Metoclopramide, Oral/Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antiemetic (antinausea)

Generic and brand names: metoclopramide, injection; metoclopramide, oral; Metoclopramide Intensol; Reglan

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth or given by injection to treat certain stomach disorders with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and heartburn. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• bleeding or blockage in your intestines
• depression
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• kidney or liver disease
• Parkinson's disease
• pheochromocytoma (a tumor of the adrenal gland)
• seizures
• surgery on your stomach.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This medicine may come in different forms. The injections will be given by your healthcare provider. If you have the tablets or liquid, take the medicine 30 minutes before meals and at bedtime, unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. If you take the liquid form of this medicine, use a specially marked measuring spoon or medicine cup. Household spoons are not accurate.

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. Do not take more of it or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down the nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

This medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

Using this medicine for a long time may cause muscle spasms, twitching in the face and body, and uncontrolled tongue or jaw movement. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe drowsiness; confusion; trembling; muscle spasms; twitching; unusual face or body movements; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; heavy sweating; sudden weight gain or swelling in the legs or ankles; unusual bruising or bleeding; yellowish skin or eyes; dark urine; light-colored bowel movements.

Other: Weakness, mild drowsiness, restlessness, dry mouth, headache, trouble sleeping.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• anticholinergic medicines such as benztropine (Cogentin), dicyclomine (Bentyl), atropine sulfate, belladonna, propantheline (Pro-Banthine), methscopolamine (Pamine), hyoscyamine (Levsin, Levsinex), amantadine (Symmetrel), procyclidine (Kemadrin), and trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
• antipsychotics such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), thioridazine, promazine (Sparine), olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal), and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• atovaquone (Mepron)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and isocarboxazid (Marplan) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of each other.)
• medicines to treat Parkinson's disease such as bromocriptine (Parlodel), carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet), pergolide (Permax), pramipexole (Mirapex), ropinirole (Requip), cabergoline (Dostinex), and entacapone (Comtan)
• narcotic analgesics (pain killers) such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), oxycodone (Percocet, Tylox, OxyContin), morphine (MS Contin), propoxyphene (Darvocet N-100), pentazocine (Talwin), meperidine (Demerol), fentanyl (Duragesic patches), methadone (Dolophine), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• sedatives such as phenobarbital (Solfoton), amobarbital (Amytal), zolpidem (Ambien), triazolam (Halcion), butabarbital (Butisol), and zaleplon (Sonata)
• SSRI antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
• tranquilizers such as diazepam (Valium), meprobamate (Equanil), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), alprazolam (Xanax), and lorazepam (Ativan)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan).

Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.