Reglan Attorneys

Serving Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and surrounding areas

Reglan is a popular prescription medication that aids in fighting gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Reglan is the drug’s brand name; its generic name is metoclopramide. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it for use in 1995.

Reglan’s original purpose was as a short-term drug to be taken for a period of time no longer than 12 weeks. If GER or GERD symptoms persisted, people were advised to seek medical assistance. Reglan was also prescribed to pregnant women to counteract morning sickness and to breastfeeding mothers who were suffering from migraines. The drug can be found in multiple forms.

• Reglan Tablets
• Reglan Disintegrating Oral Tablets
• Reglan Injection
• Metoclopramide Oral Solution

If you took Reglan as prescribed by your doctor and have suffered adverse effects, you should meet with a defective drug attorney in your area right away as there are statutes of limitation on these types of cases.

Reglan Misuse and the Resulting Tardive Dyskinesia

Research into Reglan found that roughly one-third of people were taking it for periods of 12 months or longer—which is far beyond the intended use. This has lead to an increase in cases of Tardive Dyskinesia, a neurological disorder that has the potential to become a lifelong condition that affects quality of life in sufferers. The main symptoms of this syndrome are:

• Spasm-like movements of the face, mouth, tongue and jaw
• Uncontrollable jerking of hands and fingers
• In more extreme cases, these symptoms show up in the arms, legs and trunk
• Tongue protusion

Since Tardive Dyskineasia inhibits a person’s ability to control movement, it can have a drastic effect on people’s daily lives.

The FDA made a ruling in February of 2009 that any company that manufactures Reglan and metoclopramide must educate consumers about potential dangers like Tardive Dyskinesia. Now, all packaging needs to contain a warning placed in its own black box so it stands out and is easily noticeable.

Remember, this condition can be quite serious and impede a person’s ability to lead a normal life and earn a living. If you live in the vicinity of Oklahoma City and would like to explore the possibility of pursuing damages related to this because you were advised to take Reglan for a longer period of time, you should contact a team of attorneys who specialize in negligence cases. Stipe & Belote, L.L.P., defective drug attorneys in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, will discuss your situation through a free consultation.