Metoclopramide
Metoclopramide hydrochloride · Say it: met-o-KLO-pra-mide
A liquid medicine for adults that helps with heartburn from acid reflux and with stomach emptying problems in people with diabetes. It carries a serious warning about involuntary movement disorders.
⬛ Boxed warning (the FDA's strongest warning)
This medicine can cause tardive dyskinesia, a serious movement disorder that is often permanent. The risk goes up the longer the medicine is taken and the more total medicine is used. Treatment should be stopped if signs or symptoms of tardive dyskinesia appear. There is no known treatment for it, though symptoms may get better in some people after the medicine is stopped. Use for longer than 12 weeks should be avoided except in rare cases where the benefit is thought to outweigh the risk.
Used for
Short-term relief of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) in adults, usually for 4 to 12 weeks, when certain other treatments have not worked. The label says it mainly helps daytime heartburn and heartburn after meals, and it may help esophagus ulcers heal.
Comes as
Oral solution, 5 mg metoclopramide per 5 mL (one teaspoonful); Orange-colored, vanilla-flavored, sugar-free, and alcohol-free liquid
Common side effects
Restlessness, drowsiness, tiredness, and lack of energy (the label says about 10% of patients taking the most commonly prescribed dose had these), Trouble sleeping (insomnia), headache, confusion, or dizziness, Nausea and bowel problems, mainly diarrhea
| Generic name | Metoclopramide hydrochloride |
|---|---|
| Brand names | — |
| Type of medicine | A stomach and gut medicine. The label describes it as affecting how the stomach and intestines move. The label does not give an FDA drug class. |
| How it is sold | Oral solution (a liquid taken by mouth) |
| Comes as | Oral solution, 5 mg metoclopramide per 5 mL (one teaspoonful); Orange-colored, vanilla-flavored, sugar-free, and alcohol-free liquid; Available in 10 mL unit dose cups |
| Route | oral |
| Boxed warning | Yes, see below |
| Label date | 2026-07-24 |
💊 What is Metoclopramide used for?
- Short-term relief of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) in adults, usually for 4 to 12 weeks, when certain other treatments have not worked. The label says it mainly helps daytime heartburn and heartburn after meals, and it may help esophagus ulcers heal.
- Relief of symptoms of slow stomach emptying (diabetic gastroparesis, also called diabetic gastric stasis) in adults. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, feeling full long after meals, and loss of appetite.
How it works
The label says metoclopramide affects how the stomach and intestines move food along. The label does not describe its mechanism in more detail.
How it is usually taken
- Take it exactly as your doctor tells you, and do not change your dose unless your doctor tells you to. The label says it is usually taken 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime, depending on the symptoms being treated. It is not for use longer than 12 weeks. Follow the instructions from your prescriber or pharmacist on measuring the liquid.
Comes as
- Oral solution, 5 mg metoclopramide per 5 mL (one teaspoonful)
- Orange-colored, vanilla-flavored, sugar-free, and alcohol-free liquid
- Available in 10 mL unit dose cups
⚠️ Metoclopramide side effects
Common side effects
- Restlessness, drowsiness, tiredness, and lack of energy (the label says about 10% of patients taking the most commonly prescribed dose had these)
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia), headache, confusion, or dizziness
- Nausea and bowel problems, mainly diarrhea
- Needing to urinate often, or losing bladder control
Get medical help right away if
- Get medical help right away if you have movements you cannot stop or control, such as lip smacking, chewing, puckering your mouth, frowning, sticking out your tongue, blinking or moving your eyes, or shaking of your arms and legs (tardive dyskinesia).
- Get medical help right away if you have uncontrolled spasms of your face, neck, body, arms, or legs (dystonia). The label says these usually start within the first 2 days of treatment and happen more often in children and adults under 30.
- Get medical help right away if you have difficulty breathing, noisy breathing (stridor), or throat spasms, which the label says can rarely happen with dystonic reactions.
