Reglan is a brand name of the generic drug metoclopramide and has some serious side effects that can cause permanent damage. Reglan is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and as a prokinetic drug to improve gastric motility of a gut that has digestive impairment due to nerve damage. With its effect on dopamine receptors, Reglan is also prescribed as an anti-nausea drug after some surgeries or prior to some procedures. As with many other drugs it is intended for short-term use as labeled for 4-12 weeks. However, many patients have been prescribed the drug for much longer periods of time.
The serious side effects of Reglan cause what is known as Tardive Dyskinesia which is involuntary muscle movements that can debilitate a person who takes it. Not all patients prescribed Reglan suffer from the more serious side effects, and some do fully recover after discontinuing use of the drug. However, for some patients who have been prescribed Reglan the involuntary muscle movements that are a serious neurological disorder do not go away.
The involuntary muscle movements of Tardive dyskinesia may be exacerbated in those who are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Facial grimacing movements, rapid eye blinking, uncontrolled movements of the tongue, lips or jaw, uncontrolled finger, hand and arm movements are some of the side effects, and they can even involve the arms, shoulder, trunk of the body and legs.
If the muscle movements did not exist prior to taking Reglan, and if there is no other definitive cause, Reglan should be suspected. For some patients the neurological condition will not go away due to there not being any effective methods of treatment for Tardive Dyskinesia thus making their condition permanent.
It has been found that physicians have had a tendency to over prescribe Reglan when other drugs that are known to produce less serious side effects could have been used. In the U.S. there is no other drug available that is as effective as prokinetic for nerve-damaged gastric systems thus Reglan is the sole drug for this prescribed use. However, it has been found that physicians do not explain the potential serious side effects of Reglan before prescribing it, and with the condition of Tardive Dyskinesia being irreversible this is an issue.
Seniors in nursing homes are at more risk for the overuse of Reglan to treat symptoms. As well, seniors with varying levels of dementia are not able to understand the risks of the drug or may not be in a position to say no to treatment with the drug. With the possibility of adding the serious neurological disorder of Tardive Dyskinesia to senior patients in nursing homes who obviously already have a long list of health issues, it is of major concern to get physicians to quit over prescribing a drug known to have serious side effects.
Cases of patients suffering permanent serious side effects of Reglan use are now under review with attorneys all over the U.S. Law firms all over the U.S. are open to representing clients who believe they have suffered irreversible neurological symptoms due to taking the prescription drug Reglan or the generic metoclopramide.
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