Reglan (chemical name: metoclopramide) is an orally-taken medication used for the treatment of nausea and gastrointestinal diseases such as GERD. It is intended for a 12-week prescription in order to manage these conditions, with most prescriptions intended to target adults and older patients. Unlike common classes of proton pump inhibitors, Reglan is not available over the counter, though it is already present in generic formulations.

The most disturbing side effect Reglan and related medications have been linked to is the condition called Tardive Dyskinesia (TD). TD is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle movements. This can take the form of small or aggravated tics in the extremities of the body and in the face. Conditions tend to abate when the patient is sleeping, but can also cause trouble getting to sleep in the first place.

There is no known treatment for TD. A metoclopramide Patient Medication Guide explains a number of facts associated with Reglan-induced TD. First, it is entirely possible that TD can be a permanent condition. TD is not controllable; patients cannot simply concentrate to eliminate the movements. The longer a patient is on Reglan or related medications, the more likely they are to develop TD. This is compounded by the fact that the illness has a delayed onset between cause and discovery.

In 2009, the FDA ordered that all metoclopramide drugs carry a boxed warning explaining the link between taking the medicines and developing TD. These warnings explain the nature of TD and its basic symptoms, as well as going into details regarding the possible duration of TD. While in some cases, particularly among older patients, TD is potentially permanent, it can also abate after a few weeks off the medicine. In the same warning, the FDA ordered that Reglan and metoclopramide manufacturers develop a risk management and minimization strategy to help patients affected with this condition, and to tighten up prescription times (in some 20 percent of cases, doctors prescribed metoclopramides for longer periods than advised).

For more information on Reglan lawsuits and other defective prescription drug claims, you can visit our firm's Drug Injury Attorney Blog.

Carey, Danis & Lowe is investigating cases of TD or other serious injuries caused by Reglan. If you or someone you love has developed a serious health problem or died after taking Reglan, we would like to hear from you. You may be eligible to file a Reglan injury lawsuit, which allows you to hold the drug's maker legally responsible for causing your injuries and collect compensation for your increased medical costs, pain, suffering and other catastrophic injuries. To set up a free consultation with Carey, Danis & Lowe, please contact us online or call 1-877-678-3400 to speak with an experienced defective drug attorney.

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sources

-1- http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/ucm170934.htm

-2- http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2009/ucm149533.htm

-3- http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM187064.pdf