Woman with Tardive Dyskinesia sues makers of Reglan
May 27th, 2009 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
A Missouri woman is seeking more than $600,000 in damages from the makers of Reglan (metoclopramide) for not adequately warning her of the risk of a serious, permanent, disabling neurological condition known as Tardive Dyskinesia.
Shirley Brinkley was prescribed Reglan by her physician in 1992 to treat a stomach ailment. According to the complaint, her physician referred to the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR) and the medication’s package inserts and prescribed the medication for long-term use. She took the medication until April 2007.
Brinkley claims that even though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved the long-term use of Reglan, taking the medication for the prolonged period caused her to suffer from uncontrolled movements associated with Tardive Dyskinesia. Because of the condition, she has and will continue to experience medical and related expenses, loss of ability to provide household services, disfigurement, disability, pain and suffering, and psychological injury.
“Because of the misleading information that the Defendants provided to physicians and the FDA about the true risks associated with the use of Reglan and because of the failure of the Defendants and each of them to adequately inform physicians generally, including Plaintiff’s physicians, about the true risks associated with the use of Reglan, her physicians never informed her of any side effects associated with Reglan or that Reglan was only approved for short term use (up to 12 weeks),” the complaint states.
Wyeth, A.H. Robins Company Inc., and Schwarz Pharma are named in the product liability suit.
Source: Madison-St. Clair The Record