The latest victim in the Reglan side effect story has been claimed. After 27 years of taking Reglan, Francis Davis from New York recently learned that taking Reglan for extended periods of time causes Tardive Dyskinesia. This information comes 27 years too late for Francis, and is a shame because he was only taking the medicine to help his stomach ulcers (bleeding inside the stomach).
Why is this such terrible news for Francis Davis? After over 25 years of using a drug that the FDA says a patient should not use for more than just 3 months, Davis has developed Tardive Dyskinesia. He suffers from excruciatingly painful spasms and cramps. He also has uncontrollable twitching all around his body. There is no cure for his condition. His life is over.
Why is His Life Over?
If someone has Tardive Dyskinesia, their life is ruined. The disease causes uncontrollable facial and hand movements, which make it impossible for someone to function normally in public. It makes having a job next to impossible, especially if any amount of precision is involved.
What’s more is that the nature of this disease and the damage it does to someone’s life means that it causes severe depression as well. The depression caused by Tardive Dyskinesia may be worse than the actual disease itself.
How Did Reglan Start?
Reglan, aka metoclopramide, was first made in the 1960s. It has been available stateside since the early 1980s and is used to treat many symptoms. It can relieve Ulcers, like was the case with Davis, and it can even help with headaches and nausea. The drug is even given to animals.
FDA Warns of Life Ruining Drug
According to the FDA, the maximum amount of time that is considered safe for Reglan is 3 months. However, according to data, over 20% of people that take Reglan do so for over 3 months at a time. These people are greatly increasing their risk for developing Tardive Dyskinesia.
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