- Get medical help right away if you have depression, or thoughts of suicide. The label says depression, including suicidal thoughts and suicide, has occurred in people with and without a history of depression.
- Get medical help right away if you have high fever, muscle stiffness, confusion or changes in consciousness, and irregular pulse or blood pressure, sweating, or abnormal heartbeat. These can be signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which the label describes as rare but potentially fatal.
- Get medical help right away if you have a seizure.
- Get medical help right away if you have yellow skin or eyes (jaundice) or other signs of liver problems, which the label says are rare.
- Get medical help right away if you have signs of heart failure, such as sudden fluid build-up or breathing trouble, which the label lists as a possible reaction.
- Get medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction.
🛑 Who should not take Metoclopramide, and who should be careful
The label says not to take it if
- You have stomach or intestine problems that could get worse with this medicine, such as bleeding, a blockage, or a tear in the stomach or bowel wall.
- You have a tumor of the adrenal gland called a pheochromocytoma.
- You are allergic to metoclopramide or any ingredient in it.
- You take medicines that can cause uncontrolled movements, such as some medicines for mental illness.
- You have seizures. The label says it should not be used in people with epilepsy.
Tell your doctor before taking it if
- Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including depression, Parkinson's disease, high blood pressure, kidney problems (your doctor may start with a lower dose), liver problems, heart failure, diabetes (your insulin dose may need to change), and breast cancer.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
- Read the Medication Guide each time you get a refill, since new information may be added.
- Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Do not start new medicines without talking to your doctor first.
- The label says this product contains FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine), which may cause allergic-type reactions, including bronchial asthma, in certain people. This is seen more often in people who also have aspirin hypersensitivity.
- The label says it is not known if metoclopramide is safe and works in children.
- The label says the use of this product is recommended for adults only.
🔀 Metoclopramide with other medicines, food and alcohol
The label says to discuss these with your doctor or pharmacist
- Anticholinergic drugs and narcotic pain medicines can reduce the effect of metoclopramide on stomach and intestine movement.
- Using alcohol, sedatives, sleep medicines, narcotics, or tranquilizers with metoclopramide can add to sleepiness.
- Blood pressure medicines and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), a type of depression medicine, may interact. The label says metoclopramide should be used cautiously, if at all, with MAOIs in people with high blood pressure.
- Metoclopramide may reduce how well some drugs are absorbed from the stomach, such as digoxin. It may increase how well some drugs are absorbed from the small bowel, such as acetaminophen, tetracycline, levodopa, ethanol, and cyclosporine.
- Insulin may act before food leaves the stomach and can cause low blood sugar. Your insulin dose or timing may need to be adjusted.
- Do not take other products that contain metoclopramide, such as REGLAN tablets or REGLAN ODT, unless your doctor says so.
Alcohol and food
The label says not to drink alcohol while taking metoclopramide, because alcohol may make side effects such as sleepiness worse. The label also says it is usually taken 30 minutes before meals.
🤰 Metoclopramide in pregnancy and breastfeeding
Pregnancy
The label says it is not known if metoclopramide will harm an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk with your doctor.
Breastfeeding
The label says metoclopramide passes into breast milk and may harm a baby. Talk with your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take this medicine.
🗓️ Storage, missed doses and taking too much
Storage
Store at controlled room temperature, between 20°C and 25°C (68°F to 77°F). Protect from freezing. Do not use if the seal is broken.
If a dose is missed
The label does not say.
If too much is taken
The label says symptoms of an overdose may include drowsiness, disorientation, and movement reactions. If you take too much, call your doctor or Poison Control Center right away. The label says symptoms usually go away within 24 hours. It also says dialysis is not likely to be an effective way to remove the drug in an overdose.
🗒️ Questions to ask about Metoclopramide
🎯 Check what you understood
1. What is the most serious warning for this medicine?
2. According to the label, how long should this medicine generally not be taken?
3. What does the label say about drinking alcohol while taking metoclopramide?
❓ Metoclopramide: frequently asked questions
Who is this medicine for?
