Reglan Lawsuits
Last Updated: April 2009 • 24 Comments
Contact a Lawyer
Submit information about your potential case to be reviewed by an attorney.
Reglan side effects have been associated with the development of tardive dyskinesia, a syndrome that causes involuntary movements in the body extremities, particularly the lower face. In February 2009, the FDA required that a “black box” warning about the tardive dyskinesia problems be added to Reglan and other gastrointestinal drugs containing metoclopramide.
REGLAN LAWSUIT STATUS: Lawyers are reviewing potential claims for individuals who may be entitled to compensation through a Reglan lawsuit as a result of developing tardive dyskinesia.
>>REVIEW A TARDIVE DYSKINESIA LAWSUIT WITH A LAWYER<<
METOCLOPRAMIDE-CONTAINING PRODUCTS:
- Reglan Tablets
- Reglan Oral Disintegrating Tablets
- Metoclopramide Oral Solution
- Reglan Injection
OVERVIEW: Reglan is used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. It contains metoclopramide, which works by increasing the movement of stomach muscles, speeding up the rate at which the stomach empties into the intestines.
When metoclopramide-containing drugs are used at high doses or for extended periods of time, it can increase the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia, which is associated with involuntary movements, such as:
- Movements in the Body Extremeties
- Lip Smacking
- Grimacing
- Repetitive Chewing
- Pursing and Puckering of the Lips
- Tongue Protrusion
- Rapid Eye Movements and Blinking
- Impaired Finger Movements
TARDIVE DYSKINESIA SIDE EFFECTS: Reglan tardive dyskinesia side effects are more likely to occur with long-term use of the drug, use at high doses and among the elderly, especially women.
It is not recommended that metoclopramide-containing drugs like Reglan be used for more than three years due to the risk of Reglan side effects.
In February 2009, the FDA announced that they were requiring that a “black box” warning about the tardive dyskinesia side effects be added to the labels for all drugs containing metoclopramide. The drug makers will also be required to implement a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy to make sure that patients who receive these drugs in the future are fully informed about the risk of developing the side effects.
Comment by Yasmin on 13 March 2009:
My mother was on reglan last year and shegot Parkinson like symptoms from it as a side effect. After stopping the use of reglan she was okay again.
Comment by wonnell on 16 March 2009:
My mommy took reglan for over a year 4 times a day. She too got Parkinson like symptoms. After seeing a neurologist we found out she has Tardive Dyskensia which is a side effect of long term reglan use. She did not get better. She has been off Reglan for 5 months and still she suffers from the tremors.
Comment by Eddie on 31 March 2009:
My Mother in Law is currently taking Metoclopramide 10 mg to ease her heartburn and ingestion. She has been taking this for well over a year now. I am concerned that hers may be affected by this. Her side effect since taking it is that she feels somewhat strangled at times. Then she also feels that her left side of her face is drooping. Please reassure me that this is not affected her because of this Medicine recall.
Pingback by Motion Filed to Consolidate Reglan Tardive Dyskinesia Lawsuits - AboutLawsuits.com on 8 April 2009:
[...] plaintiffs in all of the known tardive dyskinesia lawsuits filed against the makers of Reglan and other Metoclopramide-containing drugs, have filed a motion with the U.S. Judicial Panel on [...]
Comment by Michelle on 7 May 2009:
i just in the hosiptal having nasal surgery and was given the drug Reglan. Supposedly it was so I wouldn’t vomit during surgery. I was about to go home, as it was an out patient procedure, and started to feel like I couldn’t breathe. My jaw started to shift from side to side and I couldn’t control it. The reason I couldn’t breathe was due to the fact that my tongue was enlarging in my throat. The doctor’s didn’t know what to do. They all started reading books in front of me. Finally, a doctor came by and knew exactly what to give me to counteract it all. He said if I waited another 10 minutes, I would have been paralyzed in my mouth. My case is in the medical journals at the hospital.
Comment by Debbie on 3 June 2009:
My mom began taking Reglan in March of 2008, she suffered from tremors, elevated white blood count, lip smacking, inablility to focus, anxiety, insomnia and other symptons of an adverse reaction. The doctors new this was “a bad drug” (in their words) and that she need to be taken off it. They lead us to believe she had. She suffered unexplained seizures on October 21, 2008 and died on November 1st.
Comment by Cherie on 28 June 2009:
I am still on reglan and I sometimes feel like my head is shaking and I can’t hold my head up and my arms and hands now go numb and they say I have developed Rynaulds Syndrome. I don’t know if this could be caused by Reglan but I have to take it for my stomach. What do I do? Is there a substitute medication Reglan?
