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There are substantial profits at stake in the pharmaceutical industry. Drug manufacturers that can produce medicines that relieve symptoms from a growing number of ailments stand to reap billions of dollars in revenues. With that as the backdrop, it is little wonder why manufacturers of the drug metoclopramide (the generic form of Reglan) have not taken adequate responsibility for the dangers of their product. Today, there are many people who have taken Reglan who suffer an assortment of debilitating side effects. Among the most injurious is tardive dyskinesia. Marked by involuntary movements that manifest in the face, hands, and other areas of the body, tardive dyskinesia has been linked to long-term use of the prescription drug Reglan. Sadly, though the medication has been available for decades, we are only now discovering how prolific its side effects are. This article will explain how Reglan and tardive dyskinesia are connected; indeed, the former cannot be discussed without the latter. The Controversial History Of Metoclopramide Metoclopramide was first developed in the 1960s and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1982. As early as 1983, studies began to surface which suggested the drug carried a high likelihood of adverse neurological side effects. In 1989, Cisapride was introduced as an alternative. It was considered more effective and safer. However, Cisapride was pulled from the U.S. market in 2000 due to a startling discovery that it could cause potentially fatal arrhythmias. Metoclopramide, including the brand name Reglan, made a comeback. But, it wasn't long before its connection to tardive dyskinesia became clear. Tardive Dyskinesia Becomes A Growing Problem By 2003, new research exposed a direct link between chronic metoclopramide use and the development of tardive dyskinesia. Both the FDA and Veteran's Health Administration found that prolonged use of the drug not only led to tardive dyskinesia, but did so in alarmingly high numbers. Those who were most susceptible were older women as well as patients who suffered from diabetes, a genetic predisposition, or substance abuse. The number of cases in which people were prescribed Reglan and afterward, developed tardive dyskinesia, climbed. Meanwhile, evidence of negligence on the part of metoclopramide manufacturers continued to grow. There were signs that makers of the drug had been well aware of the dangers for years. In 2009, the FDA finally became involved. The FDA Gets Involved Six years after publicly releasing their findings about the link between prolonged use of metoclopramide and tardive dyskinesia, the FDA issued a black box warning on the drug. The warning specifically highlights that long-term use or high doses of the drug can lead to tardive dyskinesia. While it is a step in the right direction, it comes too late for many victims of Reglan's side effects. Today, it is estimated that over 2 million people in the U.S. are using Reglan and other drugs containing metoclopramide. Many of these people will invariably take the drugs for periods longer than three months to treat whatever symptoms they're trying to relieve. But, the information about the inherent dangers is spreading.
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Mark Johnson is author of this article on Reglan Class Action. Find more information about Reglan Tardive Dyskinesia here.
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