT, crossover design USA | NR | 13 (metoclopramide/placebo) | Adults; 44 (range 24–73) | 54 | DM type 1: 100% | Metoclopramide (oral), 10 mg, 4 ×/day | Placebo | 3 weeks |
Stadaas and Aune, 1972 [35] | RCT, crossover design Norway | NR | 10 (metoclopramide/carbachol/placebo) | Adults; NR | 33 | Post-surgery: 100% | Metoclopramide (oral), 20 mg, 3 ×/day | Carbachol (oral), 2 mg, 3 ×/day; placebo | 2 weeks |
Observational studies | |||||||||
Hitch et al. 1982 [38] | Prospective USA | NR | 9 | Children; NR | NR | Idiopathic: 22%; neuropathic: 78% | Metoclopramide (IV load, then oral), 10 mg (max, 3–4 ×/day | NA | Range: 2–4 weeks |
McCallum et al. 1991 [39] | Prospective USA | NR | 10 | Adults; 41 (14) | 50 | DM: 40%; idiopathic: 20%; post-surgery: 40% | Metoclopramide (SC), 10 mg, 3 ×/day | NA | 3 days |
Parkman et al. 2012 [49] | Cross-sectional USA | NR | 100 | Adults; 43 (14) | 76 | DM: 34%; idiopathic: 63%; post-surgery: 3% | Metoclopramide (NR), NR | NA | 1.1 (1.7) years |
Roe et al. 2017 [47] | Retrospective USA | 2011–2014 | 57 | Adults; 49 (16) | 77 | DM: 39% [relevant treatment arm only] | Metoclopramide (IV and/or oral), NR | NA | NR |
Schade et al. 1985 [43] | Prospective USA | NR | 12 | Adults; 45.4 (3.6) | NR | DM type 1: 100% | Metoclopramide (oral), 10 mg, 3 ×/day | NA | 4 weeks |
3.2 Treatment Characteristics
3.3 Adverse Events of Domperidone and Metoclopramide
Organ system categories of AEs | Number of studies | Clinical trials with comparison groups |
---|---|---|
Blood and lymphatic system event | 1 clinical trial [25] | |
Cardiovascular event | ||
Dermatologic event | 1 clinical trial [30] 1 observational study [45] | 1 clinical trial [30] |
Endocrine event | ||
Gastrointestinal event | ||
Infections and infestations | ||
Metabolism and nutrition event | 1 clinical trial [25] | 1 clinical trial [23] |
Musculoskeletal event | 1 clinical trial [30] | 1 clinical trial [30] |
Neurologic events/non-extrapyramidal | ||
Neurologic events/extrapyramidal event | ||
Non-specific event | ||
Psychiatric event | ||
Respiratory event | 1 observational study [40] |
Organ system categories of AEs | Evidence base—qualitative synthesis | Occurrence of AEs (%)—most and least frequent | |
---|---|---|---|
Domperidone | Comparator | ||
Cardiovascular events | 1 clinical trial [37] | Palpitations: 15% Chest pain: 3% | NAa |
QTc prolongation: 1–27%b Syncope: 1% | |||
Neurologic events/ non-extrapyramidal events | Somnolence/drowsiness: 3–29% Dizziness: 2–3% | Placebo Headache: 6% Dizziness: 1% Domperidone: NR | |
Headache: 4–8% Anxiety: 1% | |||
Neurologic/ extrapyramidal events | 1 clinical trial [27] | Akathisia: 22% | Metoclopramide Akathisia: 36% |
1 observational study [40] | Hand tremor: 1% Restlessness: 1% | ||
Endocrine events | Prolactin-related symptoms and Hyperprolactinemia: 2–100% Menstrual bleeding: 6% | Placebo Hyperprolactinemia: 14% Bilateral breast tenderness: 1% Metoclopramide Prolactin related symptoms: 7% Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia: 1–6% | |
Hyperprolactinemia: 100% Breast discharge: 2% |
Organ system categories of AEs | Evidence base—qualitative synthesis | Occurrence of AEs (%)—most and least frequent | |
---|---|---|---|
Metoclopramide | Comparator | ||
Cardiovascular events | 1 clinical trial [33] | Palpitations: 8% | Erythromycin: NR |
1 observational study [47] | QT prolongation:a 30% | ||
Neurologic events/ non-extrapyramidal events | Somnolence/drowsiness: 6–49% Headache: 2–17% | Placebo Drowsiness: 9% Dizziness: 1–2% Erythromycin: NR Domperidone: Somnolence/drowsiness: 3–29% Dizziness: 2–3% | |
CNS effects such as restlessness, tremor, fatigue, and insomnia (mild): 40% Seizures: 2% | |||
Neurologic/ extrapyramidal events | Akathisia: 36% Tremors: 8% | Placebo Domperidone Akathisia: 22% | |
Muscle twitching, akathisia, uncontrolled movements (composite) and restlessness: 11%, each Parkinsonism symptoms and tardive dyskinesia: 2%, each | |||
Endocrine events | Prolactin-related symptoms: 7% Hyperglycemia: 1–3% | Placebo Hyperprolactinemia: 14% Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia: 1% each Domperidone Prolactin-related symptoms and hyperprolactinemia: 2–100% Menstrual bleeding: 6% | |
0 observational studies | – | – |