Sandom

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Sandom

What is Sandom?

Sandom is a pharmaceutical formulation containing the active substance octreotide. It belongs to a class of medications known as somatostatin analogues. Octreotide is a synthetic version of somatostatin, a hormone naturally produced in the human body that inhibits the release of various hormones and affects digestive processes.

Mechanism of Action

Sandom works by mimicking the effects of natural somatostatin, but it remains active in the body for a longer duration. It binds to specific receptors on the surface of cells to reduce the secretion of certain hormones, including growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor. It also suppresses the release of various peptides produced in the gastrointestinal tract and the pancreas.

Primary Uses

Sandom is typically utilized in the management of specific endocrine and gastrointestinal conditions characterized by hormone overproduction. Its primary applications include:

  • Acromegaly: A condition where the body produces excessive amounts of growth hormone, leading to abnormal growth of tissues and bones.
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors: The management of symptoms associated with specific types of tumors, such as carcinoid tumors, which can cause flushing and diarrhea due to hormone secretion.
  • Prevention of Complications: It may be used to prevent complications following pancreatic surgery.

Therapeutic Goals

The goal of treatment with Sandom is to stabilize hormone levels and alleviate the clinical symptoms caused by their overproduction. By controlling these secretions, the medication helps in managing the progression of the underlying condition and improving the patient's quality of life.

What side effects are possible with Sandom?

Possible side effects and safety information

The safety profile of Sandom (Domperidone) is documented by regulatory agencies and classified by the physiological systems affected and the frequency of occurrence.

Frequency-Classified Adverse Reactions

The most frequently reported adverse reaction is Dry mouth, which is classified as Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people). Reactions classified as Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) include Headache, Dizziness, Diarrhoea, and effects related to the reproductive system, such as Galactorrhoea (unusual breast milk production) and Breast pain/tenderness. Other Uncommon effects are Anxiety, Agitation, Nervousness, Pruritus, and Urticaria.

System-Organ Class and Serious Safety Concerns

Adverse reactions are grouped into system-organ classes, including Gastrointestinal disorders, Nervous system disorders, and Reproductive system and breast disorders. The official documentation highlights the potential for Serious Ventricular Arrhythmias, QTc prolongation, and Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). Severe hypersensitivity reactions, such as Anaphylaxis, are also documented.

Population and Constraint-Specific Restrictions

Regulatory safety information specifies contraindications for certain patient groups. Sandom is contraindicated in individuals with moderate or severe hepatic impairment, known QTc prolongation, or underlying cardiac diseases (e.g., congestive heart failure). The risk of serious cardiac events is documented to increase with daily doses greater than 30 mg and has been noted as being higher in patients older than 60 years. The use of Sandom is also restricted for patients taking certain QT-prolonging drugs or potent CYP3A4 inhibitors.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

The official regulatory documents define the overdose profile of Sandom (Domperidone) by documenting specific clinical manifestations and mandating immediate emergency actions.


Documented Overdose Manifestations

Overdose exposure is formally documented to present with signs of central nervous system (CNS) disturbance. These include somnolence (drowsiness), agitation, disorientation, and an altered consciousness. The manifestation of extrapyramidal reactions is also officially noted as a potential consequence of overdose. In infants and children, these extrapyramidal reactions are specifically documented to occur more frequently.

Severe Outcomes and Emergency Actions

An overdose poses a serious, documented risk of affecting the cardiovascular system, potentially leading to arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythm) and, in severe cases, cardiac arrest. Due to these potential life-threatening outcomes, regulatory guidance explicitly requires individuals to seek immediate medical attention and to contact emergency services upon any suspicion of overdose.

Management of an overdose relies on symptomatic and supportive treatment. Official protocols may include measures such as the administration of activated charcoal or gastric lavage. Continuous ECG monitoring is required due to the documented cardiac risks. Regulators have documented that no specific antidote is known for Domperidone overdose.

Therapeutic Uses of Sandom

What Sandom Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Medications are often classified based on the symptomatic domains for which they are relevant. Sandom is applied across domains where additional symptomatic support is needed, including in situations involving general discomfort, systemic imbalance, or heightened physiological activity.


Short-Term Symptomatic Relief

Sandom may be relevant for easing symptom clusters associated with acute or episodic changes. It is generally applied when symptoms intensify, contributing to easing the overall symptom load through supportive relief when patients experience distress or discomfort.

“Sandom may assist with supportive relief when symptoms interfere with routine activities, helping patients cope more steadily with symptom fluctuations.”

Supporting Episodic Condition Management

Sandom may be part of symptomatic management in conditions characterized by periods of heightened symptoms and recurrent or episodic manifestations, such as when symptoms are linked to organ-specific functional stress or inflammatory states. It may assist with short-term symptom stabilization, which supports patients during difficult episodes of heightened discomfort.

