Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply weaning & insomnia

Hello, I stopped breastfeeding about 1 month ago. I'm currently weaning off the dom. I've developed terrible insomnia during the last 4 weeks. This is due I'm sure partly to just having a baby & some other stresses. I haven't had a period in over 4 months, so I'm wondering if the insomnia may also be caused by hormonal issues. Has anyone else experienced this problem? If so, what did you do? Thanks!

Hi Shirley,

What dose of domperidone were you on?

Fondly,

Hi Lenore,

I built up to 20mg 4x daily about 6 months ago. I cut back to 20mg 3x daily 4 weeks ago and then to 10mg 3x daily about 2 weeks ago. I just stopped it altogether yesterday.

I think the insomnia kicked in off and on shortly before I began to wean off the dom, but I had stopped breastfeeding and pumping pretty much around that time. For that reason I thought maybe the insomnia could be caused by decreasing lactation (and therefore prolactin).

After 9 nights of 3-4 hours of light restless sleep, I slept much better last night. I did see an acupuncturist yesterday who is now adding some detox points to the rest of the treatment in hopes of getting any remnants of the dom out of my system.

Any thoughts, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have felt so depressed and desperate which has made me much less mentally/emotionally available to my baby.

Thank you very much. Shirley

P.S. The only other weaning symptoms have been a couple of stomach aches which until now I hadn't equated with the dom.

Lenore, I just re-read the instructions for weaning off the dom and realize I have perhaps stopped too soon. I thought I did it right - although my brain hasn't been working very well lately! What should I do? Thanks, Shirley

Hi Shirley,

At this point, give yourself about a week without the domperidone and see how you do. Your body should normalize fairly soon. Try some St. John's Wort. It has a calming effect and will help you deal with the anxiety that often accompanies insomnia.

Fondly,

THank Lenore for the St. John's Wart suggestion. Like Shirley I'm having terrilble insomnia and even anxiety along with the GI affects. My doc is very much convinced that it's because of weaning of the dom. Every time I go down by 10 mg. all the symptoms come back and then I regulate after a couple of weeks. My doc suggested taking benedryl just until the weaning side effects subside. I like the idea of St. John's wart better!