A doctor may prescribe metoclopramide tablets for persistent vomiting, slow stomach emptying, or migraine headaches. Use of this medication should be short term. If patients need the tablets for more than 12 weeks, a doctor may recommend switching to a different medication for safety. One risk of prolonged use of metoclopramide tablets is the development of a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia, where the patient moves muscles involuntarily. This may not resolve when the patient stops taking the medication.
One common use for metoclopramide tablets is as an anetiemetic agent, to stop vomiting in patients with persistent nausea and vomiting. A doctor may recommend this medication to patients vomiting as a result of acute infection or malignancy. The drug can also be useful for management of drug-induced vomiting, such as nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. Motion sickness is not treatable with this medication because the mechanism behind the vomiting is different.
Another use of this medication is as a prokinetic, stimulating stomach contractions. People with delayed gastric emptying can take metoclopramide tablets to encourage their stomachs to contract harder and more frequently, pushing the stomach contents into the intestinal tract. Patients with diabetes commonly experience gastroparesis, as delayed stomach emptying is known, as do some patients with gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD). In patients with sores in the esophagus caused by stomach acid, metoclopramide tablets can help keep the esophagus clear, allowing the sores to heal.
A doctor can also treat migraine headaches with metoclopramide tablets or injectable solution. This medication works on dopamine receptors in the body and can bring relief from acute pain associated with a headache. This medication may not be effective in all patients. A doctor can explore a variety of migraine treatment options with a patient to find one that works.
When people take metoclopramide tablets, they should place the tablets whole in the mouth and allow them to dissolve. The tablets come in blister packages, which patients should only open when they are ready to use the medication. Patients should discard broken tablets. It is also advisable to ask the doctor and pharmacist about any potentially bad drug interactions, so adjustments can be made to a patient's drug regimen, if necessary.
Patients who notice side effects while on this medication, especially side effects like twitching or licking the lips compulsively, should contact their doctors. Tardive dyskinesia can onset at any time and needs to be addressed promptly.
