reglan and acid reflux

I was surfing the internet and cam across Metoclopramide (Reglan) as a cure for acid reflux. It supposedly works by tighthening the LES valve and speeding up the emptying of the stomach. It does seem to have lots of side effects though.I was wondering if anyone had tried it before or can give me some information on how effective it is.

[gnorb]

Cure? No. Medication for? Maybe. Depends on the cause of your acid reflux.

Yes, Reglan has a lot of side effects. In fact, it's often not recommended for that very reason: about 10% of people will feel some sort of side effect from Reglan, mostly fatigue and possibly restlessness.

Have you tried any other class of drug? PPIs, like Protonix or Nexium, or H2-inhibitors, like Zantac or Pepcid? (For the record, PPIs also strengthen the LES, although they shut down production of acid instead of increasing the gastric contractions.) Usually Reglan is reserved for people with gastric motility issues. Have you had a gastric emptying exam? If so, what was the result?

If you're looking for a cure, you need to figure out the cause for the acid reflux.

Good luck.

[samir420]

PPI's dont solve the acid reflux problem but only make it worse in the long term. I have used many including nexium and omeprazole. As you said they work by shutting off acid pumps in the stomach so how is your food going to be digested? So I am basically looking for other cures these days..currently I am using apple cider vinegar, digestive enzymes and acidophillus(probiotics).
I think i dont have normal acid reflux since i have never experienced heartburn and usually have a feeling of a lump stuck in my throat...which makes me believe that i have LPR.
I read somewhere that reglan is effective in tightening the LES valve so was curious to try it if it does not have really bad side effects.

[MishaTx]

I took Reglan for many years, and although it did help with the reflux, it is NOT a cure. And yes, it does have many side-effects. I had to stop taking it because it was causing severe muscle spams and twitching.

[jjfighter1]

Oh my goodness!  I would be very careful with reglan.  I took it for acid reflux while pregnant and I have tardive dyskinesia which is basically uncontrollable body movements.  My muscles are always twitching and it drives me nuts!  I was diagnosed and the cause is reglan.  I took it for nearly 5 months of my pregnancy and about a year after that because when I would stop, my acid reflux came back but even worse.  Now I still have digestive issues with this muscle twitching.  Instead of talking to a doctor, you need to talk to a good attorney who understands how serious this medicine is and the recklessness of the manufacturers.  I used Bertram at http://tardivelaw.com.