Comment by Steve on 12 July 2009:
Where was this black box warning on my prescription last week? Nobody mentioned anything about these dangerous and frightening side-effects when I was put on the medication. I went to the ER twice this week because of severe headache, numbness and coldness in my head and extremities, muscle spasms, difficulty breathing…basically a slew of Reglan side-effects. The doctor started me on migraine treatments (one of which can increase risk of Reglan side-effects). Still, nobody mentioned anything about the dangers of this medication. I had to find out myself and discontinue use. I’d rather be nauseous than crippled or dead. It has only been a few days since I quit this medication and I’ve continued to experience leg spasms, insomnia, and migraines (which I’ve never in my life experienced until now). THIS DRUG SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET!!!!!!
Comment by Frankie on 14 July 2009:
I started usng Reglan in 2004 for stomach problems, i.e. nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, & indigestion. For three years I couldn’t understand why I had insomnia and anxiety attacks. My left hand became numb and clamy feeling and I was told it was probably a nerve. At times it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest and I also begin to have spasms in my mouth area and eye, I felt like I was falling apart and my doctor gave me no explanations as to why I was experiencing these feelings…
In 2007 I had Gall Bladder surgery and was prescribed Reglan afterwards. My symptoms begin to worsen and I didn’t have a clue what was happening to me…
I still have insomnia and other issues that I deal with on a daily basis and it saddens me that people have to get really sick or die for medicines to get a “Warning” label or taken off the market…
My last intake of Reglan was January 2009…
Comment by marvin on 21 July 2009:
my mother had gald bladder removed and was placed on reglan and for three years .had all the side affects rocking shakeing tongue going in and out of her mouth looked like she was on crack too many trips to the doctor and emergency rooms and just in the last six months they told us it was from the reglan use recently she had so many stomach problems .they installed a feeding tube because her stomach quit working . and three weeks later they told us it did not work there was uncontrolable vomiting and diahrea the doctors .acted crazy and told us there was nothing they could do she had very little healh problems before reglan now she has passed i really think it was all because of reglan
Comment by Mom of twins on 27 July 2009:
I was put on Reglan 10mg to help me with the production of milk for my twins. They were born premature and I was very sick after having them therefore we were apart for long periods of time which is why I was told my milk didn’t fully come in. I was on and off of Reglan for many months. Reading this information frightens me because I have many of the symptoms and am concerned for my twins who were also exposed to the medication through my breast milk.
Comment by shaleen on 4 August 2009:
My son has had surgeries and was diagnosed with tourettes at one point .Somebody needs to get this drug off the market
Comment by Kollene on 21 August 2009:
I was on Reglan for gastorointestinal problems, had surgery in 2002 and stopped using it. I have insomnia and sleepwalking problems. I can’t sit still because I am so restless, and I now have restless leg syndrome. Could these side affects be from the Reglan?
Comment by MADD (Mother Against Deadly Drugs) on 30 September 2009:
Listen everybody. You all need to contact an attorney. In June, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation denied a request to consolidate the federal Reglan litigations over tardive dyskinesia and other neurological injuries associated with the long-term use of metoclopramide drugs. The courts said there were not enough cases, so everyone who has filed a lawsuit is basically on their own. We all need to stand up to these drug makers and hold them responsible for what they are making, and distributing, to the public. My son was on this drug for six years, and had many complications from this drug. He passed away last year, and all I can think of is how I continued to give him that drug 4X every day, how he sufferred, and how this drug was supposed to be helping him.
Comment by Herbert Lim, MD on 30 September 2009:
There are NO 100% safe prokinetic agents that are available to help people with slow stomachs that cause nausea and vomiting. What am I supposed to use with my diabetic patients who can’t eat? Reglan has side effects. ALL medication have side effects. You have to weigh the pros and cons. Sometimes there is NO CHOICE on what you can use. Cisapride was taken off the market, Zelnorm was taken off. Every one looks at side effects but no one looks at the side effects of NOT using these drugs. THese drugs help alot of patients who would other wise have suffered long term debilitating symptoms of their disease. I tell my pts about the side effects but almost all of them are suffering enough that they want relief. Some of them swear that it has greatly improved their quality of life. If we continue with this lawsuit mentality, we will have NO drugs to help patients.
Comment by Tensia on 13 November 2009:
My daughter was given Reglan to help produce more milk for her baby. She started taking this on October 7,2009 and a week ago she developed all the symptoms that we have read about with this medicine. She quit taking the Reglan a week ago and is on medication for post partum, which is what her doctor thinks she has, but then she asked me if I thought it could be because of the Reglan and I started to go on-line and what I have found out makes me angry to know this is out there and is being given to people. We are scheduled to see her doctor again on Monday and we are going to show him what we found out and also get the baby checked out. Her OB-GYN told her that it wouldn’t hurt the baby, but I read otherwise on the warnings of this Reglan. If we are told by the doctors that the Reglan was the cause of my daughter’s illness, your damn right I will file a lawsuit>
Comment by Judith on 8 January 2010:
I had shoulder surgery in 2007 and was given Reglan, in which I had never taken. It was given to me because I am prone to paralytic ileuses.
