Reglan (Metoclopramide) Causes Tardive Dyskinesia Side Effect The drug Reglan, generic name Metoclopramide, is now linked to a horrible and often permanent, debilitating condition called Tardive Dyskinesia. If you or a loved one developed Tardive Dyskinesia after using Metoclopramide, the person suffering from Tardive Dyskinesia likely has a strong legal claim for this injury. The Reglan lawyers at DeCarli Law can help.
Reglan/Metoclopramide an Acid Reflux and Nausea Treatment Reglan is a drug used to treat heartburn, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, and to aid gastric emptying in patients with gastroparesis. The drug’s generic name is Metoclopramide. It is marketed under the name Reglan, as well as Maxolon, Degan, Maxeran, Primperan, and Pylomid.
The danger from Reglan/Metoclopramide comes with long-term use, meaning longer than three months. Some studies have shown that over 20% of people who use dopamine antagonists like Metoclopramide ultimately develop Tardive Dyskinesia.
Tardive Dyskinesia Tardive dyskinesia is characterized by repetitive, involuntary and purposeless movements. These movements can include grimacing, tongue protrusion, lip smacking, puckering and pursing of the lips, and rapid eye blinking. Rapid movements of the hands and feet can also occur. This is an extremely debilitating condition because it can make simple tasks and even communicating with others nearly impossible. These symptoms are rarely reversible and currently there are no treatments proven effective.
The risk of Tardive Dyskinesia increases with the length of time the drug is used and with the total amount of the drug that is ingested. The elderly, especially elderly women, are most at risk of developing Tardive Dyskinesia.
FDA Warning on MetoclopramideOn February 26, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration required that manufacturers of Metoclopramide add a “boxed warning” about the risk of Tardive Dyskinesia from long-term or high-dose use. The warning makes clear that prolonged treatment -- meaning longer than three months -- should be avoided in all but the rare case where the therapeutic benefit outweighs the risk of Tardive Dyskinesia.
Reglan Lawsuits/Metoclopramide LawsuitsBecause the injuries caused by Reglan and Metoclopramide are so severe, there is no Reglan class action or Metoclopramide class action. A separate lawsuit is filed for each person’s injury. The Reglan attorneys at DeCarli Law have worked with clients with Tardive Dyskinesia, and offer free consultations for those suffering from the disease who used a form of Metoclopramide. For a free consultation, please use the contact form on this website to obtain more information, or if you are comfortable doing so, call our toll-free number: 1-800-401-4720.
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