Reglan Drug Information, including Reglan Lawsuits

Information provided by Reglan Lawyers at Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP

Reglan, or its generic version, Metoclopramide, was approved for short-term treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders like gastroesophageal reflux (severe heartburn), gastroparesis or delayed gastric emptying (both are side-effects of diabetes).

Use of this drug for longer than three months has been linked to Tardive Dyskinesia, a neurological disorder that causes repetitive and involuntary movements of the face, torso and limbs.

There is no effective treatment for Tardive Dyskinesia.

Stop using Reglan and call your doctor at once if you have tremors or uncontrolled muscle movements, fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats, rapid breathing, depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, hallucinations, anxiety, agitation, seizure, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).

In the past, courts have determined that drug companies that manufacture potentially lethal drugs without sufficiently warning doctors and patients about the possible side effects are guilty of negligence.  For that reason, you should call an experienced defective drugs attorney for professional insight on how best to prepare a Reglan lawsuit.

What is Reglan?

Reglan increases muscle contractions in upper digestive tract. This speeds up the rate at which the stomach empties into the intestines.

Reglan is used short-term to treat heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux in people who have used other medications without relief of symptoms.

Reglan is also used to treat slow gastric emptying in people with diabetes (also called diabetic gastroparesis), which can cause nausea, vomiting, heartburn, loss of appetite, and a feeling of fullness after meals.

Side Effects of Reglan

Do not take Reglan in larger amounts than recommended, or for longer than 3 months. High doses or long-term use of metoclopramide may cause tremors or other uncontrollable muscle movements, especially in older women.
Stop using Reglan and call your doctor at once if you have tremors or uncontrolled muscle movements, fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats, rapid breathing, depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, hallucinations, anxiety, agitation, seizure, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).
After you stop taking Reglan, you may have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as headache, dizziness, or nervousness. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.
Reglan side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Reglan and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
• tremors, or restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck;
• mask-like appearance of the face;
• fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats, rapid breathing;
• depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;
• hallucinations, anxiety, agitation, jittery feeling, trouble staying still;
• swelling, fluid retention;
• jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes); or
• seizure (convulsions).

What is Tardive Dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological syndrome caused by the long-term use of neuroleptic drugs like Reglan. Neuroleptic drugs are generally prescribed for psychiatric disorders, as well as for some gastrointestinal and neurological disorders.

Tardive dyskinesia is characterized by repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements. Features of the disorder may include grimacing, tongue protrusion, lip smacking, puckering and pursing, and rapid eye blinking. Rapid movements of the arms, legs, and trunk may also occur.

Involuntary movements of the fingers may appear as though the patient is playing an invisible guitar or piano.

Is there any treatment?

There is no standard treatment for tardive dyskinesia. Treatment is highly individualized. The first step is generally to stop or minimize the use of the neuroleptic drug. However, for patients with a severe underlying condition this may not be a feasible option.

Replacing the neuroleptic drug with substitute drugs may help some patients. Other drugs such as benzodiazepines, adrenergic antagonists, and dopamine agonists may also be beneficial.

What is the prognosis?

Symptoms of tardive dyskinesia may remain long after discontinuation of neuroleptic drugs; however, with careful management, some symptoms may improve and/or disappear with time.