Reglan: 8 Things you Should Know
May 29th, 2009. By admin
1. Approved for 12-week use. Reglan is only approved to be taken for up to 12 weeks, though it’s often prescribed for longer time periods.
2. Generic name is Metoclopramide. Check your prescription label as you may in fact be taking a generic version of Reglan, but not be aware that you are.
3. Prescribed for more than Acid Reflux (GERD). Reglan is a gastrointestinal stimulant, but it’s also an anti-nauseant. It’s prescribed for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Diabetic Gastroparesis (Diabetic Gastric Stasis), and Renal or Hepatic Impairment.
4. Linked to Tardive Dyskinesia. Reglan has been linked to Tardive Dyskinesia, which involves abnormal and involuntary repetitive movement. Tardive dyskinesia is often permanent, and there is no known effective treatment.
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Good article, Thanks. my name Philip.
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admin Reply:
May 31st, 2009 at 5:30 am
Hi Philip,
Thanks for your comment. Tracking the Reglan story can be complicated, especially as the trademark has changed owners several times and many GERD patients are taking generic versions–so they may not even be aware that the published Reglan side effects might affect them as well. Have you personally been affected by either Reglan or the decision to use it? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
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admin Reply:
May 31st, 2009 at 5:30 am
Hi Philip,
Thanks for your comment. Tracking the Reglan story can be complicated, especially as the trademark has changed owners several times and many GERD patients are taking generic versions–so they may not even be aware that the published Reglan side effects might affect them as well. Have you personally been affected by either Reglan or the decision to use it? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
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Thanks for the information. My husband took it for over 18 weeks and then tok his own life. I, my children and grandchildren will never get over this. He had never been depressed and we were married 46 years. It breaks my heart that they had him on a life threating drug for a non-life threating problem (GERDS).
Please take it of the market.
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admin Reply:
March 27th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Hi Barbara, I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your husband and can only imagine the shock and grief you and your family have been through. Reglan is certainly a drug that anyone should question the need to take–particularly those that find themselves taking it off-label. I'm not sure from your comment how long ago your husband had been taking the Reglan, nor whether you had contacted a lawyer at that time. You may want to consider submitting a claim for a lawyer to review (there is no cost or obligation to do so). Unfortunately, too, it isn't until a groundswell of adverse events reports and/or litigation begins that progress is made in terms of either taking a drug off the market or at least giving a drug a black box warning. Thank you for sharing your story. -Abi
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admin Reply:
March 27th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Hi Barbara, I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your husband and can only imagine the shock and grief you and your family have been through. Reglan is certainly a drug that anyone should question the need to take–particularly those that find themselves taking it off-label. I'm not sure from your comment how long ago your husband had been taking the Reglan, nor whether you had contacted a lawyer at that time. You may want to consider submitting a claim for a lawyer to review (there is no cost or obligation to do so). Unfortunately, too, it isn't until a groundswell of adverse events reports and/or litigation begins that progress is made in terms of either taking a drug off the market or at least giving a drug a black box warning. Thank you for sharing your story. -Abi
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Thanks for your comments but I contacted several lawyers and no one thought they could help me.
My husband took Generic Reglan from November 2008 until April 2009 when he took his life. He did have some physical side effects from Reglan that Doctor was aware of. His last Doctor's visit was in March of 2009 and was told to stay on it another 4 months and return to see him then.
Never did I think or understand that it can cause mental problems. It will not make my life any better now but I hope I live to se the day that it is taken of the market so no other families have to live through what we have. Money will never help me at this point and never replac our HUGE loss.
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admin Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 4:04 am
Hi Barbara, Thank you for keeping us up to date–and for sharing your experience. It truly is a help to others to be able to hear your story. I'm sorry that you have not gotten a positive response from the lawyers you've contacted–I can only imagine the frustration you've gone through in trying to find help while trying to go through the pain and devastation of the loss of your husband. My heart truly goes out to you. I wish I could offer more in the way of help–you can certainly try to submit a claim form here for additional review by attorneys (it's free)–I can't promise anything, but it may be worth at least a try. All the best to you, -Abi
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admin Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 4:04 am
Hi Barbara, Thank you for keeping us up to date–and for sharing your experience. It truly is a help to others to be able to hear your story. I'm sorry that you have not gotten a positive response from the lawyers you've contacted–I can only imagine the frustration you've gone through in trying to find help while trying to go through the pain and devastation of the loss of your husband. My heart truly goes out to you. I wish I could offer more in the way of help–you can certainly try to submit a claim form here for additional review by attorneys (it's free)–I can't promise anything, but it may be worth at least a try. All the best to you, -Abi
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My father committed suicide two weeks ago and has been taking Reglan for over one year. He has not suffered from depression before and was irrational for the last three months. Thanks for sharing what happened to your husband Barbara. Tardive Dyskinesia appears to be getting the most attention from it but I believe it also contributed to his suicide.
