FDA Warns of Serious Side Effects For Reglan

On February 26, 2009 the Food and Drug Administration announced that manufacturers of metoclopramide, a drug used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, must add a black boxed warning about the risk of long-term or high-dose use. Reglan has recently been linked to tardive dyskinesia, a condition which may include involuntary and repetitive movements of the body, even after the drugs is no longer taken.  In June of 2009, it was ruled that Reglan lawsuits would not be consolidated into a Multidistrict litigation (MDL).

Children on Reglan at Great Risk for Dyskinesia

In May 2009, the plaintiffs in the currently filed Reglan lawsuits sought to consolidate their claims through Multidistrict Litigation (MDL); however, the MDL panel issued an order denying the request.  This denial of a Reglan MDL means that any Reglan lawsuits must proceed as individual lawsuits, which will not be formally coordinated. This ruling does not impact potential claimants’ ability to pursue compensation against the manufacturers of metoclopramide drugs for failing to warn about the serious and debilitating Reglan side effects.

Reglan Found to Cause Irreversible Tardive Dyskinesia

The first Reglan lawsuit involving tardive dyskinesia was filed more than 20 years ago, and more than 70 cases have been filed in state and federal courts throughout the United States since then. In February of 2009, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation considered a petition to centralize and consolidate 11 currently pending Reglan tardive dyskinesia lawsuits before one judge for pretrial litigation to avoid duplicate discovery, inconsistent rulings and serve the convenience of the parties, attorneys and witnesses. Potential cases are still being reviewed by Reglan lawyers and individual lawsuits will proceed in various courts throughout the United States. In June of 2009, it was decided that lawsuits would not progress into a Multidistrict Litigation.

Plaintiffs in Reglan Litigation Number in Thousands

Over one thousand plaintiffs are now involved in a lawsuit against Wyeth, Schwarz Pharma, Teva Pharmaceuticals and PLIVA Inc., manufacturers of both brand-name and generic forms of Reglan. The drug, prescribed for gastrointestinal complaints in patients with diabetes, undergoing chemotherapy, or with other conditions that can inhibit digestion. Reglan is also used to treat gastroparesis and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Reglan Lawsuit Turns Into Supreme Court Case

In a situation almost unheard of in personal injury cases, a recent Reglan lawsuit is being heard by the United States Supreme Court and could make drastic changes to laws surrounding the pharmaceutical industry. Pliva Inc. v. Mensing is being heard by the court after a woman began experiencing serious side effects associated with a generic version of the gastrointestinal drug Reglan.
The plaintiff, Gladys Mensing, began taking Reglan in 2001 to treat heartburn and acid reflux, but after four years of using the drug developed Reglan-related tardive dyskinesia, which has been linked to Reglan (generic name metoclopramide). The risk for the condition was well established, and both the makers of brand name Reglan and generic forms of metoclopramide had a responsibility to patients to warn them of potential risks.

Reglan Lawsuit in Louisiana Turns Into Supreme Court Issue

A lawsuit against the gastrointestinal drug Reglan is currently being heard by the United States’ Supreme Court after many patients have complained of severe, disabling, and permanent side effects of the medication. Gladys Mensing was the first plaintiff associated with the case, and her name is widely mentioned. Julie deMahy is talked about less often in association with the case, but her lawsuit too has been consolidated with the Pliva Inc. v. Mensing Supreme Court case. Both plaintiffs developed tardive dyskinesia after extended use of Reglan, generic name metoclopramide.

Reglan Side Effects Breed Lawsuits

It has been more than a decade since the first reports linking metoclopramide products such as Reglan to tardive dyskinesia, which is a permanent and debilitating neurological disorder, surfaced. Many patients are still waiting for answers – and payouts. Although there is no cure for tardive dyskinesia, some relief may be found in a settlement that can help to chip away at medical and legal costs, pain and suffering, and other expenses related to the movement disorder and other neurological Reglan side effects.
Reglan lawsuits, unlike many other drug lawsuits throughout history, were never consolidated into multidistrict litigation or class action lawsuits, and therefore there are no available records of settlement amounts or damages awarded by juries – meaning plaintiffs who have not yet received compensation can only speculate at the kind of money they are likely to receive. Some legal experts believe that a conservative estimate for a Reglan settlement would be a hundred thousand dollars – and some plaintiffs might stand to take home millions.
A Reglan patient’s settlement amounts hinge on the severity of the Reglan side effects he or she has experienced – a more severe side effect will mean a greater payout because of the increased likelihood for high medical bills, disrupted quality of life, and other issues that many juries will take into account. Side effects besides tardive dyskinesia, such as blepharospasm, cervical dystonia, akathisia, and ocular deviation are also being discussed in Reglan lawsuits and will likely result in settlements with plaintiffs.
The good news for patients is that Reglan side effects will not usually worsen after use of the product is discontinued, but the side effects that have already manifested will likely stick with the patient for life. In some cases, side effects can be controlled with drugs – but these drugs can come with side effects of their own.