What is Reglan used for?
Reglan has a few uses, but its most common use is for heartburn. It is used as a short term treatment (4 to 12 weeks) for heartburn when other medications have not been successful on their own. Heart burn is commonly reported as a burning feeling in your chest and/or throat, accompanied by pain and sometimes a hot, sour, acidic, or salty taste. Other than being annoying, leaving heartburn untreated can cause damage to the esophagus which can become permanent or may even lead to cancer, in some cases.
Additionally, it may be used for gastroparesis, a condition seen in diabetic patients characterized by slow or insufficient emptying of the stomach. Gastroparesis has commonly reported symptoms of vomiting, nausea, feeling full, acid reflux, and abdominal pain. If left untreated, symptoms can become more severe and bacterial overgrowth from fermentation of food in the stomach may occur, causing infection.
What is Metoclopramide?
Metoclopramide is the active ingredient found inside Reglan, responsible for its therapeutic effects and benefits. It is both a prokinetic agent and dopamine antagonist with antiemetic (anti-vomiting) effects. Metoclopramide is taken by mouth, metabolized by the liver, and excreted through urination with a half-life of 5-6 hours. It is available as a generic alternative and can be purchased in two strengths (5 and 10 mg) at My Drug Center, available to those with a valid prescription.
What are the side effects of Reglan?
Side effects of Reglan include drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, trouble sleeping, agitation, headache, and diarrhea. These side effects should not alarm you; side effects are a normal response of the body to new medications and commonly go away as your body adjusts to it. However, if side effects persist and do not go away over time, or become unmanageable, you may want to consider speaking with your doctor. Keep in mind, not all side effects have been listed here.
How does Reglan work?
Reglan (Metoclopramide) works by stimulating the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract; this includes the lower esophageal sphincter, small intestine, and stomach. It does this by interfering with certain receptors. The lower esophageal sphincter is responsible for keeping acid and other stomach contents from backing up into the esophagus; people with GERD typically tend to have a weakened esophageal sphincter. Metoclopramide is effective at treating heartburn because it strengths the lower esophageal sphincter which reduces the amount of acid backing up into the esophagus and reduces heartburn. Similarly, Metoclopramide stimulates the muscles in the stomach which helps speed up the process of moving solid and liquid meals from the stomach to the intestine, which is why Metoclopramide is also effective at treating diabetic gastroparesis. Additionally, Metoclopramide blocks dopamine receptors in the brain; dopamine receptors located on nerves in the brain have significant roles in producing nausea.
How long does Reglan stay in your system?
The amount of time Reglan will stay in your system for will vary, especially for those with abnormal renal function. For the with normal renal function, after about 5-6 hours, half of the medication will clear from your system, and after about 30 hours, it should be completely cleared from the system.
How to take Reglan?
When you are prescribed this medication, your doctor will go over how and when to take Reglan for the best results. Take this medication exactly the way your doctor has directed you to. Generally, patients are directed to take their dose by mouth, swallowing the tablet whole 30 minutes before each main meal of the day and once before bedtime; a total of 4 doses per day. Based off certain factors, your doctor may give you a different dosing regimen to follow. For best results, take your medication exactly as directed.
How long does it take for Reglan to work?
The exact amount of time may vary between each individual based off personal and medical factors such as your age (personal) and other medical conditions (medical). Generally, this medication begins to work between 30 and 60 minutes after administration with effects lasting for about several hours.
What is the generic name for Reglan?
As like most medications, the generic name for Reglan is the name of the active ingredient found inside the brand-name product; Metoclopramide is the generic name for Reglan. Generic medications share the same active ingredient, indications, and strength which means it is just as therapeutically effective as the brand, with only few differences. Some minor differences between the brand and generic include the manufacturer and appearance of tablets, and one significant difference; the price. Generic medications offer the same benefits as the brand medication but for a lower, more reasonable cost.
Where can I buy Reglan?
You can purchase Reglan from the comfort of your own home when you order internationally through My Drug Center. We carry the generic alternative, sold as Metoclopramide, in 5 and 10 mg, in quantities of 100. A valid prescription is required to order this medication.
How much does Reglan cost?
At My Drug Center, we carry the generic alternative to Reglan which can be found as low as $34.00 when you buy a supply of 100 – 5mg tablets. That equals to about $0.34 per tablet; in the United States, the same supply for Reglan, the brand-name product, would cost you close to $4.00 per tablet.
What drug class is Reglan?
Reglan is an antiemetic drug that is known as both a prokinetic agent as well as a dopamine antagonist (also referred to as dopamine receptor antagonists). Drugs are divided into different classifications based on the drug’s effects and specific mechanism of action. For example, Reglan is known as antiemetic because it is effective against vomiting and nausea. Reglan is known as a prokinetic agent because it can enhance gastrointestinal motility by affecting contractions without disturbing their rhythm, and as a dopamine antagonist because it blocks dopamine receptors.