Reglan: 8 Things you Should Know
May 29th, 2009. By admin
5. Black Box Warning. In February, 2009, the FDA announced that Reglan would require a new black box warning to warn about the risk of Tardive Dyskinesia.
6. Trademark of SRZ Properties. You’ve read about Reglan being owned or associated with pharmaceutical companies like Wyeth, but here’s the deal: A.H. Robins originally got the FDA-approval for Reglan. A.H. Robins was later acquired by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, formerly part of American Home Products. A.H. Robins was the maker of the Dalkon Shield, an IUD linked to serious injury in women who used it. The Dalkon Shield fiasco ultimately led to A.H. Robins’ bankruptcy. When Pfizer acquired Wyeth earlier this year, the Reglan brand was sold off: the tablet form of the drug was picked up by Schwarz Pharma (parent to SRZ Properties) and the injectable form went to Baxter Healthcare. Other companies such as Actavis Elizabeth, Teva and Barr Pharmaceuticals market generic versions.
7. Lawsuits have been going on for over 10 years. The first case against Reglan was tried in 1998. Since then, more than 70 suits have been filed in federal and state courts. According to an article on AboutLawsuits.com (5/28/09), 80% of those cases have been resolved.
8. The latest? A motion was filed on behalf of current Reglan plaintiffs in 15 lawsuits pending in 11 district courts to form a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL). The MDL would consolidate all pending cases before one judge.
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Good article, Thanks. my name Philip.
Hi Philip,
Thanks for your comment. Tracking the Reglan story can be complicated, especially as the trademark has changed owners several times and many GERD patients are taking generic versions–so they may not even be aware that the published Reglan side effects might affect them as well. Have you personally been affected by either Reglan or the decision to use it? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for the information. My husband took it for over 18 weeks and then tok his own life. I, my children and grandchildren will never get over this. He had never been depressed and we were married 46 years. It breaks my heart that they had him on a life threating drug for a non-life threating problem (GERDS).
Please take it of the market.
Hi Barbara, I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your husband and can only imagine the shock and grief you and your family have been through. Reglan is certainly a drug that anyone should question the need to take–particularly those that find themselves taking it off-label. I'm not sure from your comment how long ago your husband had been taking the Reglan, nor whether you had contacted a lawyer at that time. You may want to consider submitting a claim for a lawyer to review (there is no cost or obligation to do so). Unfortunately, too, it isn't until a groundswell of adverse events reports and/or litigation begins that progress is made in terms of either taking a drug off the market or at least giving a drug a black box warning. Thank you for sharing your story. -Abi
Thanks for your comments but I contacted several lawyers and no one thought they could help me.
My husband took Generic Reglan from November 2008 until April 2009 when he took his life. He did have some physical side effects from Reglan that Doctor was aware of. His last Doctor's visit was in March of 2009 and was told to stay on it another 4 months and return to see him then.
Never did I think or understand that it can cause mental problems. It will not make my life any better now but I hope I live to se the day that it is taken of the market so no other families have to live through what we have. Money will never help me at this point and never replac our HUGE loss.
Hi Barbara, Thank you for keeping us up to date–and for sharing your experience. It truly is a help to others to be able to hear your story. I'm sorry that you have not gotten a positive response from the lawyers you've contacted–I can only imagine the frustration you've gone through in trying to find help while trying to go through the pain and devastation of the loss of your husband. My heart truly goes out to you. I wish I could offer more in the way of help–you can certainly try to submit a claim form here for additional review by attorneys (it's free)–I can't promise anything, but it may be worth at least a try. All the best to you, -Abi
My father committed suicide two weeks ago and has been taking Reglan for over one year. He has not suffered from depression before and was irrational for the last three months. Thanks for sharing what happened to your husband Barbara. Tardive Dyskinesia appears to be getting the most attention from it but I believe it also contributed to his suicide.
Hi Hollie, I am very sorry to hear about your father–and I'm thankful that both you and Barbara have shared your experiences here as, like you said, the focus with Reglan has been on Tardive Dyskinesia, and yet between stories like yours and Barbara's, and the warnings about suicidality on the Reglan monograph, it seems like this very devastating side effect should be getting more attention. And if not in terms of legal recourse, or even in terms of stronger regulation, at least in terms of patient monitoring while on the drug. No one should have to go through what your father or Barbara's husband have gone through, and perhaps by sharing your story and making others aware, this will get the attention it needs. Again, our condolences to your and your family. Best, -Abi
Reading about these families who have lost their loved ones to suicide brings up something I don't understand. From what I've read, Reglan is in a class of drugs given to schizophrenics and works on the dopamine receptors. Why, why, why would such a powerful psychotrophic medication be given to people who are not schizo? I was prescribed Reglan for six months before, during and after chemo — supposedly to prevent nausea and vomiting. Instead, Reglan caused me to go in a deep depression and eventually shut down my ability to walk, swallow and talk other than yes or no. My legs would move spontaneously and I drooled out the side of my mouth. I just found retrieved and read my medical records from that time and I was stunned to see how I was described. All four of my extremities were rigid as was my jaw. I was sweating a lot and had high blood pressure (usually my blood pressure is 90/60). I survived the cancer and the chemo and it appears that Reglan nearly killed me. My entire life has been altered. I have not been able to work in seven years and I have multiple neurological deficits, memory problems … the list is too long. My heart goes out to those who have lost a loved one to this drug. I truly don't get it. Why was Reglan so widely prescribed when it had so many potential pitfalls?
