Personal Injury Law

Reglan Induced Tardive Dyskinesia

By M. Brandon Smith

Per the FDA and other medical literature, Reglan use has been linked to Tardive Dyskinesia. Tardive Dyskinesia is a central nervous system disorder that causes involuntary, repetitive movements of the body even after the drug is no longer being taken. There is no medical cure for Tardive Dyskinesia and it is rarely reversible even with medical intervention.

Reglan, whose generic name is Metoclopramide, is a prescription drug used to treat gastrointestinal problems in adults. It is not labled or FDA approved for use in children or infants. Reglan is used to control or treat: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) , nausea and vomiting, reflux, heartburn, Gastroparesis and diabetic gastroparesis, decreased appetite, prolonged fullness after eating, persistent hiccups, and other conditions related to the stomach. The drug aids digestion by increasing stomach and small intestine contractions, which helps move food through the digestive process at a faster pace.

Reglan was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 1985. The FDA approved Reglan for only short-term use (4-12 week treatment periods) in adults only. Also, the FDA stressed that Reglan should only be prescribed when traditional methods for treatment fail or in other rare cases. Unfortunately, the FDA's guidelines have been increasingly overlooked, mismanaged and ignored. Despite these warnings, thousands of prescriptions continue to be written by doctors for intervals beyond the 12 week period allowed and this increase has caused many patients to develop Tardive Dyskinesia as a result. Prescribing Reglan beyond FDA guidelines and warnings appears to be common practice for some doctors because the drug is used to control chronic problems, which usually requires long-term treatment and care. Many doctors, ignoring FDA guidelines, have also been known to prescribe Reglan to children and infants despite warning against do so.

There are numerous side effects associated with taking Reglan, such as: nausea, depression, irritability, constipation/diarrhea, sleepiness, grimicing, lip smacking and Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) itself. Manufacturers have ignored these side effects and failed to adequately inform doctors of these life altering risks for years, choosing profit driven motives over patient safety. Even though manufacturers downplay the risk of developing Reglan induced Tardive Dyskinesia, studies indicate that about 29% of long-term Reglan patients may develop the disease.

Symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia may include:

• Lip Smacking
• Involuntary Facial gestures, such as grimacing
• Repetitive Chewing
• Pursing and Puckering of the Lips
• Tongue Protrusion
• Rapid Eye Movements and Blinking
• Impaired Finger Movements
• Involuntary Movements of Fingers, Hands, Arms, Shoulders, Legs, or Torso
• Difficulty Breathing, Swallowing, Walking and/or Talking

On February 26, 2009 the FDA required all Metoclopramide manufacturers to place a 'black box' warning to their drug labels about the Reglan Tardive Dyskinesia risk. The 'black box' warning is the strongest type of warning that can be placed on a medication. Unfortunately this warning has came too late for thousands of unknowing users. Reglan has been on the market for years without a proper warning and as a result many individuals have developed TD. The symptoms associated with TD are extremely debilitating and remain incurable in many cases. Individuals suffer not only physical and mental problems but emotional and social turmoil as well. Individuals who have taken Reglan or metoclopramide and suffered from an involuntary movement disorder should contact a one of our Reglan Lawyers immediately to consider pursuing a Reglan Lawsuit or a Tardive Dyskinesia Lawsuit.

It is critical to contact a Georgia Reglan lawyer if you want to pursue a Georgia Reglan Lawsuit. Our Reglan Lawyers are filing Reglan Lawsuits in Georgia and elsewhere on behalf of those suffering from Tardive Dyskinesia and other related movement disorders. An experienced and qualified Atlanta Reglan Lawyer can help you determine the validity of your Reglan claim and how to pursue it. If you or a loved one has questions about your rights, please contact our Reglan Attorneys now to see how we can help.

Full post as published by Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer on July 29, 2009 (boomark / email).