HD symptoms include changes in personality, cognition and physical skills. Almost all patients with HD exhibit physical symptoms such as jerky, random and uncontrollable movements. Many HD patients who were prescribed Reglan “have experienced not only symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) and/or Tardive Dyskinesia, but (also) hallucinations, paranoia, suicidal thoughts, severe anger outburts, etc.,” according to Jean E. Miller, a contributor editor for HD Lighthouse, an information center and community for patients with HD and their family members. “In one HD patient, the serious side effects still hadn’t gone away 18 months after taking Reglan.”

Earlier this year the Food and Drug Administration ordered the makers of Reglan (metoclopramide) to include a black box warning on the product label warning of the risk of Tardive Dyskinesia with long-term, high-dose use of the drug. Tardive Dyskinesia is a condition in which the body moves repetitively and uncontrollably. The condition often continues even after the medication has been discontinued.

Miller says she hopes the black box warning on Reglan will make physicians more cautious when prescribing the medication for patients with HD. She also urges familys of HD patients to “exercise caution when a physician wants this medication prescribed, especially for those in the later stages of HD or on feeding tubes.”

SOURCE: Reglan Side Effects › Tardive dyskinesia in Huntington disease patients on Reglan

Tardive Dyskinesia has been linked to types of antidepressants such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SSNRs (serotonin-norepineprine reuptake inhibitors). It also was recently linked to gastrophageal reflux medication Reglan. Tardive Dyskinesia is often irreversible even after the drug has been discontinued.

PMDD, a condition associated with severe emotional and physical problems linked closely to the menstrual cycle, affects about 5 percent of menstruating women. Both PMDD and PMS share common symptoms such as depression, anxiety, tension, irritability and moodiness, however PMDD is far more severe. It is often treated with antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, such as those classified as SSRIs and SSNRs.

Sarafem is believed to correct the imbalance of serotonin that may contribute to PMDD. Although Sarafem is not a treatment for depression, it contains fluoxetine hydrochloride, the same active ingredient in some antidepressants. Like other SSRIs and SSNRs, Sarafem also carries a warning of suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Patients are advised to discuss with their doctor any side effects experienced while taking Sarafem. Negative side effects should be reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) online at www.fda.gov/medwatch, or by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088.

SOURCE: Reglan Side Effects › PMDD medication linked to Tardive Dyskinesia