What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-Breast cancer
-Depression
-Diabetes
-Frequently drink alcohol
-Heart failure
-High blood pressure
-Kidney disease
-Liver disease
-Parkinson's disease or a movement disorder
-Pheochromocytoma
-Seizures
-Stomach obstruction, bleeding, or perforation
-An unusual or allergic reaction to metoclopramide, procainamide, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-Breast-feeding
What may interact with this medication?
-Alcohol
-Antihistamines for allergy, cough, and cold
-Atovaquone
-Atropine
-Bupropion
-Certain medications for anxiety or sleep
-Certain medications for bladder problems, such as oxybutynin, tolterodine
-Certain medications for depression or mental health conditions
-Certain medications for Parkinson's disease
-Certain medications for seizures, such as phenobarbital, primidone
-Certain medications for stomach problems, such as dicyclomine, hyoscyamine
-Certain medications for travel sickness, such as scopolamine
-Cyclosporine
-Digoxin
-Fosfomycin
-General anesthetics, such as halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol
-Insulin and other medications for diabetes
-Ipratropium
-MAOIs, such as Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
-Medications that relax muscles for surgery
-Opioid medications for pain
-Paroxetine
-Phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine
-Posaconazole
-Quinidine
-Sirolimus
-Tacrolimus
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
It may take a few weeks for your stomach condition to start to get better. However, do not take this medication for longer than 12 weeks. The longer you take this medication, and the more you take it, the greater your chances are of developing serious side effects. If you are over 65 years of age, a female patient, or you have diabetes, you may be at an increased risk for side effects from this medication. Contact your care team immediately if you start having movements you cannot control such as lip smacking, rapid movements of the tongue, involuntary or uncontrollable movements of the eyes, head, arms and legs, or muscle twitches and spasms.
Patients and their families should watch out for worsening depression or thoughts of suicide. Also watch out for any sudden or severe changes in feelings such as feeling anxious, agitated, panicky, irritable, hostile, aggressive, impulsive, severely restless, overly excited and hyperactive, or not being able to sleep. If this happens, especially at the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose, call your care team.
Do not treat yourself for high fever. Ask your care team for advice.
You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medication affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are over 65 years of age. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol can make you more drowsy and dizzy. Avoid alcoholic drinks.
What are the most serious risks of this medication?
This medicine can cause a rare, but serious and often permanent movement disorder. The risk increases with long-term use of this medicine. Treatment for longer than 12 weeks should be avoided in all but rare cases. If you notice unusual movements of the limbs, face, or tongue, discontinue use of this drug and contact your healthcare provider.