The label says the use of this oral solution is recommended for adults only. It also says it is not known if the medicine is safe and works in children.
What is this medicine used for?
The label says it is used for short-term relief of heartburn from gastroesophageal reflux in adults, and for relief of symptoms of slow stomach emptying in people with diabetes. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and loss of appetite.
Does this product have a brand name?
The label does not list a brand name for this product. It does mention other metoclopramide products, REGLAN tablets, REGLAN ODT, and REGLAN injection, and says you should read the Medication Guide for those products too.
Why is there a warning about movement problems?
The label warns that tardive dyskinesia can happen and may not go away after stopping. Call your doctor right away if you have movements you cannot stop or control, such as lip smacking, frowning, or shaking of your arms and legs.
Can I drive while taking this medicine?
The label says not to drive, work with machines, or do dangerous tasks until you know how metoclopramide affects you, because it may cause sleepiness.
🧪 Tests and reports linked to Metoclopramide
The label text mentions these. If you have one of these reports, get every line of it explained.
- HbA1c and glucose
a test or report linked to this medicine
- Metabolic panel (BMP, CMP)
a test or report linked to this medicine
- Kidney function tests
a test or report linked to this medicine
- Clotting tests (PT, INR)
a test or report linked to this medicine
- Complete blood count (CBC)
a test or report linked to this medicine
- Liver function tests
a test or report linked to this medicine
📖 Medical words used on this page
- Allergic reaction
An allergic reaction is when the immune system overreacts to something harmless, such as a medicine or food, causing symptoms from a rash to swelling.
- Anticholinergic
Anticholinergic describes medicines that block acetylcholine, a nerve messenger, which can cause dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision and confusion.
- Antipsychotic
An antipsychotic is a medicine used for psychosis, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and sometimes for other conditions.
- Boxed warning
A boxed warning is the strongest safety warning on a US medicine label, printed in a box, about a serious or life-threatening risk.
- Bronchospastic Disease
Bronchospastic disease means a lung condition, such as asthma, in which the airways tend to tighten suddenly (bronchospasm).
- CNS depressant
A CNS depressant is any medicine or substance that slows down brain and nerve activity, causing drowsiness, relaxation or slower breathing.
- Dialysis
Dialysis is a treatment that removes waste and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do this well enough.
- Esophagus
The esophagus is the muscular tube that carries food and drink from the throat down to the stomach.
- Gastrointestinal
Gastrointestinal (GI) means relating to the digestive tract: the mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestines.
- Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis means the stomach empties into the gut more slowly than it should, without a blockage, causing nausea, fullness and bloating.
- GERD
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) means stomach acid often flows back up into the food pipe, causing heartburn or an acid taste.
- Heart failure
Heart failure means the heart is not pumping or filling as well as it should, so it struggles to meet the body's needs. It does not mean the heart has stopped.
- Heartburn
Heartburn is a burning feeling in the chest or throat caused by stomach acid coming back up into the food pipe.
- Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity means the immune system overreacts to something, such as a medicine. It covers allergic reactions from mild rash to severe reactions.
📖 Medical words on this page
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Explain my leafletDecode my prescription🔗 Trusted sources about Metoclopramide
- Full official label on DailyMed ↗
US National Library of Medicine: the complete FDA label this page is based on
- Metoclopramide on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine's patient drug information
- Metoclopramide on the NHS website ↗
UK National Health Service medicine guide
Report a side effect or check safety alerts
- Report a side effect in the US (FDA MedWatch) ↗
- Report a side effect in the UK (Yellow Card) ↗
- FDA recalls and safety alerts ↗
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Source: official FDA drug label (label updated 2026-07-24). Read the full label on DailyMed
MedicDecode explains the official label in plain words. It is not medical advice and does not replace your doctor or pharmacist. Never start, stop or change a medicine because of what you read here.