Metoclopramide, Reglan anti-nausea drug

My Experience of taking Metoclopramide/Reglan.

I was prescribed metoclopramide for nausea 10mg x 3 times a day, the cause of the nausea was unknown although i did have a camera investigation and mild gastritis was diagnosed.

I had this prescription on repeat and was not monitored properly by my doctor i took metoclopramide for 7.5 months, it should really only be used short term up to 3 months max and i would say that even this is too long. Metoclopramide is a neuroleptic drug it has been linked to tardive dyskenesia a movement disorder which is usually irreversible the longer one takes this drug the more dangerous it becomes.

I suffered terrible side effects which my doctor did not recognise and as i had no knowledge of the drug and the side effects i continued to take it, had i had access to the web at the time i would have not taken metoclopramide. My side effects included severe depression, suicidal thoughts, restlessness, rigidness, anxiety, insomnia, muscle twitching, jerking, Parkinson [uncontrollable shaking of the hands and head] retching, loss of appetite, fatigue, akathesia, and after withdrawal of the drug my symptoms intensified ten fold...

My doctor was still puzzled as to why i had these effects and never once put it down to the metoclopramide, i was given diazepam and sertraline to help me but could only take a small dose at first because i had become very sensitive to any medication. Since this i have changed doctors as i had lost all trust in the doctor that prescribed me this medication.

The metoclopramide took weeks to get out of my system and the side effects very slowly diminished but i was left with severe depression, anxiety, disturbed sleep, fatigue, and constant suicidal thoughts..i have been seeing a psychiatrist ever since.

I have recovered as best i can and after two years i still have depression and anxiety and trouble sleeping, i have also been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome & fibromyalgia and i am sure that this has been caused by the trauma metoclopramide put me through. Before taking metoclopramide i was healthy and worked, i have had to give my job up because i am unable to do the things that i did before taking this drug.

This drug has been given a black box warning in USA but here in the UK doctors seem unaware of the dangers that it can have. It was given to schizophrenics years ago but now it is used more for gastric problems. I do not think that the benefits of this drug outweigh the dangers in any way, this medication very nearly finished me off.

There are people that have developed Tardive Dyskenesia with taking metoclopramide, they have uncontrollable movements, facial spasms, tics, and these side effects are often irreversible the damage has been done and their lives ruined...

To find out more about Tardive Dyskenesia click on this link or copy & paste into your browser, there is valuable information to be read about what drugs can cause this and the effects that it can have.

http://www.mytardivedyskinesia.com/tardive-dyskenesia-and-drug-link/

Drug ratings for reglan, side effects etc
http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=17854&name=REGLAN