Prescription medication · Prokinetic / Antiemetic
metoclopramide
Also sold as Reglan. This medicine treats heartburn caused by acid reflux when other treatments don't work.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 53,266
- FDA reportsOften reported
- 23
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- 2
- Recall records
What the data shows
metoclopramide (Reglan) is a prescription Prokinetic / Antiemetic, reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (53,266 FDA reports), with 23 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
metoclopramide (Reglan) is a prescription Prokinetic / Antiemetic. This medicine treats heartburn caused by acid reflux when other treatments don't work.
Metoclopramide is a drug that helps with stomach problems. It can help food move faster through your stomach and reduce nausea.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.05/unit
Generic Available
Yes (12 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats heartburn caused by acid reflux when other treatments don't work.
Common side effects
Restlessness, Drowsiness, Fatigue
Key warnings
Metoclopramide can cause a serious movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from metoclopramide's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Take this medicine 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime. The usual dose is 10 to 15 mg, up to 4 times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose based on your symptoms and how well the medicine works for you. Do not take this medicine for more than 12 weeks.
This is a plain-language summary of metoclopramide's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & 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 about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while breastfeeding.
This is a plain-language summary of metoclopramide's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of metoclopramide's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store at room temperature, away from freezing and heat. Do not use if the seal is broken.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 53,266 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for metoclopramide, by number of reports
- Uncontrollable muscle movements
Uncontrollable muscle movements
13,205 reports
- Movement problems
Movement problems
11,628 reports
- Problem with the brain or nerves
Problem with the brain or nerves
7,175 reports
- Muscle spasms
Muscle spasms
6,661 reports
- Pain 4,665
Pain
4,665 reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,909
Feeling sick to your stomach
3,909 reports
- Financial difficulties 3,755
Financial difficulties
3,755 reports
- Feeling worried or nervous 3,175
Feeling worried or nervous
3,175 reports
- Throwing up 3,129
Throwing up
3,129 reports
- Problem with movement 2,870
Problem with movement
2,870 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for metoclopramide each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where metoclopramide sits
metoclopramide has more FDA adverse-event reports than 74% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is metoclopramide; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 53,266 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1995–2025.
Total Reports
53,266
Reports Mentioning Death
7,091
13.3% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
24,739
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TARDIVE DYSKINESIA | 13,205 |
| 2 | EXTRAPYRAMIDAL DISORDER | 11,628 |
| 3 | NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDER | 7,175 |
| 4 | DYSTONIA | 6,661 |
| 5 | PAIN | 4,666 |
| 6 | NAUSEA | 3,909 |
| 7 | ECONOMIC PROBLEM | 3,755 |
| 8 | ANXIETY | 3,176 |
| 9 | VOMITING | 3,128 |
| 10 | MOVEMENT DISORDER | 2,869 |
| 11 | ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING IMPAIRED | 2,759 |
| 12 | DIARRHOEA | 2,650 |
| 13 | DYSKINESIA | 2,561 |
| 14 | INCORRECT DRUG ADMINISTRATION DURATION | 2,488 |
| 15 | DEFORMITY | 2,327 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
Interaction Drug Interaction Rifabutin, phenytoin, efavirenz, cimetidine, esomeprazole* Avoid coadministration unless the benefit outweighs the risks ( 7.6 , 7.7 , 7.8 , 7.9 ) Other drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 Consider dosage adjustment and monitor for adverse effects and toxicity ( 7.1 , 7.10 , 7.11 ) Digoxin Monitor digoxin plasma concentrations ( 7.12 ) Fosamprenavir, metoclopramide* Monitor for breakthrough fungal infections ( 7.6 , 7.13 ) *The drug interactions with esomeprazole and metoclopramide do not apply to posaconazole tablets. 7.13 Gastrointestinal Motility Agents Concomitant...
Mechanism: Metoclopramide speeds up how fast medicine moves through the digestive system, which can lower the amount of posaconazole that gets absorbed.
What to do: Watch closely for signs that the fungal infection is returning, but note that this interaction does not occur with the tablet form of posaconazole.
Drugs That May Cause Methemoglobinemia When Used with LIDODERM Patients who are administered local anesthetics are at increased risk of developing methemoglobinemia when concurrently exposed to the following drugs, which could include other local anesthetics: Examples of Drugs Associated with Methemoglobinemia : Class Examples Nitrates/Nitrites nitric oxide, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, nitrous oxide Local anesthetics articaine, benzocaine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine, procaine, ropivacaine, tetracaine Antineoplastic agents cyclophosphamide, flutamide, hydroxyurea,...
Mechanism: These medicines can both lead to a condition where your blood cannot carry oxygen correctly. Taking them at the same time increases the risk of this serious blood disorder.
What to do: Watch for symptoms like a fast heartbeat, headache, or bluish skin color. Tell your healthcare provider if you are using both of these treatments.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Concomitant use with metoclopramide, beta-blockers, or cholinomimetic and anticholinergic drugs is not recommended (7.1, 7.2, 7.3) 7.1 Metoclopramide Due to the risk of additive extrapyramidal adverse reactions, the concomitant use of metoclopramide and rivastigmine tartrate is not recommended.
Mechanism: Both drugs can cause similar side effects related to muscle control and movement. Taking them together increases the risk of developing shaky movements or muscle stiffness.
What to do: This combination is not recommended. Talk to your doctor about alternative treatments to avoid these movement-related side effects.
Other drugs, such as: Magnesium and aluminum hydroxide antacids Metoclopramide May increase tacrolimus whole blood trough concentrations and increase the risk of serious adverse reactions (e.g., neurotoxicity, QT prolongation) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 , 5.10 , 5.11 )] .
Mechanism: Metoclopramide can cause the amount of tacrolimus in your blood to increase. This makes it more likely that you will experience serious side effects from the medication.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your blood levels and may need to change your dose. Be alert for any new health problems while taking these together.
Product Clinical Comment on Concomitant Use [See Contraindications (4.1)] ; Predominant Effect/Risk [Hypertensive Reaction (HR) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] ; or Serotonin Syndrome (SS) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.7)] ] Altretamine Use with caution If not otherwise specified in this table, consider avoiding concomitant use (see also information on medication-free intervals , use agent at the lowest appropriate dose, monitor for effects of the interaction, advise the patient to report potential effects, and be prepared to discontinue the agent and treat effects of the...
Mechanism: Using these together can cause a severe increase in blood pressure or a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome. They both change the levels of important chemical messengers in your body.
What to do: Use this combination with caution or avoid it if you can. Your doctor should monitor you closely and use the lowest dose possible to keep you safe.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
How long can I take metoclopramide?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
Does this medicine interact with other drugs?
What if I have kidney problems?
Can I take this if I have seizures?
What if I am elderly?
Can I drive while taking this medicine?
What does 'prokinetic' mean?
What does 'antiemetic' mean?
What are the common side effects of metoclopramide?
Does metoclopramide interact with other medications?
What drug class is metoclopramide?
Is metoclopramide safe during pregnancy?
Has metoclopramide been recalled?
Active Recalls
Presence of foreign tablets/capsules.
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc
Lack of Assurance of Sterility: FDA inspection findings resulted in concerns regarding quality control processes
Lowlite Investments, Inc. D/B/A Olympia Pharmacy
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for metoclopramide
The FDA label for metoclopramide (sold under brand names such as Reglan) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Prokinetic / Antiemetic class. This medicine treats heartburn caused by acid reflux when other treatments don't work. Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Restlessness, Drowsiness, Fatigue.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 53,266 voluntary reports. The database also lists 23 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.05.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 2 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: April 11, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages