Reglan Lawsuit

There is currently no Reglan class action type of litigation, also referred to as “Multidistrict litigation” that involves metoclopramide products. Claims are still being brought on an individual basis due to the differences in the types of injuries people have suffered and the effect of those injuries both financially and physically. Many patients continue to suffer from tardive dyskinesia after using Reglan or the generic metoclopramide and are weighing their legal options including filing a Reglan lawsuit.

The Dangers Of Chronic Reglan Use For High-Risk Patients

Chronic and high-dose use of metoclopramide (the generic name for the branded drug Reglan) has been linked to a number of severe movement-related disorders. After being available to the public (by prescription) for nearly three decades, the FDA issued a black box warning on the drug. The warning emphasizes the dangers of developing tardive dyskinesia if the patient uses Reglan for more than three months. Some populations may be at more risk than others.

Metoclopramide drugs are dopamine receptor blockers. They are often prescribed to treat symptoms related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastroparesis, and vomiting and nausea caused by radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Adolescents, geriatrics, and nursing mothers are considered to be more susceptible to developing tardive dyskinesia and other side effects than the general population. Below, we’ll explore the use of Reglan by young people, the elderly, and pregnant or nursing women.

Reglan Use Among Young People

Young children occasionally suffer from GERD and other reflux-related issues. When their symptoms are severe and their bodies are unresponsive to other forms of treatment, doctors might prescribe drugs containing metoclopramide. Many adolescents also undergo radiation or chemotherapy treatment for cancer. The treatment will often generate intense nausea and vomiting. Reglan can be used to help control these symptoms.

Chronic use of the drug by young people has produced an alarmingly high rate of dystonia. This is a condition that is similar to tardive dyskinesia; it is characterized by involuntary movements. While TD often presents within the facial area, limbs, and hands, dystonia manifests as persistent muscular contractions that are spasmodic and sometimes painful. In some cases, young victims will begin showing symptoms within weeks of beginning to use metoclopramide products.

Metoclopramide Use Among The Elderly

In 2004, studies began to show that elderly patients were at far more risk of developing tardive dyskinesia than other populations. The data also suggested that women were more likely to develop the condition than men, though this may be due to women comprising a larger portion of the sample size.

Tardive dyskinesia is another involuntary movement disorder. Unlike dystonia, which manifests primarily as muscular contractions, TD is usually most noticeable in the facial area, limbs, and extremities. Within the facial area, patients can be observed jutting out their tongue, blinking, grimacing, and swaying their jaw. Their arms and legs might also sway, and small tremors might be noticeable.

Reglan Use Among Pregnant Or Nursing Mothers

Reglan has been prescribed to pregnant women to treat nausea, and to nursing mothers to stimulate breast milk production. There is no evidence that metoclopramide drugs can be passed along from the mother to her unborn child. However, there is evidence which suggests Reglan can be passed along to a nursing baby through breast milk.

In most cases, taking metoclopramide products can stimulate the production of breast milk within a few days. Even though babies are considered more susceptible to the drug than adults, their limited exposure is seldom problematic if the mother stops taking it after the first week.

There are two important points from this article. First, metoclopramide drugs should only be considered a short-term treatment path; chronic use exposes patients to tardive dyskinesia and other side effects. Second, they should only be used when symptoms (i.e. nausea, reflux-related, etc.) are severe and other medications are ineffective. While the young, old, and pregnant or nursing are considered high-risk populations, the dangers associated with long-term Reglan use extends to everyone.

We represent all clients suffering from Reglan side effects on a contingency basis which means that there are never any legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. For a free no-obligation consultation please call toll free or fill out our short online contact form and a Reglan lawsuit attorney will contact you to answer any of your questions.