Metoclopramide Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Metoclopramide is a parasympathomimetic, and is also a potent dopamine antagonist that enters the central nervous system. It is used for gastric emptying in patients with gastric motor faliure (gastroparesis). It is also useful for facilitating small bowel intubation and as an antiemetic The most common side effects are somnolence, nervousness dystonic reactions.The Food and Drug Administration advises: "Tardive Dyskinesia, a syndrome consisting of potentially irreversible, dyskinetic movements may develop in patients treated with metoclopramide...Both the risk of developing the syndrome and the liklihood that it will become irreversible are believed to increase with the duration of treatment and the total cumulative dose." As with any medication, you should discuss all potential benefits, potential risks, and potential side effects with your physician.
It is available under trade names such as Apo-Metoclop (Apotex), Maxeran (Hoechst Marion Roussel), Nu-Metoclopramide (Nu-Pharm), and Reglan (Weyth-Ayerst).