Metoclopramide is a generic prescription drug that’s used to treat gastroesophageal reflux and diabetic gastroparesis. Metoclopramide comes as oral tablets that might be taken only as needed, or every day before meals and at bedtime.

Highlights for metoclopramide

  1. Metoclopramide oral tablets are available in generic and brand-name forms. Brand name: Reglan.
  2. Metoclopramide also comes as an oral solution, a nasal spray, and an injectable form that is only given by a healthcare professional.
  3. Metoclopramide oral tablet is used to relieve heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It’s also used to treat symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis.

Other warnings

  • Nervous system disorder warning: Metoclopramide may cause neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). NMS is a rare nervous system disorder that may be fatal. Symptoms include a high body temperature, stiff muscles, confusion, abnormal pulse or blood pressure, fast heart rate, and sweating. This condition is more likely to occur if you also take another drug that can cause NMS, or if you take too much metoclopramide. Call your doctor right away if you have these symptoms. You’ll have to stop taking this drug if you have this condition. Doctors won’t prescribe metoclopramide if you’re taking another drug that can cause NMS.
  • Uncontrolled spasms warning: This drug may cause muscle spasms in your face, neck, body, arms, and legs. These spasms can cause irregular movements and body positions. These are more likely to happen during the first 2 days of treatment. The risk is higher in adults younger than 30 years of age.
  • Depression warning: This drug may cause depression. This can occur even if you don’t have a history of depression. Your symptoms may be mild to severe and may include thoughts of suicide. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of depression.

Metoclopramide oral tablet is a generic prescription drug that’s available as the brand-name drug Reglan. Generic drugs usually cost less than brand-name versions. In some cases, they may not be available in all strengths or forms as a brand-name drug.

Metoclopramide also comes as an oral solution, a nasal spray, and an injectable form that’s only given by a healthcare professional.

Why it’s used

Metoclopramide is used in adults to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that causes symptoms. GERD occurs when acid flows up from your stomach. This can cause heartburn. It may also harm your esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach). This drug is used to help relieve heartburn and heal sores in your esophagus when other treatments haven’t worked.

Metoclopramide is also used to treat diabetic gastroparesis in adults. Gastroparesis happens when your stomach takes too long to empty its contents. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, loss of appetite, and feeling full long after meals.

This drug may be used as part of a combination therapy. This means you may need to take it with other medications to treat your condition.

How it works

Metoclopramide belongs to two classes of drugs: antiemetics and prokinetics. Antiemetics are used to reduce nausea and vomiting, and prokinetics are used to empty the contents of your stomach faster. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These kinds of drugs are often used to treat similar conditions.

Metoclopramide works by helping with emptying the contents of your stomach. It does this by increasing your stomach muscle contractions. This speeds up the movement of food through your stomach and intestines. Metoclopramide also increases the tightness of your lower esophageal sphincter. This stops stomach acid from flowing back up to your esophagus.

This drug also prevents nausea and vomiting. It does this by blocking receptors in your body that are responsible for triggering nausea and vomiting.

Like most drugs, metoclopramide oral tablets may cause mild to serious side effects. Some people may have drowsiness, dizziness, nervousness, or headaches after they stop taking this drug. It can also cause other side effects.

The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that metoclopramide may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of metoclopramide. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

More common side effects

The more common side effects of metoclopramide can include:

  • headache
  • confusion
  • trouble sleeping
  • dizziness
  • restlessness
  • sleepiness
  • exhaustion

If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

  • Depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Symptoms can include:
    • sadness
    • lack of motivation
    • thoughts of harming or killing yourself
  • Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a rare nervous system disorder). Symptoms can include:
    • high fever
    • stiff muscles
    • trouble thinking
    • fast or irregular heart rate
    • increased sweating
  • Tardive dyskinesia,* a movement disorder that can be permanent. Symptoms can include repeated, uncontrollable movements such as:
    • movement in the face, such as blinking, grimacing, or sticking out your tongue
    • slow or fast, jerky movements of the arms and legs
  • Parkinsonism (symptoms similar to those caused by Parkinson’s disease). Symptoms can include:
    • shaking
    • body stiffness
    • slow movement
    • trouble keeping your balance
    • blank stare with an open mouth
  • Allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:
    • rash
    • hives
    • trouble breathing
    • swelling of your tongue, lips, or throat
  • Hyperprolactinemia (increased levels of the hormone prolactin). Symptoms can include:
    • menstrual problems or vaginal dryness in females
    • erectile dysfunction, decreased body hair and muscle mass, and increased breast size in males
  • Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there).

Note: In this article, we use the terms “female” and “male” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

* Metoclopramide has a boxed warning about the risk of tardive dyskinesia. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). See the beginning of this article for details.

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering metoclopramide. What you’ll pay for metoclopramide may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

  • Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates of what you’d pay for metoclopramide when using coupons from the site. See the coupon options below. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)
  • Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Financial assistance to help you pay for metoprolol oral tablets may be available. Medicine Assistance Tool and NeedyMeds are two websites that provide resources to help reduce the cost of metoprolol oral tablet.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.

