Metoclopramide
About Metoclopramide
Metoclopramide belongs to a group of medicines called anti-emetics and prokinetic agents used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, migraine, and in post-operative conditions. Additionally, Metoclopramide is also used to treat delayed gastric emptying. Metoclopramide may be used to facilitate small bowel intubation and to stimulate gastric emptying and intestinal transit of barium.
Metoclopramide contains ‘metoclopramide’ that works by increasing the motility of the upper gastrointestinal tract; this allows faster transit of food and treats gastric emptying. It also works on the part of the brain that controls vomiting, thereby helps in preventing nausea and vomiting.
In some cases, Metoclopramide may cause common side-effects such as drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness, headache, and bowel disturbances. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if the side effects persist or worsen.
Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Metoclopramide may cause drowsiness and dizziness affecting your ability to drive and operate machinery. Metoclopramide is not recommended for children below one year. Avoid consuming alcohol while on treatment with Metoclopramide as it could lead to increased drowsiness. Treatment with Metoclopramide is not recommended for longer than 12 weeks, except in rare cases.
Uses of Metoclopramide
Medicinal Benefits
Metoclopramide belongs to a group of medicines called anti-emetics and prokinetic agents used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, migraine, and in post-operative conditions. Additionally, Metoclopramide is also used to treat delayed gastric emptying. Metoclopramide may be used to facilitate small bowel intubation and to facilitate gastric emptying and intestinal transit of barium in patients where delayed emptying interrupts radiological examination of the stomach and/or small intestine. Metoclopramide contains ‘metoclopramide’ that works by increasing the motility of the upper gastrointestinal tract; this allows faster transit of food and treats gastric emptying. It also works on the part of the brain that controls vomiting, thereby helps in preventing nausea and vomiting.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Metoclopramide
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Bowel disturbances
Drug Warnings
Do not take Metoclopramide if you are allergic to any of its components; if you have gastrointestinal bleeding, mechanical obstruction/perforation, pheochromocytoma (tumour in the adrenal glands), or epilepsy. Metoclopramide may cause neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a nervous disorder with high fever and muscle stiffness), extrapyramidal symptoms (shaking, tremor, stiffness and involuntary movement), Tardive dyskinesia (movement disorder), Parkinson-like symptoms (bradykinesia, tremor, cogwheel rigidity, or mask-like facies), and depression. Inform your doctor if you have heart problems, diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, breast cancer, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, methaemoglobinaemia, or liver or kidney problems. Consult your doctor immediately if you cannot stop or control movements like shaking your arms and legs, blinking and moving your eyes, sticking out the tongue, frowning, lip-smacking, chewing, or puckering up the mouth.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Metoclopramide may interact with antiparkinson agent (levodopa), cardiac glycoside (digoxin), drugs used to treat depression (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), sedatives, hypnotics, anxiolytics, and narcotics.
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions found/established.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Inform your doctor if you have gastrointestinal disorders, depression, seizures, high blood pressure, parkinsonism, pheochromocytoma (tumour of the adrenal gland), neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a nervous disorder with high fever and muscle stiffness), or tardive dyskinesia (jerky, stiff movements of the face).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol while on treatment with Metoclopramide as it may cause increased sleepiness and drowsiness.
Pregnancy
cautionConsult your doctor if you are pregnant; your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionMetoclopramide may be excreted in human milk. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionMetoclopramide may cause dizziness and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Metoclopramide affects you.
Liver
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Consult your doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
cautionMetoclopramide is not recommended for children below one year.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat smaller meals more often.
- Drink fluids to stay hydrated.
- Avoid solid foods until vomiting stops.
- Avoid foods that might cause stomach upset.
- Take ample rest. Avoid any activity immediately after eating.
- Consume plain, light foods such as bread and biscuits.
- Avoid food with strong flavours and fried food.
- Ginger tea might help in proper digestion.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Nausea/Vomiting: Nausea is an uneasy feeling in which the person feels an urge to vomit, whereas vomiting is an uncontrollable reflex that expels the contents of the stomach through the mouth. Nausea and vomiting may occur separately or together. The common causes include motion sickness, emotional stress, indigestion, food poisoning, high fever or overeating. Nausea/vomiting might also occur as an unpleasant effect of therapy, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Gastroparesis: Gastroparesis or delayed gastric emptying is a condition that occurs when the stomach takes too long to empty the food into the intestine. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, indigestion, loss of appetite, bloating and heartburn.
FAQs
Metoclopramide belongs to a group of medicines called anti-emetics and prokinetic agents used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, migraine, and in post-operative conditions. Additionally, Metoclopramide is also used to treat delayed gastric emptying.
Metoclopramide works by increasing the motility of the upper gastrointestinal tract; this allows faster transit of food and treats gastric emptying. It also works on the part of the brain that controls vomiting, thereby helps in preventing nausea and vomiting.
Metoclopramide may cause tardive dyskinesia (movement disorder) that is often irreversible. The risk increases with the duration of treatment and dosage. Metoclopramide therapy should be discontinued in patients who develop the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia. Consult your doctor immediately if you notice symptoms such as involuntary movements of the face, tongue, mouth, jaw, trunk and/or extremities.
Metoclopramide may be used to facilitate small bowel intubation (the process of passing a small, flexible plastic tube through the nose/mouth into the stomach/small intestine) in adults and pediatric patients in whom the tube does not pass the pylorus (the opening from the stomach into the duodenum) with conventional manoeuvres.
Treatment with Metoclopramide should be avoided for longer than 12 weeks except in rare cases where benefits outweigh the risks of developing tardive dyskinesia.
Metoclopramide may cause depression in people with or without a medical history of depression. Consult your doctor immediately if you have any suicidal thoughts, such as killing or harming yourself.
Metoclopramide may be used to facilitate gastric emptying and intestinal transit of barium in patients where delayed emptying interrupts radiological examination of the stomach and/or small intestine.
