Pregnancy—Not enough studies have been done in humans to determine reglan's safety during pregnancy. However, reglan has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.

Breast-feeding—reglan passes into the breast milk and may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.

Children—Muscle spasms, especially of jaw, neck, and back, and tic-like (jerky) movements of head and face may be especially likely to occur in children, who are usually more sensitive than adults to the effects of reglan. Premature and full-term infants may develop blood problems if given high doses of reglan.

Older adults—Shuffling walk and trembling and shaking of hands may be especially likely to occur in elderly patients after they have taken reglan over a long time.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking reglan, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking the following:

Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicine that causes drowsiness)—Use with reglan may cause severe drowsiness

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of reglan. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Abdominal or stomach bleeding or
Asthma or
High blood pressure or
Intestinal blockage or
Mental depression or
Parkinson's disease—Metoclopramide hydrochloride may make these conditions worse
Epilepsy—Metoclopramide hydrochloride may increase the risk of having a seizure
Kidney disease (severe)—Higher blood levels of reglan may result, possibly increasing the chance of side effects

Reglan : Full Prescribing Information

To take reglan oral concentrate: This medicine should be mixed with another liquid, such as water, juices, soda or soda-like beverages, or with a semi-solid food, such as applesauce or pudding.

Dosing—

The dose of reglan will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of reglan. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of tablets or teaspoonfuls of solution that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking reglan.

For oral dosage forms (concentrate, solution, or tablets):
To treat the symptoms of a stomach problem called diabetic gastroparesis:
Adults and teenagers—10 milligrams (mg) thirty minutes before symptoms are likely to begin or before each meal and at bedtime. The dose may be taken up to four times a day. However, most people usually will not take more than 500 micrograms (mcg) per kilogram (kg) (227 mcg per pound) of body weight a day.
Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
For heartburn:
Adults and teenagers—10 to 15 mg thirty minutes before symptoms are likely to begin or before each meal and at bedtime. The dose may be taken up to four times a day. However, most people usually will not take more than 500 mcg per kg (227 mcg per pound) of body weight a day.
Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
To increase movements or contractions of the stomach and intestines:
Children 5 to 14 years of age—2.5 to 5 mg three times a day, thirty minutes before meals.
For injection dosage form:
To increase movements or contractions of the stomach and intestine:
Adults and teenagers—10 mg injected into a vein.
Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 1 mg per kilogram (kg) (0.45 mg per pound) of body weight injected into a vein. Your doctor may repeat this dose after sixty minutes if needed.
To prevent nausea and vomiting caused by anticancer medicines:
Adults and teenagers—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 1 to 2 mg per kg (0.45 to 0.9 mg per pound) of body weight, injected slowly into a vein, thirty minutes before you take your anticancer medicine. Your doctor may repeat this dose every two or three hours if needed. Some people may need a larger dose to start.
Children—1 mg per kg (0.45 mg per pound) of body weight injected into a vein. Your doctor may repeat this dose after sixty minutes if needed.
To prevent vomiting after surgery:
Adults and teenagers—10 to 20 mg injected into a muscle near the end of surgery.
Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose—

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—

To store this medicine:

Keep out of the reach of children.
Store away from heat and direct light.
Do not store the tablet form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
Keep the concentrate and solution forms of this medicine from freezing.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.


Precautions While Using This Medicine

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; medicine for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare
Chills; difficulty in speaking or swallowing ; dizziness or fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; general feeling of tiredness or weakness; headache (severe or continuing); inability to move eyes; increase in blood pressure; lip smacking or puckering; loss of balance control ; mask-like face; muscle spasms of face, neck, and back; puffing of cheeks ; rapid or worm-like movements of tongue; shuffling walk; sore throat; stiffness of arms or legs; trembling and shaking of hands and fingers; tic-like or twitching movements; twisting movements of body; uncontrolled chewing movements; uncontrolled movements of arms and legs; weakness of arms and legs

With high doses--may occur within minutes of receiving a dose of reglan and last for 2 to 24 hours
Aching or discomfort in lower legs; panic-like sensation; sensation of crawling in legs ; unusual nervousness, restlessness, or irritability

Symptoms of overdose--may also occur rarely with usual doses, especially in children and young adults, and with high doses used to treat the nausea and vomiting caused by anticancer medicines
Confusion; convulsions (seizures); drowsiness (severe)

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

More common
Diarrhea—with high doses; drowsiness ; restlessness

Less common or rare
Breast tenderness and swelling; changes in menstruation; constipation; increased flow of breast milk; mental depression ; nausea; skin rash; trouble in sleeping; unusual dryness of mouth; unusual irritability

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Reglan : Full Prescribing Information