Reglan is the brand name for the medication metoclopramide. It is a prescription medication used to treat certain stomach and intestines conditions. It is prescribed for heartburn after the more commonly used drugs have not worked well enough. Medical experts believe it is important to treat chronic heartburn because treatment can decrease the damage done to the esophagus by the stomach acid characteristic of heartburn. This enhances healing. Reglan should be used for a short period, e.g., 4 to 12 weeks.
Also, Reglan is used to treat diabetic patients who suffer from gastroparesis or poor stomach emptying. Reglan works for this condition by speeding up the stomach emptying and movement of the upper intestines. Treating this condition improves symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and feelings of fullness.
Reglan works by blocking dopamine which is a neurotransmitter in the brain.
Because of the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia from using Reglan, it is not recommended in children.
How Is Reglan Used?
Consumers are advised to read the Medication Guide that comes with the medication when a pharmacist dispenses it. A person should read this Guide every time they get a refill. If a person does not understand it or still has questions, they would want to consult their doctor or pharmacist.
Reglan is usually taken by mouth. The exact dosage depends on the person, the condition being treated, age, and other medications the person takes. It is taken orally in either pill or liquid form or as a powder. It can also be injected and comes as a nasal spray.
It is recommended that people measure their dose very carefully if they are taking the liquid form. A person needs to use a special measuring spoon, not just a household teaspoon or tablespoon, to measure a liquid dose. A liquid dose must be correct. Of course, a person should always inform their doctor and pharmacist of all their medications, including prescription, over-the-counter, and even herbal supplements.
As with all medications, a person should not take them more often or in a greater or lesser quantity than is prescribed. If a doctor tells a person to take a single dose at a particular time for heartburn, they should follow this direction because it reduces the risk of negative side effects.
For a person who takes Reglan as a treatment for diabetic gastroparesis, it usually takes from 2 to 8 weeks for the medication to have the desired effect. Even if it is effective, the condition may recur occasionally, and a person’s doctor may direct them to take it again and stop when they feel better.
Who Should Not Take Reglan?
A long list of medical conditions indicates that a person should not take Reglan.
- Pheochromocytoma: a rare, non-cancerous tumor in the adrenal gland;
- A high prolactin level;
- Porphyria: a buildup of chemicals that produce porphyrin in the body;
- Suicidal thoughts;
- Depression;
- Parkinsonism: a type of movement disorder;
- Tardive dyskinesia;
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: a condition characterized by fever, muscle rigidity, and confusion;
- High blood pressure;
- Chronic heart failure;
- Mechanical intestinal obstruction;
- Surgical joining of two parts of the intestine;
- Liver problems;
- Bleeding of the stomach or intestines;
- Seizures.
This is not a complete list. Many conditions indicate that a person should not take Reglan. So a person should thoroughly discuss their health status with their doctor if the doctor suggests prescribing Reglan for them.
Are There Any Serious Side Effects Associated With Reglan?
The most serious side-effect of taking Reglan is the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia. Tardive dyskinesia is a significant side-effect that usually develops in people who have used antipsychotic drugs, e.g., drugs prescribed for conditions such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder.
The risk of developing tardive dyskinesia increases with the time for which a person takes Reglan and the total amount of Reglan a person takes. If a person develops tardive dyskinesia, the symptoms may not disappear when the person stops taking Reglan. If a person develops tardive dyskinesia, they should stop taking Reglan and consult with their doctor.
Tardive dyskinesia is a disorder that causes people to make involuntary movements. For example, people involuntarily and repeatedly grimace, frown, stick out their tongues or smack their lips. A person may also make rapid jerking movements or slow writhing movements. Tardive dyskinesia can interfere with daily functioning In about 20% of people with the condition. Some people are at higher risk of developing tardive dyskinesia.
People who stop using Reglan may suddenly experience withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, nervousness, and headaches. A person’s doctor may gradually reduce their dose to help prevent unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. This gradual reduction is especially necessary if a person has used Reglan for a long time or at a high dose. A person should tell their doctor or pharmacist immediately if they experience withdrawal symptoms.
A long list of other side effects is possible. Some of them are as follows:
- Chills;
- Dark urine;
- Difficulty breathing;
- Difficulty speaking;
- Difficulty swallowing;
- Dizziness or fainting;
- Rapid heartbeat;
- Irregular heartbeat;
- Fever;
- Feeling fatigued or weak.
Again, this list of side effects is incomplete, and a person should read the Medical Guide that comes with the drug to be fully informed.
What Are My Remedies If I Am Injured by Reglan?
A common method for seeking a remedy for injury caused by a prescription medication is a lawsuit for strict product liability. The manufacturers and distributors of prescription drugs are legally obligated to test them as necessary before putting them on the market for sale to consumers.
They must use testing criteria established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These criteria are considered the standards for the pharmaceutical industry. However, the fact that the FDA properly licenses a drug does not affect the manufacturer’s liability to an injured plaintiff if the drug proves to be defective.
If a drug is defective and the defect causes harm to a person who takes it, the person may have a case for strict product liability. One issue is whether the drug is “unavoidably unsafe.” Some prescription drugs are considered unavoidably unsafe products. This means they cannot be made completely safe, no matter how carefully formulated and manufactured.
Prescription drugs usually have some harmful side effects, but they still benefit the user. If prescription drugs have been prepared properly and are sold with adequate warnings, a person usually cannot successfully sue the manufacturer or distributors for strict product liability.
So, for example, in the case of Reglan, if a person were to take it as directed and develop tardive dyskinesia, they might not have a good case for strict product liability because the drug is sold with a warning about the possibility of developing this condition as a result of taking Reglan.
Of course, a person should consult a personal injury lawyer for help in determining whether they have a case for strict product liability for any drug. The drug may have a design defect or a manufacturing defect that could establish the liability of the manufacturer and distributors.
Another option would be a lawsuit for medical malpractice against the doctor who prescribed Reglan. If a person has a condition that indicates that they should not take Reglan and the doctor fails to learn that and prescribes Reglan anyways, the doctor may be liable for medical malpractice. A pharmacist might also be named in a pharmacy malpractice lawsuit for errors made with prescription medications.
In any of these cases, if successful, a person would win an award of compensatory damages, which would reimburse their economic and non-economic losses, such as salary loss, the cost of medical treatment, and their pain and suffering.
Do I Need a Lawyer for Help with My Reglan Issue?
If you believe that Reglan or any other prescription medication has injured you, you want to consult a class action lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to have your case reviewed by a medical expert who should be able to determine whether the medication was defective and whether the defect caused your injury. Or, the expert may be able to identify whether medical or pharmacy malpractice played a role in the case.
Your lawyer will be able to advise you on how to proceed to protect your rights and, if possible, recover damages for your injuries.
