News Tagged ‘metoclopramide

Lawsuit blames Reglan for causing son’s birth defects

woman nauseous_320Lindsey C. Whitener was seven weeks pregnant with her second child when her physician prescribed Reglan (metoclopramide) to ease her nausea and vomiting from morning sickness. She took it for four weeks. A few months later, Whitener began having problems with her pregnancy and gave birth to her son prematurely at 36 weeks gestation. Her son, Lucas, was born with extensive physical disabilities and medical problems and spent the first six months of his life in the hospital. Doctors said they did not know the cause of Lucas’ birth defects.

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Louisiana man sues maker of acid reflux medication Reglan

judge gavelA Louisiana man is suing the manufacturer of the acid reflux medication Reglan (metoclopramide) alleging the medication caused him to develop a debilitating nervous system disorder known as tardive dyskinesia. Isreal Bennett of Jefferson Parish filed the suit against Qualitest Pharmaceuticals on June 11, 2010, in federal court in New Orleans.

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Acid reflux drugs provide temporary relief but can cause adverse reaction

heartburn 150x150 Acid reflux drugs provide temporary relief but can cause adverse reactionSevere acid reflux or heartburn can be painful and bothersome with symptoms that range from chest pain or a burning esophagus to hoarseness and sore throat. There are several methods to treat the condition such as manipulating the stomach acid secretion by neutralizing the acid, blocking the Histamine2 to stop acid production, or blocking the gastric proton pump. While the host of over-the-counter and prescription drugs to treat acid reflux can bring temporary relief, long-term use of acid reflux drugs can lead to some alarming adverse reactions.

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Man suffers permanent disability from heartburn drug

heartburn 150x150 Man suffers permanent disability from heartburn drugWhen 57-year-old August Macaluso, a former nuclear-plant maintenance worker in Charlotte, N.C., began shaking violently, blinking incessantly and slurring his speech, he and his wife Sharon were both puzzled. Desperate for answers, Sharon Googled his symptoms and learned that the drug her husband had been taking for just three months was linked to the involuntary movement disorder Tardive Dyskinesia with frighteningly similar symptoms. He stopped taking the drug and after a battery of medical tests, doctors confirmed the Macalusoes’ worst fears. August had suffered permanent damage.

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Less common symptoms of GERD can make diagnosis difficult

coughing1 150x150 Less common symptoms of GERD can make diagnosis difficultGastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, affects as many as 40 percent of the population. The nagging symptoms of frequent heartburn, upset stomach and an acid taste in the back of the throat can help identify the condition. But some less common symptoms can make the diagnosis more difficult to pinpoint.

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Supreme Court considers whether generic Reglan makers can be sued

judge gavelThe U.S. Supreme Court this week asked the Obama administration to comment on whether it believes generic drug companies can be sued over allegations that they inadequately labeled their products. The question arose after an appeals court reinstated a lawsuit by a woman who claimed she developed a severe neurological movement disorder after taking generic versions of the heartburn drug Reglan (metoclopramide). The lawsuit had been previously dismissed by a trial judge.

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More children taking prescription drugs to treat chronic conditions

child taking medicineAmerican children are taking more medications than ever before to treat chronic conditions, according to the 2010 Medco Drug Trend Report, raising the question, “How safe are these drugs for children?”

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Generic Reglan makers released from Tardive Dyskinesia lawsuit

20071012 generic drugs 18 150x150 Generic Reglan makers released from Tardive Dyskinesia lawsuitWyeth, Inc. and Schwarz Pharma Inc. have been dismissed from a lawsuit filed in Texas involving the drug company’s Reglan (metoclopramide), a medicine used to treat gastrointestinal conditions. The lawsuit alleged that the drug caused the plaintiff to develop a severe movement disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia. However, the case will proceed against Activis-Elizabeth, L.L.C., makers of a generic version of that the plaintiff was taking.

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Quality improvements reduce drug usage among neonatal community

preemie babyA new study has found that quality improvement intervention initiatives such as ongoing education and automated feedback reports of medication usage among low birth weight babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) can significantly reduce use of medications, some of which carry serious adverse effects.

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Aspirin plus Reglan shows promise as migraine treatment

migraine 150x150 Aspirin plus Reglan shows promise as migraine treatmentA combination of aspirin and the anti-nausea medication metoclopramide, marketed as Reglan, may help patients with migraines find relief from headaches and vomiting within two hours, according to data from 13 clinical trials in which patients published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

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