The day after surgery I could not stop moving. I could not sit or stand I had to keep moving. On the third day I started involuntary movements and was having movement in the shoulder that was supposed to be immobile. By the fifth day without sleep, no rest, and total exhaustion I was about ready to crack. I am a nurse and knew sometjhing was causing this problem so I found on the net where Reglan could cause such side effects and discontinued it, but it took another week to completely to return to myself. I started headaches on the 5th day and have been plaged with them since and doctors have not been alble to find out why. My shoulder surgery also was unsuccessful and I am beginning to wonder if it was because I was not immobile when I was supposed to be. I also still have mouth quivering without reason. I have been miserable because doctors do not want to repeat surgery since the first failed.
Comment by Wondering Why on 12 January 2010:
I was on Reglan for over 2 years to speed up my stomach due to Crohn’s Disease. NO ONE told me a thing about this medication other than I need it. I CANNOT remember those two years. I walked around like a zombie. Birthdays, Christmases, Easters, and 2 years of my babies lives are permenantly missing for me. Now I have involuntary facial movements. I “wake up” in the middle of the night to eat, drink, smoke, and even have a conversation. My hands shake all the time. I bob my head alot and have bitten my tongue numerous times. This medicine really messed me up.
When they put my best friend on it for different reasons, her doctor had the decency to give her a choice! He informed her that taken over time, Reglan would work its way into her central nervous system. Then he INSISTED on keeping a very frequent eye on her mental and physical well being.
It’s not about the treatment’s side effects being worse than the disease’s symptoms, it’s about informing the patient and giving them a choice! We don’t have to automatically take a prescription just because our doctors give it to us! If we can find information about lawsuits for medications gone wrong, we should be just as capable as looking up a new script and deciding if it’s worth the risk! That’s what I did with my newest med, it’s a low dose, pill form of chemo, but I researched and decided I can stay in my home away from people until I know if it’s working or not. It beats the surgery I’ll need if this is a bust!
Comment by Dottie on 27 January 2010:
I had my Gallbladder removed 5 years ago and was given Reglan for my nausea and was told to keep taking it. I now have numbness and tingling in my fingers. I have swelling in my seft fingers and it bothers me all night. I just went to a new gastro doctor and he told me to stop taking Reglan immediately because of Tardive Kyskinensia and that it is not reversable! Why doen’t ALL the doctors know about this. I also have trouble swallening when I eat certain things. It feels like the musscles in my throat stop working!!!
Comment by curley on 1 February 2010:
i was giving reglan iv 2 times in ER AFTER wish my body was like on fire and going crazy , it’s 1 year now i’m i cant speak clearly and i have seizures the doctors dont know what wrong with me , i cant work anymore my life is taken away from me , i,m only 47 , i dont know what to do . please help me . Thank you.
Comment by Annette on 3 February 2010:
I was on Reglen off and on for many years..had reflex disease and that was common for my doctors prescribe with other meds for reflex disease. In my twenties I started getting trimmers thru out my body..including my eyes and face. For the last four years I’ve been having not only trimmers but siezures of a unknown origon.
Comment by Janet on 24 February 2010:
I took reglen, because of gastropareisis. I took it twice; both times I had severe anxiety, it felt like I was speed, it lasted for about 6 hours. since that I do not take it unless I really need it, instead I watch what I eat and use enzymes if I start getting sick. I have had to reduce the types of food I can eat. No more Oatmeal, broccoli, nuts, steak, eic.
Comment by nancy on 25 February 2010:
I also had these symptoms but had them when I was given Reglen, Tigan, Bentyl, or Compazine in suppository form.(for IBS from endometreosis) I couldn’t settle down, was in constant movement, started twitcting…this started 15 years ago! ..I kept complaining and noone believed me. I just started saying that I was allergic to these drugs which they said was impossible. Onlyy one dr. believed me. I could only use Dranamine for nausea now. When this would happen, the only thing that would stop the symptoms were Valium or Xanax and time. I still say I am Allergic and have Adverse reactions to these drugs on my medical history. Thought I was alone until I saw the commerical on TV about people suffering from reactions and almost feel over!
Comment by joshua on 3 March 2010:
my husband has taken the drug reglan ,metoclopramide for about 14 years it was given to him for stomach disorder after he started diallysis the kidney dr took him off of it about 2 years AGO i started to see the sysptom listed i have taken him to his stomach dr he has sent us to his neurologist they are just now takening this serious in the process of during blood work up and scheduling other treatment and test
he has the shakes so bad he shakes the whole bed at night tongue protruding head shakes eye blinking facetwitching