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Reglan: A Tragedy Of Misplaced Trust

Thousands of Reglan users who had gastrointestinal problems now have a much greater concern: a neurological syndrome known as Tardive Dyskinesia. This devastating illness causes involuntary, repetitive movements of extremities and/or lipsmacking, grimacing, blinking, puckering and pursing of lips or impaired movement of the fingers.

Reglan was approved back in 1980, but several generic versions that followed contain the same medication: metoclopramide. On Feb. 26, 2009, the FDA issued a black-box warning about the drug, the most serious warning the agency issues.

Reglan was only established as a safe and effective treatment when used for treatments of no more than 12 weeks, but the makers of the brand-name drug were aware that many doctors prescribed the medication off-label for substantially longer periods of time.

Given that these longer periods of use were well known, manufacturers did not fully inform the medical community or patients. The manufacturers placed their desire for profits ahead of their obligation to provide complete warnings about the safe use of a product. Manufacturers clearly knew that informing patients and doctors about the devastating problems Reglan can cause — when used at high doses or for longer than 12 weeks — would negatively impact sales, their all-important bottom line. The victims, again, were people whose only crime was trusting the company and the FDA.

If you have been injured by a defective or dangerous drug, contact our Houston-area law firm, Gary S. Tucker & Associates, P.C., to learn how we can guide you through the legal process. The consultation is free, and we charge no attorney's fee until we recover for you.