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Reglan Side Effects

Read our Reglan FAQ
Reglan (metoclopramide) is used to treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), acid reflux disease and heartburn. While many Reglan side effects are minor, some patients have experienced serious side effects, including Tardive Dyskinesia. Some metoclopramide side effects, such as Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, can be fatal while others are permanent. Also at issue is the prescribing of Reglan for off-label uses, meaning for conditions that Reglan is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat.

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Both the brand name drug, Reglan, and the generic form of Reglan, Metoclopramide, may be involved in Reglan litigation.
 

Reglan and Tardive Dyskinesia

Reglan (metoclopramide) is used to treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), heartburn and acid reflux disease. Although most side effects are temporary, a side effect that allegedly can be permanent is Tardive Dyskinesia.

Side effects of ReglanTardive Dyskinesia is characterized by repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements such as grimacing, tongue protrusion, lip smacking, puckering and pursing, and rapid eye blinking. Rapid movements of the arms, legs and trunk may also occur. Impaired movements of the fingers may appear as though the patient is playing an invisible guitar or piano.

The FDA has only approved Reglan for short term use (4 to 12 weeks), but approximately 30 percent of patients are being prescribed the medication for 12 months or longer; long-term Reglan use has been linked to Tardive Dyskinesia.

Tardive Dyskinesia is a horrible, devastating syndrome that can last a lifetime. It affects victims physically, mentally, socially, emotionally and vocationally.

Reglan Black Box Warning

In February, 2009, the US FDA announced that Reglan would now carry a black box warning, alerting patients about the risk of Tardive Dyskinesia when Reglan is used for longer than three months. Prior to that, Reglan's labeling mentioned Tardive Dyskinesia as a possible side effect but claimed the occurrence was rare.

Reglan Black Box Warning for Tardive Dyskinesia:
 
WARNING:TARDIVE DYSKINESIA Chronic treatment with metoclopramide can cause tardive dyskinesia, a serious movement disorder that is often irreversible. The risk of developing tardive dyskinesia increases with the duration of treatment and the total cumulative dose. The elderly, especially elderly women, are most likely to develop this condition.

Metoclopramide therapy should routinely be discontinued in patients who develop signs or symptoms of tardive dyskinesia. There is no known treatment for tardive dyskinesia; however, in some patients symptoms may lessen or resolve after metoclopramide treatment is stopped.

Prolonged treatment (greater than 12 weeks) with metoclopramide should be avoided in all but rare cases where therapeutic benefit is thought to outweigh the risks to the patient of developing tardive dyskinesia.

Off-Label Reglan Use

Reglan was approved for short-term use to treat GERD, acid reflux disease and heartburn. However, some patients are prescribed Reglan for longer-term use, 12 months or longer. Meanwhile, other patients are prescribed Reglan for uses not approved on the label. These include treatment of pregnancy-related nausea and morning sickness, lactation stimulation and treatment of migraine headaches.

Off-Label Reglan is sometimes prescribed to treat:
- Pregnancy-related Nausea
- Morning Sickness
- Lactation Stimulation
- Migraine Heachache with Nausea

Some forms of Reglan, such as the injectable version, are approved to treat nausea brought on by cancer chemotherapy. However, other uses of Reglan to treat cancer-related nausea, such as for radiation nausea, or the use of oral Reglan to treat chemotherapy nausea, may be off-label uses. Additionally, as with Reglan for chemotherapy induced nausea, Reglan is sometimes used to treat post-operative nausea.

Although off-label use of a drug is not illegal, it is not recommended because studies have not proven the drug to be safe and effective for such uses.

Other Reglan Side Effects

Other serious Reglan side effects include Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), which is often fatal. Patients can develop NMS after only short exposure to a drug. NMS symptoms include high fever, sweating, unstable blood pressure, stupor, muscular rigidity and autonomic dysfunction. Symptoms can appear within the first 2 weeks of taking a drug.

Further side effects include Parkinsonism, characterized by slight shaking, body stiffness, difficulty moving and difficulty keeping balance. Patients with Parkinson's disease may experience a worsening of Parkinson's symptoms when they take Reglan.

Reglan Side Effects Legal Help

If you or a loved one has taken Reglan and subsequently suffered from tardive dyskinesia or other side effects, please click the link below and your complaint will be sent to a lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
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REGLAN LEGAL ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS

Closing Loophole Would Help Generic Reglan Tardive Dyskinesia Patients
Closing Loophole Would Help Generic Reglan Tardive Dyskinesia Patients
August 9, 2012
Months after the Supreme Court ruled that generic drug companies do not share the same level of responsibility as their brand-name counterparts when it comes to updates of their product labeling, a noted New York publication continued to push for the generic labeling loophole in the law to be closed. Such a response would benefit patients suffering from Reglan tardive dyskinesia, regardless of whether or not the adverse reaction was triggered by a generic, or name brand Reglan. READ MORE

Your Reglan Lawsuit: Is Time Running Out on You?
Your Reglan Lawsuit: Is Time Running Out on You?
January 1, 2012
Reglan side effects—some of them extremely serious and debilitating—have resulted for many in a Reglan lawsuit, as plaintiffs attempt to pursue compensation for a life and lifestyle negatively, and often permanently, impacted by taking the drug as prescribed. Reglan tardive dyskinesia, for example, can prevent one from doing his or her job safely. The involuntary shaking associated with the condition can also be socially embarrassing—especially for a young person. READ MORE

Supreme Court Rules on Generic Reglan against Tardive Dyskinesia Victims
Supreme Court Rules on Generic Reglan against Tardive Dyskinesia Victims
June 23, 2011
The Supreme Court ruled today, in a 5-4 decision, that generic drug companies do not share the same level of responsibility as the makers of brand-name drugs to update their product labeling. The ruling effectively ends two separate lawsuits brought by two women who claim they suffered severe medical complications from using a generic form of Reglan. READ MORE

READER COMMENTS

Posted by

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I have a stomach condition called gastroparesis. Reglan was one of the meds I was on to control nausea and vomiting.I was on this med for several years ago and was taken off. Then a month ago I was put back on it , l was having hallucinations,irrational behavior, limb shakes. It caused a lot of problems for me and my family.