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Metoclopramide oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.

To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with metoclopramide are listed below.

Interactions that increase your risk of side effects from metoclopramide

Taking metoclopramide with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from metoclopramide. Examples of these drugs include:

Central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Taking metoclopramide with drugs that can cause CNS depression may increase drowsiness. Some examples include:

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Taking these drugs with metoclopramide may increase your blood pressure.These include:

  • isocarboxazid (Marplan)
  • phenelzine (Nardil)
  • rasagiline (Azilect)
  • selegiline (Emsam, Zelapar)
  • tranylcypromine (Parnate)

Interactions that increase your risk of side effects from other drugs

Taking metoclopramide with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from these drugs. Examples of these drugs include:

  • Cyclosporine. Metoclopramide may increase the levels of cyclosporine in your body. This may raise your risk of kidney problems, digestion problems, and tingling (pins and needles) feeling caused by damage to your nerves.
  • Insulin. Metoclopramide affects how food moves through your body, which may change your blood sugar levels. You may have higher blood sugar levels with metoclopramide. This is because food is moving through your stomach and entering your bloodstream faster. So if you also take insulin, your doctor may adjust your dose of insulin.

Interactions that can make your drugs less effective

When metoclopramide is taken with certain drugs, it may not work as well to treat your condition. Examples of these drugs include:

When metoclopramide is taken with certain other drugs, there may be an effect on how well one of the medications works. These other drugs include:

  • Drugs that affect the speed at which food is processed through your stomach and intestines. These drugs can make metoclopramide not work as well. Examples include:
  • Drugs that affect dopamine (a chemical in the body). These drugs can make metoclopramide not work as well and raise the risk of symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease. Examples include:
  • Drugs that rely on the stomach and intestines to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Examples include:

Metoclopramide oral tablet comes with several warnings.

Allergy warning

For some people, metoclopramide can cause an allergic reaction, including a severe allergic reaction. In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious and can include:

  • trouble breathing
  • rash
  • hives
  • swelling of your throat or tongue

You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.

If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor or a local poison control center right away. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking metoclopramide.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

Your doctor won’t prescribe metoclopramide if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal.

Alcohol interaction

Drinking alcohol can increase the side effects of sleepiness, dizziness, and confusion from metoclopramide. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much, if any, is safe for you to have during metoclopramide treatment.

Warnings for people with certain health conditions

For people with stomach or intestinal problems: Metoclopramide increases the movement of food in your digestive tract. If you have bleeding, tears or holes, or a blockage in your stomach or intestines, taking this drug may be dangerous. Ask your doctor if this drug is safe for you.

For people with a history of tardive dyskinesia (TD): If you have a history of TD, your doctor won’t prescribe metoclopramide for you. This drug has a boxed warning about the risk of TD. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, refer to “Boxed warning: Tardive dyskinesia” at the beginning of this article.

For people with pheochromocytoma (a tumor that releases hormones): Your doctor won’t prescribe metoclopramide if you have pheochromocytoma. This drug increases your risk of dangerously high blood pressure. This puts you at risk for a stroke.

For people with seizures: If you have a history of seizures, your doctor won’t prescribe metoclopramide. It may cause you to have more seizures.

For people with drug-induced movement disorders: If you’re taking medications for drug-induced movement disorders, your doctor won’t prescribe metoclopramide. It may increase the severity of the movement disorders.

For people who have Parkinson’s disease: Metoclopramide may make your Parkinson’s disease symptoms worse. Your doctor likely won’t prescribe this drug for you.

For people with hypertension (high blood pressure): Metoclopramide may increase your blood pressure. Ask your doctor if this drug is safe for you.

For people with liver damage or congestive heart failure: Metoclopramide may make liver damage or heart failure worse. The drug can increase fluid buildup in your body. If you develop swelling in your hands, legs, or feet, or if you suddenly gain weight, call your doctor and stop taking metoclopramide.

For people with kidney problems: Your body may not be able to clear metoclopramide from your system as well as people who have typical kidney function. This may increase the levels of this drug in your body. This can cause more side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lower dose.

For people with breast cancer: Metoclopramide increases prolactin levels in your body. Prolactin is a hormone that may be responsible for cancerous breast tumors. Tell your doctor if you have a history of breast cancer before starting this drug.

Warnings for other groups

For pregnant people: Research hasn’t found any increased risk of harmful effects when metoclopramide is used during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the possible risks and benefits of taking metoclopramide.

Talk with your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Metoclopramide should be used only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

For people who are breastfeeding: Metoclopramide passes into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed.

Talk with your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication.

For older adults: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

If you’re older than 65 years of age, your doctor will prescribe the lowest dose of metoclopramide that is effective for you. As your dose increases, your risk of symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease (shaking, body stiffness, moving slowly, and staring blankly with your mouth open) increases. You’re also at a greater risk for uncontrolled movements of your face, tongue, arms, and legs. This effect may be permanent. Metoclopramide can also cause confusion in seniors.

