Metoclopramide is the main, active component of a drug marketed under the name of Reglan, Octamide, and Maxolon. Doctors typically prescribe it to patients with chronic acid reflux disease, which causes prolonged and painful heartburn. Metoclopramide works to move your food along your digestive tract so that it cannot cause this condition.

Some people suffer from random attacks of heartburn. This occurs when stomach acid splashes up out of the stomach and into the esophagus. If you have chronic heartburn, there are several things that can contribute to this occurring over and over again. First, the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, is the valve between the esophagus and stomach. It is supposed to remain closed except when you are swallowing or burping. However, when this muscle weakens, the LES does not stay shut all the time, allowing stomach acid to backwash into your esophagus.

Chronic acid reflux problems is often the result of another disorder, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, or diabetes, which can cause gastroparesis. With GERD, the LES has weakened to the point that even laying down right after eating can cause stomach acid to flow into the esophagus.

If you have suffered from diabetes for a long time, it can gradually damage the nerve that controls the gastrointestinal muscles, called the vagus nerve. This can interfere with your body's ability to process food, which results in gastroparesis. Gastroparesis occurs when the stomach does not empty into the intestines as fast as it should.

To counteract these problems, metoclopramide works on the muscles surrounding your digestive tract, which is why it is often called a “prokinetic” drug. For patients with GERD, treatment with metoclopramide can be successful because this substance strengthens the muscles of the LES, forcing stomach acid to remain in the stomach.

This drug also exhibits a stimulatory effect on the muscles of your stomach. To help patients with diabetes, metoclopramide causes the stomach muscles to contract and send food into the intestines, since the nerve damage can keep this process from occurring. Additionally, when these conditions lead to nausea, this drug interferes with the dopamine receptors in your body to help suppress the feeling.

Lastly, there are some random uses of metoclopramide as well. Some studies have shown that it increases the amount of breast milk produced by a nursing mother, which can be helpful if a new mom is ill and cannot produce enough milk. Additionally, doctors sometimes administer this drug to help people empty their stomachs before a radiological examination.

Overall, metoclopramide seems to be a very useful drug. However, it has been linked to neuromuscular disabilities such as tardive dyskinesia and tardive dystonia. These issues can become lifelong blocks to a person fulfilling his or her plans in life.

If you or someone you know has developed a permanent disorder due to the use of metoclopramide or Reglan, you should talk to a Williams Kherkher Reglan attorney today about your options.