Lawsuits for Generic Reglan Rising

Washington, DCThe potential for Reglan tardive dyskinesia through the use of Reglan has been heightened with the introduction of Reglan generics. And now we are seeing Reglan lawsuits that are not actually tied to actual Reglan, but generic forms of metoclopramide. To that end, two new lawsuits have appeared with plaintiffs alleging Tardive Dyskinesia from generics.

Plaintiff Leslie Keeper has filed a lawsuit against Qualitest Pharmaceuticals, according to an August 10th posting on the Product Liability Attorney blog. In similar fashion, plaintiff Ellen Austin has filed a complaint against three companies: Actavis, Actavis Elizabeth and Watson Pharmaceuticals.

Both plaintiffs allege the emergence of Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) following use of generic formulations of metoclopramide (Reglan). What's more, the lawsuits also allege that the defendants failed to provide accurate information as to the potential side effects of the medication, used popularly for the treatment of what is commonly known as acid reflux.

Reglan was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), acid reflux disease and heartburn, but for no longer than 12 weeks. The FDA found that the longer a patient remains on Reglan beyond the 12-week window, the greater the risk for TD, a largely irreversible condition characterized by involuntary movements of the tongue, facial muscles, the jaw and limbs. Sometimes TD has lessened or disappeared when the medication is stopped, but not always.

There has been much legal debate in recent months as to the liability for generic manufacturers of a drug that carries certain risks, such as Reglan and TD. In February of last year the FDA mandated that Reglan carry a black box warning for tardive dyskinesia. Risk would be similar for generic versions of metoclopramide.

Tardive dyskinesia not only can have an adverse affect on the overall physical and emotional health of an individual (and that of their relationships), it can also have a devastating impact on employment. To that end, the plaintiffs involved in the two lawsuits against manufacturers of generic metoclopramide are seeking compensation for lost earnings to date as well as into the future, in addition to medical expenses and damages to compensate for pain and suffering.

There is no known cure for Reglan tardive dyskinesia, regardless of whether it is triggered from Reglan, or from generic metoclopramide.