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Reglan, also called metoclopramide, is a common prescription drug used for patients suffering from gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is often prescribed for vomiting related to chemotherapy, severe nausea, heartburn and other digestive disorders. However, it has also been known to have serious irreversible side effects. Tardive dyskinesia is the most damaging consequences of this drug.

Symptoms of tardive dyskinesia include facial grimacing, lip smacking, protrusion of the tongue, blinking, pursing and puckering of the lips. Other symptoms include rapid movement of the torso, legs, arms, and fingers. Elderly women, for whom this medication is often over-prescribed, and others who take the medication for over three months or in high dosages are most prone to developing this permanent condition. These side effects are socially disabling and demoralizing for the victim , and class-action lawsuits have been filed because of it.

The awful fact is that patients can only find some relief from the symptoms if they stop using it. Other serious side effects of this medication include high blood pressure, depression, fatigue, persistent vomiting, elevated prolactin levels, and kidney failure. Reglan is also contraindicated in the first trimester of pregnancy and for lactating women. It also causes dystonia, a neurological disorder, that is more common in young adults and children.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required the manufacturer of Reglan, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, to include a black box warning on its labels indicating the risk related to high dose and long term use. This is a red-flag warning for doctors and patients alike. Wyeth, Pliva, Teva Pharmaceuticals and Schwarz Pharma, which manufacture the generic form of this drug also have to include this warning.

Today, those who manufacture Reglan or its generic equivalent must follow a risk evaluation and mitigation (REM) procedure ensuring that those who use the drug now or in the future are well-informed regarding the tardive dyskinesia side effect. There are Reglan lawsuits which are based on the failure of drug manufacturers to warn physicians and users of the medication about its dangerous side effects when it is taken for an extended period of time. The manufacturers also seriously underestimated the incidence of tardive dyskinesia, and created a false sense of security.

Lawyers claim that the manufacturers did not verify the accuracy of the label once safety became an issue, failed to monitor pertinent information related to it, never conducted “post-market safety awareness”, and knew that the risks of Reglan more than outweighed its potential benefits.

If you or someone close to you has suffered serious, long-lasting side effects from Reglan, you may have a legal right to appropriate compensation. This means that the manufacturer, or another related party, may be accountable for your injuries, and that you may be eligible to be compensated for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, and other damages.

If you or a loved one has taken Reglan for any length of time and especially if you have developed tardive dyskinesia you should contact a Reglan lawyer to learn about possible financial compensation – http://www.reglanadvice.com