Reglan

About Reglan

Reglan, also known as Metoclopramide, is used to relieve heartburn and speed the healing of ulcers and sores in the esophagus in people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).  GERD is a condition in which backward flow of acid from the stomach causes heartburn and injury of the esophagus.  Reglan is also used to relieve symptoms caused by slow stomach emptying in people who have diabetes or who are recovering from certain types of surgery, and to prevent nausea and vomiting in people who are being treated with chemotherapy for cancer. 

Reglan is in a class of medications called prokinetic agents. It works by speeding the movement of food through the stomach and intestines.  Reglan comes as a tablet, a dissolving tablet, and a liquid to take by mouth. 

Taking Reglan can cause a muscle problem called tardive dyskinesia. Tardive dyskinesia causes a person to move their muscles, especially the muscles in their face, in unusual and uncontrollable ways. Tardive dyskinesia may not go away even after a person stops taking Reglan. In February 2009, after large doses of Metoclopramide were linked to tardive dyskinesia, the FDA mandated the manufacturers of Metoclopramide add a black box warning to their drug labels about the risk of its long-term or high-dose use

Conditions Caused By Reglan

Side Effects & Symptoms

Warnings & Recalls

In February 2009, the FDA required that manufacturers of Metoclopramide add a black box warning (the agency’s strongest warning) to their drug labels addressing the risk of tardive dyskinesia after long-term or high-dose use of the drug. 

Cases, Settlements, & Verdicts

$6.7 million jury verdict for a woman in San Francisco, California who developed tardive dyskinesia after using the generic version of Reglan, Metoclopramide, to treat heartburn. The lawsuit was filed against Wyeth, Inc., the manufacturer of the drug, for failure to adequately warn patients about the potential risks of the drug.

Helpful Information