Domperidone antagonizes bromoergocriptine--induced nausea and vomiting without affecting its inhibition of prolactin secretion in puerperal women.

In the present study, 122 post puerperal women received at random bromoergocriptine, domperidone, bromoergocriptine plus domperidone or placebo treatment. Domperidone started 20-24 h after delivery and given for 10 or 15 days did not antagonize either the decrease in serum PRL induced by bromoergocriptine or the inhibition of lactation. It did suppress nausea and vomiting in the patients. The results are compatible with the idea that domperidone binds with a higher affinity than bromoergocriptine to DA (dopamine) receptors in the area postrema or the stomach. The converse phenomenon occurs at the level of the DA receptors on the PRL- secreting cells of the anterior pituitary gland.