Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Metoclopramide, known in the U.S. by the brand names Reglan and Metozolv, is a commonly prescribed medication used in the treatment of serious gastrointestional disorders, such as GERD and gastroparesis. Earlier this year, a study suggested that the medication may also help women suffering from morning sickness, in particular a severe form marked by serious vomiting called hyperemesis gravidarum. The study, which involved more than 80,000 births to Israeli women, found that women who took the medication while pregnant did not raise the risk of harming their unborn child.

This is promising news, considering there are no FDA-approved drugs to treat morning sickness, and drugs once thought safe for unborn babies, such as Thalidomide and Bendectin, were later linked to serious birth defects such as limb deformities.

Critics argue that there is not enough good-quality evidence that metoclopramide is safe for pregnant women or that it is effective in curtailing nausea and vomiting. One study of 40 women found that steroids worked better than metoclopramide for women, resulting in fewer times a woman vomited and eliminating the need for hospitalization.

Another concern about metoclopramide is the black box warning that is now on the drugs. The new labeling warns patients treated with metoclopramide of the risk of developing a serious and debilitating involuntary movement disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia. The symptoms, which include jerking, facial twitches and involuntary movements of the hands and tongue, often do not go away after treatment is discontinued.

The risk of Tardive Dyskinesia is even greater for patients who take the metoclopramide for 12 weeks or longer, with some studies showing as many as 20 percent of long-term users developing the condition.

Serious morning sickness can cause problems for both the mother and her unborn child, which is why women who suffer from morning sickness should thoroughly discuss their treatment options with their physician to better understand the benefits and risks.

Related posts:

• Promising treatment for morning sickness, but beware of long term use
• Study: Effect of Reglan on increased risk of birth defects
• Women suffering from movement disorder sues Reglan maker Wyeth
• Movement disorder linked to common medications
• Patients with gastroparesis should weigh treatment options

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