Reglan Tardive Dyskinesia Risks

Are you at risk of developing an abnormal movement disorder?  If you take certain medications, you may be. Reglan tardive dyskinesia side effects have affected some patients using this drug over an extended period of time.

The FDA has issued a warning for a medicine generically called metoclopramide, also sold under the brand name of Reglan.  This medicine is prescribed to help decrease nausea and to lessen symptoms of acid reflux, however, its long-term use can lead to serious complications.

When people have a chronic stomach discomfort like acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease, acids from the stomach back up into the esophagus, irritating and possibly damaging it.  

When the usual antacids and acid blockers are not effective, a medicine like metoclopramide may be used instead.  This medicine helps speed digestion by increasing contractions of the stomach muscles.  It also blocks chemicals in the brain, called dopamine, which also helps affect how the brain controls movement. Some people who have taken metoclopramide or Reglan for more than three months, have developed a condition known as Tardive Dyskinesia, which is characterized by involuntary and repetitive movements.

The word “tardive” means late and the word “dyskinesia” means movement, indicating that in some cases, the development of the movement disorder appears late, sometimes not until after the patient has stopped taking the medicine.

A patient with Reglan Tardive Dyskinesia may involuntarily blink their eyelids, repeatedly move their tongue around the mouth, suck the lips, tap their fingers or toes, move their arms, hands, shoulders, legs, feet, neck or torso.  The movement may be minor and somewhat infrequent, or extremely noticeable and constant.  

Although patients are now being warned not to use medicines like Reglan long-term, many patients needed the medicine long-term for relief from problems like nausea and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Doctors have found that some patients are more likely to develop Tardive Dyskinesia than others.  People who have taken Reglan for more than three months increase their risk.  Older people, particularly post-menopausal women, are more likely to be affected by the disease.  People with alcohol or substance abuse are also at risk.  In years past, some patients receiving antipsychotic medicines developed Tardive Dyskinesia, but as these medicines improved, the risk of these patients developing TD decreased, however a long-term exposure to antipsychotics must be considered a factor.

Although the exact cause of Tardive Dyskinesia is not know, the National Alliance of Mental Illness says that the long-term blocking of dopamine may cause spontaneous muscle contractions throughout the body.

Symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia may eventually diminish.  Certain medicines may decrease the effects of the disease, but for some people, the symptoms may never go away.

If you have been diagnosed with Tardive Dyskinesia or have symptoms of this condition after taking Reglan or metoclopramide, you may have options for legal compensation.  

About the author

John Davidson is the author of this article on Reglan lawsuit settlements. Find more information about Reglan lawsuit here.

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