Metoclopramide, Oral/Injection met-oh-kloh-PRAH-mide

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antiemetic (antinausea)

Generic and brand names: metoclopramide, injection; metoclopramide, oral; Metozolv ODT; 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
• a blood disorder in which an abnormal amount of hemoglobin builds up in the blood
• bleeding or blockage in your intestines
• breast cancer
• depression or other mental illness
• diabetes
• heart disease or heart failure
• 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?

Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill. Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. 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.

This medicine may come in different forms. The injections will be given by your healthcare provider. If you have the regular 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.

If you have the orally disintegrating tablets, leave the tablet in the sealed blister pack until you are ready to take it. Use dry hands to open a blister and take out a tablet. If the tablet breaks or crumbles, throw it away and take a new tablet out of the blister pack. Put the tablet on your tongue right away. Let it melt and then swallow. You do not need water to take the disintegrating tablets.

What if I miss a dose?

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 if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: drowsiness, confusion, tremors, uncontrolled muscle movements in face or neck, seizures.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause tardive dyskinesia. This results in uncontrolled muscle movements that may not go away even after you stop taking this medicine. You may be at a higher risk if you take the medicine for a long time, are over the age of 65 years, or have diabetes. Talk to your healthcare provider about this. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you develop any uncontrollable body movements, such as:

• lip smacking, mouth puckering, or sticking out your tongue
• frowning
• blinking or other eye movements
• arms or legs that shake

While taking this medicine, be careful when you exercise, especially when it is hot. This medicine affects your body's ability to cool down, and you may get too hot. If you get too hot, you might vomit, feel dizzy, have a fast heartbeat, get very stiff muscles, or confused. Contact your provider immediately if you have these symptoms.

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.

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.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect the amount or timing of insulin dosages. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

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 or movements you cannot stop; twitching; new or unusual face or body movements; uncontrolled eye movements; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; heavy sweating; high fever; stiff muscles; swelling in the legs or ankles, or any unexplained swelling; depression or thoughts of suicide.

Other: Weakness, mild drowsiness, restlessness, diarrhea, dry mouth, headache, trouble sleeping, nausea, vomiting, dizziness.

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:

• antianxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam
• anticholinergic medicines such as amantadine (Symmetrel), atropine sulfate, belladonna, benztropine (Cogentin), dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Levsin), methscopolamine (Pamine), procyclidine (Kemadrin), propantheline, and trihexyphenidyl
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline, doxepin, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox CR), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR)
• antinausea medicines such as prochlorperazine (Compro) and promethazine (Phenergan)
• antipsychotics such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol (Haldol), olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine, trifluoperazine, and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• atovaquone (Mepron)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf) and tacrolimus (Prograf)
• insulin
• linezolid (Zyvox)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (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), cabergoline (Dostinex), pramipexole (Mirapex), and ropinirole (Requip)
• narcotic pain medicines such as codeine, fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq), hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone), oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet, Tylox), and pentazocine (Talwin)
• natural remedies such as gotu kola, kava, St. John's wort, and valerian
• posaconazole (Noxafil)
• sedatives such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), flurazepam, phenobarbital, temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), zaleplon (Sonata), and zolpidem (Ambien)

Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. 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.