Quick Fact: Relevant for Managing Intense Symptoms

Enhancing Daily Comfort and Stability

This medication is applied across domains where additional symptomatic support is needed when symptoms create noticeable physiological strain or interfere with daily functioning. It is relevant for easing physical discomfort, which supports patients during episodes that affect functional stability, and contributes to overall comfort during symptomatic phases.

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Sandom (domperidone) is an antiemetic medication used to relieve symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Its use is generally intended for adults and should be determined by a healthcare provider based on the specific condition and the patient's full medical history.

Who Can Typically Use Sandom?

  • Adults experiencing nausea and vomiting due to various causes, including chemotherapy or surgery, as prescribed by a physician.
  • Individuals with upper gastrointestinal motility disorders or dyspeptic symptom complex related to delayed gastric emptying.

Who Should Avoid Sandom?

Sandom is contraindicated in several situations where its use could be harmful. You must not take Sandom if you have:

  • A known allergy or hypersensitivity to domperidone or any of its ingredients.
  • Conditions where stimulating the digestive system could be dangerous, such as gastrointestinal hemorrhage, mechanical obstruction, or perforation.
  • A prolactin-releasing pituitary tumor (prolactinoma).
  • Moderate or severe liver impairment.
  • Certain significant heart conditions, particularly a prolonged QT interval or a history of heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias).

It is also generally not recommended for use in infants or for children due to a potential elevated risk of neurological side effects. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their doctor, as the drug's use is often discouraged unless the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

Sandom’s officially documented interaction profile is defined by risks related to its metabolism and its effect on cardiac function. The drug is primarily metabolized by the Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme.


Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Restrictions

Co-administration with several substance classes is formally contraindicated in regulatory labeling:

  • Potent CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Medicines such as systemic azole antifungals (e.g., ketoconazole) and certain macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin) are prohibited. These cause a pharmacokinetic interaction, significantly increasing Sandom’s plasma concentration by reducing its clearance.
  • QTc-Prolonging Medicinal Products: Combining Sandom with any medicine known to prolong the QTc interval (a pharmacodynamic interaction) is prohibited. This includes certain antibiotics, antipsychotics, and antidepressants, due to an additive risk of serious ventricular arrhythmias.

Administration and Substance Interactions

Regulatory documents specify timing constraints related to administration and other substances. Oral Sandom should be taken before meals; ingestion after a meal delays its absorption. Co-use with Grapefruit juice is not recommended as it can inhibit CYP3A4. Additionally, patients with severe renal impairment have a prolonged elimination half-life, which necessitates a reduction in the administration frequency to mitigate the risk of drug accumulation.

Mechanism of Action

Sandom functions as a peripheral dopamine receptor antagonist, primarily targeting D2 and D3 receptors. It exhibits selective accumulation in tissues outside the central nervous system, notably the gastrointestinal tract and the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ). In the upper gastrointestinal tract, the drug blocks the inhibitory signaling of dopamine on postganglionic cholinergic neurons within the myenteric plexus. This antagonism results in disinhibition of acetylcholine release and subsequent potentiation of cholinergic neurotransmission. The intracellular consequence is an increase in smooth muscle contraction. System-level physiological modulation includes enhancement of esophageal peristalsis, elevation of lower esophageal sphincter pressure, facilitation of gastric emptying, and acceleration of antral and duodenal peristalsis. Additionally, antagonism of D2 receptors in the CTZ, located outside the blood-brain barrier, modulates afferent signaling to the emetic center.

Dosage and Administration Information

Sandom (Domperidone) is administered via the oral route as tablets or suspensions, and in some regions, may be administered via the rectal route as suppositories. The medication's usage protocol is highly regulated, establishing clear limits on both dose and duration to define its short-term therapeutic role.

Standard Dosage and Frequency

The standard oral dosing for adults and adolescents weighing 35 kg or more is 10 mg per dose, taken up to three times daily. The total 30 mg daily limit represents the maximum recommended dose for this population. Doses must be spaced apart by approximately 8 hours.

Administration Timing and Preparation

Official instructions require the oral form to be taken 15 to 30 minutes before meals (preprandially), as administration after food may substantially delay the drug's absorption. When using liquid suspensions, a calibrated measuring device is required for accurate volumetric dosing. If a dose is missed, regulatory guidance instructs the user to skip the forgotten dose and resume the regular dosing schedule; a dose should not be doubled to compensate.

Duration and Adjustments

Administration is constrained to the shortest possible duration necessary to control symptoms and should not normally exceed 7 days. For specific populations, official documentation mandates adjustments: patients with severe renal impairment are instructed to have their dosing frequency reduced (e.g., to once or twice daily) due to prolonged elimination.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research evidence / Overview of studies for Sandom (Domperidone)

Research evidence for Sandom has been collected from clinical trials and observational studies that focus on both short-term changes in symptoms and longer-term measurements of functional gastrointestinal issues. This summary outlines what has been studied and where the research still has limitations, based only on official regulatory and scientific findings.


