Reglan
Long-term use of Reglan or Metoclopramide has been shown to cause serious side effects including Tardive Dyskinesia.
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Reglan (Generic: Metoclopramide) is a drug prescribed to treat gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux disease and diabetic gastroparesis. Reglan works by increasing the movement of the stomach muscles, which speeds up the rate at which the stomach empties into the intestines. Reglan has been linked with Tardive Dyskinesia and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. Both of these conditions are very serious and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome is often fatal.
● The FDA has approved the drug for short-term use (4 to 12 weeks) and only when conservative treatment fails. While the FDA has approved Reglan only for short-term use, approximately 1/3 of patients are being prescribed the medication for 12 months or greater.
● Long-term use of Reglan or Metoclopramide has been shown to cause serious side effects including Tardive Dyskinesia, a neurological disorder which causes involuntary movements of the tongue, mouth, face, lips and sometimes arms, trunk or legs.
● In February 2009, the Food and Drug Administration ordered the manufacturers of Reglan and its generic equivalent, metoclopramide, to add a "black-box" warning alerting patients of an increased risk of a type of involuntary movement disorder known as tardive dyskinesia.
● Because of the risk of Reglan side effects, the FDA has advised physicians that the drugs should only be used in cases where the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks. Patients who have been taking one of the drugs for an extended period of time and elderly patients, especially women, are at the greatest risk of developing tardive dyskinesia.
● Symptoms and side effects associated with tardive dyskinesia include involuntary:- sticking out the tongue
- smacking of the lips
- leg or ankle movements
- grimacing or chewing
- rocking back and forth
- pelvic thrusting
- irregular breathing or making humming or grunting sounds.
● These signs of tardive dyskinesia may resemble the symptoms of other conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, neurodegenerative brain diseases, blepharospasm or mouth and facial movements among the elderly. Conditions such as these must be ruled out by a doctor before a tardive dyskinesia diagnosis can be made.
● We are currently evaluating cases involving patients who have suffered from a Reglan induced movement disorder.
Contact an Alabama personal injury lawyer at Taylor Martino Zarzaur for a free initial consultation to review your case.
Taylor Martino Zarzaur serves clients along the entire Gulf Coast, including Mobile, Pensacola, Montgomery, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and Baldwin County, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.
