Reglan Class Action Lawsuit

by Steve Fields on September 14th, 2009

Involuntary tremors, piercing abdominal pain, convulsions, and sporadic breathing problems… these are a small sample of the physical impacts suffered by Reglan users. These symptoms can have a significant impact upon a victim’s life, affecting them both physically and emotionally. What’s worse, they can last a lifetime; available treatments seek to merely reduce the symptoms’ severity rather than cure the disorders. For the latest updates on a Reglan class action lawsuit and how claims are currently being filed please contact us for a no-obligation consultation.

Startlingly, manufacturers of the drug metoclopramide (the generic version of Reglan) are believed to have had knowledge of the potential side effects and failed to provide adequate warning of these serious Reglan side effects. From this discovery, Reglan lawsuits have been filed. Below, we’ll explore the damaging impacts suffered by those who have taken the drug. I’ll also explain the ways in which metoclopramide manufacturers are believed to have been negligent.

Why Metoclopramide Is Prescribed

Reglan medication is often prescribed to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Patients who have not responded well to other medications or remedies have experienced positive results by using the drug. It triggers contractions within the stomach and the upper intestinal tract. Those contractions accelerate the emptying of the stomach into the intestines which helps prevent the contents from entering the esophagus.

However, the use of medications containing metoclopramide are only meant to be a short-term solution. An increasing number of studies have shown that using Reglan for periods longer than twelve weeks significantly increases the likelihood of a patient developing severe side effects.

Devastating Side Effects Suffered By Victims

Some of the most debilitating side effects that can manifest from prolonged use of medications containing metoclopramide are neurological. For example, tardive dyskinesia is a disorder that is directly linked to the extended use of Reglan. The symptoms are tragic and manifest through uncontrollable movements throughout the facial area and extremities. Involuntary tongue protrusions, lip smacking or pursing, and quick, reflexive eye blinking are not only incapacitating, but are often irreversible.

Growing Interest In Reglan Lawsuits

The reason there has been a surge of interest in Reglan lawsuits is the mounting suspicion that manufacturers of metoclopramide knew the drug was unsafe. Their negligence may extend to knowing that prolonged use could potentially cause severe and enduring side effects. Manufacturers are thought to have been aware that there was a significantly greater likelihood that patients would develop tardive dyskinesia after using the drug for longer than twelve weeks.

Individual Reglan lawsuits have also noted that manufacturers neglected to research whether the growing number of claims surrounding Reglan side effects were accurate. They further neglected to examine ongoing literature regarding the drug’s application and to post relevant safety data after its widespread use.

The side effects of Reglan suffered by victims who have taken the drug for periods longer than three months are heartrending. Their inability to control the movements of their lips, tongue, eyes, and hands is tragic and life-changing. Making matters worse, such uncontrollable movements are often permanent. Those who are suffering from these types of symptoms and suspect the root cause is the extended use of the drug metoclopramide should contact a lawyer. A Reglan lawsuit may be an appropriate path.