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admin Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 4:09 am
Hi Hollie, I am very sorry to hear about your father–and I'm thankful that both you and Barbara have shared your experiences here as, like you said, the focus with Reglan has been on Tardive Dyskinesia, and yet between stories like yours and Barbara's, and the warnings about suicidality on the Reglan monograph, it seems like this very devastating side effect should be getting more attention. And if not in terms of legal recourse, or even in terms of stronger regulation, at least in terms of patient monitoring while on the drug. No one should have to go through what your father or Barbara's husband have gone through, and perhaps by sharing your story and making others aware, this will get the attention it needs. Again, our condolences to your and your family. Best, -Abi
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admin Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 4:09 am
Hi Hollie, I am very sorry to hear about your father–and I'm thankful that both you and Barbara have shared your experiences here as, like you said, the focus with Reglan has been on Tardive Dyskinesia, and yet between stories like yours and Barbara's, and the warnings about suicidality on the Reglan monograph, it seems like this very devastating side effect should be getting more attention. And if not in terms of legal recourse, or even in terms of stronger regulation, at least in terms of patient monitoring while on the drug. No one should have to go through what your father or Barbara's husband have gone through, and perhaps by sharing your story and making others aware, this will get the attention it needs. Again, our condolences to your and your family. Best, -Abi
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Reading about these families who have lost their loved ones to suicide brings up something I don't understand. From what I've read, Reglan is in a class of drugs given to schizophrenics and works on the dopamine receptors. Why, why, why would such a powerful psychotrophic medication be given to people who are not schizo? I was prescribed Reglan for six months before, during and after chemo — supposedly to prevent nausea and vomiting. Instead, Reglan caused me to go in a deep depression and eventually shut down my ability to walk, swallow and talk other than yes or no. My legs would move spontaneously and I drooled out the side of my mouth. I just found retrieved and read my medical records from that time and I was stunned to see how I was described. All four of my extremities were rigid as was my jaw. I was sweating a lot and had high blood pressure (usually my blood pressure is 90/60). I survived the cancer and the chemo and it appears that Reglan nearly killed me. My entire life has been altered. I have not been able to work in seven years and I have multiple neurological deficits, memory problems … the list is too long. My heart goes out to those who have lost a loved one to this drug. I truly don't get it. Why was Reglan so widely prescribed when it had so many potential pitfalls?
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admin Reply:
September 27th, 2010 at 1:42 am
Hi Sharon, It sounds like you've been through quite a bit, having been on Reglan–and I can only imagine your shock at reading through your medical records. Absolutely, some families have had their lives turned upside down by Reglan side effects–it's heart-wrenching to hear some of the stories. Given your experience with Reglan and the side effects you've had, if you haven't cosidered or sought legal help, you may wish to do so and you can begin to do that by filling out this form (it's free and a lawyer who specializes in Reglan lawsuits would then review your case). You do ask a good question though. And unfortunately, many drugs are used in ways that are not necessarily in line with their original FDA-approved usage guidelines. In the case of Reglan, I believe it had been approved for cancer treatment-relalted nausea. By the way, I'm not sure where you read that Reglan is used for schizophrenia–it's a dopamine antagonist that's used as an antiemetic, not an antipsychotic. But you are right in that the drug is sometimes used off-label–the most alarming use to me is that it is sometimes used to help stimulate lactation for breast-feeding.
Good luck to you as you move forward in recovery from all you've been through–and, again, you may wish to consider seeking some legal help.
[Reply]
admin Reply:
September 27th, 2010 at 1:42 am
Hi Sharon, It sounds like you've been through quite a bit, having been on Reglan–and I can only imagine your shock at reading through your medical records. Absolutely, some families have had their lives turned upside down by Reglan side effects–it's heart-wrenching to hear some of the stories. Given your experience with Reglan and the side effects you've had, if you haven't cosidered or sought legal help, you may wish to do so and you can begin to do that by filling out this form (it's free and a lawyer who specializes in Reglan lawsuits would then review your case). You do ask a good question though. And unfortunately, many drugs are used in ways that are not necessarily in line with their original FDA-approved usage guidelines. In the case of Reglan, I believe it had been approved for cancer treatment-relalted nausea. By the way, I'm not sure where you read that Reglan is used for schizophrenia–it's a dopamine antagonist that's used as an antiemetic, not an antipsychotic. But you are right in that the drug is sometimes used off-label–the most alarming use to me is that it is sometimes used to help stimulate lactation for breast-feeding.
Good luck to you as you move forward in recovery from all you've been through–and, again, you may wish to consider seeking some legal help.
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I took Reglan for Gerd from 2001 until 2003. In late 2002 had neurological disorder called TIA (mini strokes) I then began to experience high blood pressure, never had a preoblem with it until then. During the time before getting TIAs, i had thickness of the tongue, loss of fingers use, etc. I later found out after coming off the Reglan, that it causes strokes. I have talked to several attorneys and all said maybe I have a case but not for Tardive Dyskensia. Whats up>
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