Settlement Amounts for Reglan Lawsuits

Reglan and its generic metoclopramide are medications used in the treatment of GERD, gastro esophageal reflux disease. Metoclopramide products have recently become controversial since several lawsuits have been filed against companies who produce such products because of side effects, some of which can be serious. Reglan works by increasing intestinal contractions in order to reduce the symptoms of GERD, and is also effective against nausea caused by anesthesia and certain chemotherapy treatments. However, it has recently been connected to such neurological side effects as tardive dyskinesia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, akathisia, ocular deviation, and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. These are conditions that largely involve involuntary movements and muscle spasms or contractions.
Because these side effects are so detrimental to everyday health and activity, and because they can effect not only children who have directly taken the drug but also children who indirectly ingest it through breast milk, multiple lawsuits have been filed against producers of Reglan and similar drugs in order to seek compensation for suffering induced by the medication. However, since none of these lawsuits have been seen all the way through to this day, it is impossible to predict what kind of settlement plaintiffs will receive if they file a similar lawsuit. It is, however, true that drug companies have been known to give out significant settlements in other cases of extremely detrimental side effects, such as in the case of Vioxx, whose manufacturer compensated victims and families of victims a total of $4.85 billion in order to somewhat appease their suffering and financial loss.
The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has recently decided not to create a Multidistrict Litigation lawsuit based on the Reglan cases, which is unfortunate because it would have allowed for a more streamlined trial process. However, many Reglan lawsuits are being filed against the makers of the drug regardless, and things may change as more and more victims of serious side effects step forward.