Http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm14

FDA Requires Boxed Warning and Risk Mitigation Strategy for Metoclopramide-Contain. Page 1 of 2 Home> News & Events> Newsroom> Press Announcements News & Events
FDA NEWS RELEASE
Media Inquiries:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA

FDA Requires Boxed Warning and Risk Mitigation Strategy for Metoclopramide-Containing
Drugs
Agency warns against chronic use of these products to treat gastrointestinal disorders
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that manufacturers of metoclopramide, a drug used
to treat gastrointestinal disorders, must add a boxed warning to their drug labels about the risk of its long-
term or high-dose use. Chronic use of metoclopramide has been linked to tardive dyskinesia, which may
include involuntary and repetitive movements of the body, even after the drugs are no longer taken.
Manufacturers will be required to implement a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, or REMS, to ensure
patients are provided with a medication guide that discusses this risk.
The FDA wants patients and health care professionals to know about this risk so they can make informed
decisions about treatment, said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and
Research. The chronic use of metoclopramide therapy should be avoided in all but rare cases where the
benefit is believed to outweigh the risk.
Current product labeling warns of the risk of tardive dyskinesia with chronic metoclopramide treatment. The
development of this condition is directly related to the length of time a patient is taking metoclopramide and
the number of doses taken. Those at greatest risk include the elderly, especially older women, and people wh
have been on the drug for a long time.
Tardive dyskinesia is characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements of the extremities, or lip smacking,
grimacing, tongue protrusion, rapid eye movements or blinking, puckering and pursing of the lips, or impaired
movement of the fingers. These symptoms are rarely reversible and there is no known treatment. However, in
some patients, symptoms may lessen or resolve after metoclopramide treatment is stopped.
Metoclopramide works by speeding up the movement of the stomach muscles, thus increasing the rate at
which the stomach empties into the intestines. It is used as a short-term treatment of gastroesophageal reflu
disease in patients who have not responded to other therapies, and to treat diabetic gastroparesis (slowed
emptying of the stomach's contents into the intestines). It is recommended that treatment not exceed three
months.
Metoclopramide is available in a variety of formulations including tablets, syrups and injections. Names of
metoclopramide-containing products include Reglan Tablets, Reglan Oral Disintegrating Tablets,
Metoclopramide Oral Solution, and Reglan Injection. More than two million Americans use these products.
Recently published analyses suggest that metoclopramide is the most common cause of drug-induced
movement disorders. Another analysis of study data by the FDA showed that about 20 percent of patients in
that study who used metoclopramide took it for longer than three months. The FDA has also become aware of
continued spontaneous reports of tardive dyskinesia in patients who used metoclopramide, the majority of
whom had taken the drug for more than three months.
Consumers and health care professionals are encouraged to report adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch
program at 800-FDA-1088, by mail at MedWatch, HF-2, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Md. 20852-9787,
or online 1.
For information about REMS see: Public Law 110-85 2 http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm149533.htm FDA Requires Boxed Warning and Risk Mitigation Strategy for Metoclopramide-Contain. Page 2 of 2 RSS Feed for FDA News Releases 3 [what is RSS? 4] Links on this page:
1. http://www.fda.govhttps://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm 2. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi? dbname=110_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ085.110 3. http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/ContactFDA/StayInformed/RSSFeeds/PressReleases/rss.xml 4. http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/ContactFDA/StayInformed/RSSFeeds/ucm144575.htm http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm149533.htm

Source: http://monteslawgroup.com/Personal-Injury/FDA-warning-for-Reglan.pdf