What is the most important information I should know about metoclopramide?
NEVER TAKE METOCLOPRAMIDE IN LARGER AMOUNTS THAN RECOMMENDED, OR FOR LONGER THAN 12 WEEKS. High doses or long-term use of metoclopramide can cause a serious movement disorder that may not be reversible. Symptoms of this disorder include uncontrollable muscle movements of your lips, tongue, eyes, face, arms, or legs. The longer you take metoclopramide, the more likely you are to develop a serious movement disorder. The risk of this side effect is higher in women, diabetics, and older adults.
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to metoclopramide, or if you have bleeding or blockage in your stomach or intestines, epilepsy or other seizure disorder, or an adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma).
Before you take metoclopramide, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, or a history of depression.
Do not drink alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of metoclopramide.
There are many other medicines that can interact with metoclopramide. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.
Stop using metoclopramide and call your doctor at once if you have tremors or uncontrolled muscle movements, fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats, rapid breathing, depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, hallucinations, anxiety, agitation, seizure, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).
What is metoclopramide?
Metoclopramide increases muscle contractions in the upper digestive tract. This speeds up the rate at which the stomach empties into the intestines.
Metoclopramide is used short-term to treat heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux in people who have used other medications without relief of symptoms.
Metoclopramide is also used to treat slow gastric emptying in people with diabetes (also called diabetic gastroparesis), which can cause nausea, vomiting, heartburn, loss of appetite, and a feeling of fullness after meals.
Metoclopramide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking metoclopramide?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to metoclopramide, or if you have:
- bleeding or blockage in your stomach or intestines;
- a perforation (hole) in your stomach or intestines;
- epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or
- an adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma).
To make sure you can safely take metoclopramide, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
- kidney disease;
- liver disease (especially cirrhosis);
- congestive heart failure, a heart rhythm disorder;
- high blood pressure;
- breast cancer;
- Parkinson's disease;
- diabetes (your insulin dose may need adjusting); or
- depression or mental illness.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Metoclopramide can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
The metoclopramide orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of metoclopramide if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).
Metoclopramide should not be given to a child.
How should I take metoclopramide?
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Metoclopramide is usually taken for only 4 to 12 weeks. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
NEVER TAKE METOCLOPRAMIDE IN LARGER AMOUNTS THAN RECOMMENDED, OR FOR LONGER THAN 12 WEEKS. High doses or long-term use of metoclopramide can cause a serious movement disorder that may not be reversible. Symptoms of this disorder include uncontrollable muscle movements of your lips, tongue, eyes, face, arms, or legs. The longer you take metoclopramide, the more likely you are to develop a serious movement disorder. The risk of this side effect is higher in women, diabetics, and older adults.
Take metoclopramide 30 minutes before eating. Metoclopramide is usually taken before meals and at bedtime. Your doctor may want you to take the medication as needed only with meals that usually cause heartburn. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Measure the liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
To take metoclopramide orally disintegrating tablet (ODT):
- Keep the tablet in its bottle or blister pack until you are ready to take the medicine. Make sure your hands are dry before handling a tablet. If the tablet breaks or melts in your hand, throw it away and use a new tablet.
- Place the tablet on your tongue. It will begin to melt right away. Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to melt in your mouth without chewing.
- Swallow several times as the tablet melt. You do not need to drink liquid to help the tablet melt.
Do not take two different forms of metoclopramide (such as tablets and oral syrup) at the same time.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
After you stop taking metoclopramide, you may have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as headache, dizziness, or nervousness. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, confusion, tremors or uncontrolled muscle movements in your face or neck, or seizure (convulsions).
What should I avoid while taking metoclopramide?
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of metoclopramide.
Metoclopramide may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
What are the possible side effects of metoclopramide?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop taking metoclopramide and call your doctor at once if you have any of these SIGNS OF A SERIOUS MOVEMENT DISORDER, which may occur within the first 2 days of treatment:
- tremors or shaking in your arms or legs;
- uncontrolled muscle movements in your face (chewing, lip smacking, frowning, tongue movement, blinking or eye movement); or
- any new or unusual muscle movements you cannot control.
Stop taking metoclopramide and call your doctor at once if you have any of these other serious side effects:
- slow or jerky muscle movements, problems with balance or walking;
- mask-like appearance in your face;
- very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out;
- depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;
- hallucinations, anxiety, agitation, jittery feeling, trouble staying still;
- swelling, feeling short of breath, rapid weight gain;
- jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes); or
- seizure (convulsions).
Less serious side effects may include:
- feeling restless, drowsy, tired, or dizzy;
- headache, sleep problems (insomnia);
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
- breast tenderness or swelling;
- changes in your menstrual periods; or
- urinating more than usual.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect metoclopramide?
Before using metoclopramide, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by metoclopramide.
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:
- acetaminophen (Tylenol);
- cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);
- digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);
- glycopyrrolate (Robinul);
- insulin;
- levodopa (Larodopa, Atamet, Parcopa, Sinemet);
- mepenzolate (Cantil);
- tetracycline (Ala-Tet, Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap);
- atropine (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);
- bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or solifenacin (Vesicare);
- blood pressure medications;
- bronchodilators such as ipratroprium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva);
- irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine);
- an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate); or
- medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo), haloperidol (Haldol), olanzapine (Zyprexa, Symbyax), prochlorperazine (Compazine), risperidone (Risperdal), thiothixene (Navane), and others.
This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with metoclopramide. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about metoclopramide.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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