For children: Metoclopramide hasn’t been studied in children. It isn’t prescribed for people younger than 18 years. This drug may be more likely to cause movement disorders in children than in adults.

This dosage information is for metoclopramide oral tablet. All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:

  • your age
  • the condition being treated
  • how severe your condition is
  • other medical conditions you have
  • how you react to the first dose

Forms and strengths

Generic: Metoclopramide

  • Form: oral tablet (that you swallow)
  • Strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg
  • Form: orally disintegrating tablet (that dissolves on your tongue)
  • Strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg

Brand: Reglan

  • Form: oral tablet
  • Strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg

Dosage for symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux

Metoclopramide dosages for GERD are described below.

Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)

  • Typical starting dosage:
    • If your doctor prescribes continuous (consistent) dosing: 10 to 15 mg, taken up to four times per day. You should take the doses 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime.
    • If your doctor prescribes intermittent (as-needed) dosing: up to 20 mg, taken before the situation that causes your symptoms.
  • Dosage changes: Your doctor may change your dosage depending on your symptoms, side effects, and response to the drug.
  • Length of treatment: Your doctor won’t prescribe this drug for longer than 12 weeks.

Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)

It hasn’t been confirmed that this drug is safe and effective for use in people younger than 18 years of age.

Older adult dosage (ages 65 years and older)

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of the drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different dosing schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body. Specifically, you might start with a dosage of 5 mg taken four times per day. Your doctor might then increase your dose as needed, up to the usual adult dosage of 10 to 15 mg taken four times per day.

Dosage for diabetic gastroparesis

Dosages for diabetic gastroparesis are described below.

Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)

  • Typical starting dosage: 10 mg taken up to four times per day. You should take this drug 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime.
  • Dosage changes: Your doctor may decrease your dosage depending on your symptoms, side effects, and response to the drug.
  • Length of treatment: 2–8 weeks

Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)

It hasn’t been confirmed that this drug is safe and effective for use in people younger than 18 years of age.

Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of the drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different dosing schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body. Specifically, you might start with a dosage of 5 mg taken four times per day. Your doctor might then increase your dose as needed, up to the usual adult dosage of 10 mg taken four times per day.

Special considerations

If you have kidney problems (specifically, if your creatinine clearance is below 60 mL/min), your doctor will prescribe a lower starting dosage. They may change your dosage based on how your body responds to the drug.

Metoclopramide oral tablets are used for short-term treatment. This drug comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed.

You should swallow the oral tablets whole. If your doctor prescribes the orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs), you should place the tablets on your tongue and wait for them to dissolve (which may take about 1 minute). Then, swallow the contents without water.

If you stop taking the drug suddenly or don’t take it at all: Your symptoms may not get better. They may get worse.

If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: Metoclopramide may not work as well or may stop working completely. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.

If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of metoclopramide can include:

  • drowsiness
  • confusion
  • abnormal body movements
  • muscle stiffness
  • uncontrolled movements of your face, tongue, or arms and legs

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much metoclopramide. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

What to do if you miss a dose: Take your dose as soon as you remember. If you remember just a few hours before your next scheduled dose, take only one dose. Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could result in dangerous side effects.

How to tell if the drug is working: Your symptoms should improve.

Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes metoclopramide oral tablet for you.

General

  • You shouldn’t take this drug with food. Take it as your doctor prescribes, which may be:
    • four times per day: 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime, or
    • as needed, before situations that cause your symptoms
  • Not every pharmacy stocks metoclopramide orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs).

Cutting the tablet

  • You can cut the oral tablets.
  • You shouldn’t cut the disintegrating tablets. If the tablet breaks or crumbles when you take it out of the package, you should throw it away. Take a new, intact tablet.

Storage

  • Store metoclopramide at room temperature. Keep it between 68°F and 77°F (20°C and 25°C).
  • Keep this drug away from light.
  • Don’t store this medication in moist or damp areas, such as bathrooms.

Refills

A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription.

Travel

When traveling with your medication:

  • Always carry your medication with you. When flying, never put it into a checked bag. Keep it in your carry-on bag.
  • Don’t worry about airport X-ray machines. They can’t hurt your medication.
  • You may need to show airport staff the pharmacy label for your medication. Always carry the original prescription-labeled box with you.
  • Don’t put this medication in your car’s glove compartment or leave it in the car. Be sure to avoid doing this when the weather is very hot or very cold.

Clinical monitoring

You and your doctor should monitor certain health issues. This can help make sure you stay safe while you take this drug. These issues include:

  • Mental health and behavioral problems. You and your doctor should watch for any unusual changes in your behavior and mood. This drug can cause new mental health and behavior problems. It may also make problems you already have worse.
  • Blood pressure. This drug can increase your blood pressure.
  • Weight. This drug may make you lose weight or gain weight.

There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.