Hi Sharon, It sounds like you've been through quite a bit, having been on Reglan–and I can only imagine your shock at reading through your medical records. Absolutely, some families have had their lives turned upside down by Reglan side effects–it's heart-wrenching to hear some of the stories. Given your experience with Reglan and the side effects you've had, if you haven't cosidered or sought legal help, you may wish to do so and you can begin to do that by filling out this form (it's free and a lawyer who specializes in Reglan lawsuits would then review your case). You do ask a good question though. And unfortunately, many drugs are used in ways that are not necessarily in line with their original FDA-approved usage guidelines. In the case of Reglan, I believe it had been approved for cancer treatment-relalted nausea. By the way, I'm not sure where you read that Reglan is used for schizophrenia–it's a dopamine antagonist that's used as an antiemetic, not an antipsychotic. But you are right in that the drug is sometimes used off-label–the most alarming use to me is that it is sometimes used to help stimulate lactation for breast-feeding.
Good luck to you as you move forward in recovery from all you've been through–and, again, you may wish to consider seeking some legal help.
I took Reglan for Gerd from 2001 until 2003. In late 2002 had neurological disorder called TIA (mini strokes) I then began to experience high blood pressure, never had a preoblem with it until then. During the time before getting TIAs, i had thickness of the tongue, loss of fingers use, etc. I later found out after coming off the Reglan, that it causes strokes. I have talked to several attorneys and all said maybe I have a case but not for Tardive Dyskensia. Whats up>
My late husband took Reglan for a very long time. I have no idea how long, but it was way past the recommended 12 weeks! He developed the tics that appear to be related to Tardive Syskinesia, but at the time they diagnosed it as Bells Palsey, which I believe was an incorrect dianosis from what I have read today. He developed severe depresseion and was also put on Paxil. He committed suicide. It has been 10 years ago and I am just learning of all this now because my doctor wants me to take Reglan. I have a prescription ready for pick up today, that I will not be picking up! She will have to find something else, as I am not going to take Reglan. Glad I read all this. Would it be too late for me to file a lawsuit, since Neil took his life 10 years ago?
Hi Janet, I'm sorry to hear about your late husband and all that you and your family must have gone through. There is more information regarding Reglan and lawsuits here: http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/reglan…. but keep in mind as well, that Paxil has also been under fire–for suicide–mostly with younger victims (see here: http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/paxil_s…. Only an attorney could assess your situation and determine whether you may have a case that could be pursued. Both of the links I've shared here have a place where you can "contact a lawyer" to submit a complaint that an attorney could then review. All the best to you as you now consider your options for your own treatment.
i know i have a two wk old son who his doc just gave him this today. He will not take another dose of it. I was so blind to it_and shouldve read about it first but my little boy was in pain and i wanted him to feel better is all. O didnt know how stron it was he just now went to sleep and has been up for 12 hours! and hed have spasms and seemed to be way over alert i thought i hurt him i hope hell be okay when he wakes up
I am on Metoclopramide and have been for about three years for migraines. I am just realizing that some of the symptoms I am having are side effects like, mood changes which have become alarmingly severe, horrible pain and stiffness in the arms, confusion and change in my mental state. Will these go away when I get off the drug? Do I have any recourse?
My father was only on Reglan for a few weeks when he went into Reglan induced Parkinsonism. It took three weeks for the hospital and doctors to figure out what the problem was .. and by that time he had lost 30 lbs, and could no longer speak, raise his arms .. stay awake .. feed himself .. sit up .. it was HORRIFIC. They finally got the Reglan out of his system — and he came back to us. We had our dad back. But the damage was already done. He was already in kidney failure and on dialysis .. and this Father's day, (a little over a year later he died) at the age of 75. This is a terrible drug. Recently my 24 year old daughter was put on it, and within a week or so she has had all sorts of neurological issues, she stopped taking the med, and is still suffering. How is this medicine still available?????!!!!!! It ruining people's lives.
Read, read, read side effects for everything, take them seriously and boldly say No, that sounds too dangerous. For 30 years I have been bipolar and refusing all drugs that cause Tardive Dyskinesia. A routine colonoscopy, of all things, prescibed Reglan for nausea! Thankfully, I read the side effects, refused to take it and was shocked to be told Reglan is a routine drug. I plan to give the doctor an earful! Read, refuse, react.