Reglan, prescribed to treat gastrointestinal disorders, joins the ever-growing list of FDA-approved drugs that can cause permanent injuries. The FDA forced the manufacturer of Reglan to put a black-box warning of the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia (TD), a serious neurological condition which includes uncontrollable, repetitive movements of the muscles of the body. TD is often irreversible and affects the muscles of the face, neck, tongue, eyes, legs, arms, feet, hands and abdomen.
The black box warning warns of the risks associated with high-dose or long-term use of Reglan. Although Reglan was originally approved only for short-term use up to 12 weeks, studies show that over one-third of the patients taking Reglan are doing so for longer periods. Of these long-term users, nearly 30% have been diagnosed with TD.
Imagine the horror of contracting such a debilitating disease as TD simply from using Reglan to control gastrointestinal problems! That is too great a risk and too steep a price to pay for anyone simply trying to ease heartburn or reflux.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
