EL DORADO, Ark. - After a year of taking a drug to combat a medical condition involving paralysis of stomach muscles, an Arkansas resident started exhibiting abnormal muscle movements throughout her body.
Kecia Neal has filed suit against Teva Pharmaceutical, Schwarz Pharma and Wyeth Inc., the manufacturers of the drug Reglan and its generic equivalent metoclopramide. The product liability suit was filed on May 27, 2009, in the El Dorado Division of the Western District of Arkansas.
The drug Reglan is used to treat gastrointestinal disorders but has been linked to an increase risk of tardive dyskinesia, a condition that results in involuntary and repetitive movements of the body. Currently, there is no known treatment for tardive dyskinesia. In some patients, the syndrome’s symptoms may be reduced in the weeks or months following the cessation of the drug.
Neal was taking the drug for treatment of gastroparesis.
The Food and Drug Administration required the drug’s manufacturers to provide the addition of a boxed warning in February 2009. The new warning stated “chronic treatment with metoclopramide can cause tardive dyskinesia, a serious movement that is often irreversible.”
In addition, the new warning stated “prolonged treatment (greater than 12 weeks) with metoclopramide should be avoided in all but rare cases.”
The plaintiff states that she did not have access to these warnings and therefore, took the drug for more than a year. She states her use of the drug as prescribed resulted in overexposure and caused her to suffer serious, permanent and disabling injuries.