| Side Effects of Reglan: Mental depression Abdominal pain Trouble breathing Convulsions Cardiovascular conditions Blood problems Severe movement disorders (Tardive Dyskinesia) |
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| "When companies place profits over the welfare of people we, as lawyers, should feel a special need to hold them accountable. accountability, positive change." Todd Kelly |
Reglan (metoclopramide) is a prescription drug used to treat gastrointestinal
problems in children and adults. Post-operative patients and those undergoing
cancer treatments may be given Reglan to reduce nausea and vomiting. Children
and adults with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD), diabetic gastroparesis, and other related conditions are often prescribed
Reglan. Infants are commonly given Reglan to treat GER and GERD. Reglan has
also been prescribed for women who are pregnant and experiencing morning
sickness, breastfeeding mothers, and for nausea assocated with migraines. On
January 26, 2009 the FDA issued an alert warning against chronic use of
metoclopramide containing drugs and requiring a boxed warning.
Reglan is a dopamine (a neurotransmitter, i.e. a molecule that transmits certain
messages to and from neurons) antagonist that increases lower esophageal
sphincter pressure and improves gastrointestinal emptying. Reglan, is
manufactured by Baxter Healthcare Corporation, and the FDA approved it for
short-term treatment (between 4 and 12 weeks) of these conditions only after
conservative methods of treatment have failed. However, evidence shows that one-
third of patients are prescribed Reglan for longer than 12 weeks, which is against
FDA recommendations.
Evidence shows that Reglan can cause Tardive Dyskinesia, a serious and often
irreversible movement disorder. Patients with tardive dyskinesia suffer abnormal
muscle movements, which can affect the muscles of the face, mouth, jaw, tongue,
eyes, neck, shoulders, torso, larynx, diaphragm, arms, legs, feet, and hands. This
disorder can be similar to Parkinson’s symptoms and is diagnosed as drug induced
Parkinson’s. Tardive dyskinesia can adversely affect the ability to breathe, swallow,
walk, and talk. Infants who are given Reglan appear to be at an even greater risk
for this serious drug side effect.
The FDA and Baxter Healthcare recognize that Reglan increases the risk of tardive
dyskinesia. However, they have failed to adequately convey the seriousness of
Reglan side effects. At least two independent studies have found that 27 to 29
percent of patients who are prescribed Reglan for periods exceeding 12 months
develop tardive dyskinesia. However, this condition can develop in patients even
after short-term use. It is estimated that more than two million people in the United
States use Reglan and other products containing metoclopramide.
Studies have shown, and the FDA has confirmed, that the risk of developing tardive
dyskinesia is greater for children (including infants) than for adults taking Reglan.
While tardive dyskinesia can afflict anyone taking Reglan, children are much more
susceptible to the effects of Reglan.
It can be extremely difficult to diagnose tardive dyskinesia in a patient taking
Reglan because the drug actually conceals the very symptoms it is causing. For this
reason, symptoms of tardive dyskinesia can break out suddenly when Reglan use is
reduced or terminated. This factor can also increase the severity of tardive
dyskinesia since a patient may have the condition for quite a while before Reglan is
stopped.
There is no known treatment for tardive dyskinesia. In some cases, the syndrome
may disappear or symptoms may be reduced weeks or even months after a patient
stops taking Reglan. In some cases, the damage is irreversible
.
problems in children and adults. Post-operative patients and those undergoing
cancer treatments may be given Reglan to reduce nausea and vomiting. Children
and adults with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD), diabetic gastroparesis, and other related conditions are often prescribed
Reglan. Infants are commonly given Reglan to treat GER and GERD. Reglan has
also been prescribed for women who are pregnant and experiencing morning
sickness, breastfeeding mothers, and for nausea assocated with migraines. On
January 26, 2009 the FDA issued an alert warning against chronic use of
metoclopramide containing drugs and requiring a boxed warning.
Reglan is a dopamine (a neurotransmitter, i.e. a molecule that transmits certain
messages to and from neurons) antagonist that increases lower esophageal
sphincter pressure and improves gastrointestinal emptying. Reglan, is
manufactured by Baxter Healthcare Corporation, and the FDA approved it for
short-term treatment (between 4 and 12 weeks) of these conditions only after
conservative methods of treatment have failed. However, evidence shows that one-
third of patients are prescribed Reglan for longer than 12 weeks, which is against
FDA recommendations.
Evidence shows that Reglan can cause Tardive Dyskinesia, a serious and often
irreversible movement disorder. Patients with tardive dyskinesia suffer abnormal
muscle movements, which can affect the muscles of the face, mouth, jaw, tongue,
eyes, neck, shoulders, torso, larynx, diaphragm, arms, legs, feet, and hands. This
disorder can be similar to Parkinson’s symptoms and is diagnosed as drug induced
Parkinson’s. Tardive dyskinesia can adversely affect the ability to breathe, swallow,
walk, and talk. Infants who are given Reglan appear to be at an even greater risk
for this serious drug side effect.
The FDA and Baxter Healthcare recognize that Reglan increases the risk of tardive
dyskinesia. However, they have failed to adequately convey the seriousness of
Reglan side effects. At least two independent studies have found that 27 to 29
percent of patients who are prescribed Reglan for periods exceeding 12 months
develop tardive dyskinesia. However, this condition can develop in patients even
after short-term use. It is estimated that more than two million people in the United
States use Reglan and other products containing metoclopramide.
Studies have shown, and the FDA has confirmed, that the risk of developing tardive
dyskinesia is greater for children (including infants) than for adults taking Reglan.
While tardive dyskinesia can afflict anyone taking Reglan, children are much more
susceptible to the effects of Reglan.
It can be extremely difficult to diagnose tardive dyskinesia in a patient taking
Reglan because the drug actually conceals the very symptoms it is causing. For this
reason, symptoms of tardive dyskinesia can break out suddenly when Reglan use is
reduced or terminated. This factor can also increase the severity of tardive
dyskinesia since a patient may have the condition for quite a while before Reglan is
stopped.
There is no known treatment for tardive dyskinesia. In some cases, the syndrome
may disappear or symptoms may be reduced weeks or even months after a patient
stops taking Reglan. In some cases, the damage is irreversible
.
