What Symptoms Does Reglan Treat? An Overview of Metoclopramide's Uses

October 10, 2025 •

3 min read

First approved by the FDA in 1979, the medication metoclopramide, known by the brand name Reglan, is a potent prokinetic and antiemetic agent. It is primarily prescribed for gastrointestinal issues, specifically to answer the question of what symptoms does Reglan treat in both acute and chronic conditions.

Quick Summary

Reglan (metoclopramide) is a prescription drug that stimulates digestive tract motility to treat symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis, GERD, and nausea caused by chemotherapy and surgery. Its use is limited to 12 weeks due to the risk of serious neurological side effects, including tardive dyskinesia.

Key Points

Diabetic Gastroparesis: Reglan is the only FDA-approved drug to treat symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and bloating from diabetic gastroparesis.
Nausea and Vomiting: It is effective in controlling severe nausea and vomiting, including from chemotherapy and surgery.
Severe GERD: For certain adults who don't respond to other treatments, Reglan can provide short-term relief from symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Black Box Warning: Reglan carries a serious FDA warning for tardive dyskinesia, a potentially irreversible movement disorder, especially with long-term use.
Short-Term Use Only: Treatment duration should generally not exceed 12 weeks to minimize the risk of serious side effects like tardive dyskinesia.
Multiple Mechanisms: It works both by speeding up gastrointestinal motility (prokinetic) and by blocking signals in the brain that cause vomiting (antiemetic).

What is Reglan and How Does It Work?

Reglan (metoclopramide) is a medication classified as an antiemetic and prokinetic agent. It influences neurotransmitters in the brain and digestive system to enhance gastrointestinal motility, speeding up the movement of food through the stomach and upper intestines. It also blocks signals in the brain that trigger nausea and vomiting.

Key Symptoms and Conditions Treated by Reglan

Reglan is used to manage several gastrointestinal issues, often when other treatments haven't been effective.

Diabetic Gastroparesis (Diabetic Gastric Stasis)

Reglan is the only FDA-approved treatment for gastroparesis in people with diabetes, a condition causing delayed stomach emptying. It helps alleviate symptoms like nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and a persistent feeling of fullness.

Symptomatic Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

For severe GERD that doesn't respond to other therapies, Reglan can be used short-term (typically 4-12 weeks) to reduce heartburn symptoms. It achieves this by accelerating gastric emptying and increasing the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Nausea and Vomiting

Reglan is useful in treating nausea and vomiting from various causes, including chemotherapy and surgery.

Other Clinical Uses

Injectable metoclopramide can also be used in hospitals to help with inserting feeding tubes into the small intestine and to speed up the movement of contrast agents during radiological exams.

Important Safety Considerations and Side Effects

Reglan carries an FDA boxed warning due to significant risks.

Black Box Warning: Tardive Dyskinesia

The most serious risk is tardive dyskinesia (TD), a potentially irreversible movement disorder. The risk increases with the length of treatment and total dose, which is why the FDA recommends against using Reglan for more than 12 weeks. TD symptoms include involuntary movements of the face, tongue, or limbs, such as lip smacking, grimacing, or rapid tongue movements.

Other Serious Side Effects

Other serious side effects can include extrapyramidal symptoms (abnormal muscle movements or spasms), neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a rare, life-threatening reaction), and changes in mental health like depression or suicidal thoughts.

Contraindications

Reglan should not be used in individuals with conditions like gastrointestinal bleeding or blockage, pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor), epilepsy, a history of tardive dyskinesia, or sensitivity to the drug. It should also be avoided by patients taking other medications that can cause extrapyramidal reactions.

Reglan vs. Ondansetron (Zofran)

Other medications, such as ondansetron (Zofran), which is a serotonin receptor antagonist, may be preferred for treating nausea and vomiting depending on the cause and patient. The following table highlights some key differences:


Feature	Reglan (Metoclopramide)	Ondansetron (Zofran)
Mechanism of Action	Blocks dopamine and serotonin receptors; enhances GI motility	Selectively blocks serotonin (5-HT3) receptors
Primary Uses	Diabetic gastroparesis, severe GERD, chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting, postoperative nausea/vomiting	Chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting, postoperative nausea/vomiting
Primary Target	Upper GI tract motility and brain's CTZ	Brain's CTZ
Risk of Tardive Dyskinesia	Yes, carries an FDA black box warning for long-term use	No
Risk of EPS	Yes, especially in young adults and at higher doses	No
Use Duration	FDA recommends no longer than 12 weeks for most uses	Not restricted by a black box warning for TD

Conclusion

Reglan is an important treatment for symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis and certain types of severe nausea and vomiting. It aids digestion and reduces vomiting signals in the brain. However, due to the risk of serious, potentially irreversible neurological side effects like tardive dyskinesia, its use is limited to short-term therapy, typically no more than 12 weeks. Alternative treatments like ondansetron may be more suitable depending on the specific condition and individual risks. Always discuss the benefits and risks with a healthcare provider to determine the best treatment option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Due to the risk of developing a serious movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia, the FDA recommends that Reglan treatment should not exceed 12 weeks.

The black box warning for Reglan alerts patients and doctors to the risk of tardive dyskinesia (TD), a potentially irreversible movement disorder, that can develop with longer treatment durations.

Reglan is primarily used for nausea related to specific conditions like diabetic gastroparesis, chemotherapy, and post-surgery. It may not be the first choice for simple nausea, as other alternatives with fewer risks might be preferred.

Common side effects include drowsiness, fatigue, restlessness, headache, and insomnia. More serious neurological side effects can also occur and should be reported to a doctor immediately.

Reglan falls under Pregnancy Category B, meaning animal studies have shown no risk, but there are no adequate human studies. Use during pregnancy should be determined by a healthcare provider after weighing the potential benefits and risks.

Reglan is contraindicated in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, obstruction, or perforation, seizure disorders, or a tumor called pheochromocytoma. It should also be avoided by individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Reglan typically begins to work within 30 minutes of oral administration. For managing conditions like diabetic gastroparesis, however, full relief of all symptoms might take a few weeks.