Elderly Taking Reglan at Extra Risk of Neurological Disorder
By Jim Greene
Published on February 06, 2010
Elderly patients, especially elderly women, taking the prescription drug Reglan® (metoclopramide) run a higher than average risk of developing the neurological syndrome tardive dyskinesia (TD), according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The drug is the subject of numerous defective products/personal injury lawsuits filed in several jurisdictions.
Reglan® is commonly prescribed to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and to treat nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients. It was originally tested and approved for short-term use, usually no more than 12 weeks.
FDA Calls for Improved Package Warnings
Last year, the FDA called for revised warning labels for Reglan®, to better emphasize to patients and health professionals the risk of TD developing in those taking Reglan® and other metoclopramide products. The warning says that, while TD often goes away after medication is stopped, it can be irreversible in some patients.
TD can cause involuntary movements, including grimacing, tongue protrusion, lip smacking, puckering and pursing, and rapid eye blinking, rapid movements of the arms, legs, and trunk, and involuntary movements of the fingers. The syndrome was first recognized in the early 1960s; It is nearly always caused by taking certain medications, including Reglan®.
Drug Makers Faulted for Insufficient Efforts
Plaintiffs in Reglan® lawsuits claim that its maker, Schwarz Pharma, Inc., of Mequon, Wisc., was negligent in not doing enough to let health professionals know of the danger of TD when taking the drug for more than the recommend maximum of 12 weeks.
Metoclopramide has also been sold under other brand names. The Web site Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base, hosted at Stanford University and funded by the National Institutes of Health, lists nearly 50 current or former brand names.
If you developed tardive dyskinesia or any other health problem after taking Reglan® or any metoclopramide product, you need to contact an experienced defective products/personal injury attorney right away. TD can cause a serious disruption of your life, making it difficult to earn a living and have a normal social life. You may be entitled to financial compensation, especially if there is a chance that your TD is irreversible.
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