The Food and Drug Administration placed a black-box warning on the prescription drug Reglan in 2009 in an attempt to warn consumers about the high risk of neurological movement disorders associated with the medication. Although this warning may help to prevent these serious side effects in the future by warning both consumers and doctors of the side effects of the drug, the warning comes too late for many who have already been affected by these disorders.
Reglan, a drug prescribed to treat acid reflux in nausea particularly in patients with chronic conditions such as cancer and diabetes, has been linked to several severe and incurable neurological disorders such as tardive dyskinesia, cervical dystonia, or blepharospasm. All of these conditions involve involuntary muscle movements in the patient, which can be grotesque, embarrassing, and awkward. A patient of one of these disorders may suffer from involuntary muscle movements that cause grimacing, head jerking, lip smacking or puckering, and moving fingers. There are no cures for these lifelong diseases.
As more and more side effects of Reglan become clear, lawsuits have been pouring in from across the country, filed by patients who are eligible to file formal complaints due to side effects suffered because of Reglan – patients who are eligible must prove that they have had a personal Reglan prescription, and that it was taken for at least three months. They must also have developed an uncontrollable muscle disorder associated with Reglan during or after their treatment with the medication. Patients who believe they are eligible should speak with a lawyer who will then consider whether or not to file a lawsuit on behalf of the patient. Patients who have suffered from the side effects of Reglan – or metoclopramide, the generic – may have no other way of recovering some form of compensation for their health issues.
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