Reglan Lawsuits

by Steve Fields on October 17th, 2009

Reglan lawsuits continue to be filed by patients and families throughout the country as more people become aware of the serious side effects. Metoclopramide (Reglan) increases muscle contractions in the digestive tract and speeds up emptying of the stomach into the intestines. Typically Reglan is prescribed for short-term treatment of gastroesophageal reflux, erosion or ulcers of the esophagus and for diabetic gastroparesis. Reglan is also used to reduce nausea and vomiting in migraine patients and in certain patients undergoing cancer treatments. Metoclopramide, the active ingredient in Reglan, is a potent dopamine D2 antagonist which is used as an antiemetic and as a prokinetic.

In February 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory that manufacturers of metoclopramide must add a boxed warning to their drug labels about the risk of metoclopramide’s long-term or high-dose use. Although the FDA and pharmaceutical manufacturers have long recognized that metoclopramide use increases the risk of Tardive Dyskinesia, a serious and sometimes irreversible movement disorder, the FDA’s 2009 warning was prompted by a recent analysis that metoclopramide was one of the most common causes of the disorder.

Patients and physicians should be well informed to determine if the expected benefits of Reglan outweigh the potential risks. Reglan may not be an appropriate treatment for certain patients due to the drug’s rare, but serious side effects. In addition to Tardive Dyskinesia, Reglan use can cause severe anxiety, mania, psychosis, mental depression, suicidal ideation, convulsions or seizures, cardiovascular complications, other severe disorders of the nervous system including Parkinson-like symptoms and in rare cases, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. Patients with the following conditions should not take metoclopramide: gastrointestinal bleeding, blockage or perforation; epilepsy or seizure disorders; or adrenal gland tumors. Patients with a history of depression, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease or congestive heart failure should consult with their physician about the risks associated with metoclopramide use. Alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics, narcotics or tranquilizers can increase some of the side effects of metoclopramide and should be avoided.

Children, women and the elderly seem to be the most susceptible to the serious and potentially permanent side effects of Reglan. Diagnosis of Tardive Dyskinesia is sometimes challenging as it is a collection of symptoms which can mimic other neurological disorders. There is no single diagnostic test for Tardive Dyskinesia. A physician will typically have to review the patient’s medical history, as well as conduct a complete physical and neuro-psychiatric evaluation. The disorder can also go undiagnosed as the symptoms may appear and disappear or be more prevalent at times than at others. To complicate matters, the onset of the symptoms often do not manifest until Reglan treatment has stopped. The symptoms may eventually disappear or they may continue indefinitely. There is no known cure for Tardive Dyskinesia. Early diagnosis is critical for successful treatment of this disorder.

We represent all clients suffering from metoclopramide side effects on a contingency basis which means that there are never any legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. For a free no-obligation case review please call toll free at 1-888-343-5375 or fill out our short online contact form and a Reglan lawsuits attorney will contact you to answer any of your questions.