metoclopramide vs oxybutynin
Side-by-side comparison of metoclopramide and oxybutynin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Anticholinergic agents may also antagonize the effects of prokinetic agents, such as metoclopramide.
Recommendation: Your doctor may need to check if both medications are still working effectively for you.
Reglan
Ditropan
Metoclopramide is a drug that helps with stomach problems. It can help food move faster through your stomach and reduce nausea.
Oxybutynin extended-release tablets help control an overactive bladder. It reduces the feeling of needing to go to the bathroom often.
This medicine treats heartburn caused by acid reflux when other treatments don't work. It also helps with symptoms of slow stomach emptying in people with diabetes, like nausea, vomiting, and feeling full. This medicine is for adults and should not be used for more than 12 weeks.
This medicine treats overactive bladder. It helps with symptoms like needing to urinate frequently, feeling a sudden urge to urinate, and leaking urine. It can also treat overactive bladder in children 6 years and older caused by nerve problems.
Metoclopramide helps your stomach muscles move faster. This helps food empty from your stomach more quickly. It also blocks a chemical in your brain that causes nausea.
Oxybutynin belongs to a class of drugs called antimuscarinics. It works by relaxing the bladder muscles. This helps to decrease the urge to urinate and prevent leakage.
- • Restlessness
- • Drowsiness
- • Fatigue
- • Feeling tired
- • Dry mouth
- • Constipation
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Feeling sleepy
- Uncontrollable muscle movements 13,205
- Movement problems 11,628
- Problem with the brain or nerves 7,175
- Muscle spasms 6,661
- Pain 4,665
- Feeling tired 1,539
- Falling down 1,466
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,211
- Feeling unsteady or lightheaded 1,143
- Loose, watery stools 1,078
Metoclopramide can cause a serious movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia. This may not go away even after you stop taking the medicine. The risk of tardive dyskinesia increases with long-term use and high doses. Call your doctor right away if you have uncontrolled muscle movements.
Oxybutynin can cause swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat (angioedema). If this happens, stop taking the medicine right away and get medical help. This medicine can also cause confusion, hallucinations, and drowsiness. Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how it affects you. Use caution if you have dementia, Parkinson's disease, myasthenia gravis, or decreased gut motility.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This metoclopramide vs oxybutynin Comparison
metoclopramide is classified in the Prokinetic / Antiemetic drug class, while oxybutynin sits within the Anticholinergic / Antispasmodic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, metoclopramide has 43,334 submissions while oxybutynin has 6,437. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these two drugs have opposite effects on how your digestive system moves. oxybutynin can block metoclopramide from doing its job of moving food through your stomach.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between metoclopramide and oxybutynin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.