Posted by

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I was given Reglan thru IV after returning back from my country with parasites at the ER. I went into a deep sleep for 8 hrs I thought I was going to die!!! Nurse in charge started making comments like I was faking my condition and I probably came in with an overdose! When I woke up doctors concluded that I was in a deep depression!!!!!!(no) they then said I was allergic to the medicine they gave me Reglan and not to take it ever again. This happen 8/2015 I have been suffering from TD ever since!!!

I'm not crazy these doctors almost kill me.

Posted by

on
I took Reglan and/or it's generics for over ten years. It worked well for my GERD. However, I was found to have a brain tumor and Tardive Dyskinesia. I went through two Primary Doctors who retired before the third Primary found I was on it and took me off right away. The TD was discovered after I stopped taking the med.
Please be aware.

Posted by

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I was given 1 IV Push of Reglan while in the hospital September 2015. I told the Doctor not to give me this drug if it has a side effect of Anxiety etc....because I have a praidoxal effect to meds with this side effect. One hour after receiving this medication I started having symptoms of....RLS, anxiety, depression, jitteriness...with no relief. The hospital released me feeling this way and told me it was all in my head. Every Doctor since has told me I need a therapist because Reglan doesn't have side effects. Finally, last week, I found a Doctor that confirmed that Reglan did cause my side effects. By week number 7 of being out of the hospital I was feeling better. Now I am on week number 8 and going back to the same symptoms I left the hospital with! Feeling hopeless!

Posted by

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My husband has been on reglan for over 2 years after having a brain tumor removed and diagnosed with slow stomach emptying. Months ago he started having constant movement in his leg and recently developed facial movement around his mouth. He has been having problems with the mechanics of his breathing (the only way I know to describe it) and the doctors can not find anything wrong with the amount of air that he is breathing. Has anyone else experienced any problems with breathing from the reglan?

Posted by

on
I did not know that Reglan was a short-term drug. I was on it for 7 years. I was suddenly taken of it after seeing a gastroenterologist for GERDS symptoms. Within 3 days I developed Tardive Dyskinesia and loss of my voice. Have seen two specialist and don't know if symptoms will ever resolve.

Posted by

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I took Reglan/Metroclopramide for over 3 years and the last few months it was doubled up on me. I was a zombie, wanted to sleep all the time, hot flashes, depression, weak, lost 15 pounds.

Posted by

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I have had Tardive Dyskenesia for about 10 years, I have a stomach disorder that I have taken many different drugs for, including reglan.

Posted by

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I was prescribed Reglan (both IV and pill form) for excessive nausea and vomitting during my first pregnancy. While on the drug, I experienced HORRID episodes of RLS. After receiving this drug 4-5 times it was diagnosed that I was "allergic" to it, so it was no longer given to me, and it is noted in all my charts that I am allergic. The thing is, it has been four years since the last time I was given Reglan, and I still experience terrible restless legs. It is to the point where sometimes I have trouble sleeping. Once in awhile it will happen in my hands too. I recently saw a TV commercial for others who have experienced this and I decided to research a bit and I found this website.

Posted by

on
I am a long time migraine sufferer. Unfortunately, doctors seem to be at a loss for treating my migraines. When prescribed Reglan and Topamax I began to develop tardive dyskinesia. Doctors dismissed my allegations as nonsense and a result of my migraines. I looked as if I was having a stroke as it seemed to only cause problems on my left side. Although I stopped Reglan, I still have weakness on the left side of body, and occassionally will continue to have facial paralysis. I was never able to put a name to what this was until now.

Posted by

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When I close my eyes to sleep (or even just sitting around) the eyelids start rapidly twitching. I do also have occasional leg twitching. The eyelid twitching makes it almost impossible to fall asleep without medication.

Posted by

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I have parkinson's. Because of this, I have trouble digesting food. I was sent to a gastrologist who put me on reglan. I was on it for 8 months and decided to stop taking it because I noticed that my rigidity had gotten worse. I suffer from spasticity anyway and this medicine seemed to aggravate it. No one with parkinson's should take this medicine.

Posted by

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Stiffness of body, movements became robotic like, slowed thinking, problems speaking, problems caring for myself, and eyes became unfocused, developed a tremor in my hands. I walked with my arms by my side with elbows crooked, lower arms straight out and my hands open with thumbs up. I became so anxious my sleep was disrupted and I felt like I was dying.

Posted by

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The mother of the my six month old grandchild that I have had custody of since 2/11/2009 was given Reglan for treatment of acid reflux while pregnant. The baby presents constant leg jerking and other uncontrolable movements not normal in a 6 month. I believe that this medication crossed the placenta and caused this as I have never seen this type of behavior in an infant.

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