Evidence for Short-Term Relief of Nausea and Vomiting

Researchers studied Sandom primarily in trials exploring outcomes related to physical discomfort during acute symptoms of feeling sick and being sick (nausea and vomiting). The primary research evidence for this application includes short-term, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), where patients were randomly assigned to receive Sandom or a control substance like a placebo. These trials, along with systematic reviews that consolidate their data, focus on outcomes related to episodic or acute changes.

Study Focus: Acute Symptom Measures and Trial Designs

The trials were designed to measure changes in outcomes such as the frequency of vomiting episodes over very brief periods (e.g., 24 to 48 hours). In these short-term studies, findings describe patterns observed where the measured frequency of vomiting was observed in some studies to be lower in the studied adult and adolescent populations. The follow-up durations were limited, reflecting the acute nature of the symptoms the research was designed to address, which provides context but not individual predictions about symptom recurrence.


Evidence for Managing Chronic Gastrointestinal Motility Symptoms

Sandom was evaluated in studies for its use in exploring outcomes related to physical discomfort associated with chronic conditions, such as Gastroparesis, where symptoms arise from slow stomach movement. The evidence for this application relies significantly on observational cohort studies and older, smaller controlled trials, especially in patients with symptoms refractory to standard therapies.

Study Focus: Objective and Subjective Measurements in Chronic Conditions

Research examined changes in specialized symptom scales (such as those assessing fullness, early satiety, and persistent nausea) and, in some cases, objective markers like Gastric Emptying Time (GET). Studies reported patterns where patient reports described changes related to symptom severity scores over intermediate-to-long-term follow-up periods. However, the evidence contributes to the broader evidence landscape but is not as definitive as large, recent RCTs.


What Remains Uncertain About Sandom’s Research

There is limited information for long-term outcomes supported by large-scale, recent, double-blind, placebo-controlled RCTs, particularly for its use in chronic motility disorders. Findings from studies involving pediatric patients were mixed and evidence quality varies across studies, which introduces uncertainty. Because many of the trials are older and the sample sizes were modest, the evidence highlights what is known — and what is still uncertain regarding certain subgroups.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Sandom (FAQ)

Q: What is Sandom and what is it used for?

Sandom is a prescription medication used to manage certain autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions. It belongs to a class of drugs known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). It works by suppressing parts of the immune system that cause inflammation and tissue damage.

Q: How should I take Sandom?

Sandom is typically taken orally as a tablet. The dosage and schedule will be determined by your healthcare provider based on your specific condition and how your body responds to the treatment. It is important to:

  • Follow your doctor's instructions precisely.
  • Take the medication at the same time each day.
  • Do not stop taking Sandom or change your dose without first consulting your healthcare provider.

Q: What are the common side effects of Sandom?

Like most medications, Sandom can cause side effects. Common side effects may include:

  • Gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea, diarrhea, or stomach upset.
  • Headache.
  • Fatigue.
  • Minor hair thinning.

Report any concerning side effects to your healthcare provider. Many side effects lessen over time as your body adjusts to the medicine.

Q: Can Sandom be taken with other medications?

Sandom can interact with several other medications, which may alter how Sandom or the other drug works, or increase the risk of side effects. It is critical to inform your healthcare provider and pharmacist about all medications you are currently taking, including:

  • Prescription drugs.
  • Over-the-counter medicines.
  • Vitamins and herbal supplements.

Specifically, you should discuss use with certain antibiotics, other DMARDs, and vaccines (especially live vaccines).

Q: What should I do if I miss a dose of Sandom?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are unsure, contact your healthcare provider for guidance.

Q: How long does it take for Sandom to start working?

Sandom is not a fast-acting pain reliever. It is designed to modify the underlying disease process. It may take several weeks to a few months before you begin to notice the full therapeutic benefit. Your doctor may prescribe other medications to help manage symptoms during this initial period. Consistency in taking the medication as prescribed is key to achieving the desired effect.

How should Sandom be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Sandom (Domperidone)

Sandom (Domperidone) must be stored and handled according to specific regulatory requirements to maintain its stability and ensure child safety.


Storage Requirements

The medicine requires controlled conditions to remain effective:

  • Temperature: Store at room temperature, specifically between 15 C and 30 C. The product must be kept from freezing.
  • Protection: It must be protected from light and moisture and should be stored in the original container until use.
  • Child Safety: Sandom must be stored out of the sight and reach of children.

Disposal Instructions

Official guidelines prohibit discarding Sandom in wastewater or household waste. Expired or unused medicine must be disposed of correctly by consulting a pharmacist for the approved local procedure or a drug take-back program.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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