REGLAN (METOCLOPRAMIDE)

Reglan Description

If you experience gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and find it difficult to find relief from the heartburn it can cause, talk to your doctor about a prescription for Reglan or generic Metoclopramide. Reglan is recommended as a short-term treatment (1-3 months) to relieve persistent heartburn which can help to decrease the damage that can be done by stomach acid rising into your esophagus. This back-wash could also be caused by a hiatus hernia where weakened muscle tissue has allowed your stomach to bulge up through your diaphragm. The generic alternative is not manufactured by the company that makes the brand product.

What Reglan Does Inside Your Body

Reglan is a dopamine antagonist and may be referred to as a prokinetic drug. When taken as directed, Reglan boosts your gastrointestinal motility (movement) so your food is not sitting in your stomach any longer than it needs to. By increasing the frequency of the contractions in your small intestine or making them stronger, your food is moved along faster so there is a reduced chance that you are going to experience heartburn. You will also find relief from bloating, constipation, gastritis, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Conditions Treated by Reglan

Your doctor may also recommend Reglan if you have gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). This condition causes food to take an excessive amount of time to move from your stomach to your upper digestive tract, or to even move at all. Risk factors for gastroparesis include diabetes, chemotherapy or radiation treatments, genetic disorders, eating disorders, Parkinson’s disease, or surgery. Any of these can damage your vagus nerve which is responsible for controlling the contractions that move your food along. Reglan is also taken as an antiemetic drug to help decrease nausea and vomiting after surgery or chemotherapy treatments.

Before You Take Reglan

Ask your doctor about the safety of taking Reglan if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast feeding. Disclose other medical conditions or allergies you have to your doctor and any OTC and Rx drugs you currently take or use, including herbal remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements so it can be determined if Reglan is the best medicine for you.

Proper Use of Reglan

Until you know how your body will react to Reglan, you should not drive, operate machinery, or perform any tasks considered to be unsafe. You should not drink alcohol while taking Reglan due to the risk of increased side effects. Always consult with your doctor before starting or stopping other medications or changing your dosage. All medications should be kept out of children’s reach and never shared with anyone else.

Possible Side Effects of Reglan

• Insomnia
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Frequent urination

Taking Reglan for longer than three months can increase your risk of side effects such as extreme tiredness, restlessness, and being agitated. Some individuals have experienced tardive dyskinesia, involuntary movements of the face and jaw, which could be permanent.