FDA issues black box warning for Reglan

Medication commonly used to treat heartburn linked to permanent involuntary muscle movement

Recently the FDA required the manufacturers of the drug metoclopramide, more commonly know as Reglan, to place a on its label. A is the strongest warning that the FDA can require.

increases muscle contractions in the upper digestive tract, which speeds up the rate at which the stomach empties into the intestines. It is used short-term to treat heartburn caused by gastrophageal reflux, and also used to treat slow gastric emptying in people with diabetes, a condition called diabetic gastroparesis.

However, in recent studies, it has been shown that people taking can develop a serious condition called Tardive Dyskinesia.

is a condition in which a person develops involuntary movements of their muscles which could include lip smacking, tongue thrusting, eye blinking and bulging, head jerking, facial grimacing, puckering and pursing of the lips, and involuntary movements of the fingers.

Long-term users of the drug, and elderly patients, especially women are at an increased risk of developing . There is no known cure for and even after discontinuing the drug, symptoms may still persist.

The FDA has advised physicians to avoid long term use of except in rare cases where the benefit outweighs the risks.

is available in formulations including tablets, syrups and injections, under names including Tablets, Oral Disintegrating Tablets, Oral Solution, and Injections. According to the FDA, it is estimated that more than 2 million American use these products.

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